# Things that should be invented, could be invented, but haven't been invented **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 1, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740 "2001-02-01T17:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/21 "2001-02-03T13:52:23Z")
I’ve got the Million Dollar Idea: _The Caffiderm Patch!_ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/22 "2001-02-03T21:01:32Z")
A device you can put in the bathtub that keeps the water HOT without electricuting you. ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/23 "2001-02-03T21:15:21Z")
Tell you so I can have the pleasure of seeing it on an infomercial 2 months from now? Ha! You can’t pull that twice! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Pippi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Miss\_Pippi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Pippi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/24 "2001-02-04T02:04:40Z")
An over the counter pain reliever patch. This would have worked great last week when I had the flu and couldn’t keep anything down or in. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/25 "2001-02-04T20:35:28Z")
Not exactly an invention, but why in the name of Thragg’s bloody sheep do they not sell extras of those videotape lable stickers? They sell them for every other form of data storage ever created, but not tapes . . . – “takes lance wounds to the chest reasonably well . . .” ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/26 "2001-02-04T23:38:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ura-Maru \* > **do they not sell extras of those videotape lable stickers?** They do make them. [http://www.shoplet.com/office/db/g1231.html](http://www.shoplet.com/office/db/g1231.html) ---
**Author:** ![VanLandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/eb9ed0/32.png) [@VanLandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanLandry)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/27 "2001-02-05T05:02:11Z")
The opposite of a microwave… Put a warm beer(or whatever) in it and 30 seconds later it’s as cold and refreshing as a cool mountian stream. ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/28 "2001-02-05T05:14:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by VanLandry \* > \*\*The opposite of a microwave… Put a warm beer(or whatever) in it and 30 seconds later it’s as cold and refreshing as a cool mountian stream. \*\* Once I was at this guy’s house, and I thought his microwave had a “cool” button on it. It blew my mind! I was thought it was the best idea ever. Then, when I actually looked at the microwave, I saw that I had misread “cook.” So I second your idea. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/29 "2001-02-05T05:57:39Z")
I’m with **ianzin** on the tax form issue. It is too hard to file taxes, and I’m not a dumb person. I don’t have a complicated tax situation. I work hard for my money, the government takes some, and then I have to work harder to get some back? I’m not against taxes, I’m against the forms. Other inventions … Something that will keep the average deer from jumping into the road. Surely there’s something that deer don’t like that could be cleverly placed in problem areas. A cable TV package that lets you pick your own channels. All I want is the History Channel and ESPN. That’s it. No movies, no non-MTV, no home shopping, just History and ESPN. I’m sure this is already available in some areas. Seat belts that I can use without having one-half of my cleavage pinned to my stomach, and the other half wedged under my chin. ---
**Author:** ![Pismonque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/46a35a/32.png) [@Pismonque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pismonque)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/30 "2001-02-05T07:56:59Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by jadailey_ > **High beams for your taillights, so that you can flash the idiot behind you who’s driving with his brights on.** Hell, why chance any misunderstanding? How about an LED message board that runs across the bottom of your back window, controlled by a keyboard in the console? That way you can tell them exactly what you think. For that matter, there could be another at the top of the windshield, with mirror-imaged text for the driver in front of you. On the other hand, we could avoid much of the necessity for such devices if someone would develop an auto air freshener that emits lethal fumes and comes as standard equipment on minivans. ---
**Author:** ![ibmiddleton01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7993a0/32.png) [@ibmiddleton01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ibmiddleton01)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/31 "2015-10-25T01:58:53Z")
Did you ever think to do it yourself and not wait for someone else to make it for you??? ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/32 "2015-10-25T02:20:22Z")
Well, I keep trying to make zombies but I don’t have enough braaaaaaains. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/33 "2015-10-25T02:29:47Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > A VCR you can set by phone. Must be possible, never been done. Who the hell as a a VC… oh, zombie. Form 2001. Did you think there would ever be an iPhone??? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/34 "2015-10-25T02:43:23Z")
> [@ibmiddleton01](#): > > Did you ever think to do it yourself and not wait for someone else to make it for you??? I’m sure the people who posted to this thread some 15 years ago are feeling suitably chastised, especially since they don’t seem to have gotten around to any of these things yet. Meanwhile, could you explain what’s up with the 25 question marks? Is your question 25 times more a question than any other question? ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/35 "2015-10-25T02:57:45Z")
yeah reading the earlier post about violin sheet music it seemed like it wouldn’t be too hard to set up a tablet with sheet music that moved along as you played then I saw it was made in 2001 wow life sure is different today /me speeds off in his hoverboard ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/36 "2015-10-25T03:12:56Z")
…a zombie flag for vBulletin… ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/37 "2015-10-25T03:17:16Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > I’ve mentioned this before, but what the heck, maybe someone will see this and make the darn things. > > I used to play in my grade-school orchestra (violin), and the thing that used to bug me the most about performing was, you had to keep turning the pages, which meant lowering the violin, holding onto the bow and instrument with one hand, and turn the stupid page every 30 seconds or so. > > What I would like to see invented is an automatic page-turner, or at least an ebook of music that you can press a button with your foot and the page will automatically go on to the next one. This would eliminate a lot of problems for performers. > > I hope someone who reads this will invent the thing. It’s possible with current technology. It just hasn’t been invented yet. Yep. This. It’s truly a bitch to sit outside and try to keep your music from changing pages or blowing away in the wind. I currently use rocks to hold it down. Yeah, I could get a proper stand, but I would still need to turn the pages. Kindle has the reading outside figured out. Make it a bit bigger. And tech is possible that it could follow your notes and turn the page for you, or, just a key word. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/38 "2015-10-25T03:19:22Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > yeah reading the earlier post about violin sheet music it seemed like it wouldn’t be too hard to set up a tablet with sheet music that moved along as you played > > then I saw it was made in 2001 > > wow life sure is different today > > /me speeds off in his hoverboard By whom? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/39 "2015-10-25T03:25:58Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > …a zombie flag for vBulletin… Hear, hear. When I come into some money remind me to put up some capital towards that. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740/40 "2015-10-25T03:44:33Z")
> [@Agrippina](#): > > When I was in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade I used to ride my bike to the the local fast food place (this was Las Vegas at the time and I used to go to “In-N-Out”) then I would ride home rather awkwardly with the sack of food in my basket and one hand holding a medium soda. I always wanted a “Bicycle Cup Holder” that stuck on the handle bars of the bike. Of course now that I have a car and live in a place where riding your bike can give you a heart attack due to long distances and huge hills, it’s a moot point. Hell, I don’t even know if one exists but if they don’t, I would like one just for nostalgia. > > From, > > Anake (changed user name) They exist, not really that uncommon - you should be able to find several options to choose from. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-should-be-invented-could-be-invented-but-havent-been-invented/52740.md?page=3)