Underappreciated inventions of the 20th century

twickster · #1 03-10-2011, 06:54 PM

Clumping cat litter

TravisFromOR · #2 03-10-2011, 07:09 PM

The safety razor.

NoClueBoy · #3 03-10-2011, 07:14 PM

Goofballs to get hopped up on.

Interrupter gear for firing machine guns through propeller arcs.

Dual recliner loveseats with built in drink holders.

The Denver Broncos.

NoClueBoy · #4 03-10-2011, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisFromOR

The safety razor.

The Safety Dance.

Sailboat · #5 03-10-2011, 07:22 PM

The safety belt. I owe my life, literally.

etv78 · #6 03-10-2011, 07:23 PM

the VP shunt. (made me as healthy as I'm gonna be)

Lumpy · #7 03-10-2011, 07:38 PM

super-absorbent diapers.

blondebear · #8 03-10-2011, 07:51 PM

Teabags

Shagnasty · #9 03-10-2011, 07:54 PM

The Internet highway system in the U.S. It is hardly unknown but it is greatly underappreciated. It is older than the internet and beats it in terms of societal impact. Somehow Eisenhower doesn't get the accolades that Al Gore does though.

EvilTOJ · #10 03-10-2011, 08:03 PM

Uh, you mean Interstate highway system?

Hot running water. Seriously, hot running water. Sure we've had it for centuries, but it's never been so easy and cheap to have it inside your house any time you want it!

PlainJain · #11 03-10-2011, 08:06 PM

The Clapper, duh!

TravisFromOR · #12 03-10-2011, 08:08 PM

The light bulb, the steam boat, and the cotton gin.

Markxxx · #13 03-10-2011, 08:16 PM

Markxxx

Little Nemo · #14 03-10-2011, 08:47 PM

The standardized shipping container

zoid · #15 03-10-2011, 08:53 PM

Car air conditioning.
Air conditioning in general is nice but in a car stuck in traffic in august it's a lifesaver.

needscoffee · #16 03-10-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisFromOR

The light bulb, the steam boat, and the cotton gin.

C'mon, those aren't underappreciated.

Automatic doors.

Snowboarder Bo · #17 03-10-2011, 08:57 PM

The zipper.

Shagnasty · #18 03-10-2011, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

The standardized shipping container

Good choice. I forgot that one. I love logistics and seeing how cheap and easy it is for container ships to just load that stuff on ships with a crane in standard containers in Asia and then just pick it up and plop it on the back of a truck here at home. Many consumer items wouldn't be nearly as cheap or widespread without those.

janis_and_c0 · #19 03-10-2011, 09:27 PM

Velcro

TravisFromOR · #20 03-10-2011, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowboarder Bo

The zipper.

19th Century...

Snowboarder Bo · #21 03-10-2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisFromOR

19th Century...

If you'd read the book, you'd know you're wrong. Gideon Sundback was granted a patent for the zipper March 20, 1917. cite

TravisFromOR · #22 03-10-2011, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowboarder Bo

If you'd read the book, you'd know you're wrong. Gideon Sundback was granted a patent for the zipper March 20, 1917. cite

I thought it was Elias Howe in 1851. Guess his "clothing closure" wasn't zippery enough for historians, though.

Snowboarder Bo · #23 03-10-2011, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisFromOR

I thought it was Elias Howe in 1851. Guess his "clothing closure" wasn't zippery enough for historians, though.

Howe didn't market his invention at all, most likely because he was busy making and selling shitloads of his sewing machines.

Whitcomb Judson later received a patent for a similar device, which he marketed with some success, but it was Sundback who came up with the design that we all know as the zipper. Sundback not only, by the way, invented the zipper, he also invented (and patented) a number of machines and devices used to make zippers. He was really an extraordinarily clever and inventive man.

JohnT · #24 03-11-2011, 01:01 AM

Extendable/retractable dog leashes

The combination couch/recliner

DIY furniture

Q-tips

Freeways

Derleth · #25 03-11-2011, 02:27 AM

Garbage bags with drawstrings.

Offset printing (on paper).

Laser printing.

Inkjet printing.

TeX, LaTeX, PostScript, and DVI.

Agnostic Pagan · #26 03-11-2011, 03:08 AM

Stay-on-tabs for beverage cans.

Mute buttons.

Caller ID and *69

Collect calls

Paul in Qatar · #27 03-11-2011, 03:11 AM

Skype et. al., finally we have video phones!

pullin · #28 03-11-2011, 05:33 AM

Spandex

Cicero · #29 03-11-2011, 07:21 AM

The electric light was 19th century as well.

Sparky812 · #30 03-11-2011, 07:25 AM

...nevermind

gallows fodder · #31 03-11-2011, 07:46 AM

The hand-held hair dryer.

The self-adhesive sanitary pad.

Nava · #32 03-11-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisFromOR

The light bulb, the steam boat, and the cotton gin.

Are those 20th century?

Annie-Xmas · #33 03-11-2011, 09:33 AM

PANTYHOSE! Too hell with girdles and garters.

Sports bras.

Antigen · #34 03-11-2011, 09:43 AM

Umbrellas that open and close with the push of a button.

Ogre · #35 03-11-2011, 09:45 AM

I'm gonna say synthetic fleece. Invented in 1979. Extremely cheap, light, and warm.

twickster · #36 03-11-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nava

Are those 20th century?

I b'lieve you got whooshed.

ZipperJJ · #37 03-11-2011, 09:54 AM

Ziploc(tm) bags

JoelUpchurch · #38 03-11-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agnostic Pagan

Stay-on-tabs for beverage cans.

I actually have the patent drawings for that from 1976 in front of me. Henry Petroski has a chapter on the development of aluminium cans in his book Invention by Design. I wonder how many people are around that have never used a church key?

Petroski also has a chapter on zippers with drawings from Howe's, Judson's and Sundback's patents.

JoelUpchurch · #39 03-11-2011, 10:19 AM

The computer mouse.

Annie-Xmas · #40 03-11-2011, 10:23 AM

The microwave oven.

TriPolar · #41 03-11-2011, 10:54 AM

Internet porn.

And maybe those computer thingies that it made it possible.

gallows fodder · #42 03-11-2011, 11:05 AM

The electric toothbrush.

The laundry dryer.

Philster · #43 03-11-2011, 11:09 AM

Nuclear weapons.

tdn · #44 03-11-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriPolar

Internet porn.

You'll note that the first word of the thread title is "underappreciated."

Soda and beer cans. Seriously. And plastic soda bottles. Some serious engineering went into them, so that we no longer have to go to a soda jerk to drink a Coke.

Philster · #45 03-11-2011, 12:34 PM

GFCI outlets/wiring.

TriPolar · #46 03-11-2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdn

...so that we no longer have to go to a soda jerk to drink a Coke.

This sounds incredibly perverted. Have to run. Please fill in the punch line.

The Devil's Grandmother · #47 03-11-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilTOJ

Hot running water. Seriously, hot running water. Sure we've had it for centuries, but it's never been so easy and cheap to have it inside your house any time you want it!

This, but I'll add the word Clean. Clean hot running water in the house is the underappreciated pinnacle of civilization.
And machines that do laundry.

Shoeless · #48 03-11-2011, 12:45 PM

I don't know if they have a name, but my vote would be for those little plastic snap-in fasteners that are used for connecting two ends of a strap. Snap in to connect, squeeze the sides to release. They're on backpacks, gym shorts, high chairs, kids' car seats... pretty much everywhere. Whoever invented those was a genius.