I ran across this piece in the Times about the significance of the invention of the joystick. Call me a simpleton–and if you do, it’s on, pimpin–but this got me to thinking.
Lots of inventions get praised frequently for the good they’ve provided mankind. Printing press, personal computer, stuff like that. The joystick is a subtle one that people don’t give props enough to.
I won’t belabor the joystick point too much, but who’s got a vote for the most underrated invention?
My vote–the latex condom. Supreme hassle, but the cost/benefit analysis is so much so in the plusses that it ain’t even funny.
2 Comments
by Lady
I’m gonna go with the polyurethane condom cuz latex doesn’t work for the kid.
but in all honestly, i’m a bug fan of the AA Energizers…
or perhaps the internet!
by Kirk
The internet is right up there with the radio, printing press, and automobile, no doubts.
My vote for underrated is the compact disc. Not so much for music and games, but data storage and transfer. Without the CD, we’re still trying to run the net off 3 1/2″ floppies.