twenty-third twist of the coil

[vampirize]

[Hey, Paradisa! It's your favorite jerk of a vampire scientist. And today, due to the fact that he's easily bored, he's going to ask a question of you all, just to see what sort of answers he will get.]

So, this is more out of curiosity than anything, but what, in your opinion, is the most important invention in the world, and why? Like, what changed the world more than anything else that has ever been created by human hands?
 
...

If any one of you says the light bulb or the wheel, I am going to seriously ask you how in the world you survive with such an unoriginal point of view. I mean, really, I need some more creative answers than that.

Comments

written

[bonniewitch]

Telephone. It changed the way we could communicate with people and I guess it laid the groundwork for other forms of communication. Like the internet for example.

dictated

[vampirize]

That's true. But technically, we had the telegraph before that, so that would have been the first real form of communication that enabled us to contact each other over long distances.

[20thcentury]

[idly dictated, like she's only halfway paying attention] Nuclear weapons, obviously.

[vampirize]

Oh, joy. The one invention which made us all get into wars and fights we never even needed to get into. Not that the invention of nuclear power isn't respectful or anything, but people just have to have the bigger and better armada of weapons than everyone else.

[jimfromit]

That’s an easy peasy one...Mobile Phone.

Somebody took a dull old telephone and made it a far more useful device that’s capable of almost anything.

[Private]
Of course if you were to ask me off the record I might give a different answer.

[vampirize]

You know, technically the mobile phone is just an improvement on an invention, it was more the invention of wireless communication that made it so revolutionary.

[Private]

And if I were to ask you off the record, what might that answer be?

dictated

[atadiscoverer]

Can it be created by a race of humanoid aliens?

dictated

[vampirize]

Considering aliens don't exist where I come from, it'd be harder for me to recognize what those do.

Human inventions would be best, I think.

[ectobabble]

Oh geez. Um. That's a good one. [pardon Ray while he gives that some thought]

I'm gonna have to go with a tie between the printing press and the credit card. Both of them cut down on the time necessary to do two of our most social interactions: sharing knowledge and conducting business. They're double edged swords, especially the credit card. You don't get close relationships with the people you do business with anymore, back home.

[vampirize]

Those are good choices. Especially the printing press. Things would have been a lot different without the invention of that one.

[encryptedlock]

Shaw-Fujikawa translight engines. We couldn't colonize the stars without them.

In a very close second, liquid-crystal smart AI matrices. We don't technically need the AI to pilot the ships, but it makes it a hell of a lot easier.

[vampirize]

Haven't heard of those kind of engines, though it's probably due to the fact that, wow, I'm not from the same world as you.

But those AI matrices sound interesting, though. What, is it like a system of AIs that pilot certain vehicles, or what?

This can only end well xD

[unnaturalpause]

[]....Are you really doing this Nikola? Really?

Well fine then.]

And what if someone were to say electricity?

FFUUUU

[vampirize]

...

I would tell them to be less vague. And electricity isn't a human invention, haven't you ever heard of lightening, James? It's more the use of electricity that would interest me.

[spiritusaequitas]

Whiskey. ... Or beer. [said the Irishman]

[vampirize]

[Dryly:] Good that we've accounted for the moronic alcoholics of the castle, I was so worried I'd miss them.

[themistress]

Dildos! Or maybe whips.

[She sounds absolutely cheerful and casual, like she's suggested tables or candles or something else mundane.]

[vampirize]

...

[WHAT.]

You're one of those people, aren't you? The kind who hang out in the red light district and do what they please.

[mal_addict]

I think you're seriously poo-pooing the greatness of the wheel, here.

[vampirize]

C'mon, I know the wheel is great, but it's one of the most common answers there is. I want people to answer creatively, and so far, they're not doing a very good job of that at all.

[loisfuckinglane]

Coffee.

How is this a question?

[vampirize]

[A slightly exasperated sigh.] I was looking more for "world-changing" type of inventions rather than "things that make your personal life infinitely better" inventions. Unfortunately, looks like people are too dumb to even think outside the box with this sort of thing.

[psych0p0mps]

are we only talking about earth here

[vampirize]

Well, I'd say yes, considering I'm only familiar with things invented here and not, for example, Mars.

But I'd like to hear about other inventions, I have to say. I'm curious.

[nothingtobelieve]

[Well, that works out, because Vicious is just bored enough to answer.]

The hyperspace gateway network would qualify, I imagine.

[vampirize]

...

Is that like some sort of galactic crossroads, or what? I don't have that where I come from, so you have to explain it a bit better.

[inafadingcrown]

Must it be from human hands? [Elves came first. They invented everything, okay?]

[vampirize]

Well. I'd say yes, but I'm not totally against the idea of learning about other inventions from other worlds if they're explained well.

[seventeenth]

Beer.

[vampirize]

I don't think I've ever heard such an intelligent answer in my life.

Not.

Really, does your brain cell count at least go over a thousand? Because you're making me doubt that it's not.

Dictated

[radiantwingedone]

.... A combination of efforts, humans only one third - but the Shrine of Zaude and Brave Vesperia. Prolonged the life of our world by shielding it for a thousand years. Of course, would not have needed a such a thing if humans used their ears...

More generalized, anything that became a weapon.

Dictated

[vampirize]

...

So, what are these things, world shields of some kind? How do they work? Energy source, other possible functions?

I don't come from where you come from, so I am at a loss as to consider whether those are good inventions or not.

And really, "anything that became a weapon". How barbaric of you. But I suppose, the invention of key weapons helped turn the tide of wars and the world, so I can understand how much worth they are.

[cricketycricket]

Only humans? Nikola, you're making the TARDIS feel terribly left out.

[vampirize]

Okay, okay, fine, the TARDIS can be included.

...Even though I still have not much of an idea of how it works.