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30 Years of Innovations and the Internet impact reigns Supreme

By February 20, 2009
Cindy Gordon

This blog highlights the 30 most important innovatios from the last thirty years from recent Wharton University and PBS Nightly Business Report. Innovations from diverse industries are profiled based on a rigorous evaluation methodology. If you think something is missing leet us know what and why and send to us at info@helixcommerce.com ATTENTION Canadian Innovation(s).

To celebrate their three decades on the air, PBS’ Nightly Business Report teamed up with Knowledge@Wharton, the online research and business analysis journal of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, to select the 30 most important innovations from the last 30 years. The results are in, and the Internet reigns supreme.

The complete results:

Innovation                                                                                          Industry

30. Anti retroviral treatment for AIDS                                                  Health Care
29. SRAM flash memory                                                                       Electronics
28. Stents                                                                                           Health Care
27. ATMs                                                                                             Finance
26. Bar codes and scanners                                                               Retail
25. Bio fuels                                                                                        Biotechnology
24. Genetically modified plants                                                           Biotechnology
23. RFID and applications (e.g.EZpass)                                              Electronics
22. Digital photography/videography                                                 Electronics
21. Graphic user interface (GUI)                                                         Computer Science
20. Social networking via internet                                                      Media
19. Large scale wind turbines                                                            Energy
18. Photovoltaic Solar                                                                        Energy                                                             
17. Microfinance                                                                                 Finance
16. Media file compression (e.g., jpeg, mpeg, mp3)                           Computer Science
15. Online shopping/ecommerce/auctions (e.g., eBay)                      Information Technology
14. GPS Systems                                                                                Electronics
13. Liquid Crystal Displays                                                                 Electronics
12. Light emitting diodes (first real devices in
1960s; in products in mid-70s)                                                           Electronics
11. Open source software and services (e.g., Linux, Wikipedia)        Media
10. Non-invasive laser/robotic surgery (laparoscopy)                        Health Care
9. Office software (Spreadsheets, word processors)                         Computer Science
8. Fiber optics                                                                                    Telecommunications
7. Microprocessors                                                                             Computer Science
6. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)                                                 Biotechnology
5. DNA testing and sequencing/Human genome mapping                 Biotechnology
4. E mail                                                                                             Computer Science
3. Mobile phones                                                                               Telecommunications
2. PC/laptop computers                                                                     Computer Science
1. Internet/broadband/WWW (browser andHTML)                           Telecommunications

To compile this list, thousands of nominees were submitted by Nightly Business Report viewers. The finalists were then judged according to seven different criteria determined by senior Wharton School faculty who served as judges:

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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Post Date:
February 20, 2009
Posted By:
Cindy Gordon

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