# Things That DON'T Exist, But Could **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470 "2003-06-26T06:25:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/1 "2003-06-26T06:25:30Z")
I’m not talking pie-in-the-sky stuff, which _might_ be possible, such as practical fusion power (it’s been just around the corner for the past 50 odd years or so), but things we can do _now_, and yet, for some reason, _don’t_. A couple of simple examples of the kinds of things I’m talking about: Brake lights on cars that get brighter the harder you press the pedal. That way, the car behind you would know if you’re just slowing down because you’re nearing your exit, or if you’re in a panic stop because the 18-wheeler in front of you just crapped it’s load. Or Bucky Fuller’s [Dymaxion Car](http://www.bfi.org/Dymaxion_PATENT.html), which could seat 11 and got 30 MPG in the 1930s! Or his [Dymaxion Dwelling Unit](http://www.thirteen.org/bucky/house.html), which could be built for $1 a square foot, in the 1950’s. All these things are possible to be in use today, but _aren’t_. I’m certain that there must be others. Anybody have any that they want to share? ---
**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:** [June 26, 2003, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/2 "2003-06-26T10:46:28Z")
Well the 11 seater would never have made it because it was 20’ long. But why hasn’t a major auto company ever marketed a 3 wheeled car? But we could rant about how the world ignored Bucky in another thread. Roofs-every summer there’s a group of city workers who paint the roofs of the poor, elderly Phillyites white. Naturally this keeps them cooler. But, I’ve never heard of a followup. What happens to these folks in the winter? There’s got to be a way to put on a coating that resists wheather but removes easily with the right method. Shopping Carts-Years ago, the news had a snippet on a man who had invented a step for shopping carts. It was attached to the rear bar and rotated up into the cart when not in use. It was a brilliant idea. I suspect that liability kept it from ever being implemented. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/3 "2003-06-26T11:03:56Z")
DocCathode, there have been mass-production 3-wheelers like the British Reliant Robin: [http://www.3wheelers.com/robin.html](http://www.3wheelers.com/robin.html) ---
**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:** [June 26, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/4 "2003-06-26T11:20:55Z")
MC- That was odd. Not counting one car meant as a roadable plane, every 3 wheeled car design I’ve seen places the single wheel in the rear. ---
**Author:** ![maleinblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@maleinblack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maleinblack)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/5 "2003-06-26T11:27:38Z")
this is not exactly a car but this 3 wheeler has been around in india for years and been used as mini cabs.there are literally millions of them around here. [http://www.geocities.com/citrotilburg/bajaj.html](http://www.geocities.com/citrotilburg/bajaj.html) ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/6 "2003-06-26T13:47:21Z")
I’ve often wondered why there isn’t a computer keyboard whose keys are illuminated. I always thought it would be neat to have a keyboard whose keys would be interiorly lit, either with LEDs in each key or with Indiglo™ backlighting. I don’t always like having a bright light on when I am using my computer and a keyboard like this would be cool to have. Even if not for practical purposes I’m sure they would sell for being a novelty. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/7 "2003-06-26T13:51:41Z")
There’s an Apple laptop that has a backlit keyboard, isn’t there? But in the sense of a Generic PC Accessory, yes, I’ve never seen one. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/8 "2003-06-26T13:54:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > \*\*I’ve often wondered why there isn’t a computer keyboard whose keys are illuminated. \*\* [Wonder no more](http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/giftsunder100/5c3f/). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/9 "2003-06-26T13:54:41Z")
And speaking of keyboards, the one I want would have a little display in each keycap, so that when you remapped the keyboard for different languages, the indicated characters would change appropriately. I always lose the square brackets when I switch my US-keycapped keyboard to the Canadian Multilingual Standard… ---
**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:** [June 26, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/10 "2003-06-26T14:02:25Z")
Remote controls for your TV/VCR/DVD/whatever that aren’t Charcoal Grey or Black. Nobody can **find** the damn things! Make 'em striped, or Day-Glo Colored, so we won’t mislay 'em. I’ve seen Remotes with noisemakers built into 'em, so they can be found. How pointless is that? Blasted gearheads! A bathroom entirely furnished with non-slip tiles. So the sick and weak aren’t weeded out whenever they bathe or take a dump. Damn Darwinian plumbers! ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/11 "2003-06-26T15:33:52Z")
I’d really like a laptop with an ergonomic keyboard built in. I’ve never seen anything that will remotely meet my needs, short of hooking up a full-size ergo keyboard to the laptop. But the whole point of the laptop is that it’s compact and I don’t want to have to lug around the extra keyboard too. Love the day-glo remote idea, **Bosda**! ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/12 "2003-06-26T16:13:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Brake lights on cars that get brighter the harder you press the pedal. That way, the car behind you would know if you’re just slowing down because you’re nearing your exit, or if you’re in a panic stop because the 18-wheeler in front of you just crapped it’s load. Wow, I’ve wondered about this, too. Great minds think alike. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/13 "2003-06-26T16:54:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > **I’ve seen Remotes with noisemakers built into 'em, so they can be found. How pointless is that? Blasted gearheads!** They’re not pointless. When you power on the TV using the power button on the unit, the noise-finder-thingy is activated. Pretty nifty, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/14 "2003-06-26T17:04:10Z")
A cable plan where you can pay for and receive only the channels that you want, rather than having to pay for a package of channels that has one or two you want, and five or six that you never watch. The technology to customize channel availability must be there somewhere. I also like the idea of the backlit keyboard. That would be handy! ---
**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:** [June 26, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/15 "2003-06-26T17:05:49Z")
Major bike paths leading from close suburbs to city centers. Some towns have them, but nowhere near as many as could have them. People are whining about not being able to get any exercise, but if they just rode a bike 20 minutes to work in the morning, and 20 minutes home, that’d do it. Less pollution, fewer cars needed, less parking needed, fewer car wrecks… ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/16 "2003-06-26T17:45:30Z")
Voice print analysis to unlock the doors to banks after hours. You ever notice that jig four or five people do in front of a locked bank door, trying to retrieve their ATM card from their wallets while wearing long winter coats? And while we’re on the subject of ATM’s… video poker or slots on ATMS! Push the button, say your name to activate, then place yer bets. ---
**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:** [June 26, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/17 "2003-06-26T17:54:38Z")
Extremely customized internet wheather reports- My place doesn’t flood and there are 2 appartments between me and the roof. When it rains, all I want to know is if there is going to be lightning or high winds. Either can lead to surges or outages, so I should get off the computer. The Yahoo weather report generally gives me enough information. But I’d like an automatic system that e-mails or IM’s me. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/18 "2003-06-26T18:03:08Z")
I want REAL x-ray vision glasss so that I CAN see thru womens clothing! 😃 I know they can make a Heads-Up Display for cars so that i dont have to look down to check may guages. I want to have small cell phones that you can dial in a password and it will send you the exact location of the cell phone via GPS. Good for stolen cars and teenagers. I want computers you can talk to and they talk back, not just take dictation like they do now. I want to be able to just say “Earl Grey HOT” and its there! SCREW thsi flakey mouse! I want to look at a screen and the cursor follows where I am looking at. ---
**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:** [June 26, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/19 "2003-06-26T18:12:10Z")
## quote: ## Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor I’ve seen Remotes with noisemakers built into 'em, so they can be found. How pointless is that? Blasted gearheads! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JuanitaTech \* > \*\*They’re not pointless. When you power on the TV using the power button on the unit, the noise-finder-thingy is activated. Pretty nifty, if you ask me. \*\* Which is simpler/cheaper/more convienent–a noisemaker thast helps you find the thing, or changing the color so you don’t lose it? :rolleyes: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470/20 "2003-06-26T18:16:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*Remote controls for your TV/VCR/DVD/whatever that aren’t Charcoal Grey or Black. > > Nobody can **find** the damn things! Make 'em striped, or Day-Glo Colored, so we won’t mislay 'em. I’ve seen Remotes with noisemakers built into 'em, so they can be found. How pointless is that? Blasted gearheads!\*\* I’ve got [one](http://www.indemand.com/sports/incar2k3/remote/index.jsp) 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-exist-but-could/184470.md?page=2)