# We may not have flying cars, but technology is pretty damn incredible **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 16, 2011, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504 "2011-09-16T09:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/42 "2011-09-21T21:39:39Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > How do you do that? I thought Facetime only works over WiFi networks. Does London have WiFi everywhere, and do the networks have handing-over capabilities? FaceTime only works over WiFi, but the Skype app [works on 3G](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8231813/Skype-iPhone-3G-video-calling-app-launched.html) if you have a decent signal. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/43 "2011-09-22T03:02:23Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > But you have to go to Japan to get access to the really advanced toilet technology. Pretty soon the toilet will interface with role playing games and we won’t need a flying car because no one will leave the house. Gentlemen - introducing the [Toylet](http://singularityhub.com/2011/01/05/controlling-video-games-with-your-pee-sega-brings-awkward-fun-to-the-restroom/). > [@](#): > > According to Sega and Akihabara News, the four types of video games on the Toylets include: > “Mannekin Pis”: a simple measurement of the urine produced. > “Graffiti Eraser”: where you move your urine back and forth to remove paint > “The North Wind and Her”: a game where you play the wind, trying to blow a girl’s skirt up. The stronger you pee, the stronger the wind blows. > “Milk from Nose”: A variation on sumo wrestling, where you try to knock the other player out of the ring using the strength of your urine flow (shown as milk spraying from your nose). The record of your pee is saved and used as the opponent for the next player. So the game is sort of multiplayer. Toylets even lets you save information onto a USB drive! I fear the MMORPG that will arise from this. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/44 "2011-09-22T03:30:17Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > ‘Magic’ as described by various religions, if it existed, would be another form of technology. ‘Magic’ as described by Las Vegas show-persons is hiding all the technology from the audience allowing them to wallow unfettered in the wonder of it all. My iPhone is magic! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/45 "2011-09-22T03:55:51Z")
I’d love a phone that creates it’s own hot-spot. Without any fanfare we seamlessly moved computers and the internet into our pockets. it’s just amazing. But a $15 a month additional fee is an extra $180 a year. And as sure as the seasons change something is going to break and cost me money. My good computer just died so I’ll probably end up spending money on an on-line data service. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/46 "2011-09-22T04:23:10Z")
What does the cutting edge magic cost in terms of startup and monthly? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/47 "2011-09-22T04:47:25Z")
I prefer to make a distinction between wizardry and magic. In fact, I’d say that they’re close to being opposites. A wizard can do wondrous things by virtue of great understanding. Magic, by contrast, is that which cannot be understood. So, iPhones are wizardry, and the product of the work of a great many wizards. ---
**Author:** ![SunSandSuffering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@SunSandSuffering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunSandSuffering)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/48 "2011-09-22T15:36:00Z")
While all that sounds like a magic appliance, it’s absolutely no use to me unless the battery lasts longer than a typical working day. What good are any of the “outdoor” apps [augmented reality, star maps, geocaching, etc] if you can’t use them for any appreciable length of time? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/49 "2011-09-22T15:57:43Z")
My iPhone 4 lasts for about a working day of heavy use. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/50 "2011-09-22T16:14:30Z")
> [@SunSandSuffering](#): > > While all that sounds like a magic appliance, it’s absolutely no use to me unless the battery lasts longer than a typical working day. What good are any of the “outdoor” apps [augmented reality, star maps, geocaching, etc] if you can’t use them for any appreciable length of time? You can buy a rechargeable external battery that will give the phone a full charge (or even two) for less than $50. If you’re serious about outdoor usage then that’s a good investment. I use the ViewRanger GPS/mapping app to record mountain-biking routes. On a four-hour ride (with the phone on standby but recording the track) it uses less than half a full charge, so I don’t think it’s a big problem. At first, though, I was wondering why my phone was going from 50% charge to \<20% overnight despite being left on standby. I realised that the ViewRanger app was still running in the background and using the GPS function (even when not recording a track). Now I kill the app when not using it and the phone only uses 1-2% of the battery overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/51 "2011-09-24T13:33:11Z")
Just the other day, I was at the supermarket, and while shopping, I was facebook chatting with my son on my phone. Who happens to be in Afghanistan. While I’m picking out bananas, I’m casually chatting with someone on the other side of the planet. “How’s it going?” “Fine, it’s hot here, chow sucked, etc., etc.” For all of human history, getting “news from your loved one off at war” was BIG DAMN DEAL…and he and I were back and forth like it was nothing at all. Freakin’ amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/52 "2011-09-24T13:48:44Z")
> [@SunSandSuffering](#): > > While all that sounds like a magic appliance, it’s absolutely no use to me unless the battery lasts longer than a typical working day. What good are any of the “outdoor” apps [augmented reality, star maps, geocaching, etc] if you can’t use them for any appreciable length of time? My Samsung Galaxy lasts the best part of a week before needing charging with everyday use. I have to keep the GPS turned off until I need it though, as then my phone’s charge would only last a day. It still gets pretty good triangulation results just from using the phone network, though (50m radius, compared to less than a couple of metres with GPS). ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/53 "2011-09-24T13:51:01Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > What does the cutting edge magic cost in terms of startup and monthly? I pay about £20 a month for my Android based smartphone with about 500mb of data and 1000 free text messages. The phone came with the contract. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/54 "2011-09-24T20:19:03Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > I pay about £20 a month for my Android based smartphone with about 500mb of data and 1000 free text messages. The phone came with the contract. That’s quite a bit cheaper than mine: to get a free 16GB iPhone 4 I’m paying £42 a month, for 900 minutes, 900 texts and 500MB of data. No way I will use all those texts and minutes, but after a year I can step down to a cheaper contract. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504/55 "2011-09-28T16:12:43Z")
Hey, how about foaming soap? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-not-have-flying-cars-but-technology-is-pretty-damn-incredible/596504.md?page=2)