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News In Brief

U.K. survey: iPhone more important invention than toilet

Daryl Paranada May 19, 2010

iPhone or washing machine? iPhone or space travel? iPhone or internal combustion engine? If you had to pick between the pairs, which would be the most important invention to you? Well, a new survey says the iPhone is more important than all of those inventions, and the toilet too.

The survey, conducted by Tesco Mobile, revealed what objects are most importance in our lives. About 4,000 consumers — aged between 18-65 — were surveyed. They also placed Apple’s smartphone ahead of the car and camera.

Thankfully, the iPhone was beat out by some rather important inventions. The top 5 in order is: 1. Wheel, 2. Airplane, 3. Light bulb, 4. Internet, 5. PCs.

Find the whole list below:

Kitchen appliances and tech advancements feature heavily on the list. Some items you might find unusual also made it: Post-it notes at number 90, curtains and the push-up bra also made the list. And Apple is on there again — the iPod is number 56.

Here’s the whole list, according to the survey:

  1. Wheel
  2. Aeroplane
  3. Light bulb
  4. Internet
  5. PCs
  6. Telephone
  7. Penicillin
  8. iPhone
  9. Flushing toilet
  10. Combustion engine
  11. Contraceptive pill
  12. Washing machine
  13. Central heating
  14. Fridge
  15. Pain killers
  16. Steam engine
  17. Freezer
  18. Camera
  19. Cars
  20. Spectacles
  21. Mobile phones
  22. Toilet paper
  23. Hoover
  24. Trains 2
  25. Google
  26. Microwave
  27. Email
  28. The pen
  29. Hot water
  30. Shoe
  31. Compass
  32. Ibuprofen
  33. Toothbrush
  34. Hair straighteners
  35. Laptops
  36. Knife and fork
  37. Scissors
  38. Paper 3
  39. Space travel
  40. Kettle
  41. Calculator
  42. Bed
  43. Remote control
  44. Roof
  45. Air conditioning
  46. SAT NAV
  47. Wi-Fi
  48. Cats-eyes
  49. Matches
  50. Power steering
  51. Tumble dryer
  52. Bicycle
  53. Sky+
  54. Tea bags
  55. Umbrella
  56. iPod
  57. Taps
  58. Crash helmet
  59. Wristwatch
  60. eBay
  61. DVD player
  62. Nappies
  63. Ladder
  64. Sun tan lotion
  65. Lawnmower
  66. Make-up
  67. Chairs
  68. Sunglasses
  69. The game of football
  70. Sliced bread
  71. Sofa
  72. Razor blades
  73. Screwdriver
  74. Motorways
  75. Head/ear phones
  76. Towels
  77. Push-up bra
  78. Binoculars
  79. WD40
  80. Mascara
  81. Hair dryer
  82. Facebook
  83. Escalator
  84. Hair dye
  85. Wellington boots
  86. Spell check
  87. Calendars
  88. Cheese grater
  89. Buses
  90. Post-it notes
  91. Gloves
  92. Satellite discs
  93. Pedestrian crossing
  94. Baby’s dummy
  95. Curtains
  96. Bottle opener
  97. Food blender
  98. Dustpan and brush
  99. Desks
  100. Clothes peg

Follow our innovation coverage here.

What do you think? Is it crazy how high the iPhone is or do you think the people surveyed got it right?

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