Life changers – The top innovations of the last 30 years / Posted by Ari 18.03.2009 10:58

Ask a seemingly simple question "Which innovations have changed people's lives most dramatically during the last three decades?" and you might be surprised about the answers.

The first thought that crosses the minds of many technology, business, media or research focused people might be things like the Internet, the telephone, the computer, the combustion engine, or the electricity. Sure, they are all among the top innovations of all time, but they older than 30 years. Yes, even the foundation for the Internet was developed during the 1960s. Not to mention e-mail as one of its first applications.

The New York Times asked a panel of eight judges from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania what are the "Life changers – The top innovations of the last 30 years"? Sure enough, the learned judges fell into the same trap. Here is the list from Wharton:

1. Internet
2. PC and laptop computers
3. Mobile phone
4. E-mail
5. DNA testing and sequencing
6. Magnetic resonance imaging
7. Microprocessors
8. Fiber optics
9. Office software
10. Laser/robotic surgery

At least, the Internet, e-mail, microprocessor, and office software (debatable perhaps) were around before 1979. The idea for a mobile phone existed, but they weren't exactly mobile yet. You had to have a car to carry the hardware and batteries around.

My top three innovations for the last 30 years are:
1. Economical production of energy from solar, wind, and other renewable sources.
2. Mobile phone.
3. Digital media.

1. We are not quite there yet with renewable energy, but close. Many new houses are being heated by warm layers of soil in the ground. Solar panels and wind turbines are getting more economical. Another sign is the battery development for electric cars and bikes that will bring e-car technology to the masses.

2. Nokia probably has the best view on the mobile phone's impact on the world. Currently, the company is researching in Asia and Africa what kind of phones poor people in villages need. The communication technology truly has an opportunity to change people's lives for the better when they get access to information, trading places and job markets.

3. Digital media revolution has only begun. MP3 technology changed the music industry. It will never be the same again. Clay Shirky's thoughtful blog post about newspapers under pressure from the Internet is right to the point.

The media and media business models as we knew them have changed because of digital revolution. Forever.

Soon, all major markets will have digital TV broadcasting. There is no reason why the TV industry wouldn't go through a similar change than the music industry is going through at the moment. TV shows and movies are available without region restrictions, without time restrictions. I have already viewed a live sports broadcast from another region via the Internet that I wasn't able to view from a traditional TV at all.

Amazon Kindle is bringing ebooks to the world (although available only in the U.S. now). The moment an equally popular device becomes available to the world and someone makes DRM-free books (ebooks without copy-protection) available, publishing business will have to change.

It will be dramatic, but it can be fun, too.