The program on PBS will reveal tonight the top 30 innovations of the last 30 years.
Some of the candidates:
"Lithium-ion battery; the "mute" button; HTML; cellular phones; eBay; hybrid auto engine; cochlear implants; nanotechnology; search engines; GPS; DNA sequencing; the air bag; World Wide Web; magnetic stripe card; Windows operating system; high yield rice; LCD screens; antibacterial hand wipes"
The evaluation criteria are:
1. Did it have a direct and/or material effect on quality of life?
2. Did it address a compelling need? Did it solve a compelling problem?
3. Was it a fresh, new breakthrough? Was there a "WOW" factor?
4. Did it change the way business is conducted?
5. Did it increase the efficiency of how resources are used?
6. Did it spark an ongoing stream of new innovations on top of the original innovation?
7. Did it lead to the creation of a vast, new industry?
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