The last few decades have given us some inventions that have changed our lives significantly. Things that seemed a novelty at first have become so ingrained in the habits of everyday life that we can’t imagine how we ever lived without them.
There are billions of cell phones in the world today, but just a short time ago, they were bulky, expensive devices that seemed impractical to average users. Over time they have gotten smaller, less expensive and have enhanced their services greatly. Now users can talk, text, play video games, download music, take pictures and even surf the web. We feel safer with one in our possession as we travel and stay in touch with family, friends and business associates. This is not an invention that will fade away in time, but will remain a practical part of our everyday lives and will continue to evolve. It is not too farfetched to imagine cell phones replacing land lines and serving as consumers’ only telephones.
Cooking used to be a time consuming chore, but the invention of microwave ovens has made it increasingly more convenient to prepare meals at home. Now we can cook or heat up leftovers in an instant making our time in the kitchen more efficient. It’s as simple as pushing a button. Even men and teenagers can navigate this simple machine with ease. This invention has had a dramatic impact on housewives and working women alike.
Can you imagine life without your debit card? These little pieces of plastic make the world go round. Debit cards were introduced in the 1980’s, but did not become commonly used until the 1990’s. Unlike credit cards, you don’t get a bill at the end of the month. We’ve become almost a cashless society and that trend will continue. It’s more convenient, safer, and if you lose your card, a call to your bank is all it takes to protect your account and get a new card.
A world without computers would be a sad, sad place. How did we ever manage without these wonderful, fascinating machines? It is estimated that more than 80% of American households now have computers, and most of those have internet access. They have changed the way we process and store information, the way we shop, play games, communicate, watch movies, listen to music and stay in touch with friends. There is a whole new generation of users who will never write letters to friends. With e-mail, chat, and instant messaging so readily available, there is no need.
As all savvy internet users know, Google has all the answers. Boasting accurate results and a massive index of over one billion pages, Google has become the most popular search engine in the world. Though it has been around just over one decade, it has quickly grown into a billion dollar company. We use it for research, for browsing the web, and well, to find the answers quickly.
These are a few of the modern inventions that make life easier. Who knows what the next few decades will bring. Probably more time-saving tools that we will embrace whole-heartedly. Maybe some wonderful gadgets will replace cell-phones, microwaves, computers, the internet and Google. We’ll buy them with whatever replaces our debit cards. And enjoy them just as much.
