Smoke alarm detector most innovative tool

We found this article on BBC on Friday already but while we think it is kind of cute, we weren't sure how to sell it on Asia Business Consulting's web blog. But here we go. There is this survey conducted in the UK by Innovation by the Nation, asking 2,000 people of what they think is the most innovative gadget.

And it is hard to believe, but it is the smoke detector. Ahead of digital cameras, mobile phones or other useful things like the microwave. Hmmm - makes you think of the general environment in which the British are living, but in the report is mentioned that the smoke detector has been installed in all buildings in the UK. Okay, and that is persuasive, and may be it gives the British a feeling of security. More security than, for example, the mobile phones, that came in second place or the microwave oven. What do the British want to have as innovation? A third was voting for a washing machine that washes, dries and irons, others want weight loss drinks (probably instantly), or a time capsule that beats traffic jams.

I believe that the latter is very welcome in Asia, too, while for the washing machine, well, there are still the maids in Asia and countries like the Philippines or Indonesia would loose a lot of foreign revenue, if countries like Malaysia or Singapore would use those washing machines instead of having maids in their households. But Asians would never think of a smoke detector (may be only if given the choice), but surely would never give up the mobile phones. In fact, we believe that this is considered the most innovative gadget in Asia. Any opinion?