Agree. Simple stuff that people really need is missing. I mean really simple. I can't read product labels even with serious myopia and a magnifying lens. Only Trader Joe's makes readable shelf signage. Use-by dates take 30 seconds to even find. And there are tons more things. I made a list ... It's getting longer. Thanks for posting this.
What else is on the list? That's interesting.
Here are some.
Anything to help low vision (and that’s a giant problem) One periodical I get has some white text on a bright yellow background. Solution: I wrote them. Waiting …
Finding things, whether in the home or at local stores (whose inventory varies, as in “Stuff comes and goes at Trader Joe’s”) or even online (which is tough for many people since online stuff is largely bogus scams bolstered by SEO) Home and food and medicine inventory (data to be private and not fed to sellers, thank you.)
Exoskeletons. This technology is already old. What’s the hang-up? Other mobility?
Backpacks that have gyroscopes built in to stabilize people.
Fall mitigation. TBD
Finding real help nearby, trusted people, not “pay to get referrals” right now, as in “I’m in a jam”. Includes tech advice. And spares to loan.
Filtering email and websites for scams and malware.
Any sane noncommercial alternative to “social media”. (That’s a larger issue but very important in my mind, which is free of them)
That opens the matter of getting important, pertinent, personal and timely news and situational awareness rather than noise. (See above)
Creating secure family communications to bust AI-generated phony ransom calls (and more)
Simple robotics, of the “bring your slippers and reading glasses” sort. Cellphone, too. Seems it’s always charging when I need it.
Oh, and since I’m in the foothills, places to go when there’s an evacuation, power is out, and cool places to hang out.
I think these address major unmet needs. I would hate to see them enshittified.
Other ideas will improve quality of life, but first things first.