# Silly applications of highish technology. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 25, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913 "2009-01-25T13:18:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/21 "2009-01-26T20:00:40Z")
A friend of mine has a prototype radar dish, about 2’ across, which he uses as a wok. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/22 "2009-01-26T20:27:37Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Handing out flash drives to 800 students with instructions on how to connect to the Internet. Sounds about as well thought out as our alleged ‘standard response’ to people calling in for software support on computers that are outside their support period. “Direct them to the support website”. I was being evaluated (supervisor listening in) and the person was not able to connect to the Internet. I decided to support them anyway and got them able to reconnect. When the call was over, my boss started to try to mark me down for failing to direct them to the website. I said “You must have missed the part where I said “I’d direct you to the support website, but since you’re not able to actually get there, I’ll give you the help you need”.” My supervisor paused, then it slowly dawned on him why I’d provided the support. 😛 My new boss being who he is, he still gave me the lecture about sending people to the support website. :rolleyes: In other words, if they aren’t tech savvy enough to be able to connect to the internet, they’re probably not going to be able to figure out a flash drive. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/23 "2009-01-26T20:46:23Z")
I think the ultimate in overkill/misuse has to be Ted Taylor’s using an atomic bomb to light a cigarette, as related by John McPhee in his book **The Cirve of Binding Energy**. (He pointed a quasi-parabolic reflector at the bomb blast, several miles away, with the cigarette tip placed at the quasi-focus.) [http://www.emergentchaos.com/archives/2004/10/the\_curve\_of\_bi.html](http://www.emergentchaos.com/archives/2004/10/the_curve_of_bi.html) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/24 "2009-01-26T20:59:40Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > How about remote controls for car stereos that you are guaranteed will be within reach 100% of the time? The next time you’re making out with your sweetie in the back seat, and _It’s Raining Men_ comes on the radio, ask this question again. The London Stock Exchange one is funny. A few years back, some company decided to put touch-screen computers in the backs of cabs. They had great stuff, such as local news, weather, a restaurant guide, and trivia games. Of course, most sections were offline. And that’s when they said something other than “Insert boot disk.” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/25 "2009-01-26T21:09:17Z")
How about high-definition broadcasts of fires in fireplaces for the holidays? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/26 "2009-01-26T21:19:44Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > How about high-definition broadcasts of fires in fireplaces for the holidays? I understand that Zippo now has virtual lighters for iPhones. You know, to hold up at concerts. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/27 "2009-01-26T22:49:07Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > [USB toy.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI-pct3zy18) Not a flash drive. This is all it does. Hey! I have half a dozen of those bad boys! Great birthday gifts, I tells ya. They also have the dogs doing situps. How lame. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/28 "2009-01-26T22:55:41Z")
I once saw a toaster that was advertised as “microchip controlled”. Who the hell needs a computer to toast bread? ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/29 "2009-01-26T23:27:25Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I understand that Zippo now has virtual lighters for iPhones. You know, to hold up at concerts. They do, my nephew has one. You can even open on your knee. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/30 "2009-01-26T23:44:16Z")
> [@riker1384](#): > > Yeah. I wonder if the inventors of the computer would have believed that in the year 2009, every person would have a home supercomputer capable of billions of calculations per second, and that they would use it primarily to view pornography. Hey now, I can show that all technology has been developed due to a desire to see more boobies. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/31 "2009-01-28T00:17:03Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > You can even open on your knee. I’m having trouble parsing this, and figuring out what it has to do with lighters. Explain? ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/32 "2009-01-28T00:41:58Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > I’m having trouble parsing this, and figuring out what it has to do with lighters. Explain? That should have read ‘…open **it** on your knee’. Which refers to the method of lighting a Zippo by opening the lid by flicking the lighter with your wrist against your knee (or thigh) then running the striker wheel on your knee (or thigh). See [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnqo2SRsNH0), about 2:50 in (tossing in the air is optional). ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/33 "2009-01-28T01:02:34Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > How about remote controls for car stereos that you are guaranteed will be within reach 100% of the time? I’ve found mine useful. I have to stretch out my arm a bit to reach my radio, and it’s a pain to hold it there fast forwarding through 10 minutes of an audio book or searching channels. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/34 "2009-01-28T02:19:13Z")
For your dining pleasure, how to make popcorn with your cellphone: [http://www.wimp.com/popcornphone/](http://www.wimp.com/popcornphone/) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/35 "2009-01-28T02:32:23Z")
[USB mug warmer](http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/usb-cup-warmer/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/36 "2009-01-28T03:26:52Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > [USB mug warmer](http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/usb-cup-warmer/index.html). Finally, a cupholder that won’t break! ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/37 "2009-01-28T03:45:11Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > For your dining pleasure, how to make popcorn with your cellphone: [http://www.wimp.com/popcornphone/](http://www.wimp.com/popcornphone/) The silly use of technology here is making hoax videos, right? ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/38 "2009-01-28T05:30:10Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > How about remote controls for car stereos that you are guaranteed will be within reach 100% of the time? Most of the stereos I’ve seen (including my own) that include a remote also have teeny buttons on the faceplate. The remotes have larger buttons that are easily identified by touch – thus, you don’t have to take your eyes off the road. ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/39 "2009-01-28T10:15:30Z")
> [@Crusoe](#): > > This doesn’t really fit in with the OP, but I’ll share it here rather than start a zero thread. > > The London Stock Exchange has a big screen in its foyer, facing onto Newgate Street. It shows a blizzard of stock information, twinkling like Christmas tree lights from a distance. Very flash. The only thing that spoils it - and I can’t help but notice - is the regular appearance of the _“You have unused icons on your desktop”_ warning bubble over the top. > > Somebody needs to tweak their XP desktop, I think. Ha, that’s great! It reminds me of something. A few months ago I was working for Cirque du Soleil while Dralion was in town. In the Merchandise/Food & Beverage tents they had big plasma screens with a live feed from the show tent. When nothing of interest was happening in the show tent the feed came from a computer somewhere that played DVDs of their other shows. The volume had to be way up for it to be heard across the tents and above all the people during intermission. The computer must have been having persistent problems with a connected volume because once about every 10 minutes or so the loud, familiar **BAH-DUNK** of XP’s ‘volume eject’ noise resounded through the whole place. They tried to fix it several times, but it happened for the whole run. It always made me smile. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913/40 "2009-01-28T12:17:06Z")
[QUOTE=PatriotGrrrl] The silly use of technology here is making hoax videos, right? [/QUOTE] Pretty much, yeah. I thought it was amusing and on-topic but obviously YMMV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-applications-of-highish-technology/482913.md?page=1)