# Inventions We Need **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2022, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354 "2022-11-22T02:02:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/21 "2022-11-22T15:43:18Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > My invention would be human furniture made out of replaceable cat-scratching materials. That would also be useful around the Current Puppy. We need really, really good power storage batteries. Hold lots of power, don’t weigh too much, don’t take up lots of space, can be recharged a lot of times from whatever power source is functional at the time and place, and made out of readily available non-toxic materials. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/22 "2022-11-22T15:59:28Z")
Based on the concept of the washing machine and dryer, a device for human cleaning. [Maybe in my lifetime.](https://www.odditycentral.com/technology/this-japanese-company-is-working-on-a-human-washing-machine.html) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/23 "2022-11-22T16:10:08Z")
I’m still holding out for Rosie the Robot. A house cleaning, dinner preparing Robot would be awesome. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > We need really, really good power storage batteries. Hold lots of power, don’t weigh too much, don’t take up lots of space, can be recharged a lot of times from whatever power source is functional at the time and place, and made out of readily available non-toxic materials. They’re getting closer which is good as Lithium is not a great answer for several reasons. Mainly supply and danger. Sodium-ion is the one to keep an eye on. Very inexpensive and operates at a lower heat. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/24 "2022-11-22T16:23:16Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > We need really, really good power storage batteries. Hold lots of power, don’t weigh too much, don’t take up lots of space, can be recharged a lot of times from whatever power source is functional at the time and place, and made out of readily available non-toxic materials. Absolutely true. It’s a “what if” I occasionally spend time thinking about it. Just trying to determine half the effects of that is overwhelming, given how far-reaching they could be. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/25 "2022-11-22T16:28:35Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > They’re getting closer Yeah, there are a lot of people working on this. Really wish I knew which one to invest in, and had some money to do the investing! > [@Tzigone](#): > > Just trying to determine half the effects of that is overwhelming, given how far-reaching they could be. Indeed. Could be a major society-changer. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/26 "2022-11-22T16:32:58Z")
Adaptive eyeglasses. Meaning, you can vary what the lenses are doing for a given situation. Have them optimize for distance, for near vision, etc. Kind of like scaling on a tablet. I seem to remember reading that this sort of thing is actually under development. So hurry it up! ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/27 "2022-11-22T16:34:55Z")
Similar to mine - a dog leash that can’t tangle on other dog’s leashes. > [@filmstar-en](#): > > But that nuclear fusion thing is still decades away. But we still need it, so isn’t this the answer? > [@Tzigone](#): > > Though you may still need to clean the paint from the ground/pavement in some areas. But when it stops sticking, the graffitos will stop trying. > [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Adaptive eyeglasses. As someone who only recently started needing distance lenses while at the same time recognizing I can’t quite focus as closely as I used to, this would come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/28 "2022-11-22T17:07:37Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > [@needscoffee](#): > > > > My invention would be human furniture made out of replaceable cat-scratching materials. > > That would also be useful around the Current Puppy. > > We need really, really good power storage batteries. Hold lots of power, don’t weigh too much, don’t take up lots of space, can be recharged a lot of times from whatever power source is functional at the time and place, and made out of readily available non-toxic materials. This. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/29 "2022-11-22T17:34:43Z")
> [@Tusculan](#): > > Airconditioners that generate electricity instead of consuming power. This is like my answer when physicists claim that as long as all processes are reversible that time travel cannot be ruled out. "So I can toss hot food into the microwave and get 120vac out of the end of the cord? ---
**Author:** ![Yosh99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ccd318/32.png) [@Yosh99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yosh99)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/30 "2022-11-22T18:43:39Z")
There are coatings. [Anti-Graffiti Coating | Sherwin-Williams](https://www.sherwin-williams.com/painting-contractors/business-builders/paint-technology-and-application/sw-article-pro-antigraffiticoa) ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/31 "2022-11-22T19:46:35Z")
I’m gonna’ go big: A leaf blower that operates quietly. Sort of a super-amped up Dyson fan maybe? Yeah yeah, velocity and all that, but a man can dream. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/32 "2022-11-23T19:19:15Z")
In the same discussion about batteries, thinking ahead to a future where electric-powered cars are the norm and not the exception, a way to solve the issue of recharging, quickly. Perhaps it will happen naturally on it’s own, but a standard, portable battery pack that all EVs can use. Imagine driving up to a (former) gas station, and they have batteries the size of 5-gallon buckets with convenient handles all charged-up and ready to swap-out your nearly depleted battery from your car (or, batteries) - basically a fill-up in the same amount of time as it takes now. Like the propane tank exchange. One of the challenges of the EV future is replicating the ubiquitous gas station with charging stations, as well as the time it takes to recharge - having a portable battery standard would ease some of those constraints around convenience and access to fresh power. ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/33 "2022-11-24T13:37:31Z")
> [@Tusculan](#): > > Airconditioners that generate electricity instead of consuming power. This and a whole bunch of amazingly useful inventions will be possible - even easy - once we repeal those pesky laws of thermodynamics. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/34 "2022-11-24T17:38:18Z")
An Off-switch for hair. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/35 "2022-11-24T18:13:38Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > An Off-switch for hair and toenails! ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/36 "2022-11-24T19:34:44Z")
I wish that contact lenses came as a gel in toothpaste tubes. In the morning, you squeeze out a pre-measured dab of gel and insert onto each eye. Within 30 seconds the gel would transform into soft contact lens that would last 12 hours and would get flicked into the trash can before bedtime. I guess there are lots of details that would need to be worked out. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/37 "2022-11-24T20:08:03Z")
A self-maintaining nail maintenance station for dogs. I had some success with a prototype but couldn’t fine tune it. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/38 "2022-11-24T20:10:24Z")
How would the gel know what your prescription is? – I guess that’s one of those details. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/39 "2022-11-24T20:24:53Z")
I don’t need it anymore but when I was a 14 year old kid in high school having a Swimming class for PE surrounded by 18 year old women, I really would have paid top dollar for swim trunks that could hide your boner. In fact, I’m fairly certain boner hiding clothing would actually make some money. I can’t be the only one who heard about all the boner hiding tips including putting your backpack in front of your crotch or sticking it in the elastic of your underwear. ---
**Author:** ![hanna\_the\_curious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/34f0e0/32.png) [@hanna\_the\_curious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hanna_the_curious)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354/40 "2022-11-24T23:09:16Z")
and children. Also volume control. 😁 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-we-need/975354.md?page=3)