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Ask YC/HN: What's a problem, any problem, you'd like to see someone solve?

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Re: Ask YC/HN: What's a problem, any problem, you'd like to see someone solve?

#22

Post by olalonde »

University Research 2.0. It seems like universities are so lateeee on adopting new technologies. Most of them are still working with printed scientific journals / email / static HTMLs + GIFs from the 90s. They still do a lot of stuff through the mail and the count goes on... If you don't trust me, just take a look at http://arxiv.org/ or MIT's website. I'm pretty sure there's room for amelioration! If anyone wants to brainstorm on the topic, feel free to contact me.

Re: Ask YC/HN: What's a problem, any problem, you'd like to see someone solve?

#24

Post by dwwoelfel »

Cheap and thin electronic paper. I'm talking about e-paper as thin as regular paper and bound into notebooks. Then I can buy ~5 notebooks that each have to ability to display any e-book or text based file. I also need the ability to write in these notebooks so that I can store my notes electronically.

Re: Ask YC/HN: What's a problem, any problem, you'd like to see someone solve?

#25

Post by albahk »

"De-manufacturing" instead of throwing away things. A company that sells you an item must take it back at the end of its life and break it down into constituent parts to be re-used/recycled. i.e. cars, phones, computers, fridge, house, office fitouts etc. Companies will seek to maximise profits and so make things that are easily re-used/re-sold.

An example of a product like this is the 1981 Jeep CJ-7 I had when I was young. I could swap in pieces from around 4 other models from a range of 15 years of production and they would work... nowadays the door panel from a 2009 BMW 323 won't fit a 2010 323, its ridiculous and leads to a lot of unnecessary waste.

Re: Ask YC/HN: What's a problem, any problem, you'd like to see someone solve?

#27

Post by lotharbot »

tel wrote: post #12

A catalogue of charities giving information about their goals and their financials. Help me to help others most efficiently with my money.

Something like http://www.charitynavigator.org/ ?

Lists charitable organizations, including their mission statements and financials, and rates them within their specific fields. (A financially healthy museum will look very different from a financially healthy feed-the-children program, which is why it rates by category.)

Re: Ask YC/HN: What's a problem, any problem, you'd like to see someone solve?

#28

Post by krmmalik »

I'd like to see someone solve the problem of (snail) mail. Its the one thing that is really preventing me from living a digital nomad lifestyle. I still have to visit my office at least once a week just to pick up mail, half of which is often junk and half of which im normally too late for.

Re: Ask YC/HN: What's a problem, any problem, you'd like to see someone solve?

#29

Post by bpick »

Ixiaus wrote: post #14

Disclaimer: most of these aren't anything new or earth shattering things that need to be solved. I dislike having a gazillion different Instant Message accounts with contacts that "only use MSN" or "only use AIM". SMS messaging may be a rip-off but there is one thing it has achieved: uniformity. Craigslist is great but it caters to the lowest common denominator - which can be frustrating.

Shameless self-promotion disclaimer I have taken baby steps in trying to build a more intelligent classified site at yourgrounds.com

I too feel your pain, and any feedback you have would obviously be incredibly worthwhile - especially if you want to help solve this specific problem.

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