Technological Advancement: 10 Most Important Technological Advancements that Changed the World

Even suggesting that this author knows which 10 of the many technological advancement categories have had the greatest impact upon changing the world is arrogant. Mostly the last statement is true because each of us with obvious specific needs might categorize their list of technological advances that changed the world or their order of importance differently. This being true, I am sure that each individual list would overlap with the most significant of these technology advancements. The following article will highlight the 10 technological advances that I believe have changed the world.

The order of my selections for this top ten list is not necessarily in importance order and may in fact be in chronological order. Again, each technological advancement event is so noteworthy that each could be discussed on their own as their significance to the world as we know it is just that powerful.

Technology Advancement - Medicine

At the beginning of the list would be those items that have directly impacted humans as a species to extend their life. I have titled this category Medicine with important subcategories like Antibiotics, Surgical Transplants and Vaccinations.

It would be difficult for any person to argue with this category. Prior to medical advancements in these three areas many people died from over exposure of the elements and the unstoppable spreading of contagious diseases. Out of this technological advancement category societies gleaned the extension of life which both allowed highly educated individuals to develop and create medical technological advancements and allowed important critical years to document and transfer their expertise. New diseases emerged and new cures evolved.

Technology Advancement - Environmental

Second on my list are technological advancements in treatment and processes with water and sanitation. I admit that in some parts of the world they have not been as fortunate as the more civilized countries with the development and usage of water treatment and sanitation disposition which have led to the virtual elimination of the diseases caused by ingesting these contaminants but, for the most part even where the entire process is not in place the knowledge is present and understood as important. The category ties into the first as an extension of Medical technological advancement in that it also has extended human life expectancy. Also, for those areas which have not been able to implement treatment plans there now exists pharmaceutical help for infected individuals.

Technology Advancement - Communication

The next area I would designate as total world changing technological advancement would be in the field of communication. Being able to communicate by different methods and by ever quicker means makes the designation of this category two fold as it is a direct influence on virtually every other category. No matter what the technological advancement event or development if the details of those technological advancements can be communicated quickly the more rapidly the significant advancements can spread.

Sub-categories in this field, like in the Medical technological advancement category, have individual significance and could stand alone but I feel it is worthy of mention that they could be declared dependent as well as independent of each other.

Technology Advancement - Telephone

The first separate technological advancement communication distinction goes to the invention of the telephone. Prior to this technological advancement invention news had to travel by timely means like stage coach, rail road, and postal service. Whether the communication was an update from one family member to another or an emergency message the outcome was that it was received equally slow. There also was no means to mass communicate so distribution resulted in disparity in the message. Some never got the message and others received it too late to have any effect on the outcome.

Technology Advancement - Television

The next technological advancement communication distinction I would have to offer up is the television. As with most technological advancement inventions, not everyone had access to one at first but you were special if you owned one. Some would say that the radio might be more significant than the television but I would dare say that adding a visual medium to the communication method outweighs the prior discovery of sound over air waves. I say this because even with the radio being invented the use as a mass communication tool of important news had not been established. It was more considered entertainment rather than news worthy.

Technology Advancement - Real Time News

The television gave society its first look at movies in the home, its first look at commercials in the home, and the first pictorial messages from government leaders. With all technological advancement categories, especially communication, there came risks of freedoms and other individual rights but as we have come to learn, being able to witness events as they happen is very powerful. Society was able to follow news items including weather disasters, presidential elections, and other country news soon after it happened and more recently in real time. This visual exposure has caused individuals to be held more accountable and has kept the public more informed. Some feel the television is the most noteworthy technological advancement in our life time.

Technology Advancement - Travel

Another big area of life that has made drastic differences in technological advancement in a global world way is in the category of travel. The first huge technological advancement that was a world changing invention was the invention of the automobile. While the rail system had allowed continued development of the country permanent relocation used to be the norm if one needed to be over a few miles away or so. The day trip had a completely different meaning. The automobile as a technological advancement gave a family the means to live away from the city and still be close enough to go to town for supplies, the ability to accept employment out of town, and the ability to take vacations in other states.

Technology Advancement - Infrastructure

Automobiles also prompted the mass infra structure necessary to provide more easily travelable roads, the interstate highway system (another technological advancement ) was born. This opened up the economy and the job market as individuals now had a means to travel for work, thus the traveling salesman. This also allowed mass distribution of manufactured items to all parts of the country. Where would Wal-Mart be without this technological advancement?

Technology Advancement - Air Travel

An extension of this global world changing category of technological advancement is air travel. With the ability to fly just about anywhere in a day the world was opened up to everyone. You can visit across county in a day, like going to grandmas for Christmas, or traveling for medical interventions or vacations, or for the president to visit the leader of another country. The technological advancement in aerospace has truly been revolutionary.

Technological Advancement - Home Improvements

The next technological advancement is in the comforts of your home. Technological advancement in providing a person more efficient means of taking care of their home freeing them up for education, career advancement, or hobbies is the next noteworthy category.

I am speaking of the refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, air conditioner, furnace, and indoor plumbing. These technological advancements were a must in order for there to be any time in a person's life for personal advancement in education or career. Each person's 'day planner' would be much different if not for these technological advancements in personal home-life care.

Technological Advancement - World Wide Web

My final technological advancement that has changed the world is... the World Wide Web and wireless. Not to minimize the invention of the personal computer but of itself I don't believe it was a technological advancement or world changing event. Without question, the technological advancement that changed the world the most would be the internet.

Need to fix something in the house? What technological advancement comes to mind? Check the internet.

Need to know how far away the storm is? What technological advancement comes to mind? Check the internet.

Wondering who won the game last night? What technological advancement comes to mind? Check the internet.

Need to see if your mom responded to your e-mail? What technological advancement comes to mind? Check the internet.

Need to know what side effects the prescription your doctor gave you might have? What technological advancement comes to mind? Check the internet.

Whatever you need to know, need to do, need to learn more about, want to learn more about, need directions to get to, or just about anything else you can think of the internet is the place to go. And having all this wireless, what more can be said?

Effecting and changing the world in a global way the hugest technological advancement is... The World Wide Web.