"If, for some unknown reason, you could only have one electrical appliance, what would it be? What can you not live without?"

That is the question being asked in hundreds of surveys across the globe... the desert island question. In this day and age this question poses more of a headache than perhaps ten years ago. There is now an unbelievably wide range of technilogical gadgets and appliances out there.

So what came out on top?

In the household appliance section the dishwasher failed to make the top three - the washing machine was the winner, with the microwave coming not far behind. In third was the digital video recorder (DVR). Although in some European countries (Italy) the hair dryer beat the DVR into third place - clearly living up to the sterotypes.

The digital video recorder is becoming increasingly popular, and a high percentage of people are claiming it has strengthened their relationship with their spouses. Arguments over what to watch in the evening is becoming a thing of the past.

In the gadget section of the survey, not surprisingly the mobile phone was the people's favourite. The DVR managed another impressive placing coming in second. Some of the more common gadgets, like the landline telephone, games console, walkman/mp3 player, and radio are falling well behind. Some of the technology is becoming redundant, as newer gadgets aim to provide all the functionality of several other gadgets. The mobile phone can now act not only as a phone, but also mp3 player, video player, camera, GPS, internet, computer. No wonder it topped the poll. It might seem strange to rank the digital video recorder alongside the dishwasher as a 'household appliance', so perhaps this test is unfair. The dishwasher is viewed more as a luxury item than a necessity - you can always do washing up by hand, but washing clothes by hand really is a step too far, so it is no surprise washing machines were number one!