Underrated Human Inventions

[Bunk Moreland]

This one is right up there, and when talking about physical, tangible inventions the plough has gotta rate highly.

I still think the greatest invention of all was/is:

Written Language.

It is this I believe that allowed successive generations of humans to truly grasp and improve upon the learning and achievements of their ancestors the best. Before this we were limited to only what our own communities could remember and describe to us directly through vocal words or demonstration. It has allowed ideas that failed t ocatch on or be mastered at first survive long enough to be fully exploited when the time was right for it.

Yeah, it’s the alphabet really, it all stems from there.

Not sure it’s underrated though. Do you know any Greek people?

 

[HolyRioli]

Money / currency

 

[hawker92]

computers

 

[Illinois Nazi]

The thermos. Put a hot drink in, it keeps it hot. Put a cold drink in, it keeps it cold.

How does it know?

 

[Cruyff14]

The coathanger.

 

[treefingers]

Numbers

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

TV remote, can't believe I used to have to get up and turn a knob or push a button on the TV to change the channel...

 

[courtjester]

TV remote, can't believe I used to have to get up and turn a knob or push a button on the TV to change the channel...

When I was a kid there were two channels. But the dial had about 25 slots. I was so skilled at flicking the dial between them.

 

[Spirit Level]

People often take mobile phones for granted, but the ability to talk to someone on the other side of the world, without any wires, is simply amazing.

 

[Scotland]

When I was a kid there were two channels. But the dial had about 25 slots. I was so skilled at flicking the dial between them.

Our first TV was a National (wooden, on legs) with a big dial you rotated from one position the next to change channels. 7, 9, 10, ABC and a fuzzy SBS. Changing the channel was like changing gears in a car.

Our second TV was more modern and had buttons and a remote. The TV had to be programmed, but you could change the channel from the comfort of the couch - provided you remembered which channel on the TV represented each TV network. No new channels, but SBS worked properly. By this time we had a VCR. You could record things from the TV provided you followed the ridiculously complicated recording instructions correctly. Stiff shit if the program ran over time and you only had a 2 hour tape.

My current TV has a built in HD tuner, and when I plugged it in it just worked and all the stations were there - plus HD channels and mulit-channels and whatnot. I also have Foxtel iQHD, so I have dozens of channels and can record things by pressing a few buttons. There is a lot of crap on TV these days, but sound/picture quality and ease of use has come a long way in a pretty short period.

 

[Happy_Neale]

I feel like bank cards are an underrated invention.

 

[Scotland]

Australian banknotes.

Paper banknotes that are all the same colour? GTFO.

 

[Marlowe]

Shoes. When is the last time anybody did anything important without the aid from shoes?

Even Jesus wore sandals.

 

[Hairy Lager]

Shoes. When is the last time anybody did anything important without the aid from shoes?

Even Jesus wore sandals.

Proof or GTFO.

 

[Marlowe]

Proof or GTFO.

Okie doke...

 

[Northworth]

Australian banknotes.

Paper banknotes that are all the same colour? GTFO.

we should totally sell the technology behind our banknotes to other countries.... what could go wrong

 

[Northworth]

Shoes. When is the last time anybody did anything important without the aid from shoes?

Even Jesus wore sandals.

fan of cheers? last episode?

 

[Marlowe]

fan of cheers? last episode?

No, I am not. It's unusual for me to borrow philosophies from television shows I haven't seen. Frankly, I'm a little worried now...

 

[Northworth]

No, I am not. It's unusual for me to borrow philosophies from television shows I haven't seen. Frankly, I'm a little worried now...

fair enough
the last episode has some funny references about comfortable shoes being the secret of life

 

[The Speaker]

Australian banknotes.

Paper banknotes that are all the same colour? GTFO.

Is there a reason so few countries use polymer banknotes? There are only seven countries who only use polymer, and Canada will be the eighth.

 

[TassieSaint]

Is there a reason so few countries use polymer banknotes? There are only seven countries who only use polymer, and Canada will be the eighth.

Yeah I don't get it? Imagine if you left a $50 note in your jeans and they went through the wash!

As far as I can tell they're superior to paper notes in every conceivable way. I guess it's just too much of a pain in the arse switching all the notes over for other countries to be bothered.

 

[Caesar]

'Paper' banknotes are actually mostly cotton, so they don't get completely ruined in the washing machine.

Polymer banknotes are pretty much superior all-round, but switching is a huge expense and the cost/benefit is pretty questionable. Overall they are a cheaper option, but they are much more expensive to produce up-front (the cost effectiveness comes from the durability, since they last 2-3 times longer). They are also a pain to dispose of - unlike regular banknotes that can just be burned, you need special recycling equipment. Perhaps more irrationally - people don't like polymer banknotes. They're slippery and feel like toy money.

Back in the 90s when we did it, the big incentive to change was security because they were so damnably difficult to counterfeit. In the last 10 years or so, the technology in regular money has caught up a fair bit and it's a lot less of a concern.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Planes. They were mentioned earlier but at their very core, besides being nuts, bolts and wires (derr), it's literally a flying bus, propelling human life through the far reaches of the atmosphere at speeds incomprehensible to man.

All to get from one place to another. They're essentially kick-arse buses.

 

[liam_13]

In recent times, The Mars Rover (specifically, the technology involved in controlling it unmanned and receiving video images). Being able to control something thousands of kilometers away, on a different planet, and being able to see everything that it sees.

Overall, think there have been some excellent suggestions in here that I would have never even thought of mentioning. The plough (agriculture in general), the alphabet and anything that encouraged communication and exploration in history.

 

[Papa Juggs]

Simply incredible, a lot safer than it's reputation has most people believe too.