# Inventions That Are Long Overdue **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032 "2020-12-14T16:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/142 "2020-12-18T20:42:15Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I hope you’re not talking about soap. I went to take a shower but could not find my bar of soap. After a bit of searching, it turned up under the clawfoot tub, complete with little markings all around the edges: the rats had taken to eating my soap. Needless to say, I do not live in that place anymore. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/143 "2020-12-18T20:43:53Z")
Well, a piece of dry toast should work too. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/144 "2020-12-18T20:50:05Z")
I mean, I could see the exfoliating properties, but it would get soggy too fast. English muffin, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/145 "2020-12-18T20:52:55Z")
I knew an English muffin once, and she did like showers. But I digress. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/146 "2020-12-18T20:55:09Z")
Are there ratchet straps that are easy to use? I love the holding power of rachets – use them every six months or so – but usually struggle to release the mechanism, and sometimes completely mess up the strap and have to unthread it with pliers. Are there room dehumidifiers that don’t require distilled water, or unending cleaning/descaling? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/147 "2020-12-18T20:59:32Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Are there ratchet straps that are easy to use? I love the holding power of rachets – use them every six months or so – but usually struggle to release the mechanism, and sometimes completely mess up the strap and have to unthread it with pliers. Not talking about soap and showers I hope. What do you mean by ratchet strap? ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/148 "2020-12-18T21:16:38Z")
[Ratchet Straps](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ratchet+strap&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/149 "2020-12-18T21:19:36Z")
Ah. I just call those tie downs and usually use a truckers hitch knot and rope. I agree that those can be a major pain in the butt. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/150 "2020-12-18T21:25:43Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Are there room dehumidifiers that don’t require distilled water, or unending cleaning/descaling? I’m confused; dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air, so as far as I know, none need water added, distilled or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/151 "2020-12-18T21:30:10Z")
(Insert head-smacking emoji) I meant that opposite thing, those humidifier things. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/152 "2020-12-18T21:32:02Z")
In that case, my mother uses the ultrasonic tabletop kind of humidifier and she uses tap water with it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/153 "2020-12-18T22:00:45Z")
Yes - the HUGE ones. The little home-handyman ones have straps that are too thin. They tangle too easily. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/154 "2020-12-18T22:14:45Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The little home-handyman ones have straps that are too thin. They tangle too easily. They work in a ‘pinch’ though. Bring First Aid kit. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/155 "2020-12-19T01:41:33Z")
Yep. I also think most people don’t know how to use them. I once counted around 10 of them on the freeway between Phoenix and Flagstaff. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/156 "2020-12-19T03:28:22Z")
I would like to be able to get a tattoo that would display my blood glucose level 24/7. Or if that can’t be made to work, maybe some kind of small circuitry that could be easily implanted subcutaneously. Maybe it could be made to display my blood pressure while it’s at it. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/157 "2020-12-19T03:43:21Z")
A quick Google check shows at least four implantable glucose detectors that display readings on a smart watch or phone. Paying for them is the tough part. ---
**Author:** ![blabbermeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9a140/32.png) [@blabbermeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blabbermeister)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/158 "2020-12-19T04:37:05Z")
By now morning alarm clocks should understand that it’s only necessary to ring if I’m actually **in bed**. If I’ve already gotten up, the alarm should know it doesn’t have to ring anymore. It’s annoying to be on the toilet and it starts screeching and I can’t get to it! Cell phone alarms could do this with a heat sensor. I also want an alarm that lets me finish my current dream before waking me up, but only if it’s a nice dream. Should be doable noninvasively with today’s technology. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/159 "2020-12-19T04:54:50Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Are there room dehumidifiers that don’t require distilled water, or unending cleaning/descaling? Steam humidifiers boil ordinary tap water and release the steam into the room. ---
**Author:** ![Mortimus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Mortimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mortimus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/160 "2020-12-19T15:02:13Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > In that case, my mother uses the ultrasonic tabletop kind of humidifier and she uses tap water with it. We had a couple ultrasonic humidifiers and used tap water in them. Our well water is really hard (calcium carbonate). Our water softener greatly reduces the amount calcium but doesn’t completely eliminate it. The mineral in the water ends up as a fine white dust all over the room. The only way around the dust problem was to use distilled water which gets pretty pricey. Eventually we gave up on using the ultrasonic humidifiers. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032/161 "2020-12-19T15:13:08Z")
Toilet paper rolls that knows whether you prefer the toilet paper from the back or front and adjusts accordingly. And toilet seat lids that automatically go down when a person is finished. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-are-long-overdue/928032.md?page=9)