Was the Internet the most important/ biggest/most influential invention of our lifetime?

[Sassycakes]

I think the computer has had a very large impact on my life. I order most things on line even groceries. No more waiting in line. I type what I need and I'm done. No more walking up and down aisles. Food gets delivered right to my door and the delivery person puts the bags right on my kitchen table. There are so many other things that have become easier for me with the use of a computer. I especially enjoy conversations with the wonderful people in this forum.

 

[StarSong]

I don't understand why it's important to quantify changes to identify the most important or biggest influence. There's a SF thread that asks what our favorite song is. I think Trade's brilliant response was "Whatever I'm listening to at the moment," and that sentiment applies here, too.

To focus on the positives: the past 60 years have shown incredible advancements in the areas of communication, entertainment, transportation safety, legal protections for children and abuse victims, impaired driving laws, and women's rights including birth control and abortion (though those are being steadily eroded). Virtually every area of science, plus medicine and dentistry have moved forward.

Negatives? We've become more crowded, less civil, and are rapidly turning our planet into an overheated toilet that will soon be unfit for humans and other creatures.

All of the above and many more have been game changers.

 

[Trade]

or maybe i should have framed the question over a longer time frame.
like
since 1900
air travel.
passenger planes

If we are going back to 1900 then I might give the automobile the edge over the internet although it would be close.

And then there's television. That's a big one too.