h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK - if you've been watching this years Big Brother (UK) you'll know that Jon suggested that someone should invent a toaster with a 30 second delay for the second slice - simple yet not yet invented.

What other, simple, yet uninvented/undeveloped things can you all think of?

For me it is simple, a major hatred of my life is taps - there must be a better way of getting water into a kitchen sink that doesn't involve splashing water over you, the floor, and even the cieling, as soon as the jet of high pressure water hits a spoon or something.

C Hawke

An alarm clock with an alarm that starts very quietly and gradually gets louder.

An alarm clock that beeps once two hours before the alarm is due to go off, and twice an hour before it goes off. This way you're not laying in bed in that half asleep state "my alarm clock is going to go off any second" when in fact its only 4 in the morning.

An alarm clock that is smart enough to detect what stage of sleep you're in (rem etc). I have a theory that you're more tired if the clock wakes you up during dream sleep.

You could always try pumping it out of a well.

I have that theory as well spinks.

1741 (as opposed to 1471). This would give the info in reverse order to how it is now - thus time of call then the number. It bugs me having to sit through the number again before I find out what time they called. Yes, I really am that impatient.

'An alarm clock with an alarm that starts very quietly and gradually gets louder'

You can already get these...

I'm sure I could set my Psion to do something along those line - alarm clock lines that is (except detecting what stage of sleep you are in)

Also - one I thought of the other day, whilst getting sunburnt in an open air swimming pool on the recent South West meet - an Additive to Swimming pool water that disinfects AND provides a some extra UV protection.

C Hawke

'An alarm clock with an alarm that starts very quietly and gradually gets louder'

I have one. Very cheap (made in China)synthetic bird song. Gets loud (and how!)You'll wake up before it goes off in self defence . I let it do the full cycle - ONCE ONLY.

'An alarm clock with an alarm that starts very quietly and gradually gets louder'

I have one. Very cheap (made in China)synthetic bird song. Gets loud (and how!)You'll wake up before it goes off in self defence . I let it do the full cycle - ONCE ONLY.

A notepad for windows that stays on top whatever happens. The current one disappears when you open another window - a great pain.
Also would have a built-in alarm clock to remind you to do certain jobs at certain times.

I vaguely remember a "notepad" software, that had the apperance of a spiral bound notebook, with many pages.

Or am I getting confused with my Psion again?

CH

I'd welcome anything that makes people switch off their mobiles in public libraries. I think this would mean something against their choice, as I've noticed some people can carry on very loud conversations in libraries totally oblivious to people around them.

A device to attach to a saucepan, and to the controls of the hob, to allow things to simmer perfectly well, without ever* boiling over.

"I'd welcome anything that makes people switch off their mobiles in public libraries"... you can already get experimental ones.

how they work is by saturating the mobile phone band with a very low power signal, so the phone can't get through to the base station. this makes the network act as though the phone is switched off, but due to the low power, only works in a small area.

A universal screwdriver.
You get those tiny screwdrivers (very useful for tightening screws on glasses!) in packs. Would make sense if you had four of them attached to a central pivot or circle. I did think about making steps to get this patented but patenting stuff is so much hassle and very expensive.

Don't quite follow on the screwdriver idea?

4 separate screwdrivers joined together?

Although the subject of screw, bolts and devices to remove them really does need sorting out.

CH

Basically a cross shape with a different sized screwdriver at each end.

Would be easier to make it with bits like in electrical screwdrivers.

What about decent speakers in public places. It amazes me I can go and buy some speakers for a few pounds, with a pretty decent sound quality. But if you're at an airport or trainstation, the speakers are always so hard to understand. Always sound like there is a flock of bees in there. Also walkie talkies in taxis or for security guards seem to have awful sound quality.

It's generally not the speakers' problem, but the people using them who don't know how to use microphones and can't hear the output themselves.

B