Microprocessor

I feel the microrocessor contributes the single most important patent as without it many of the other patents listed here would not be possible. Even devices that have been constructed without microprocessors would be almost impossible to design without one. This has enabled space travel itself, just about every medical development of the last 70 years, almost every household appliance, mobile phones, digital watches. Even many of the features found in "mechanical" instruments, such as cars, are dependant on microprocessors. The world today would be a very different place (although you can argue whether better or worse I suppose). Now, I'm looking forward to the development of wireless power, which should be just around the corner...

Submitted by: Simon Reid