The most important inventions of the 21st century

The ability to create inventions is what distinguishes us from animals. Throughout eras of human history we have made it to every corner of the globe. With technological advances, we have managed to survive and to become the most successful species on the planet. Inventions that made life easier like wheels, the steam machine and pesticides also secured food sources for us and reduced the need for human labour, allowing specialisation rather than survival. 

The 21^st century has also brought many inventions that might be similarly viewed in the future than how we view the telephone today. During the past 20 years, there have been groundbreaking changes in communication, medicine, finance, transportation, entertainment and more. This article will mention some of the most important inventions of this century. Jordan Carry, an iGaming expert you can read more about here, has helped compile the list.

AR and VR

People have been obsessed with immersing themselves in an imaginary world for a long time. Finally, computer processors are good enough to create this world for individuals with the help of virtual reality goggles. Major electronics manufacturers are all producing VR headsets and slowly they are becoming more affordable for people. 

Augmented reality is used even more often. Thinking of just two examples, Pokemon Go and Snapchat where virtual layers are added to real-life objects have been really big hits in the past ten years. Both systems are being used in education, health care, travel and entertainment. If you are looking for a risky game check out polskie casino.

Smartphones

Combining a phone and a computer was a dream for years. There had been previous attempts to accomplish the feat, but it was really only the iPhone that managed to do it seamlessly. The first iPhone came out in 2007. The idea took off very quickly after that and companies like Blackberry, Samsung and Huawei soon followed. 

Smartphones have changed so much for individuals in terms of how we communicate, bank, order food and so on. By now there are 55.5 million smartphone users in the UK and over 91% of British adults own a smartphone. 

Cryptocurrency

The idea of a decentralised virtual currency came out after the economic crisis hit the world in 2008. People stopped trusting banks and the idea of an immutable and unhackable online ledger system seemed to be the solution. Bitcoin was invented in 2009 and it has been becoming the preferred payment option in so many industries in the past few years. Now there are thousands of different cryptocurrencies, some more popular than others.

Capsule endoscopy 

Capsule endoscopy was first used to treat patients in 2001. This non-invasive monitoring system requires the patient to swallow a small pill-sized camera that will go through their digestive system. The camera traverses the gastrointestinal system and doctors can monitor its track identifying internal bleeding, cancer, ulcers and other pathologies. 

E-readers

E-readers have been a great invention that bookworms love worldwide. While the first one was Sony’s invention, Kindle became the most popular e-reader of all time. The readers use a technology called an e-ink or digital ink which uses so little energy that users can read a Kindle for weeks with a single charge. 

With the invention of smartphones and tablets, the sales of e-readers have plummeted. However, avid readers stick to these devices as they have their advantages over smart devices. For instance, they have no glare in plain sunshine, are waterproof and their batteries last much longer. 

Electric, driverless cars

Tesla has brought self-driving cars and now other manufactures like Volvo are following suit. Electric engines are of the future and already new houses are being built with a charging station built in the garage. Recent breakthroughs in battery technology suggest that charging time will be reduced to just a few minutes and cars will be able to cover a larger range with a single charge. 

Conclusion

Technology is changing our lives every day. Important inventions like the ones mentioned above can make everyone’s lives safer, more comfortable and can provide solutions for environmental issues as well. Entertainment is more immersive and communication has become easier than ever before. 

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