Computer, TV And Refrigerator Top Technologies Of 20th Century, Public Survey Shows.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 14, 1999--

Americans feel that the invention of the computer, television, and refrigerator were the top technological achievements of the 20th century - and most feel that technology has made life more comfortable and has added to the nation's economy -- according to an independent public survey released today.

The survey -- commissioned by Harris Corporation, with support from the University of Florida -- found that 40 percent of the 1,000 people questioned felt that the computer was the top technological achievement of the century, followed by the television (12%) and refrigerator (12%). Rounding out the top five were medical advances (6%) and the Internet (5%). Other answers ranged from such areas as "UFO technology" to video games.

When respondents were asked what 20th century technology was most important in their everyday lives, the computer (34%), television (17%) and refrigerator (10%) again were ranked in the top three, while the microwave oven (5%) came in at number four, followed by the washing machine (3%) at number five.

An overwhelming ninety percent said that technology has made their quality of life better, and more than half (58%) said they could not live comfortably without 20th century technology. In addition, a vast majority (79%) said that technologies developed this century have created more economic opportunities and jobs.

People were most apt to say surgical advancements (38%) and the development of antibiotics (35%) were the top inventions that have saved more lives during the 20th century. A little more than one in ten (11%) said seat belts in cars.

When it came to choosing which country has been the technology leader of the 20th century, more than half (60%) said the United States, followed by Japan (35%) and Germany (2%). However, nearly two-thirds (64%) of the respondents felt strongly that there should be more science- and technology-based courses in U.S. schools.

While most technologies were viewed as positive achievements, some were not. When asked which 20th century technologies people wished were not developed, weapons of mass destruction came in as the top choice (59%), followed by credit cards (10%) and genetic engineering (9%) at a distant second and third.

An analysis of the survey findings showed some significant differences of opinion based on various factors, such as gender, age, and geography.

Gender

Men seem a little more interested in mechanical or technological achievements while women indicated they have more interest in biological or medical accomplishments. When asked what they thought might be the top achievements in the 21st century - three times as many men said time travel or placing a human on Mars, and nearly twice as many said an advanced automobile engine that doesn't require fuel. Women were more apt to pick a cure for cancer or AIDS (62% vs. 47%), or human cloning (57% vs. 43%).

Generations

Age seemed to play an interesting role in some of the questions. For example, when asked which technology they wished was not developed during the 20th century, 70% of the teenaged respondents said weapons of mass destruction, while 50% of senior citizens gave that answer. Additionally, more than half (55%) of the teens polled felt the computer was the most important technological achievement of the 20th century, while only about a quarter (26%) of senior citizens felt that way.

Geography

People in California seem to be less enthused about technology than people in the rest of the country. More than half (52%) of the Californians surveyed said they could live comfortably without 20th century technology, compared with 41% for the rest of the nation. Additionally, more than a quarter (27%) of the Californians surveyed felt that 20th century technology has created fewer economic opportunities and jobs, while only about a fifth (21%) of the respondents in the rest of the country felt that way.

The Next Century

While the survey focused on 20th century technologies, it also asked respondents what they felt would be the most important technological achievements of the next century. More than half (54%) felt that a cure for cancer or AIDS would be the top accomplishment during the 21st century, while a fifth (19%) felt that solving world hunger through advanced agriculture would be the top achievement.

How The Survey Was Conducted

The telephone survey was conducted May 24-27, 1999 by Systems Research Corporation of Rochelle Park, New Jersey. SRC asked 1,000 randomly-selected consumers their feelings on 20th century technologies. The margin of error was +/- 3%.

Demographics 

-- Gender evenly split. -- Mean age was 41 years old.(11% were 15-18 yrs.old, 19% 19-29, 16%

30-39, 17% 40-49, 13% 50-59, 24% 60+). -- Mean household income was $44,525 (35% were $30K or below, 29 %

$31K-$50K, 20% $51K-$75K, 8% $76K-$100K, 8% $100K+). -- Of those surveyed, more than half (52%) said they owned a

cellular phone, 59 percent said they owned a personal computer.

Also most respondents (77%) had two or more televisions in their

home, and 93 percent said they owned a VCR.

University of Florida

The University of Florida is a public, land-grant research university, with one of the most comprehensive programs in the nation. Twenty-one colleges and schools offer more than 100 undergraduate majors. The graduate school coordinates almost 200 graduate programs. UF is the largest of the state's 10 public universities, and the ninth largest university in the nation, and has, to date, awarded 246,000 degrees.

Harris Corporation

Harris Corporation has been a leader in the development of technological innovations for more than 100 years, in areas ranging from television and wireless communications to digital electronics and software engineering. Harris actually started out as a printing equipment company, and a Harris printer - the first commercial offset lithographic press - today resides at the Smithsonian Institution.

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) is an international communications equipment company focused on providing product, system, and service solutions that take its customers to the next level. The company provides a wide range of products and services for commercial and government communications markets such as wireless, broadcast, government systems, and network support. The company has sales and service facilities in nearly 90 countries.

Editor's note: A photograph of today's press conference is available via the Associated Press Photo Network and on the Internet (newscom.com). For further information on the survey or a graphical breakdown of the results, contact Jim Burke at 407/727-9126 or [e-mail] or Neal Stein at 407/727-9608 or [e-mail]. Additional information on Harris is also available on the Internet : http://www.harris.com/ -0-

                          Technology Timeline

1903 The Wright brothers fly the first airplane. The flight lasted for
     12 seconds and 120 feet.

1910 The first electrically powered washing machine was invented by
     Alva J. Fisher.

1916 Frigidaire invents the first electric refrigerator.

1923 Dr. Vladimir Zworkin demonstrates an early television prototype.

1939 John Atanassoff constructed the first semi-electric digital
     computing device.

1946 Raytheon invents the microwave oven.

1951 UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) becomes the first computer
     to handle both numeric and alphabetical data.

1954 Jonas Salk tested the first effective polio vaccine. Color
     television broadcasts begin.

1969 Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to walk on the moon.

1975 First consumer VCR introduced.

1977 First personal computer (Apple) introduced.

1978 The first modern, public cellular phone network is tested.

1985 Dr. Jack Copeland implants a Jarvik-7 artificial heart into
     Michael Drummond.

1994 Consumer Internet usage takes off.

1996 First digital television broadcast by a commercial television
     station in the United States.

1998 John Glenn rides a shuttle back into space, three decades after
     his first historic flight. The launch is broadcast live in
     digital HDTV by Harris Corporation.