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Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

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Re: Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

#31

Post by kspaans »

lgieron wrote: post #28

I'd pay for a pension fund - which takes my money and, when I retire, uses it pay out fixed income pension every month, based on my life expectancy.

Vanguard has a product similar to what you're looking for: Target Retirement Funds. https://investor.vanguard.com/mutual-funds/target-retirement...

It does everything you want up to retirement age, but after that I believe you're on your own to pay yourself out of the fund.

Of course, that assumes you can accurately predict when you'll retire. :) And it depends on what you mean by "fixed income". Do you mean a specific monthly amount agreed on right now (see also: defined benefit plan), or a specific monthly amount that's set once you retire and doesn't change until you die (see also: annuity). The hardest part about all of this, IMO, is predicting how much money you'll need in retirement (a function of both life expectancy and desired quality of life during retirement) and thus predicting how much money you need to put away every month starting now.

EDIT: Disclaimer: I own some Vanguard funds (but not Target Retirement ones).

Re: Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

#32

Post by S4M »

id122015 wrote: post #16
id122015 wrote: post #15

I'd pay/crowdfund a Linux Desktop Environment that is as good as OSX one. Some features I'd beparticularly interested are to easier customise the trackpad, drag n drop, anything that makes a good user interface. Not bells and whistles.

forgot to mention an e-ink laptop/monitor

I'm actually toying with the idea of building such a laptop with a Raspberry PI and an e-ink screen. It would be a low power laptop with a high autonomy, and very light.

Re: Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

#33

Post by sunshiney »

vonklaus wrote: post #4

* A personalized search engine. * portable software that is in a usb that stores your medical records. The problem is that all medical records are disaggregated and you have to bring them everywhere with you and the systems are incompatable. However, if you made a portable system agnostic applicaation using something like electron and sqllite that allowed your doctor (or any doctor) to run it when diagnosing or takin…

And how would this work if you are unconscious and found by a stranger? I'd like a centralized database containing my medical info with a way for doctors to immediately know relevant info and to be reminded off possible oversights. I have had two family members suffer from doctor oversights and inability to access information.

Re: Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

#34

Post by vonklaus »

sunshiney wrote: post #33
vonklaus wrote: post #4

* A personalized search engine. * portable software that is in a usb that stores your medical records. The problem is that all medical records are disaggregated and you have to bring them everywhere with you and the systems are incompatable. However, if you made a portable system agnostic applicaation using something like electron and sqllite that allowed your doctor (or any doctor) to run it when diagnosing or takin…

And how would this work if you are unconscious and found by a stranger? I'd like a centralized database containing my medical info with a way for doctors to immediately know relevant info and to be reminded off possible oversights. I have had two family members suffer from doctor oversights and inability to access information.

basically the same way. the system would still be balkanized and terrible, but you would have a full searchable copy. it would basically be the equiv of itunes. you bring it to all youdt docs and u put your records on it, then they keep them to(like they do now) but you have a program that generates visual correlations.

you could also use it to interface with healthkit and fitbit. all data one place.

what if you were unconscious?

i imagine it in a bracelet with emergency contact with password. not 100% sure. the medical system should have your files anyway, but it is hard to balance privacy with a total stranger finding you in a state where you cant communicate. not sure what they do now, presumably treat with as much info as they could get from the person.

Re: Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

#35

Post by cdvonstinkpot »

A customizable in-shoe arch support which form-fits to the exact shape/needs of each foot.

Years ago there used to be such a product from SuperFeet, which you would heat up then form to the foot & would hold its shape upon cooling. But apparently it's no longer available.

Re: Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

#36

Post by id122015 »

S4M wrote: post #32
id122015 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

forgot to mention an e-ink laptop/monitor

I'm actually toying with the idea of building such a laptop with a Raspberry PI and an e-ink screen. It would be a low power laptop with a high autonomy, and very light.

After you are successful create a crowdfund project, please!

Re: Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

#37

Post by vonklaus »

reitanqild wrote: post #21
vonklaus wrote: post #4

* A personalized search engine. * portable software that is in a usb that stores your medical records. The problem is that all medical records are disaggregated and you have to bring them everywhere with you and the systems are incompatable. However, if you made a portable system agnostic applicaation using something like electron and sqllite that allowed your doctor (or any doctor) to run it when diagnosing or takin…

Yep, I'd be interested in trying to fund an open source gds replacement as well.

I really really hope you mean google desktop search.

Re: Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

#38

Post by reitanqild »

vonklaus wrote: post #37
reitanqild wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, I'd be interested in trying to fund an open source gds replacement as well.

I really really hope you mean google desktop search.

Yes, that's what I meant.

Re: Ask HN: What is something that doesn't exist that you would pay for?

#40

Post by dreamdu5t »

vonklaus wrote: post #34
sunshiney wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And how would this work if you are unconscious and found by a stranger? I'd like a centralized database containing my medical info with a way for doctors to immediately know relevant info and to be reminded off possible oversights. I have had two family members suffer from doctor oversights and inability to access information.

basically the same way. the system would still be balkanized and terrible, but you would have a full searchable copy. it would basically be the equiv of itunes. you bring it to all youdt docs and u put your records on it, then they keep them to(like they do now) but you have a program that generates visual correlations. you could also use it to interface with healthkit and fitbit. all data one place. what if you were…

Why does privacy matter? What is it protecting against? Medical record privacy has caused millions if not billions in lost productivity. People are probably dying because of this. Coming from a country that has centralized digital access to medical records (Taiwan), the US obsession with medical record privacy seems insane.
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