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Re:The Greatest Human Achievements by pj on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:30PM (#615226)
What about Guttenberg and his printing press. We may not be having this discussion right now if it weren't for him.

That could also be said about Tim Berners-Lee and his crazy idea called the World Wide Web.

Re:The Greatest Human Achievements by ATB on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:08PM (#615378)
"Steve Guttenberg," unless there is a much more intellectual seventh _Police Academy_ sequel uncovering his secret time traveling invention, probably didn't contribute very much to the printing press.

"Johannes Gutenberg," in spite of not appearing in _Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow_ or kissing Sharon Stone in _Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol_ (the true highlight of the series, as many aficionados will readily attest), probably deserves our thanks instead.

Re:The Greatest Human Achievements by pj on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:10PM (#615382)
You got me! Edited. Thank you.
Re:The Greatest Human Achievements by dangoldin on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:00PM (#615277)
I think just the human ability to record thoughts for future generations and a strong communication system.

Without the ability to effectively communicate we wouldn't have achieved anything else.

Re:The Greatest Human Achievements by pj on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:09PM (#615379)
Then we should go all the way back to papyrus and stone chisels. Information storage, while not unique to humans, is definitely more prolific in our species.
Re:The Greatest Human Achievements by pavel_lishin on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:20PM (#615408)
What other species stores information?
Re:The Greatest Human Achievements by pj on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:29PM (#615422)
I put animals that mark their territory in this category. Bears scratch the bark off trees. Dogs pee on fire hydrants. These animals are storing ownership information in the form of scents they leave behind.