Top 10 Inventions that Changed the World

1. Light Bulb

The light bulb allowed humans to see anywhere -- regardless of natural light present. Prior to electric light, all we had was controlled fire -- which is both dangerous and not ideal for all situations. With Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb, humans could now bring the gift of sight with them anywhere. This accelerated society's progress, because now people could get more work done anywhere and at any time.

2. Compass
The compass allowed early explorers and settlers to navigate the terrain. Without the compass, maps would be almost impossible to draw and society would be very difficult to plan. People would not be able to find each other and communicate as easily, leading to a world of secluded groups of people. By giving humans a sense of direction, the compass allowed us to find other parts of the world.

3. Paper

Paper is (or at least, used to) be the basis for all documentation and official communication. Paper allows us to write down our thoughts or draw art, which is crucial for our society. Before the internet and computers, writing/printing on paper was the only way to send messages to people, write stories and articles, make drawings, spread education, etc. It's very evident that paper was an essential building block of civilization today.

4. Antibiotics
Antibiotics--and many other forms of medicine--are essential for humans to fight infections and disease. Before we had antibiotics, disease could wipe out a majority of the human population (take the Bubonic Plague, for example). Antibiotics reduce the fear of sickness and death, and allow us to spend more time on other ways to improve society.

5. Telephone
The telephone was crucial in promoting communication globally. Prior to the telephone, there was no way to communicate via voice to people not present around you. Now, we can pick up a phone and call someone instantly and talk with very little lag. This allowed businesses to conduct more business elsewhere, governments to communicate more with other countries, people to maintain long-distance relationships, and the list goes on.

6. Internet
The Internet has been a huge milestone in connecting people around the world and providing information to everybody. Though not every person on the planet has internet access yet, a large majority do and companies such as Facebook and Google are working on connecting third-world countries to the internet. The fact that I can type a sentence and send it to somebody on the other side of the world, instantly, is very amazing. Now, the internet stores a vast amount of our data and information. We essentially have digital lives on the internet now!

7. Automobile
The automobile really revolutionized travel around the world. No longer did we need to travel by horse or foot. Long distance travel on land became something that anybody could do without worry of the dangers on the journey. Just as with communication, an increase in the ease of travel allowed society to further flourish and prosper. Today, it would take me only 6 hours to travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles. If the car had not been invented, I would need to know how to ride a horse and set camp for the long trek.

8. Airplane
Similar to the invention of the automobile, the invention of the airplane progressed human travel even further. While the car allowed people to travel on land easily, the airplane allowed people to travel very long distances and cross-continent easily. The airplane allowed people to travel from country to country more easily, which improved foreign relationships for nations, business, and the common person's personal life since they can now visit family and friends around the world, easily.

9. Credit Card
The invention of the credit card allowed people to simply spend more money, with ease. Prior to the credit card, people had to carry cash everywhere they went, often in large amounts. Thanks to my credit card, my wallet is now thinner and easier to carry. By making it easier to pay for things, the credit card improved the economy by increasing the overall amount of money flowing between people and businesses.

10. Camera
Without the camera, we wouldn't be able to see how people in the past really looked like! The camera allowed us to cherish our childhood memories and remember how other people look like. Now, we can share pictures and videos of ourselves any time of the day and instantly, through our smartphones. This also allows education to be spread easier, and people to stay in touch with far away loved ones through video chat.

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