Microwaves, colour TVs, refrigerators and washing machines also all make the top 5

The iPhone is the most loved gadget of the last 80 years, according to a nationwide study from Currys PC World. Apple's revolutionary smartphone was rated the most loved invention by 56% of the nation. The microwave was voted a close second in the definitive list (53%), after kicking off a ready meal revolution in the 1980s and bringing extra convenience to cooking.

The survey, held to celebrate the 80th birthday of the first Dixons store opening, asked 2,000 people to choose what they felt were the most loved inventions of the past 80 years, and saw 52% rate the colour TV as the invention they loved the most.

BBC2 broadcast its first colour pictures from the 1967 Wimbledon tennis championships, presented by David Vine and by 1968 nearly every BBC2 programme was in colour, however it wasn't until 1976 that colour TVs outnumbered their black and white rivals.

The refrigerator, which first became popular in the late 50s and changed the way we shopped and what we eat as a nation, came fourth and the washing machine came fifth (51% and 48% respectively).

Surprisingly, standalone cameras only appear at number 23 in the list - a far cry from October 1937 when Charles Kalms opened the first ever Dixons store in Southend on Sea, Essex.

The store, originally opened as a photography studio, before moving into selling cameras themselves and, later, a wide range of electronics.

Dixons now lives on in Dixons Carphone, the brand that owns Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse, as well as in Dixons Travel stores, in leading airports.

Technology historian Seren Evans Charrington who was also involved in the research said: 'As technology is constantly developing to benefit our daily lifestyle, it's interesting to look back over the years and see how products have evolved and what has stuck around through the decades.

She continues '80 years ago, cameras were items you would buy specifically to capture your memories, then you'd have to wait weeks for your local chemist to develop the film - 20 years later and this was revolutionised by Polaroid cameras. Fast forward to today and the majority of us now just get out our phone to take a quick snap.'

The research also revealed the most loved tech by decades with the clock radio (40s), the black and white TV (50s), the electric washing machine (60s), the colour TV (70s), the microwave (80s), the PlayStation (90s) and the iPhone (2000s) getting the most love from Brits.

The 90s was the most influential decade for technology according to 33 percent of those polled, while a further 30 percent thought the 2000s were the most important.

Matt Walburn, Dixons Carphone Brand and Communications Director, said, 'The iPhone completely changed the way we communicate but it's interesting that Brits rate it as more loved than long standing technology such as kettles and fridges. The last eighty years have seen a seismic shift in the way technology helps us live our daily lives, from changing the way we entertain ourselves to how we cook and clean, and we're looking forward to being able to continue to bring the latest and greatest technology to our customers for the next 80 years too.'

According to the data, the average Brit spends £858 a year on domestic tech and gadgets for their home, with people from Birmingham spending the most - £973.

TOP 35 MOST LOVED TECH OF THE LAST 80 YEARS

  1. iPhone (2007)
  2. Microwave (1983)
  3. Colour TV (1968)
  4. Refrigerator (1959)
  5. Washing Machine (1960)
  6. iPad (2010)
  7. DVD Player (1997)
  8. Computer Modem (1958)
  9. Electric vacuum cleaner (1969)
  10. Sony PlayStation (1995)
  11. iPod (2001)
  12. Plasma TV (1997)
  13. Compact Disc (1976)
  14. Electric kettle (1955)
  15. Sony Walkman (1980)
  16. Dishwasher (1973)
  17. The ballpoint pen (1938)
  18. Apple Macintosh (1984)
  19. Smoke detector (1968)
  20. Apple II (1977)
  21. Nokia 3210 (1999)
  22. Xbox (2002)
  23. Kodak Digital camera (1975)
  24. Pocket calculator (1974)
  25. Amazon Kindle (2007)
  26. Garmin GPS (2000)
  27. Toaster (1952)
  28. ZX Spectrum (1982)
  29. Transistor radio (1953)
  30. Blackberry (2002)
  31. Nintendo Game Boy (1990)
  32. Polaroid camera (1977)
  33. Nintendo Wii (2006)
  34. Motorola DynaTAC portable phone (1984)
  35. JVC Camcorder (1984)

ENDS

Dixons Carphone plc published this content on 27 October 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 27 October 2017 10:57:11 UTC.

Original documenthttp://www.dixonscarphone.com/news-and-media/press-releases/2017/27-10-2017

Public permalinkhttp://www.publicnow.com/view/16AB231B1E284AB97EC049B3F23315E9CF5715C3