An enormous amount of innovation and industry has gone into solving a problem that was relatively infinitesimal in terms of what plagues the world.

You know that commercial where the guy is going, "Can you hear me now?" What you never hear is the other end of the conversation! "Eh...bu..you...da..eh...yo...buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzz...." What a piece of crap!

(Thank you, Peanut)

Like Airplanes, they're cool ,convenient and useful. Still, we're just beginning to realize the vast potential mobile phones have. People use them in a variety of ways. It's having some impact.

It has changed the world and I rather enjoy it. True that you can get bugged anytime, anywhere but it's a nice thing to have.

Here's one I love and hate. When I'm working, it is great to be able to stay in touch when I am traveling, going to meetings and so forth; but I'm subject to being bothered anytime and anywhere. It certainly has changed modern life considerably. There's plenty of times I just turn the damn thing off and I feel no guilt whatsoever.

It can save a life when there's no landlines around and provides a means of communicating when you are away from your home and allows you to contact anyone more often. When your car breaks down you can whip out your cell phone and call for a tow....

God I hate this thing. Yes there are times when it's essential, and yes there are times where it's useful, but By The Powers, I'm thankful I no longer have to carry one 24/7. What I really love are the nitwits who carry two phones and three pagers or some such combination. No one's THAT busy, Moron.

Pros: People can reach me at anytime, anywhere. Cons: People can reach me at anytime, anywhere. Sure, for those few times that it's good to have a cell phone, they're great (i.e., car broke down/accident, late for work), and even at times probably the single most important thing for someone (i.e. the last calls of the 9-11 victims to their families). However, there are just times when I DON'T want to be reached, and a cell phone is a hassle. Thankfully, it can be turned off. Then, you have to worry about other people using it at inappropriate times (i.e., movie theater, wedding/funeral, while driving, etc.) which can be rude or even dangerous. An annoying invention, though sometimes useful, but it doesn't compare to some other inventions on this list.

Although I'm holding out for the portable video phone and the relaunch of rotaries, the mobile phone is a great invention for emergencies and is popular with many. Of course, the original Star Trek had it pegged with the classic flip-open communicators.