time's inventions of the year

in this coming week's time, the featured article is their picks for the inventions of the year. their choice is the iPhone from Apple. Their claim is based on five principles:
1) it's pretty (take time for aesthetics other companies don't)
2) it's touchy-feely (the touchscreen interface)
3) it will make other phones better (self explanatory)
4) it's not a phone, it's a platform (a true handheld computer)
5) it is but the ghost of iPhones to come

i don't particularly agree with their choice or their reasons for it. they're too flaky (for lack of a better word) in my opinion. granted, it is a really novel device, truly innovative and a great gadget. maybe that's enough, but maybe i prefer something that has substance. the iPhone just seems superficial. no one actually needs it.

browsing through the other inventions they cover, there are a many really compelling and thought-provoking inventions. i think what separates these from the iPhone comes down to marketing and adoption. the iPhone was an easy selection because everyone can relate to it or has heard about it and it isn't out of reach for many people. it's multi-purpose and fits with a widely accepted lifestyle.

many of the other inventions just won't gain that much traction or be as in your face as the iPhone but many could make real differences in the world were they to reach the awareness and mass adoption the iPhone has/can. there are numerous inventions that could help curb the current environmental crisis but this small blip in the media is probably all the awareness they'll get. they'll just remain unheralded.

a few of my personal favorites were the glo pillow (huge fan of waking up naturally), erasable paper, the city car, fly-ash bricks, and the flexible displays.