Inventions Needed
There should be a timer-controlled stove-top burner control, so you can put a pot to boil (or simmer) and have the burner go off after 5 minutes, or whatever. Didn't you ever burn a pot due to this design failure?
---------------------------------------------------------
So-called "vampire" transformers and rectifiers should be
required, in most cases, to have a three-way switch on the
transformer, or, preferably, remotely on the device that says:
ON-STANDBY-OFF, where OFF really means off. Indeed, all devices like
TV sets, should have the same options. (we might modify this to
ON-STANDBY-DEEPSTANDBY-OFF to allow digital clocks to function.)
---------------------------------------------------------
We need a better operating system. Windows fails on almost
every front. (1) It is not documented for programmers (How are you
supposed to be able to write programs for Windows.) (2) It is full of
gotcha's, and of various flaws and deficiencies, and incredible
complexity - often there for Microsoft's benefit, not the users. Did
you read Brian Livingston's columns in the old Infoworld? He was
always reporting on obscure software intended to fix various windows
deficiencies. (3) It is a mess, designed without rhyme or reason in
many areas. (Consider the registry idea, and its excreable execution,
and the lack of a scripting language (perhaps that has been fixed, I
am told, but I have not seen any manual for it.))
Unix systems have adequate functionality and inadequate documentation,
but complexity has damaged Unix as well. (There are multiple places
to get documentation on topics in Linux - how am I supposed to know
where to go, or "how to go there.") In Linux, the problem of loadable
shared "librarys" means you sometimes can't install new versions of
programs on an old operating system! And, although unlike Windows, it
is possible to be an expert on a Unix system, it takes far too much of
your life to do so!
We can do much much better at OS design. Nextstep wss a start,
but still too complex and undocumented. I don't know anything
about Be or OS/2.
------------------------------------------------------
We need a timer-controllable cassette recording option
for radios - I want to use my radio just like I use my VCR
to record programs automatically at chosen times. Also, all
radios should have push-button pre-settable tuning - not just car radios
and very expensive shelf-units. Whoever provides these features
will destroy their competition (for a while.)
-----------------------------------------------------
Why are the ground transportation systems at most
major airports so lousy? If it weren't for the free-lancers
flouting the anti-service constraints, there would be no
way to get into town at a reasonable cost and in a reasonable
time-frame at all! [Does this provoke an idea about a
simple reform?] And by the way, what businesses (or government
"services") can you think of where the customers hate their
suppliers! What will that bring-about in the long run?
----------------------------------------------------