For reasons unknown to me I've been asked to declare what I presume to be the five greatest gadgets of all time. No simple task considering the vast number of gizmos and doodads that have been feverishly churned out over the last millennia. But we're not talking about things that have had some revolutionary impact on society, you know, like the wheel or something.
Below are five things that have had some significant impact on my life, which is why I've deemed them the five greatest gadgets of all time. Opinions will vary and I'm sure to get some flak for it, but to each his own. There are far too many really cool gadgets out there and to quantify into a list of five is nearly impossible. Actually, it is impossible.
So in no particular order here's my list.
• Nintendo NES: this little grey box sparked a lifelong obsession with video games. I sincerely regret handing down my original NES to a cousin over 20 years ago. I picked one up off eBay a few weeks back, but I'm still looking for a working copy of R.C. Pro-Am.
•Polaroid Camera: instant gratification. Duh.
•RIM 850: when times were simpler and all you really wanted was just your e-mail. You should think about releasing an updated 850, RIM.
•iPhone: I am in no way an Apple fanboy and while I prefer Android, the iPhone really has been revolutionary for the industry as a whole.
•Printing Press: don't tell me to read books, magazines, newspapers and comic books on an eReader or I'll punch you.
There you have it. I've done what's been asked of me and I feel pretty good about it.
My fondest memory of a gadget was when my parents first brought home an AT&T cordless phone. I've loathed wires ever since...
Villafranca
Nov. 27, 2009 21:10:pm
at 21:10:pm
I like the personalized nature of your list, rather than "wheel, printing press, etc." Nicely formed. Oh, but it's flak, not flack. Sorry.
dreinn
Nov. 27, 2009 22:55:pm
at 22:55:pm
Indeed it is.
Peter Ha
Nov. 27, 2009 23:03:pm
at 23:03:pm
I would say that the 1982 Sony Betacam was a great gadget at the time for novice video/film geeks. And that its impact on the last 25 years of culture and its societal ramifications (Rodney King, You Tube, etc.) make it a device that transcended its original function.
rickvegas
Nov. 29, 2009 16:19:pm
at 16:19:pm
But what about The Computer? Even Windows PCs don't come up on the list? How could you? This is lame. I'm gonna go check out some cars' blogs and watch cebu films rather than read more of this.
Kidding. Love love.
thegalleryofrichard
Dec. 1, 2009 08:30:am
at 08:30:am
What's a Rim 850? And a "polaroid camera"? I wasn't aware they even sold those anymore.
zoey98
Dec. 4, 2009 17:25:pm
at 17:25:pm
@richard I steered clear of obvious doodads like that even though the iPhone falls under that umbrella.
@zoey you have much to learn.
Peter Ha
Dec. 4, 2009 19:57:pm
at 19:57:pm
You said it was going to be hard, to pick the five. For me there is one, the commodore 64. At the time when computers needed a cold room, and were the size of refrigerators, and printers as big as a supermarket car, buying my first Commodore, taking it home, connecting it to my TV and programming my own games, was a taste of being in the Enterprise (Star Trek).
Second, the TV, man what and invention.
Third, the phone, as the ground for how we spend our time.
Fourth, the satellites, as the conduit to so much real-time communications.
Fifth, iPhone as the summary of today's technology.
All these things together, have made the TODAY which we enjoy. Imagine seeing the news of the Ballon Boy in my phone, while driving, and bitting my nails with other 54 million people as the Rescue guy broke the ballon in pieces with an axe!!! What a moment, all possible to the items mentioned above.
That was a hard assignment given to you.
gcarlos7
Dec. 21, 2009 08:49:am
at 08:49:am
I actually have a working copy of R.C. Pro-Am
claytonmorris
Dec. 23, 2009 08:43:am
at 08:43:am
? Nintendo? please we all know it was Coleco that started the vidoe game graze with football!
The reset you can Argue.
mdpac5
Dec. 29, 2009 14:09:pm
at 14:09:pm
I would also say the USB Thumbdrive deserves an honorable mention as well...
kinggarsoniii
Jan. 6, 2010 23:38:pm
at 23:38:pm
"don't tell me to read books, magazines, newspapers and comic books on an eReader or I'll punch you"
Hear, hear! I'm sticking with paper too. If I had an eReader, I would literally be looking at a screen ALL day.
innova154
Jan. 11, 2010 17:02:pm
at 17:02:pm
No... Pong started it all, and I'd have to put the car on my list. Before the car the majority of the population never traveled more than 15 miles from their home during their lifetime.
timcahill
Jan. 24, 2010 11:05:am
at 11:05:am
I absolutely adore my Kindle and can't wait for the iPad. SO THERE.
I'm with you on Polaroids, though.
diane
Feb. 8, 2010 18:56:pm
at 18:56:pm