# Examples of inventions that seem like a good idea but turned out to be worthless **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 10, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355 "2019-04-10T21:04:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/121 "2019-04-17T21:08:44Z")
I nominate the 1981 [Nimslo 3-D camera](https://www.lomography.com/magazine/335095-lomopedia-nimslo-3d). It has four lenses, which placed four slightly offset images on two frames of regular 35 mm film (for 18 prints in a 36-exposure roll). You then sent the film to their processing facility, which returned a set of lenticular prints that have a slight 3-D appearance. The lenses aren’t really far enough apart to be effective, and the prints were expensive (and took weeks to process). I liked the idea, used it for a few rolls, but the results were mere curiosities. I also had their [Optilite flash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimslo#/media/File:Optilite.jpg), which I really liked. Because 3-D images had to brightly front-lit, a regular flash or a bounce flash would often have shadows. The Optilite flash had two flash units, one that you can aim at the ceiling, and the second for front fill. That became my go-to flash when using my SLR. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/122 "2019-04-17T22:27:16Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I’ve had 3 or 4 cars with key fobs, and every one of them has used a standard CR2032 battery that you can buy for less than $1 on Amazon, and that can be changed in a few minutes with simple tools (usually just a flathead screwdriver to pop the key apart. It had never even occurred to me that these wouldn’t be user serviceable. I was at the AutoZone today and they even had a display there where you can test your key fob and if the battery was running low, they had a display of button batteries next to it, implying that you can change your fob battery yourself. I’ve changed all the fob batteries for my car and my wife’s car since fobs became a thing. I think I may have once needed to replace a fob on my wife’s Ford, and that was a pretty straightforward process and cost maybe $10-$20. What did piss me off a little is that when I bought my first Mazda 3 (2004), I only had one key provided to me, and it was one of those chipped keys. I could not find a place that could do a spare that would start the car (they could make a spare to open the door) – I had to go to the dealer. If I had two keys, there was a way of programming it, but with one, none of the places that even advertised chipped key duplication were able to do it. So I just never bothered getting a spare key made. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/123 "2019-04-18T15:13:08Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I live in San Antonio, Texas, and don’t really need to have a $189 remote which can make the car run for 15 minutes to make it cooler for me (thereby using gas, increasing emissions, etc) - I can just roll down the windows for free. Try living in Minnesota. When it’s been 30 below zero all night you’ll want to run your car for at least 15 minutes even if it’s been in the garage. Our garage is not attached to the house so the cars get quite cold. I agree I would never run it to cool it off on a hot day. I hardly use the AC at all. I love the windows rolled down. ---
**Author:** ![stanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/124 "2019-04-19T01:25:37Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Would you believe me if I told you that I don’t give a crap, that I find the extra $200+ expense to be a complete waste of money and a shitty effort to monetize something that was effectively free, and all for “conveniences” which does little but harm the environment for a short-term (Seconds! Minutes at the most!) gain in comfort? 🙂 > > Fobs are _my_ “They did this better in the Olden Days™” rant and I’m not backing down because they _did_ do this better in the Olden Days™. Ah, a kindred spirit. Call me a Luddite, if you like, but I still appreciate the simplicity of the older cars and plain metal car keys. For the 250,000 or so miles I drove my 1966 Mustang, a stamped and notched metal key was good enough. Hell, you couldn’t even accidentally lock your self out of the car if you wanted to. Once Ford went to the double-sided keys in 1967, the locks and ignition switch only used one side of the key. I had keys made that were notched on one side for my 1967 Mustang and the other side notched for my 1973 F100. Only needed one key to work both vehicles. Sheer genius! Yeah, and having lived in San Antonio all my life (65+ years now), the weather never gets cold enough to have any use for a remote starter system. Just something else to break. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/125 "2019-04-19T03:32:30Z")
I don’t even mind the remote stuff - my point is why get rid of the _key_? Also… DOPEFEST, FIESTA! PM me, let’s share some brisket nachos. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/126 "2019-04-19T03:46:37Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I don’t even mind the remote stuff - my point is why get rid of the _key_? Wait? No keys? I have keys with all my fobs. The old ones were key-and-fob combos, but the new ones (with the proximity sensors and where you press the button to start the car) also have keys in the fob, though you have to press something on the fob to be able to slide it over. The key is there to open the door. To start the car, you can still use the fob, even if it’s out of batteries, by holding it up to the start button, or whatever. It actually came up two weeks ago when I was picking up my kid that the fob died, so I had to use the key to open the car and touch the fob to the start button to get the car going before I got home where I popped open the fob and put in a new battery. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/127 "2019-04-19T12:12:21Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > Try living in Minnesota. When it’s been 30 below zero all night you’ll want to run your car for at least 15 minutes even if it’s been in the garage. Cold-starts are hard on an engine, but idling to warm it up makes it worse. During a cold start, the computer is injecting extra fuel to ensure that enough vaporizes to make a burnable mixture. But the excess fuel doesn’t burn, it coats the cylinder walls and dilutes the oil, reducing its ability to lubricate. Also, the piston/rings/cylinder aren’t up to their full warm fit, so you get extra blow-by of combustion gases into the crankcase, and the cold temps guarantee that a lot of water (a combustion product) condenses into the crankcase oil, along with other combustion products. The faster you warm up your engine, the sooner you can end those problematic conditions. Driving the car heats up the engine faster than idling it, so if you want your engine to last a long time, don’t idle to warm it up. Start it, give it maybe 20 seconds to stabilize, and then get moving. Cold cabin? If you’re driving a late-model car at decent speeds, it should start producing cabin heat within a couple of minutes (it’ll take far longer idling in your garage). ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/128 "2019-04-19T12:14:08Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Whatever became of “automatic seat-belts”? You know, you’d get into a car, close the door, and the seat-belt would be in place. Seems like they were around for a few yeas and then gone. [Chrysler Halts Production of Neckbelts](https://www.theonion.com/chrysler-halts-production-of-neckbelts-1819564298) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/129 "2019-04-19T12:22:33Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > [Chrysler Halts Production of Neckbelts](https://www.theonion.com/chrysler-halts-production-of-neckbelts-1819564298) I ended up reading about the automatic seat belt thing. [Here’s a tidy synopsis.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seat_belt#Automatic) The funny thing is, I don’t remember hearing about all of this back then. It sort of all happened in the background. When I mention automatic seat belts to my friends, every single one of them so far has said something along the lines of, “Oh yeah, those. Whatever happened to them?” ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/130 "2019-04-19T12:44:58Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I don’t even mind the remote stuff - my point is why get rid of the _key_? Because it’s redundant(except for getting the door open in case of some sort of electronic failure). Why bother with a mechanical ignition lock when the car won’t start anyway if the electronic parts of the key aren’t present? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/131 "2019-04-19T12:52:07Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I nominate the 1981 [Nimslo 3-D camera](https://www.lomography.com/magazine/335095-lomopedia-nimslo-3d). It has four lenses, which placed four slightly offset images on two frames of regular 35 mm film (for 18 prints in a 36-exposure roll). You then sent the film to their processing facility, which returned a set of lenticular prints that have a slight 3-D appearance. The lenses aren’t really far enough apart to be effective, and the prints were expensive (and took weeks to process). I liked the idea, used it for a few rolls, but the results were mere curiosities. > > I also had their [Optilite flash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimslo#/media/File:Optilite.jpg), which I really liked. Because 3-D images had to brightly front-lit, a regular flash or a bounce flash would often have shadows. The Optilite flash had two flash units, one that you can aim at the ceiling, and the second for front fill. That became my go-to flash when using my SLR. There was a later incarnation using a disposable 3-D camera with plastic lenses. (Not sure if Nimslo marketed it or someone else, but it was the same design, although usually with 3 instead of 4 lenses). I know because I used it. I disagree about the “slight” description of the 3D – it gave a pretty good 3D image (and the lens spacing was consistent with that of much older 3D cameras that gave good results). The lenticular print eliminated the need for a special 3D viewer, which was supposed to be the draw. But I guess there wasn’t a big enough market to support a 3D camera industry. 3D has always been pretty much or a niche market at least until VR came around. [https://www.avhub.com.au/product-reviews/camera/fujifilm-finepix-real-3d-w1-3d-dgital-compact--page3-393582](https://www.avhub.com.au/product-reviews/camera/fujifilm-finepix-real-3d-w1-3d-dgital-compact--page3-393582) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/132 "2019-04-19T13:15:31Z")
> [@Mogle](#): > > Because it’s redundant(except for getting the door open in case of some sort of electronic failure). > Why bother with a mechanical ignition lock when the car won’t start anyway if the electronic parts of the key aren’t present? Why not just make this an option? Key is free, a remote entry system costs ya $400. But no: it was decided for me that it was better to add $400 in revenue to the lifetime of the car, for all cars, so some kid can climb in the backseat 14 seconds earlier or somebody in Duluth, MN can warm up their cars. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/133 "2019-04-19T13:37:37Z")
> [@Mogle](#): > > Because it’s redundant(except for getting the door open in case of some sort of electronic failure). > Why bother with a mechanical ignition lock when the car won’t start anyway if the electronic parts of the key aren’t present? The mechanical key is handy for locking the glovebox. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/134 "2019-04-19T13:46:20Z")
> [@Mogle](#): > > Because it’s redundant(except for getting the door open in case of some sort of electronic failure). > Why bother with a mechanical ignition lock when the car won’t start anyway if the electronic parts of the key aren’t present? In case there’s a child in there or just some stuff you want to get out? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/135 "2019-04-19T14:03:44Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Why not just make this an option? Key is free, a remote entry system costs ya $400. But no: it was decided for me that it was better to add $400 in revenue to the lifetime of the car, for all cars, so some kid can climb in the backseat 14 seconds earlier or somebody in Duluth, MN can warm up their cars. Making them all keyless is cheaper to manufacture. I’m not sure that your $400 up charge is accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/136 "2019-04-19T14:12:00Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Why not just make this an option? Key is free, a remote entry system costs ya $400. But no: it was decided for me that it was better to add $400 in revenue to the lifetime of the car, for all cars, so some kid can climb in the backseat 14 seconds earlier or somebody in Duluth, MN can warm up their cars. Blame the consumers and/or lawmakers, many features on cars start out as being optional extras, electric windows, ABS, airbags etc, as time goes by they become standard features, either because most customers ask for it anyway or because it is required by law. > [@SciFiSam](#): > > In case there’s a child in there or just some stuff you want to get out? Push the button on the remote? Easier than fumbling around with a key. And despite what some people may think, even cars with keyless entry and start still has a mechanical key and lock for opening the doors in an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/137 "2019-04-19T14:43:43Z")
> [@Mogle](#): > > Push the button on the remote? Easier than fumbling around with a key. Plus you get to kill an entire horror movie trope of someone being chased by a killer and having to fumble with their keys losing precious seconds to get in the car and get away. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/138 "2019-04-19T14:44:04Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I ended up reading about the automatic seat belt thing. > [Here’s a tidy synopsis.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seat_belt#Automatic) > > The funny thing is, I don’t remember hearing about all of this back then. It sort of all happened in the background. When I mention automatic seat belts to my friends, every single one of them so far has said something along the lines of, “Oh yeah, those. Whatever happened to them?” My brother had a Ford Escort with the automatic seat belt option. I always referred to it as a “man-eating seat belt.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/139 "2019-04-19T15:10:48Z")
> [@Mogle](#): > > And despite what some people may think, even cars with keyless entry and start still has a mechanical key and lock for opening the doors in an emergency. Yes. As I said above, I had to use this key a couple weeks ago after picking up my kid, as the fob battery died. (I knew it was dying – the car gave me some sort of warning – but I forgot about it). I haven’t seen all the variations of fobs and keyless entry out there, but the ones I’ve seen all have keys embedded in the fob if you slide over a little tab or press a button to release it. Other advantages of the fob include: finding my car in a lot or parking garage if I forget or am confused (keep hammering the “lock” button to hear where it is) and being able to lock my car or confirm that it is locked from afar. (How many times was I not sure that I locked the car or am trekking into the house with two armfuls worth of groceries or children?) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355/140 "2019-04-19T16:07:30Z")
My wife’s old Saturn many years ago had the automatic seat belt thingy. This happened to me on more than one occasion: pull up to the ATM, roll down the window, lean out… oops, I’m too far away. Pop the door open slightly so I can reach out a little farther and…aaaagh! Here comes the automatic seat belt! Luckily you could detach the belt so that if the latch started moving to the forward position, you didn’t throttle yourself. I just had to get my head caught enough times to teach myself to remember it the next time. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-inventions-that-seem-like-a-good-idea-but-turned-out-to-be-worthless/832355.md?page=8)