With the 20th century drawing rapidly to a close, you might think we have reached our inventive capacity and created everything. Yet still, millions of products are invented every year, feeding a consumer smorgasbord. But do we need all these gadgets or can we make do with less? Of course wheels and electricity are great, but Chia Pets?

Steve Agee

Resides: Carmel Valley

Occupation: Self-employed

Age: 42

What''s the best invention ever? The bicycle.

What''s the worst invention ever? Gasoline.

Who is an inventor you admire? Whoever invented solar panels.

What should be the next big invention? An electromagnetic turbine motor that rides on a magnetic force field. It would have no friction, creating unlimited RPMs. That could take us to the next solar system.

Maritza Agron

Resides: Fort Ord

Occupation: Retail:

Age: 23

What is the best invention ever? Clubs, nightclubs.

What''s the worst invention? Drugs.

Have you ever invented anything? I''ve invented lots of creative things for my house.

Who is an inventor you admire? My mother.

What should be the next big invention? The world is so advanced, we have everything already.

Chris Nizza

Occupation: Retail manager

Resides: Monterey

Age: 34

What''s the best invention ever? The Internet. It''s opened doorways to the world.

What''s the worst invention? Credit cards.

Have you ever thought of inventing something? Well, I always thought the new driver''s license with the strip on the back should be used for everything, ID, video rentals, cash. Then you don''t need lots of cards in your wallet.

Who is an inventor you admire? Ben Franklin. We''d have no knowledge of electricity.

What should be the next big invention? Transportation that doesn''t use fuel.

Jerry Buccholtz

Resides: Monterey

Occupation: Private investor

Age: 47

What''s the best invention ever? The automobile.

What''s the worst invention? The pet rock, I guess.

What should be the next big invention? A hamburger with no fat.

Who is an inventor you admire? Henry Ford.

Lauri Libera

Resides: Seaside

Occupation: Food service

Age: 19

What''s the best invention ever? The telephone

What''s the worst invention ever? Men.

Have you ever invented anything? No, but I''ve thought of songs.

What should be the next big invention? I don''t know.a better president?