A no-brainer...

We know the brain's split into 2 sides but that's not the politically correct way to think of it. For example, if the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body then, does that mean only left-handed people are in their right minds? ?? Besides, does anyone really know what side the center of the brain controls? None. That's because a center brain would get very confused trying not to show favoritism to one side or the other. So, if a center brain is not the right brain to have, what else is there left to have? :)

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temperature-control microwave

what about a new generation of microwave ovens where instead of setting the watt and time you set the temperature for the food to heat up to or cool down (defrost mode). it would be more efficient, easier to use and help avoid overheating.

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baby stroller racer

maybe motorized baby strollers already exist. i was thinking of a remote-control baby stroller with 2 soft pedals on its end (brake/accelerator) for the baby to play with its feet and train as a racer. The stroller is motorized which makes it easy to use on uphill slopes. The max speed of the stroller will be no more than 2-3 miles/hour and the parent can jog or walk next to it hands-free. it will also be mp3/mobile phone/iPod compatible to allow parents to turn it left and right by using the navigation buttons of their device. just don't let kids use it without supervision :)

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If you can't trust your neighbor...

As all Canadians know, we are on the eve of having to show a passport in order to cross the US/Canadian border. In our 200 history as neighbors, this is a disturbing precedent, and yet both Clinton and Bush confessed to having absolutely no knowledge of it when they came to speak together in Toronto. The two former US Presidents came to discuss global and domestic challenges facing the U.S. and Canada and both of them were ignorant about it. That such an important step is implemented without their knowledge is beyond belief. How are we Canadians supposed to feel?

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An intranet system for commercial flights

What about installing an intranet system on commercial flights whereby passengers could text chat or play games with each other? Passengers could use live text chat to meet or talk to other passengers or play games with others on the flight without having to change seats to do that. Isn't a long flight more fun when you happen to be seated next to someone who is very interesting to meet and talk to? How often does it happen though? Instead of leaving it all to chance and serendipity, an intranet system that can connect each and every passenger in the same way online social networks and playing games do would make flights more fun and interesting.

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Mobility aid for the impressionist painter

Impressionist paintings seem hard to paint because the artist has to move back and forth all the time to see what the painting looks like from afar. Stand too close and the painting looks like a messy patch of strokes. Take one step back and the pieces come together. A joystick-controlled, wheel-powered stunt for the artist to stand on when he draws and move him back and forth can spare extra walk and save energy. I don't know if such an aid exists but if it doesn't, why not?

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The fingerpass to replace passports?

This thought was posted on Thinkaloo on 29 March 2008 by member kanool

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Wouldn't it be more efficient, more secure and more eco-friendly to replace passports with fingerprint and eye-check only? Why do we need to carry paper passports when we can digitize some of our most unique body parts that serve as the best and most accurate form of identity? Don't you agree that paper passports will soon become a thing of the past?

Predict your future by controlling future outcomes?

This thought was posted on Thinkaloo on 29 March 2008 by member JackSparrow

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What if we had the ability to read other people's thoughts as soon as they are conceived? Wouldn't that be a great way to control our future? Say you asked someone to do something and while they take the time to answer with a yes or no, you can know what they're thinking, what holds them back or what excites them about your request! Wouldn't that kind of knowledge give you the power to shape any future outcome to your advantage?

If you could control the way a certain outcome will play out, isn't that a better alternative to our lack of ability as humans to predict the future? If being able to predict the future is impossible, is being able to control it or at least shape its direction the next best thing to it?

There are many movies and science-fiction scenarios out there in which people can either predict the future or know it in advance. I think it would be far more interesting to have a movie or a scenario where people can read other people's thoughts and adjust their behavior based on that information and not based on advance knowledge of the future.

How to fight corruption from pork barrel politics

This thought was posted on Thinkaloo on 27 February 2007 by member james85

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Pork barrel politics is spending taxpayers money on projects that benefit special interests and lobbyists. Obama proposed that all such spending be reported online for the public to know where the money is spent. Knowing where the money was spent after it was spent helps transparency but doesn't give direct decision making power to the public. I think online majority vote for all such projects will give people full control.

Our democratic system works this way. On local or national elections people vote for their favorite party and representative based on their ideas and proposed policies. Most pork barrel projects however, even if they are promised and announced before election date do not include details. The devil of corruption however is in the details. We should keep in mind that a lot of new projects and their specifics are decided only after elections are over.

In order to give full control to citizens, voters and taxpayers I think it is a good idea to pass law that requires that for any large amount of public spending, majority vote is required by taxpayers whose money will be spent on that project. That will completely take away decision-making influence from the hands of lobbyists and special interests. This way not only transparency but also control will be preserved.

To those who might argue that this idea will make the system more inefficient, I say this. If you can report all transactions online with the click of a button at low cost, then you certainly can have taxpayers vote online in a day at minimal cost.