Smoke alarm voted top innovation

The smoke alarm has beaten mobile phones, microwave ovens and laser eye surgery as the best innovation of the past 20 years, according to a survey published today.

The smoke alarm has beaten mobile phones, microwave ovens and laser eye surgery as the best innovation of the past 20 years, according to a survey published in Britain today.

The potentially life-saving detectors were also considered more important than must-have gadgets such as digital cameras and everyday objects such as cash machine cards.

Professor David Harrison, chair of design at Brunel University, said: “By favouring the smoke alarm, Britons have opted for an innovation that fulfils one of the most basic and primal needs – safety in the home.

“Perhaps for that reason, the smoke alarm was a very popular choice with women, winning 76% of their votes compared with 63% among men.”

Prof Harrison was asked to comment on the results of the survey of more than 1,900 adults conducted by pollsters TNS on behalf of on-line bank Cahoot.

The smoke alarm was rated the best innovation of the past two decades by 69% of respondents, just ahead of mobile phones, microwave ovens, digital cameras, and DNA testing.

Deborah Cutler, marketing manager at Cahoot, said: “The report offers a fascinating insight into what we really value in our everyday lives.”