I got a few: - Teleportation - Time Machine - Dream Recorder (as in record our dreams as we see them) - Mind Reader (as in Mel Gibson in What Women Want :))
> Mind Reader
This is a really, really bad idea.
Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
11–20 of 39 posts
Re: Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
#12Sorry, I don't think you'll find any free lunch here.
The products I would like to see don't exist because they're not economically viable (e.g. high-quality development and mobile phone hardware using open source firmware) or they depend on technology that doesn't yet exist or doesn't scale well, etc.
You may come up with a novel idea for a viable product, but no one can do this for you.
Re: Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
#13A functional news media.
Can you expand on your definition of functional?
One that tells you the truth, not just "things that are true"?
For example, don't just tell us he said, and she said, and leave us to try to figure it out. Investigate until you know who's right, and why, and tell us.
Re: Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
#14A way to get around Twitter's 800 tweet home timeline limit. Or maybe this exists already? That would be great.
Re: Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
#15an easy way to update your address when you move without having to make 500 phone calls
Re: Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
#16A todo list that helps me figure out WTF to do, maybe by generating checklists from a corpus of facts, sources trusted via web of trust, social collaboration, etc.
I'd input "trip to Thailand" and the service would break that down into:
1 check your vaccines
1.1 hepatitis A most important
1.2 try local clinic X, click here to dial
2 check your insurance
2.1 click here if you have home insurance
2.2 click here to purchase trip-specific travel insurance
3 decide dates
3.1 week? two weeks? month? click to specify
3.2 pick a flight, click to browse curated list
And so on. (These should probably be in reverse order but I'm too lazy to change the numbers.)
Re: Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
#17Re: Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
#18A machine that detects the toxins/harmful chemicals in food materials....
Re: Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
#19an easy way to update your address when you move without having to make 500 phone calls
Move to Finland.
They have a population database which is queried by companies, such that if you move house your details are updated once, and instantly visible to companies.
It's both a little disturbing, and highly useful.
Re: Ask HN: Name one product/service that you personally need but doesn't yet exist
#20A money manager. It knows all the expenses and allocates an allowance. it tells you to get a new job and to trim expenses in a sensible way. it tells you to stop buying so many clothes/books/whatever. it asks you to repeat what you are doing when you don't spend money. it makes you justify expenses before you can have money. it saves for you.
I think this is possible now, when it was impossible before. it funds a debit card monthly for you, and calculates everything else. it learns you finances and then plans accordingly. most people will adapt to whatever money they have, they just suck at managing it. there isn't anyone that tells you "you can't afford that." or "you will run out of money if your lunches are so expensive" "your rent is too much money, get a better job" "you are not saving enough, what can you change so I can save you more money?" that would make life SO much easier.