ISSUES
: The Internet of Things
Chapter 1: Digital issues
4
Smartphones, tablets and Facebook are
the best inventions of the 21st century
For everyone, the smartphone is the stand-out invention of the century so far – but young
people stress the importance of Wikipedia and YouTube.
By Will Dahlgreen
I
n only 15 years, technology has
changed beyond recognition. In
2000 the most popular phone was
the Nokia 3310; in 2004 a computer
processor might have 170 million
transistors, while in 2013 it had 4.3
billion; and with the rise of digital the
US music market is worth almost
three times less than in 2004. Some
downplay the rate of change ushered
in by the Internet – one argument
is the telegraph reduced message
transmission from three weeks to
30 minutes, while the Internet has
reduced it from 30 seconds (with fax)
to two. But it’s the breadth of change
that’s truly revolutionary: by 2020
around 70% of the world’s population
are forecast to have a smartphone in
their pocket.
There’snodoubt amongBritishpeople
that the smartphone is this century’s
best consumer invention so far – over
twice as many choose it as any other.
Although preceded by the Blackberry,
the iPhone was the first smartphone
to
popularise
a
touchscreen, andwith
the first truly popular
tablet
computer
also designed by
Apple – chosen as
the second most
significant invention –
Apple is perhaps this
century’s
greatest
pioneer.
In August 2015 a
billion people used
Facebook on a single
day, a seventh of the
world’s population.
Facebook is seen
as the third most
significant consumer
invention, chosen by
23%.
Facebook
doesn’t
have the same cross-
generation appeal as
the smartphone or tablet, however.
While every age-group
place the smartphone
first and all but the
youngest place the
tablet in their top three,
Facebook is only the
fifth most important
invention for 40–59s
and over-60s, but
comes second for the
younger generations.
Likewise, Wikipedia
has disproportionately
revolutionised
the
lives of young people.
In 2014 we found that
fully 84% of 18–24s
had used Wikipedia
for professional or
academic research,
compared to only
49% of 40–59 year
olds. It’s seen as
the joint-third most
important
invention
to the youngest generation, tied with
YouTube (23% each), which only
3% of over-60s see as an important
invention.
In contrast, the top two generations
say video messaging service Skype,
which has helped millions connect
with their children while at university,
overseas or having moved away
from home for work, is the third most
important invention. They also stress
the importance of TomTom and other
automotive navigation systems, both
placing this in fourth.
26 January 2016
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The above information is reprinted
with kind permission from
YouGov. Please visit
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co.uk for further information.
© YouGov plc 2016
The best inventions of the 21st century
Which of the following (or other-brand equivalents) do you
think are the most significant consumer inventions of the
21st century so far?
Smartphones
iPad
Facebook
Skype
TomTom
The Cloud
Wikipedia
YouTube
Kindle
HD television
Twitter
Netflix
iPod
WhatsApp
Smartwatches
MSN messenger
iTunes
Spotify
Nintendo Wii
Selfie sticks
Uber
Napster
Tinder
55%
25%
23%
20%
20%
14%
12%
11%
9%
9%
5%
5%
5%
4%
3%
3%
3%
3%
1%
1%
1%
1%
0%
21–22 January 2016
Generational views of the 21st century
% of 18- to 24-year-olds who choose the following
(or other brand equivalents) as the most
significant consumer inventions of the 21st century
Smartphones
iPad
Facebook
Skype
TomTom
The Cloud
Wikipedia
YouTube
Kindle
HD television
Twitter
Netflix
iPod
WhatsApp
Smartwatches
MSN messenger
iTunes
Spotify
Nintendo Wii
Selfie sticks
Uber
Napster
Tinder
62%
29%
23%
19%
15%
14%
14%
11%
11%
7%
6%
6%
4%
4%
4%
3%
2%
1%
1%
1%
1%
0%
21–22 January 2016
23%
