jtr1962
Flashaholic
Here's why I used that criteria-when somebody else owns and controls an invention, there's no guarantee it'll be used for the general benefit of everyone. In fact, generally when inventions are too expensive for the average person to own they only benefit the average person if somebody can make money using them. There is also a history of great inventions never seeing the light of day because those profiting off the status quo would lose (it could be argued this is why Tesla's idea of global wireless power transmission was never pursued). In the end, the true inventions which are game changers are those average people can own and use as they see fit.I don't agree with Jtr's cheap-enough-to-own hypothesis, as the first two devices on this list changed human culture without hardly anyone being able to obtain them.