CNN are gearing up to announce their number one innovation over the last 25 years. Nanotechnology makes the list at number 21, as a result of enabling MEMS (no. 11) in airbag sensors (no. 13), at least according to CNN.
The criteria for making the list is a masterpiece of fudging, defined as the “25 non-medically related technological innovations that have become widely used since 1980, are readily recognizable by most Americans, have had a direct and perceptible impact on our everyday lives, and/or could dramatically affect our lives in the future. It smells to us as if the list came before the criteria in this case hence the inclusion of and/or. A little more imagination could also have prevented both the personal computer, the laptop computer and memory storage discs hogging three spaces.
The winner will be announced on 16th January. As CNN themselves say, Thank Goodness For Nanotechnology, at least there is something to keep us awake.