As far as I'm concerned, the world has seen two major tech innovations since I was born in 1983:
1. Internet.
2. Smartphone.
Other steps along the way include the commoditisation of enabling technologies such as broadband, microwave radios (4G, WiFi), flat-panel displays and lithium batteries.
The criterium is disruption. It must change how we live our lives to be included on the list. As far as I can see, the rest of the world remains much the same as it was in 1983.