Time Magazine’s Best of 2014

It’s that time when most articles are either about the best of the year that is ending or predictions/resolutions for the year that is about to start. Given I’m not a big fan of New Year’s predictions or resolutions, I thought I would create a “Best of 2014”. 

As I was doing some research, I stumbled upon Time Magazine’s 25 Best Inventions of 2014. I like their list – and it saved me quite a bit of work – so I’m recreating it here:

1. The Real-Life Hoverboard
2. The Supersmart Spacecraft
3. A Reactor that Could Realize Nuclear Fusion
4. Wireless Electricity
5. 3-D-Printed Everything
6. Watches that Redefine Smart
7. The Smartphone that Puts Privacy First
8. The Cooler that Powers Your Party
9. The Chip that Stops Your Slouching
10. The Car that Makes Electric Enticing
11. The Tablet that Replaces Laptops
12. The Ring that Alerts You in Style
13. The Pillbox that Gets Personal
14. Bananas that Prevent Blindness
15. The Wheel that Gives Bikers a Boost
16. The Seamless Sign-Language Translator
17. The Filter that Fights Ebola
18. The Selfie Stick (and Hairbrush)
19. The AC that Lowers Your Energy Bills
20. The Prison Room that Helps Inmates Relax
21. The Tablet Toy that Gets Physical
22. The Coaching Basketball
23. Wrappers You Can Eat
24. Screens that Showcase Digital Art
25. Action Figures that Empower Girls

Each of these inventions are a breakthrough in their own right but will have a different impact on the world and on me personally. The kid in me is partial to the Hendo Hoverboard (Back to the Future is real!) but at $10,000 I don’t think I will pre-order one. I am probably most intrigued by the WiTricity (wireless electricity) technology which can already power devices from as far away as 8 feet (2.4 meters). Constant connectivity and non-stop power would certainly change the way we all work.

Which invention do you think is the best of 2014?

This blog was originally posted on Manage by Walking Around　on December 28, 2014.

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