Inventions that would change the world?

Alex Slavich · Post by **Alex Slavich** » Thu Nov 29, 2001 8:01 pm

It COULD just have a very strong electric shock... Zap!

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 6:08 am

Originally posted by Sailor Saturn:
 You totally lost me there. But, if it's spam, then it must be a good thing.

Websites created using Frontpage Express

Sailor Saturn · Post by **Sailor Saturn** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 8:15 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep:
Websites created using Frontpage Express

I'm only slightly less lost now.

Whee!

King Leoric · Post by **King Leoric** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 9:00 am

AIs would really change a lot in the world.

That's because even if i use all my creativity, i can't even imagine that an Artificial Intelligence would do any other thing besides rebelling against it's creators and taking over the world

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 9:14 am

Okay, I just heard an NPR story about the falling reserves of oil, US reliance on Mid-East oil, depleted mature fields, etc. Seem obvious that we need some major work on inventing alternative fuel sources and ways to cheaply exploit the renewable fuels we already have (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.). Too bad our President is in the back pocket of the big oil corporations. The world could really use a major change.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 9:32 am

Originally posted by Gwalchmai:
Seem obvious that we need some major work on inventing alternative fuel sources and ways to cheaply exploit the renewable fuels we already have (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.).

We already have the technology to make ourselves less dependent on oil as a natural resource. Fuel cell, hybrid and electric cars exist that will travel at the speed and distance we desire of them. Unfortunately, do you know who owns all of those patents? ExxonMobil. Shell Oil. Ford. Do you think these companies want cars that will get 80-100 mpg on the market? Hell, no. They want to pad their own back pockets as much as possible and won't "invent" the right products until they have milked their existing technologies for as much cash as possible.

Too bad our President is in the back pocket of the big oil corporations.

Dubya owes too many people who helped get him elected (including Al Gore who ran a horribly-managed campaign) and/or are cronies of his dad. Why do you think Dubya wants a missile shield which is illegal, unnecessary and has never been tested to be effective against a large-scale nuclear attack? Because his buddies in the defense industry want a government contract worth tens, if not hundreds, of billions of dollars to develop something the world doesn't need.

We have a lot of technology which could potentially be valuable to humankind, but it's controlled by corporations or individuals who can't make a buck off of it yet, or are making a buck of other technology the new inventions would supplant.

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 9:59 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave:
We already have the technology to make ourselves less dependent on oil as a natural resource. Fuel cell, hybrid and electric cars exist that will travel at the speed and distance we desire of them. Unfortunately, do you know who owns all of those patents? ExxonMobil. Shell Oil. Ford. Do you think these companies want cars that will get 80-100 mpg on the market? Hell, no. They want to pad their own back pockets as much as possible and won't "invent" the right products until they have milked their existing technologies for as much cash as possible.<snip>

We have a lot of technology which could potentially be valuable to humankind, but it's controlled by corporations or individuals who can't make a buck off of it yet, or are making a buck of other technology the new inventions would supplant.

I agree that we appear to have the technology already to significantly lessen our dependence on oil, and that Big Business has a major role in preventing that technology becoming available to the public. But public inertia to new ideas is also a factor.

What would really change the world is alternative fuels inventions that are just so cool, so efficient, and so obviously beneficial that Big Business and the public have no choice but to accept them.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 12:18 pm

Originally posted by Gwalchmai:
But public inertia to new ideas is also a factor.

Do you remember the line in Men in Black where Kay and Edwards/Jay are sitting on the bench in the park and Kay is telling Edwards that he should join the MiBs? Kay says, "A person is smart. People are dumb."

Public inertia is determined by corporations and governments. You and I may individually have thoughts and opinions, but we are lemmings following the path that someone else lays out for us. Sometimes it works out for us, sometimes it gets us in trouble.

Let's say that some scientist holds a press conference tomorrow telling the world that he's just invented a car that runs off of a combination of solar and electrical power, has an engine with no moving parts so it will require virtually no maintenance, has tires that will go 200,000 miles before needing replaced, and it will travel comfortably for 500 miles at 75 mph (unlimited range if the sun is out) before needing to re-charge.

How quickly will the public embrace this product? They won't. Daimler-Chrysler, FoMoCo, Toyota et al will go on the offensive and tell everyone how these vehicles won't meet consumer demands. The UAW will start screaming bloody murder about losing jobs. Businesses who prey off of auto travel (mechanics, tire companies, gas stations, etc.) will mount a fear campaign to supress the new products. Governmental representatives from the car states (Detriot, etc.) and the oil states (Texas, etc.) will come out against the new car because it will hurt their constitutents.

In short, the public opinion will be turned against a product that could benefit the world economically and environmentally because some old men will lose some money. And you know what? The public will buy it. Politicians and companies who spend billions of dollars per year on demographics and marketing know how to manipulate our collective desires and will shut out innovation and technological advances if it hurts them. And we will be too stupid to see that we are being manipulated.

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 1:02 pm

HLD: Seems our only hope is if they can make this wonder car a Monster Truck.... or at least an SUV... then the public might get behind it!

McBane · Post by **McBane** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 1:09 pm

Originally posted by HighLordDave:

Do you remember the line in Men in Black where Kay and Edwards/Jay are sitting on the bench in the park and Kay is telling Edwards that he should join the MiBs? Kay says, "A person is smart. People are dumb."

Public inertia is determined by corporations and governments. You and I may individually have thoughts and opinions, but we are lemmings following the path that someone else lays out for us. Sometimes it works out for us, sometimes it gets us in trouble.

Let's say that some scientist holds a press conference tomorrow telling the world that he's just invented a car that runs off of a combination of solar and electrical power, has an engine with no moving parts so it will require virtually no maintenance, has tires that will go 200,000 miles before needing replaced, and it will travel comfortably for 500 miles at 75 mph (unlimited range if the sun is out) before needing to re-charge.

How quickly will the public embrace this product? They won't. Daimler-Chrysler, FoMoCo, Toyota et al will go on the offensive and tell everyone how these vehicles won't meet consumer demands. The UAW will start screaming bloody murder about losing jobs. Businesses who prey off of auto travel (mechanics, tire companies, gas stations, etc.) will mount a fear campaign to supress the new products. Governmental representatives from the car states (Detriot, etc.) and the oil states (Texas, etc.) will come out against the new car because it will hurt their constitutents.

In short, the public opinion will be turned against a product that could benefit the world economically and environmentally because some old men will lose some money. And you know what? The public will buy it. Politicians and companies who spend billions of dollars per year on demographics and marketing know how to manipulate our collective desires and will shut out innovation and technological advances if it hurts them. And we will be too stupid to see that we are being manipulated.

This is a beautiful post.

Sad and true....well played HLD

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 1:09 am

Originally posted by Xandax:
Well this is maybe not much of an invention, but more an discovery.
Seeing as "they've" (NASA) have discovered a planet outside our solar-system with an atmosphere (natrium IIRC) it would proberly be the greates discovery to find a planet with our kind of atomsphere.

Wich would be the first step to prove more of "our" kind of life in the universe.

The planet in Pegasus is a great discovery

It is estimated to have a mass 220 times of the earth, it's doing one lap around its' start in 3.5 earth-days

(it's a damn fast planet

) IIRC scientists have detected sodium (Na) in the atmospere, and they are currently looking for signs of potassium (K).

It's "only" 150 light years away. Means to travel this kind of distances, will surely change mankind forever.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 1:18 am

posted by Fable:
A kind of experience swapper: for one day, you would absorb the prevalent memories of another individual, while keeping your own memory and personality on top.

That would be great! It would certainly change the world if people cared to use it...

Originally posted by HighLordDave:
Let's say that some scientist holds a press conference tomorrow telling the world that he's just invented a car that runs off of a combination of solar and electrical power, has an engine with no moving parts so it will require virtually no maintenance, has tires that will go 200,000 miles before needing replaced, and it will travel comfortably for 500 miles at 75 mph (unlimited range if the sun is out) before needing to re-charge.

How quickly will the public embrace this product? They won't. Daimler-Chrysler, FoMoCo, Toyota et al will go on the offensive and tell everyone how these vehicles won't meet consumer demands. The UAW will start screaming bloody murder about losing jobs. Businesses who prey off of auto travel (mechanics, tire companies, gas stations, etc.) will mount a fear campaign to supress the new products. Governmental representatives from the car states (Detriot, etc.) and the oil states (Texas, etc.) will come out against the new car because it will hurt their constitutents.

In short, the public opinion will be turned against a product that could benefit the world economically and environmentally because some old men will lose some money. And you know what? The public will buy it. Politicians and companies who spend billions of dollars per year on demographics and marketing know how to manipulate our collective desires and will shut out innovation and technological advances if it hurts them. And we will be too stupid to see that we are being manipulated.

Great post, HLD, as are your others posts in this thread. Unfortunately, I think you are totally correct

Mr Snow · Post by **Mr Snow** » Sun Dec 02, 2001 11:30 pm

A communication device installed in each and every car with the number clearly displayed on the back so you can tell that useless motherf***er in-front to get out of the fast lane when they are not going fast!

Sort-of goes with grunty's mute device!

FudD · Post by **FudD** » Mon Dec 03, 2001 12:02 am

H2O generator.....the military already has these but the public could use them for sure....they run on small amounts of water and produce large amounts of electicity...2 cups of water, 30,000 watts for a weak!!

leaglization of hemp industry in USA...many many examples of inventions that never went anywhere due to the lame laws on this product....i.e wood that is 20x stronger/lighter than trees, fuel, clothing, food and not to mention how much paper pulp an acre of hemp yields compare to wood...did i mention how fast it grows or how much Co2 it eats....now why would we want to reform our laws on hemp? Not to help farmers thats for sure.....wouldn't it help save the great forest of our country? To bad peeps think hemp represents marujuana, i would like to see sum fool try and smoke sum to get intoxicated...thats like drinking non-alcoholic beer to get drunk...make any sense to you? Not to me either.....

EMINEM · Post by **EMINEM** » Mon Dec 03, 2001 6:08 pm

"bump" in honor of the Segway Human Transporter unveiled today on Good Morning Amrica.

cheesemage · Post by **cheesemage** » Mon Dec 03, 2001 6:21 pm

Well lets see.
Abstract matter absorber: It would sort of figure and caculate what everythings negative and psotive ue that to vreat a pull and thus gather the unwanted matter into a nice little recyclable ball.

Plasma energy converter: Simply draws the energy out of the plasma matter and can be used as a power source.

Plasma Blade: Contained by a magnetic feild the high energy plasma could be used to mine deep into the ground, cut metals, or simply be used in caturesing(sp) wounds.

Eh thats all for now.