Can you please identify a 1) new and/or "a significant advancement"
technologies discovered over the last 4-6 years on the condition that
2) it is now appropriate for general consumer market? Please include
the resources with it. Please be specific, for I am not looking for trends.

For example, if we are now in 80's, we could conclude that Personal
Computer is on the list because by mid 70's, it is readily for general
consumer AND it made a significant advancement. Another example is Soy
Ink that was invented in 70's, and by 80's it is readily to be used by
most newspaper publisher.

However, we are now in 2005, PC and Soy Ink would obviously be off the
list. In today world, Internet would also not be on the list.

I hope my question is clear.

PS. I know there millions and millions of these recent innovation, but
at least please try to identify significant ones, and I will narrow
down the list myself later.

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Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 24 Oct 2005 01:55 PDT

Hi!

Can we stretch the time from of about 7 to 8 years? I found something
that fits here within that span of time.

Thanks!

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Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 24 Oct 2005 02:32 PDT

If we stretch this up to 7 to 8 years, I already have 7 inventions.
Will this be ok as an answer?

Thanks again!

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Clarification of Question by porpon2007-ga on 24 Oct 2005 06:11 PDT

Hi Easterangel,

I saw your other answers, you seem to know business very well. Ok, I
will give you a shot. Please give out the answer on what you have.

However, please 'continue' to further research on this topic for me
please. Wouldn't you agree that 7 inventions are abit too little for
the last 7-8 years?

Thank you

Porpon

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Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 24 Oct 2005 06:36 PDT

Hi! 

I am only listing 7 since these products are now very popular with
consumers. I presume this is your second requirement.

Anyway, I do have lists of different inventions, some are out in the
market (but not yet widely used) while others I think are still in the
development stage.

Will this list be ok with you?

Thanks!

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Clarification of Question by porpon2007-ga on 24 Oct 2005 08:14 PDT

Ok go ahead. Please release it.

Hi! Thanks for the question.

I found the following inventions in the past 7 to 8 years that have
been commercial successes.

USB Flash Drive (1998)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keydrive

Portable MP3 Players (1998)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_player

802.11b (Wifi) (1999)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11b

Bluetooth (1999)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth

Segway (2000)
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blkamen.htm

Artificial Heart (2001)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_heart

Aibo (2001)
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_Toshitada_Doi.htm


Here are the other lists of inventions from About.com and Wikipedia.
Please take note that some inventions were in development before these
dates and others were released within these time frames.

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_invention#1990s

About.com
1997:  Gas-powered fuel cell
1998: Viagra (But probably invented way back in 1994 and made
available commercially in 1998)
1999: Tekno Bubbles
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa010500a.htm 
2000+:  http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa063002a.htm  


Search terms used:  
Inventions timeline wikipedia

I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
                                                          
                              
Regards,                              
Easterangel-ga                              
Google Answers Researcher

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Request for Answer Clarification by porpon2007-ga on 24 Oct 2005 18:46 PDT

I know I am being demanding, but is it possible if you could name more
innovations that support or encourage environmental improvement on the
same criteria?

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Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 24 Oct 2005 19:38 PDT

Hi again!

I think this is quite a different requirement from the original
question. I tried to find other products but I wasn't really
successful. Maybe this would be better served if you post it as a new
question so thers can take a stab at it.

Anyway here are some environmental inventions that might be of interest to you.

Source:
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/environmental/index.php
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/biodegradable-diapers-112452.php
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/docomos-kenaf-fiber-phone-107161.php
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/magic-ink-grows-metal-circuits-017247.php

I hope these would be of help.

Thanks again!

1. Google
2. GPS handheld and in-car devices.
3. Hybrid cars (and SUVs now too).
4. Hydrogen fuel cells (not quite yet appropriate for general consumer
market but could be soon depending on G. Bush's policies).
5. Segway Human Transporter -- may become popular with high gas
prices, may not catch on.
6. Large scale genomics. E.g. Perlegen

http://www.esf.edu/newspubs/news/2005/05.03.termites.htm
Environment inspires fresh home designs Experts weigh disciplines of natural world

Coming on the market is a house paint that resists mildew and a range
of sticky objects, like bandages, that cling without conventional
adhesives -- all inspired by nature. Some say these endeavors are part
of a new interdisciplinary field called biomimicry, the science of
imitating life. But according to one of the leaders of the termite
project, the efforts are just the latest phase in what humans have
always done.

For example, manufacturers got the idea for making water-repellent
paint from a scientist who discovered how lotus leaves repel rain.
Typically, raindrops roll off plant leaves because of their waxy
coating. But in the lotus plant, the actual structure of the leaf
causes water to form spherical droplets that pick up dirt and roll
off, leaving the leaf clean and dry.

How about gene therapy and stem cell therapy?