Ask HN: What's the next big thing that few people are talking about?

Post by asdff » Mon, Aug 08, 2022, 7:28 PM UTC

NibbleAbit wrote: post #555

mattbrewsbytes wrote: post #385

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would love to see some company produce components someone could purchase and replace an ICE engine with to make it an EV. I'm not talking 300 mile range EV with fancy software, etc. just basic stuff like a battery pack sized to replace a gas tank, electric motor and other components, etc. Some kit that you could take a modern-ish Corolla/Civic and turn it into a 100mi range EV which could satisfy a ton of household…

I've been looking for this too. Not just for cars, but also lawnmowers, snow blowers, chain saws ...

Post by wyre » Mon, Aug 08, 2022, 7:31 PM UTC

adamckay wrote: post #583

DontchaKnowit wrote: post #478

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Sorry but this is just fantasy. Robots are not even remotely close to being able to replace humans for 90% of tasks. Robots do not deal with uncertainty well and in my opinion only ever will in scenarios where there are very tight bounds on the task. A robot is never going to be able to build a log cabin for you, because there are far too many snafus in the process to deal with. The real world is too fucked up for a…

> A robot is never going to be able to build a log cabin for you Agreed. But when that robot has something like a large scale 3d printer, why would it build with logs?

Post by conductr » Mon, Aug 08, 2022, 7:35 PM UTC

neon_electro wrote: post #367

conductr wrote: post #261

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> legislation would likely move more quickly I tend to think the slow pace is a feature not a bug. Could you imagine if something like Roe v Wade was flip flopping every 4 years on political whims? That said, I do think a modern democracy should have more frequent digital voting abilities perhaps on a policy level. Voting for a person you hope will represent you, it’s a decent concept when you lack technology but as…

The United States has a mechanism for slow-moving policy; the Constitution. That doesn't mean we can't have other mechanisms for policy that can be more nimble, local, or "temporary" (for better or worse). Tech policy is the best example of legislation that can't keep up with reality on the ground. (subject to corruption from monied interests, of course)

Post by snowwrestler » Mon, Aug 08, 2022, 7:37 PM UTC

somenameforme wrote: post #549

mlinksva wrote: post #469

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This was the answer, pre-Ukraine already. That war doesn't move the needle that much, as NATO/Russia escalation is far from the only nuclear war threat -- there's also mistakes by any party, India/Pakistan, North Korea, China, etc.

The China/Pakistan border clashes have resulted in fatalities on the order of several dozen in something where neither nation really wants to escalate. Ukraine would have long since lost this war if not for the US directing the funneling tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, training, and so on to Ukraine. This support has been directly responsible for the excess deaths of Russians and Ukrainians alike number…

Post by asdff » Mon, Aug 08, 2022, 7:39 PM UTC

throwaway4aday wrote: post #474

JKCalhoun wrote: post #398

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Would that mean the population then will be much wealthier (as happened after the Black Plague)?

Unknown. It's never been tried in an industrialized nation. I have a feeling it could easily go the other way and return China to poverty with not enough people to sustain their current economic output. That depends a lot on what's possible to do with automation. It could also have drastic effects on the knowledge sector, breaking down chains of training and knowledge transfer. A lot of expertise could be lost.