What are some inventions of the last 20 years?

Question

What are some inventions of the last 20 years?

Answer 1

Some people answered "... the internet", which is incorrect. The internet, or more specifically, the services of the interconnected networks, such as email (SMTP), file transfer (FTP), usenet news (NNTP), have been around for a longer time than most people realize. The internet itself, or at least the conceptualization of such a network, has existed since the 1950's and 1960's. It is anything but new...



There is one very important invention that does relate, however. The "hypertext transport protocol", or "HTTP", was formally conceptualized in a proposal in March 1989 by physicist Tom Berners-Lee. In December 1990, the first WorldWideWide server and browser was launched. The WWW was created to be a repository of collaborative human knowledge. A library of us all, if you will.



The "Web" is the major driving force behind the internet revolution, and it is only twenty years old this year.



It should be noted that the cellular phone and hybrid car are not new inventions - the cellular phone was well in use by 1990; and there were concept hybrid vehicles at auto shows. High-definition TV in use is new, but it too was conceptualized and plans laid out in the 1980's. It was more than ten years overdue when finally put into use.



Here is an interesting comparison of then and now for you to check out, it is produced by Beloit College to help the teachers better understand their incoming freshmen students and the world those freshmen grew up in. I mention it here as it does detail the effect that some of the inventions have had on us over the past two decades.



Beloit College Mindset List:

http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2010.php



Cheers!

Answer 2

First of all, I wouldn't use cell phone. It's been around a lot longer than 20 years. However, you could use the camera phone.



XM or satellite radio is pretty new and you can get a lot of info from www.xmradio.com.



Also, I know it's not really an invention but you could consider the Harry Potter books simply because they're less than 20 years old and have out sold just about every other book in history. Plus, I'm sure that every kid in her class will have heard of them.



The DVD was invented in 1995 and has made a huge impact on the movie industry for owning movies at home as well as renting them.

Answer 3

The following have been chosen based on their foundational usefulness and societal influence.



World Wide Web: besides making the Internet easier to use, it was also free whereas Gopher would no longer be free to use. Java: a programming language that is both open source and non-platform specific. Linux: Forced Microsoft, a monopoly, to compete with a free and ever-improving operation system. Also brought awareness to the concept of open source.

PageRank: an improved search engine algorithm based on the assumption that better quality webpages are linked to more often.

Wikis: web pages that can utilize collective intelligence by being editable from more than one terminal. Almost all the non-software inventions I could find were basically refinements of pre-1988 inventions. However, the Human Development Index, a statistical measurement of countries' living conditions, is worth consideration for your daughter's project.

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_inventions#The_Noughties_.282000-2009.29



Um you should check on some of the dates - some items were invented before they became everyday items.





http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/microwave.htm

The first Raytheon commercial microwave oven was the 1161 Radarange, which was marketed in 1954. Rated at 1600 watts, it was so large and expensive that it was practical only for restaurant and institutional use.



The internet - 1983

1972 Video game console

1971 E-mail

1965 Compact disc

1963 Computer mouse

1971- VCR or videocassette recorder invented.



Ethanol has been used by humans for thousands of years, in part because it is easy to make.





Cooper developed the cell phone in 1973 while working for Motorola. Naturally, he had the honor of making the world's first cell phone call. From a busy New York sidewalk, Cooper called his rival at Bell Laboratories and said, "Joe, I'm calling you from a real portable cellular telephone." Cooper says he thought he heard teeth gnashing in the background.



Timing is Everything

From 1906 to 1910, a few Auto-Mixte vehicles using Pieper’s hybrid system were built in Liege. Most were delivery and commercial vehicles, though at least one car chassis was shown at motor shows in Belgium.

Answer 5

I would add the various types of renewable energy that have come about in the last 20 years such as BioDiesels, ethanol, and solar power. Solar power cells are actually much older than 20 years as they are based on the photovoltaic effect and photoelectric effect which were first discovered in 1839 and 1887 respectively (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_effect, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoelectric_effect). But it is only with the discoveries of various inexpensive and efficient semiconductors that solar power has been made somewhat economically viable. These discoveries have been dramatic in the last 20 years. Here's a link to a nice graph of this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/PVeff(rev110707)d.png .



To me, renewable energy seems to be an "invention" which we are only scratching the surface of and will only become more important and have a greater impact on our daily lives as time goes on.



If that's not enough, I would also like to add the ShamWow. You'll be saying "wow" every time.

Answer 6

The idea for cells phones is from 1947, and the portable was patented in 1975. See:

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa070899.htm



In 1901, Porsche had the first hybrid car: http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1131/



HDTV is not really an invention, it is a standard. Computer monitors had higher resolution before HDTV.



The MP3 player is the forerunner of the iPOD. Patented in 1989.



Think eBay & PayPal. The Segway HT.

Answer 7

Xbox 360, PS3, Wii



Hydrogen Powered Car, Windows XP, Jailbreaking iPod touch software, Linux, CD players, DVD, TiVo, DVR, Satalite TV, Smart Phones (iPhone, Driod, Blackberry), Realistic physic engines on computers, Magnetic Trains, World Wide Web, Java, Viagra, Self Cleaning Windows,

Answer 8

Since 1990, huh?



Well the cell phone is older than that, but a practical one that everyone can use is within 20 years. Texting is within 20 years.



The LED is older, but I think the phosphor-based white LED makes your cutoff. That's what makes LED lighting possible.



CD's are slightly older than your cutoff, but DVD's make it.



Viagra.



The Windows operating system is older, but Windows 95, a huge jump over its predecessors, makes it.



The internet is older, but internet search engines such as Google and Yahoo are within 20 years.



Microwave popcorn might be within that window, but I'm not completely sure.



And of course, the slap-chop.

Answer 9

1 Pilot-less drone aircraft

2 Scientist at University of Rochester have developed a new generation of Computer Processors. These processors are based on 3-Dimensional Circuits in contrary to 2-Dimensional Circuits of today.



3 Robotic Engineers at MIT Humanoid Robotics Group have developed a robot which is capable of adapting to situations so that it can assist people with everyday chores, everyday life and everyday work.



4 Wikipedia ?

Answer 10

1988....PROZAC



Prozac is the registered trademarked name for fluoxetine hydrochloride and the world's most widely prescribed antidepressant to-date, the first product in a major new class of drugs for depression called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Prozac was first introduced to the US market in January 1988. It took two years for Prozac to gain its 'most prescribed' status.





http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa980225.htm



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1984...Genetic Fingerprinting (also called DNA testing, DNA typing, or DNA profiling) is a technique used to distinguish between individuals of the same species using only samples of their DNA. The technique was first reported in 1984 by Dr. Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester, and is now the basis of several national DNA identification databases.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_invention



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1993...Global Positioning System (GPS)



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_invention



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1986...Fuji introduced the disposable camera.



1987...Disposable contact lenses invented.



http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa010500a.htm



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Good luck with the project...sounds like a fun assignment...seems I never got projects this interesting when I was in school.span.jajahWrapper { font-size:1em; color:#B11196; text-decoration:underline; } a.jajahLink { color:#000000; text-decoration:none; } span.jajahInLink:hover { background-color:#B11196; }

Answer 11

she cant forget the graphics processing unit that's responsible for helping the cell phone and other techs to work.



She cant forget the Mpman that is responsible for starting up the whole mass market expansion for mp3

Answer 12

These sites shall help you:

http://sc.tri-bit.com/Top_25_Inventions_in_the_Last_25_Years,_My_***

http://theappslab.com/2008/11/18/best-invention-of-the-last-20-years/

you may add; digital cameras, Commercial Satellite receivers, Compact high power computers, wireless computer commumication, ...

Answer 13

GPS, Javascript, Flash programming, DVD

Answer 14

I think nothing more significant besides mobile phone and internet.



These 2 inventions changed forever how the whole world live their lives.

Answer 15

Invention Submission - Novel Rotary-Turbo-InFlow Tech - Featured Development



GEARTURBINE PROJECT

Atypical InFlow Thermodynamic

Technology Proposal Submission

Novel Fueled Motor Engine Type



*State of the art Innovative concept Top system Higher efficient percent.

Have similar system of the Aeolipile Heron Steam device from Alexandria 10-70 AD. -New Form-Function Motor-Engine Device. Next Step, Epic Design Change, Broken-Seal Revelation. -Desirable Power-Plant Innovation.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cPo9Lf44TE



YouTube; * Atypical New • GEARTURBINE / Retrodynamic = DextroRPM VS LevoInFlow + Ying Yang Thrust Way Type - Non Waste Looses



-This innovative concept consists of hull and core where are held all 8 bteps of the work-flow which make the concept functional. The core has several gears and turbines which are responsible for these 8 steps (5 of them are dedicated to the turbo stages). The first step is fuel compression, followed by 2 cold turbo levels. The fourth step is where the fuel starts burning – combustion stage, which creates thrust for the next, 5th step – thrust step, which provides power to the planetary gears and turbines and moves the system. This step is followed by two hot turbo steps and the circle is enclosed by the final 8th step – bigger turbine. All this motion in a retrodynamic circumstance effect, wich is plus higher RPM speed of self reaction motion, because is like when something go to a something is coming. Its a Rotary-Turbo-InFlow Technique principle.



*8-X/Y Thermodynamic CYCLE - Way Steps:

1)1-Compression / bigger

2)2-Turbo 1 cold

3)2-Turbo 2 cold

4)2-Combustion - circular motion flames / opposites

5)2-Thrust - single turbo & planetary gears / ying yang

6)2-Turbo 2 hot

7)2-Turbo 1 hot

8)1-Turbine / bigger



-With Retrodynamic Dextrogiro vs Levogiro Phenomenon Effect. / Rotor-RPM VS InFlow / front to front; "Collision-Interaction Type" - inflow vs blades-gear-move. Technical unique dynamic innovative motion mode. [Retrodynamic Reaction = When the inflow have more velocity the rotor have more RPM Acceleration, with high (XY Position) Momentum] Which the internal flow (and rotor) duplicate its speed, when activated being in a rotor (and inflow) with [inverse] opposite Turns. A very strong Novel concept of torque power thrust.



-Non-waste parasitic looses system for cooling, lubrication & combustion.



-Shape-Mass + Rotary-Motion = Inertia-Dynamic / Form-Function Wide [Flat] Cylindrical shape + positive dynamic rotary mass = continue Inertia kinetic positive tendency motion. Like a Flywheel.



-Combustion 2Two continue circular [Rockets] flames. [ying yang] opposite to the other. – With 2TWO very long distance INFLOW [inside propulsion] CONDUITS. -4 TURBOS Rotary Total Thrust-Power Regeneration Power System. -Mechanical direct 2two [Small] Planetary Gears at polar position. -Like the Ying Yang Symbol/Concept. -Wide out the Rotor circumference were have much more lever [HIGH Torque] POWER THRUST. -Military benefits; No blade erosion by sand & very low heat target signature profile. -3 points of power thrust; 1-flow way, 2-gear, 3-turbine. *Patent; Dic. 1991 IMPI Mexico #197187 All Rights Reserved. Carlos Barrera.

Answer 16

REALITY TV!!!!



think about all the "go green" stuff like the new lightbulbs and stuff like that



CDs, dvds?



what about a type of music like pop music? like once britney, bsb, and nsync came along.



what about research thats going on? all the steamcell research and that kind of stuff.



the snuggie.



the birth control patch



the world wide web was created in 1990



GPS

Answer 17

the internet officially started in 92, i believe. gps (though that might have been earlier)

the hubble space telescope was put into orbit in 1990, putting it just inside your 20 year window.

Answer 18

Wii, Playstation, Xbox, H1N1 vaccines =]

Answer 19

newer UAV's (unmanned aerial vehicles)



facebook



myspace





Apple productsf, iMac, Mac Notebook.. etc..

Answer 20

game systems like xbox 360

Answer 21

Check out www.AsSeenOnTV.com. Its got all those things that they try to sell for $19.99 or $19.95 on TV all the time.

Answer 22

The Snuggie. :D

Answer 23

ipod

Answer 24

microwave, pager, vcr, kindle- ebook readers,

Answer 25

classified

Answer 26

computer/ ponsey scheme/

Answer 27

the one your on now INTERNET ,