London, Jan 8 (ANI): The karaoke machine has been named the most irritating invention to have blighted Britain in a government survey.
The humble singalong box with its back catalogue of pop classics has topped a poll of more than 2,500 adults.
Almost a quarter of people picked karaoke, while other annoying creations included 24-hour sports channels, computer games consoles, mobile phones and alarm clocks.
“Seeing the karaoke machine at the top of that list made me smile,” the Telegraph quoted Kane Kramer, a director of the British Inventors Society, as saying.
“When people are singing karaoke they are enjoying themselves, but as a member of the audience you are just watching somebody who can”t perform - and isn”t particularly pleasant to listen to - for as long as you can bear it.
“It is anti-social. You might have 10 people who want to sing some karaoke, which means 150 people have to suffer it,” Kramer added.
The top ten most irritating invention to have blighted Britain are:
1. Karaoke machine - 22 per cent
2. 24hr sports channel - 17 per cent
3. Video games consoles - 12 per cent
4. Mobile phone - 11 per cent
5. Alarm clock - 7 per cent
6. Hair straighteners - 5 per cent
7. Internet - 4 per cent
8. Personal electronic organiser - 2 per cent
9. MP3 player - 2 per cent
10. Remote control - 1 per cent (ANI)