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Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime
5

Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

(OP)
Some of my colleagues can cite chapter and subsection from the ASME code. I am lucky if I spell ASME correctly all the time.

I would like to see, in my life time (so I can use it) an external memory drive. And I mean that literally. I want to be able to put it near me, and have it beam me (like Star Trek I guess) all the data and info it has stored in it...like the ASME code. This way, if I can't remember, it will remember for me.

As I understand it, Prof. Dumbledore (Harry Potter) has a similar device where he stores his extraneous thoughts for retrieval at a later time. So, I guess it should be coming soon ...

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I'd like something a little simpler - a mechanized goat - a lawnmower which roves the yard slowly, clipping the lawn as it goes, and producing its own fuel (cellulose-ethanol?) from the clippings and available solar power.  

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Haha, I like this topic.

Ashereng, I agree totally, I would love that as well.

ivymike, There are automated lawn-mowers out there now...just not self-fueling.

And for me, I would love for someone to invent a teleportation machine. This would be so awesome, no much terrible long flights. Just step in, and BAM, I'm in Tokyo.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I wuld lik a device that transform what I tink to a post that dus not hav any speling erors.

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Caijunn,

Dat wood be grate!  Grammer to maybe chek.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Where is my flying car?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

copiers that do not jam, not even once. Telephone answering machines that do not have an annoying beep and are too easy to use. Wire hangers that do not get tangled.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Rocket Pack

(one that doesn't inadvertently burn your trousers/pants)

A device for trimming large sheets of paper accurately and quickly winky smile(I just spent about and hour this morning with a colleague and some interns trimming drawings with scissors!)

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

2
A truly environmentally friendly, renewable, cheap/free energy source.

A device which would allow us to see moments in history.

A device which makes politicians tell the truth. lol

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

3
I wouldn't mind some X-ray glasses.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Flying car that actually works! (boo moller)

Also, I'm pretty sure they do make automated lawnmowers that are solar - Disney had a bunch at Epcot for a few years.  And it couldn't be that hard to make your own if you wanted to.

I'd really just settle for CBL's aforementioned energy source.  

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I'll go with a replicator like a 3D printer that I can use so I don't have to go out shoping for clothes.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

1. wireless current
2. high capacity data storage cube (as opposed to disc)

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

(OP)

Quote (DaveVikingPE):

copiers that do not jam, not even once. Telephone answering machines that do not have an annoying beep and are too easy to use. Wire hangers that do not get tangled.

I said in your life time.  rofl

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

A clean fusion reactor that can be fine tuned to produce whatever element you want along with energy.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Oh. My bad. Shoot, then I'd be happy with shoelaces that don't get snagged under the wheels of an office chair.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Dave,

They make those, they are the curly ones that you don't have to tie!

Or velcro...

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Don't start on Velcro.  That took on a life of its own over on the grammar section.

Peddle powered computer.  If you stop pedaling it goes into standby.  That way I wouldn't get so fat and unfit sat in front of the screen 50+% of the time.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Anti-cat hair clothing anyone?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

MadMango, and Viking, go sky-clad.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I have thought about an intercity/interstate transport system like the tubes at the bank drive-thru. They will allow immediate "shipping" of limited sized items in a hurry.

Ed

www.engineerboards.com

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime


A device which returns all Spam, Viruses, Trojans, etc directly back to the originators computer ... and then fries it.

If it could also send out an elctro-magnetic pulse to fry the moron originator, that would be a plus.

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Greg, I searched, sky-clad means to go around in your birthday suit?  I'd rather just have a replicator that could build me a daily wardrobe.  At the end of the day I could just recycle and not have to worry about doing laundry.

I'd also like to see a Mr. Fusion device like on Back to the Future.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Underground vacuum filled (or is that emptied) tubes in which super-fast maglev trains can shoot us cross country.  NY to LA in an hour, and regenerative breaking at the other end, so it could be theoretically lossless.

-b

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

A device to banish politicians from this earth!!

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

The elusive skyhook...

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Controlled, sustained, fusion reactions.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Self cleaning materials also come to mind.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

A wine/beer/liquor bottle that never gets empty. rednose

... and a device which eliminates hangovers.

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Quote:

A wine/beer/liquor bottle that never gets empty.

... and a device which eliminates hangovers.

Same thing surely.  As the tee-shirt says: "Avoid hangovers, stay drunk."

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Please- the clothing replicator instead of Greg's idea: the trouble with public nudity is all the other people you WISH would keep their clothes one!  (Count me in that group!)

Hmm:  cheap, limitless and truly non-polluting energy, in a small and portable form.  But it would take a lot of the fun out of engineering!

How about "unobtainium"- the metal that you can spec for any corrosion service and at any temperature without worry!  That'd come in real handy!

And in case you wonder, I'd rather be able to fly than be invisible.  If you can fly, you don't need to be invisible!  Unless everybody else can fly, then it would probably still be handy!

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I'm with CorBlimey, I'd also like for it to unplug their fridge, set off the smoke alarms, wreck their car, break their windows (and Windows), turn loose their pets, reset all their digital devices, kick their kids out of school and flood their house.

And I want a replicator like on Star Trek that makes ANYTHING. I don't mind buying stuff, I just hate going where they got it.

Regards,

Mike

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

affordable vacation in outer space

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

A cure for cancer, MS, MD, ......

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Great choice, CBL!

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

you forgot AIDS.  How about veggie burger that really tastes like realy meat?  America needs it!

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I think AIDS is probably covered by the "...."

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Counter-gravity equipment for lifting and transportation.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

An invention I would like to see in my lifetime?

1) A version of Microsoft Windows that is bulletproof!

2) Easy to use CAD tools without bugs!

3) Cold Fusion!

But, given reality, only #3 is possible.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

A cure for X,Y,Z is always a hope for most.  But a cure just puts off death untill the next set of incurables. People die and it always hurts themselves and others.  Planned painless death is what I'd like.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

SomptinGuy
I agree, live without illness & die healthy, preferably while sleeping after celebrating with friends & relatives at my own wake. smile

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I'd like to see a device which stops cars from driving too close behind you. I envisage this this to be a large spike in the middle of the steering wheel.

corus

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

'I agree, live without illness & die healthy, preferably while sleeping after celebrating with friends & relatives at my own wake."

Everyone wishes secretly to oneself to have this peaceful form of end,but very few really are lucky. Most have a very painful and traumatic end.  


If there can be a cure for Cancer and AIDs,2 major killers,I think we are close to the statement.

Wish have a vaccination for these 2 diseases.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I like this sort of amusing diversion from time to time, but many of these inventions could obviate the need for engineers.  For example, we engineers are asked to minimize resources necessary for obtaining a specific result.  An unlimited, non-poluting energy source would ulitmately eliminate many entire fields of engineering.  Thank the lord it is impossible.

The transporter (e.g. Star Trek) would be among the most awesome inventions.  I recently heard someone made another step forward in developing something along those lines.  But I can envision how the transporter could become the most terrible weapon we have ever seen.

A device that makes politicians tell the truth?  Dude, what if your wife got a hold of it?!!!

Personally, I would just appreciate it if someone (doesn't have to be Microsoft, but no objections if they did) would create a reliable operating system that provided substantial protection against virii <sp?>.  I don't live anything like a luxurious life, but if I could just get a stable home computer.  My son is always loading some game on the computer and making it nuts.  And then I get the usual periodic virus infection.  It just makes me crazy.

Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, cure disease, all that stuff: not going to happen.  Too bad.  Looking forward to heaven, though.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I would like to see a vaccination that makes "stupid" hurt.  That might help motivate some to use their gray matter.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

UcfSE, multiple stars for you!

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

UcfSE ... great suggestion, but that would make walking around very difficult. There would be too many people lying on the ground writhing in agony ... and I dread to think what would happen when driving. lol

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Creation of resources of worldwide solidarity to prevent that the old ones die, abandoned and solitary.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

A Starbucks lid that works.....

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

UcfSE:  you get my star- even though what you think is stupid is probably very different than what I think is stupid (given our discussion on other threads!)

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

molten, lol.  That's pretty good.  Trust me, I've seen your profile page and I firmly believe you are anything but stupid.  Besides, I don't mean differences in opinion, I mean beyond gump.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

COEngineeer (Structural) 19 Oct 06 15:30  
affordable vacation in outer space

Look at that,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBlifr6EQNU

It cost only 200 000 $ and start at 2009.

---------------------------
My propositions according to topic:

- Animation software and robots using FEA algorithms.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

A Klingon Cloaking device....to hide my car from traffic wardens and speed cameras.
I understand (and this wasn't a Ist April news report) they can already do this in the microwave range (radar proofing ships), but invisibility in the visible spectrum is a bit more difficult.
Other uses?

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

A real-time, portable, all-languages translation device.

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

CBL,

Like a Babel Fish?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Well, sort of ... I was thinking more electronic than organic.
As with any device, I like to have control of the "off" switch.
Besides, the cats would never leave me alone if I had a fish stuck in my ear.

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

nanotech cars thak we could park in the pocket

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

hopefully nothing like this c5



I guess that should be a forum of what you never want to see again.

FOETS
"social drinker with a golfing problem"

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

JMW - This is an engineering board and we should get out facts straight bigears. The Romulans first demonstrated the Cloaking Device. The Klingons used it later and no doubt claimed it as their technology. Sorry I couldn't resist it.

HAZOP at www.curryhydrocarbons.ca

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

How about cars that don't crash (sensors, computer controls)?  How about a robot driver so I could work, play, or sleep during the commute?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

I must be the only goof who would NOT want a robotic driver.  But then I'm on two wheels, and riding a motorcycle is somewhat therapeutic after a rough day.  If you don't ride, I can't explain it.  Something about 80+ while straddling an engine is exhilirating.  Now if only I could convince the troopers and sheriffs to stay indoors when I'm on the road...hmm, a free Krispy Kreme donut machine in every police station???  =)

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

No you aren't the only one. A lot of people either (a) don't trust the robot (fair enough) or (b) claim to enjoy driving (also fair enough). The problem is that most people (ie more than half) are incredibly bad drivers. They don't have accidents. Accidents are fairly rare. What they have is a failure to understand what driving is about, and then physics takes over.

For that reason I mostly loathe driving on public roads, and would happily hand over to a very nervous robot with better senses than mine for 80-90% of my driving.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Lexus already has a car that parallel parks itself... see video.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

In the near future we cannot park our car in the pocket.
For the moment bellow is the solution





atom

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

Computer control of cars on several lanes, or a special road, for travel to larger areas would be okay. I enjoy driving most of the time, but it would be nice to just hand the car over to a computer for the daily commute.

0707,

Yeah but what if you are in the middle car? How do you get out?

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

wheels have a 90ยบ degrees rotational movement so cars in the middle can be taken aside with a telecomand.

atom
 

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

They're all alike, just take the one on the end. Don't leave your stuff.

Regards,

Mike

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

That is another possibility. The only trouble is if you get the one with uncharged batteries.

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime


A coworker and I were thinking about this the other day.
When you walk into a meeting everybody gets issued an electronic dog collar.  
Then when somebody says something stupid, if three people hit their button within two seconds of the end of their statement they get shocked.
This would definitely help speed up meetings.

Ussuri,
The sky hook has been invented.
Just put on your drawings the following.

"Support by field contractor."

RE: Inventions You Would Like To See - In Your Lifetime

(OP)
I would like to adapt that to dog owners. If after their dog poops, and they don't scoop within 5 minutes, they get a shock until they pick it up. The collar would of course be tuned to the DNA of their pooch, so as to avoid cross talk with other dog owners in the area.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

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