81–90 of 231 posts
A better way to communicate between cars -- honking a horn seems kind of stone age at this point.
I agree. I'm actually doing research right now on creating an ad-hoc network out of all the cars on the road, with the ability to flood in certain directions to notify of impending dangers, such as sudden braking up ahead (possibly a crash). 93% of car accidents are attributed to human error, so I think communication is definitely key.
Digital receipts - I hardly need to carry cash anymore, pretty much everywhere I shop takes chip-n-pin cards so I use my debit card to pay for most things. However, what you end up with is silly bits of paper that I end up carrying round in my wallet or stuffed into folders at work or at home. Why can't my payment card contain an identifier that allows the bank to send me a digitally signed receipt - I could get noti…
But this also means replacing hardware, which is a more expensive proposition.
Getting rid of undesirable mails (spam, personal harassment,...)
Solar powered 3D printers that use the carbon in CO2 to make stuff.
Greatest would be if the printers could print (replicate) themselves. A new life form :)
http://blog.reprap.org/2008/06/reprap-achieves-replication.h...
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.
Online elections. Think of how many more people would actually vote in the US if it were online . The 2008 election had 63% voter turnout, which is historically high, but is nothing compared to countries like Italy with 90%. Obviously, there are huge security concerns and it would be a logistical nightmare, but that's what someone needs to solve.
In Denmark, turnout is consistently 80+%, and we don't have online voting. Clearly, it's not the lack of online voting that's the (sole) problem. I can see how it's practical, and probably inevitable in the future, but quite frankly, if you can't be bothered to spend an hour every two-three years voting, I really don't need your input on who should be in charge. Voting should be harder, if anything. Then politicians…
Alternatively, put some rats on Seth Roberts's set-point diet (aka Shangri-La diet) and figure out the path of action, then develop it in pill form for those of us where Seth Roberts's diet didn't work / didn't work well enough.
To make a lot of money, ask yourself where people aren't looking. Often the place they're not looking is a place of moral blindness. Plenty of us would pay just about anything to look normal. The moral blindness part is the people being sanctimonious about fat being a sign of weak willpower and having no concept of the actual science involved.
Another place to look would be fast, accurate molecule recognition array tests for venereal diseases. Get it down to something the size of a vending machine, $20, and thirty minutes (results sent via text message) and you'll get people paying you every night. Again, moral blindness may be a reason why people aren't looking as hard in this direction as they should to create lots of hedons - sex is sinful.
Speaking of not looking where everyone else is looking, would it be too crazy to ask people to do something that actually creates large amounts of value instead of throwing sheep? Even if it involves doing something other than computer programming?
Making Scholar articles open to public access. Google scholar returned references are mainly to journal articles requiring a fee. This is useless. Science should be a collaborative work like wikipedia but with referees (not the narrowed minded one).
So in terms of accessibility to each other's scholarly articles, scientists in academia or larger industries don't suffer from a lack of collaboration. Since this covers most practicing academics, there is little incentive for the scholarly publishing community to change.
That said, there are many Open Access Journals out there - I guess you're not alone in your sentiments that science should be collaborative.
Corruption. It is a huge problem in India, I wish it is solved using transparent processes, aided by software tools. RTI (Right to Information) act helps in bringing out issues to an extent, but those who file RTIs get threatened or can even end up being killed.. http://www.google.co.in/search?q=RTI+activist+killed Something like anonymous or proxy RTI filings can help and all the results should be cataloged.
I would guess corruption mainly comes about because individuals can be in positions in power. Ie it is not a real democracy and the legal system is defunct? Just guessing, but if that is so, I don't think transparency would help. The bribes would probably never be entered into the computer database either.
With RTI, officials have to provide requested information within stipulated time frame or face actions - including suspension from service.
But, this is pull model. RTI application needs to be filed to get information.
Instead it should be push.
All Govt. expenses, the authorization details for those expenses (who made it) and the reasons for making those authorizations (details of tenders received and why one was favored over the other), should all be made public. So that it is easier to find foul play.
All this is related to corruption in Govt. expenditure.
Regarding bribes, usually applications/files submitted to Govt. offices do not move if bribes are pending. Now one can file for information on why some particular file has not moved and if that details given are not satisfactory, one can use it to file a complaint.
- Cold Fusion
- medical imaging that can detect emotional patterns and spiritual energy