Internet leads in search for best thing since sliced bread

Internet leads in search for best thing since sliced bread

Category

Internet

THE INTERNET is emerging as an early favourite in a global search for the greatest invention since sliced bread, ahead of Australian innovations such as the Hills Hoist and the dual flush toilet.

Eighty years after the first sliced loaf went on sale in a small Missouri town, NEWS.com.au and Times Online are asking the public to identify the item that can be declared the "best thing since sliced bread".

Join the Australian debate here

Join the British debate here

Australians kicked off the debate today on NEWS.com.au while Britons were still sleeping. The Victa lawnmower and the ute were among the early nominees.

Britons have suggested your-say forums on news websites and the ball-point pen. One has nominated the "Rotary Washing Line", presumably unaware that it is an Australian invention.

But many Australians also nominated the internet, which is recognised as having been invented by British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee.

The nominations will be compiled into a global poll later this week, with the public asked to decide whether the greatest thing since sliced bread is, in fact, Australian- or British-born.

One contentious invention is penicillin, which was first grown in a lab by a British scientist but only produced for medicinal use through a technique developed by an Australian in 1943.

Other inventions nominated by Australians include the remote control, canned beer, rock 'n' roll, the ATM, and the Post-It note.

Some inventions which have enriched life but have not had quite the global, sweeping impact of sliced bread have also been nominated, such as bagged salad, the Playstation 3, Freddo Frogs, sliced cheese, and the push-up bra.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23984522-5017303,00.html