They are designed to make our lives easier, save us time and help us solve impossible problems.
From checking our bank balances on the move to learning how to fix the car using a YouTube tutorial, many would struggle to do without them.
Modern day conveniences such as washing machines, microwaves and contactless payments, are among the most cherished items we simply cannot live without, according to a new survey.
Researchers polled 2,000 UK adults to identify the everyday items which have most improved our lives.
The analysis found sat navs, to find our way around unknown towns and cities, online banking services and the humble electric kettle and tumble drier are musts among lovers of modern conveniences.
More recent additions,which make life just a little easier, include TV streaming services, social media and YouTube tutorials.
Researchers found mod cons saved an average of 51 minutes a day or 13 days in total every year.
The poll was commissioned for Heathrow Express to mark the introduction of contactless payments on its services.
A spokesman said: “We are so used to having washing machines, fridges and so on that’s it easy to forget what a difference they make to day-to-day life.”
Slow cookers, power showers and electric toothbrushes were also treasured by those quizzed in the poll.
This was in addition to social media, which are considered a time waster as well as a time saver, video calling and air conditioning.
Despite the huge strides in gadgetry in recent years 86% believe technology will make life even easier over the coming years.
Flying cars, being able to teleport, along with robots which can heal you following an injury are among the conveniences we would most like to see become part of everyday life.
The research carried out by OnePoll, found one-third of those questioned “wouldn’t be able to cope” without dishwashers, tablets and contactless payments.
However three-quarters of those asked believed the latest mod cons such as smartphones, smart fridges and smart TVs are overpriced.
Six in 10 of those quizzed said they looked back fondly to a “pre-internet age” when technology was not so advanced as “life was simpler then”.
But four in 10 said tech has helped them when they’ve found themselves in a tricky situation – for instance being able to pay for goods using their phone when they’ve forgotten their wallet.
The research, carried out by OnePoll, also found the average Briton makes three contactless payments a day on average on their card or mobile device.
Forty-three per cent regularly pay for their travel using contactless card payments – on average twice a week.
Further to this, 39 per cent said going contactless and no longer needing to get around using traditional paper tickets would make their life easier.
Other mod cons in the top 30 include high-speed wireless internet, cordless vacuum cleaners and toasters.
The ubiquitous smart phone is among other items which the analysis found people could not live without.
It was third in the poll, beaten only by fridge/freezers and washing machines which secured the top spot in the list of items people could not live without.
The humble electric kettle, which we all seem to forget when making a tea or coffee three or four times a day, was relegated to number 10 in the poll.
High-speed wireless internet also joined tablet devices and laptops on the side of modern technology which also championed online shopping.
The spokesman added: “We commissioned this research to find out which ones we rely on most and to see if any newer tech is now seen as essential by Brits.
“Traditional white goods took the top spots but newer tech such as smartphones, online banking and contactless payments featured prominently suggesting they are integral to our daily routine.”
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