# Why haven't They invented \_\_\_\_\_\_\_? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 25, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123 "2005-07-25T22:25:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/81 "2005-07-28T00:30:02Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > You get a remote control, plus a bunch of bulky, inconvenient key fob locators that _can’t be easily attached to the devices you’re likely to misplace_ - the funny thing is that this is a great example of truth in advertising; the product photo _clearly demonstrates that the locators are bulky and inconvenient and that you can’t easily attach them your devices_. Oh, I know - I love how the picture shows the locater thing _next_ to the TV remote and the cell phone and the glasses - not actually attached. :rolleyes: I didn’t say it was great, I just remembered seeing it in the catalog. People must be buying it, though, because it’s been in the SI catalog for a couple of years now. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/82 "2005-07-28T01:56:13Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > Or you could just put your alarm clock across the room, so you have to actually _get up_ and turn it off. 😉 See, sometimes that worked for me, but sometimes not. When you put it across the room, you also make it quieter. Another alarm-clock-related idea I had was an alarm clock with a detachable speaker. The speaker would be connected to the base by ten feet or so of spooling wire. Then, you could leave the speaker near enough to the bed to be nice and loud, but the part that turns it off is well out of easy reach. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/83 "2005-07-28T02:11:35Z")
Ok, I want a blanket that will automatically remove itself in the middle of the night. I am often a little chilly when I fall asleep, so I put a thin blanket over the top sheet – only to wake up sweating. So either a blanket that removes itself, or a thermostat for _just_ the bedroom. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/84 "2005-07-28T02:44:43Z")
> [@zenith](#): > > 1.One-month wipe-on insect repellent for humans–along the lines of the flea stuff you put on dogs and cats. Most of the existing insect repellants will work that way. You just have to be willing to not bathe for the month, like dogs & cats. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/85 "2005-07-28T03:42:44Z")
An EMP type device that would work (only temporarily and not damage anything) on those ANNOYING ‘bouncin’" bass systems that people insist upon playing in residential neighborhoods. It would simply stop the stereo system for 5 to 10 minutes (until they’re well out of your hearing range), and they “release” so that the person could continue to listen to his stereo. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/86 "2005-07-28T05:13:30Z")
In no particular order The car tell you a light is out? Volvos have had this since '73 IIRC (my '74 had it) The current cars even have a plain text display "position light out, Brake light out, turn signal light out, etc) Self canceling turn signal? My '61 Simca (POS French car) had a turn signal that ran for about 25 seconds and turned itself off. No muss no fuss to turn it back on if needed. What **LSL guy** posted sounds like a high tech version of this Turn signal flashers. Extra loud flashers have been available for at least 25 years. Course now some cars the “click” if being produced by a sound card in the car’s computer. :smack: My request? A reverse microwave. Somthing I can put in at room temp and 30 seconds later pull out nice and frosty. Beer for example. The guy that makes this one work, he will have money that makes Bill Gates look like a hobo. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/87 "2005-07-28T05:43:53Z")
OK, you know how the TV news in many countries does that beep… beep… beep thing to mark the exact start of the hour? (Trust me, it is quite common.) Why not make clocks that synchronize to that tone? If the TV will not work, call a number and a computer will get all your clocks to read the same. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/88 "2005-07-28T05:47:40Z")
What about a microwave clothes Dryer? ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/89 "2005-07-28T06:58:35Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > An EMP type device that would work (only temporarily and not damage anything) on those ANNOYING ‘bouncin’" bass systems that people insist upon playing in residential neighborhoods. > > It would simply stop the stereo system for 5 to 10 minutes (until they’re well out of your hearing range), and they “release” so that the person could continue to listen to his stereo. Or something built into the car sound system that automatically adjusts the volume based on the amount of ambient noise. Hence, if you’re driving fast and there’s a lot of wind/traffic noise, it automatically gets louder. In a residential district, it automatically gets softer. If you’re singing along, however, it senses whether you’re in key, and gets louder if you’re not, to help you stay on the right notes. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/90 "2005-07-28T13:17:57Z")
My request is very simple. I would like a travel coffee mug that is the size of the average size coffee to go cup. Anything bigger flips out of my coffee holder. Anything wider has to be repositioned somewhere else that is equally awkward. I don’t need a metric buttload bladder buster of coffee. Just the 16 oz, no handle , simple thermal cup. Is that too much to ask for? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/91 "2005-07-28T13:56:52Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > Or something built into the car sound system that automatically adjusts the volume based on the amount of ambient noise. Last night as I was channel surfing, I noticed that a few channels were louder/quiter than others. Wouldn’t it be nice if the TV had some smarts to “learn” the volume differences between channels over time, while still allowing the volume control to function normally. It would simply apply a custom volume offset to each channel, and update the amount of the offset based on some ingenious algorithm. This way, I could surf with everything having pretty much the same volume. Maybe it could get fancier and detect the compression used to boost commercial’s perceived loudness and dial them back a bit so that they sound the same as the rest of the programming. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/92 "2005-07-28T13:58:24Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > My request is very simple. > > I would like a travel coffee mug that is the size of the average size coffee to go cup. > > Anything bigger flips out of my coffee holder. > > Anything wider has to be repositioned somewhere else that is equally awkward. > > I don’t need a metric buttload bladder buster of coffee. > > Just the 16 oz, no handle , simple thermal cup. > Is that too much to ask for? Just go to Linens and Things or Bed and Bath. I have a couple that size from these folks. You don’t get out much, huh? 😃😃 ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/93 "2005-07-28T14:02:20Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Last night as I was channel surfing, I noticed that a few channels were louder/quiter than others. Wouldn’t it be nice if the TV had some smarts to “learn” the volume differences between channels over time, while still allowing the volume control to function normally. It would simply apply a custom volume offset to each channel, and update the amount of the offset based on some ingenious algorithm. > > This way, I could surf with everything having pretty much the same volume. Maybe it could get fancier and detect the compression used to boost commercial’s perceived loudness and dial them back a bit so that they sound the same as the rest of the programming. I’m pretty sure My Sony has that feature. But I’m also pretty sure I tried using it a long time ago and it didn’t work for sh\*t. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/94 "2005-07-28T14:18:12Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > OK, you know how the TV news in many countries does that beep… beep… beep thing to mark the exact start of the hour? (Trust me, it is quite common.) Why not make clocks that synchronize to that tone? If the TV will not work, call a number and a computer will get all your clocks to read the same. You mean like an [atomic clock](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00077AA4W/qid=1122560366/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-0963581-3404059?v=glance&s=home-garden&n=507846)? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/95 "2005-07-28T15:06:49Z")
> [@Max Torque](#): > > See, sometimes that worked for me, but sometimes not. When you put it across the room, you also make it quieter. Another alarm-clock-related idea I had was an alarm clock with a detachable speaker. The speaker would be connected to the base by ten feet or so of spooling wire. Then, you could leave the speaker near enough to the bed to be nice and loud, but the part that turns it off is well out of easy reach. Hmm… how about combining an alarm clock with that new “pain ray” the military’s talking about using? The alarm goes off… waits a minute or so… and then blasts the bed with that beam. I’m bettin’ you’d only have to experience it once or twice before you never oversleep again. Or ever sleep again, for that matter. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/96 "2005-07-28T15:27:27Z")
This one’s for cell phones. Let’s say you’re expecting a phone call and needto leave your phone on. Someone else calls and you don’t have time to talk to them. Instead of waiting the mandatory 4-6 rings, have a direct-to-voicemail button that will send them there immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/97 "2005-07-28T15:42:43Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > This one’s for cell phones. Let’s say you’re expecting a phone call and needto leave your phone on. Someone else calls and you don’t have time to talk to them. Instead of waiting the mandatory 4-6 rings, have a direct-to-voicemail button that will send them there immediately. My [Samsung](http://reviews.cnet.com/Samsung_SCH-A670/4505-6454_7-30919329.html) does this: when someone calls and I flip the phone open, I can press one button to “Ignore” the call or another button to “Answer” the call. If I choose Ignore, the call goes directly to my voicemail. It rocks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/98 "2005-07-28T15:48:26Z")
Based on the incessant nagging of my wife about junk collecting on the dining room table, I offered to build her a custom table: There would be a timer built in to the table that would trigger a lifter mechanism at precisely midnight that would lift the hinged top and dump all of the junk onto the floor. After a few broken plates and lost homework assignments, people would learn to always leave the dining room table clean at the end of the day. ---
**Author:** ![cruel\_butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@cruel\_butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cruel_butterfly)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/99 "2005-07-28T17:54:18Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > It already exists I think. In a few cars. > > But I want more car companys to come out with heated stearing wheels. I hate wearing gloves to drive. > > When it’s -20 f, that would be a real, real nice feature. I would be nice if the steering wheel could also be _cooled_. I think desert dwellers would appreciate a feature like that. There’s nothing like having to keep oven mitts in your glove box in order to run errands. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123/100 "2005-07-28T18:24:07Z")
Ever hear of a Pokia? It is a handset made of a real telephone handset that plugs into your mobile so you can (well heck, I don’t know why you would want it). But why not have a real full-sized phone that charges your mobile and lets you dial and make calls on the full-sized phone? How hard would that be? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-invented-_______/314123.md?page=6)