The Foundation, an innovation and growth consultancy firm, has surveyed 2,243 UK adult consumers in an effort to discover which products and services, over the last decade, had contributed the most and least to their lives (Innovation Index). Home broadband ISP connections, online shopping and Goole were the most loved innovations, while the most hated were Reality TV, Facebook (social networking) and Twitter.


Asked to give reasons as to why they found their favoured innovations beneficial, respondents most commonly cited usefulness (66%) and the ability to save time (55%). Cost savings were cited less (40%), whilst only 28% identified cutting-edge technology as a factor. As for the most hated, respondents most frequently cited irritation (56%) and time wasting (43%).

Top 10 Most LOVED Innovation of the Last Decade

1. Home broadband
2. Online shopping
3. Google
4. Chip and Pin
5. Digital cameras/photography
6. Online comparison sites
7. Community Recycling
8. Health labelling on foods (e.g. traffic lights)
9. Low-cost air travel
10. Consumer GPS/Sat-Nav

Top 10 Most HATED Innovation of the Last Decade

1. Reality TV
2. Facebook and similar
3. Pop-up advertising
4. Twitter
5. IVR/Interactive voice response on telephones
6. Congestion charging
7. Paid-for plastic bags
8. DVD membership schemes (e.g. Lovefilm)
9. Tracker mortgages
10. Public bike schemes

So it seems that many of us love to hate popular entertainment and services like Reality TV and Facebook.