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

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…

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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