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13 Jul 17 - 09:06 AM (#3865873) Subject: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Mr Red Manu Prakash on TED.com (Stanford professor) at about 3 mins 30 he tells us about a medical centrifuge given to an African clinic where there was no electricity, used as a doorstop! So he set out to find a zero power centrifuge. His innovative journey took him via a yo-yo, a spinning top and he regressed to the oldest toy known (about 5000 years old) the spinning button which he demonstrated using paper and string. On his own blood, citing the ability to detect anemia with a little clay, capilliary tube & sellotape on the spinner. No electricity was hurt in the demo. He shows an array of spinners all designed to assay specific ailments and even one to do about 8 on one spinner. For me the wonders of technology (I use it to the full) are pretty passé in the face of such extraordinary simplicity. Any other examples come to mind? |
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13 Jul 17 - 09:30 AM (#3865878) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Senoufou Yes Mr Red. My sister has contributed towards installing those brilliant water pumps in Africa consisting of a little metal 'roundabout' which children ride on and push round with their feet to make them turn fast. They pump water up from the well (drilled by the charity) so no electricity or motors are involved. Saves women carting water on their heads for miles. |
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13 Jul 17 - 11:29 AM (#3865896) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: leeneia Thanks for the info about the roundabout pump, Senoufou. that's encouraging. I see that they are being installed at schools. |
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13 Jul 17 - 11:54 AM (#3865904) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: punkfolkrocker That's re-awoken memories... 30 years ago in London I was part of a team that worked on a promotional tape slide presentation [yes tape/slide - not even video] for a technology development charity working in '3rd world countries'. It might even have been something to do with water projects...??? Actually, the final product tape slide was edited to video, so would never need an old fashioned cumbersome projector and screen, just a VHS player and TV.. How hi tech for 1987... |
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13 Jul 17 - 12:31 PM (#3865915) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Senoufou Another one is the water filtering 'straw'. It's a simple tube with many membranes of different sorts within. It's put around a child's neck on a ribbon. The child can dip it into any kind of water and suck. The thing filters to an amazingly tiny tolerance, and can cope with 800 litres of water, or a year's use. I was at a Salvation Army Christmas Concert a few years ago, and at 'half time' a short talk about these straws was given, and a slide show, then the hat was passed round for contributions. At the end, they announced they'd raised over £2000! This would obtain no end of the filters for hundreds of African children. It's another of my sister's pet charities, together with sanitary toilets of a special design for use where there's no running water. She often says she's the 'Toilet Queen'! The thing is, in developing countries, complicated technology is no use. It can't be maintained, and cannot run on non-existent electricity. It has to be very simple and sustainable. |
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13 Jul 17 - 12:43 PM (#3865916) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Mrrzy Also, I have to say, spring-loaded toothed hair clips. |
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13 Jul 17 - 04:00 PM (#3865940) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Joe_F Corn stripper |
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13 Jul 17 - 04:21 PM (#3865946) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: McGrath of Harlow That roundabout pump sounds like a cunning rethink of the old treadmill or capstan. On the same principle maybe someone could work out a way to make a dance floor that used the energy of stamping feet to provide useful power. When you think of it, there's an awful lot of movement around that potentially could be made use of that way. |
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13 Jul 17 - 05:12 PM (#3865959) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: punkfolkrocker How about harnessing power from tiny water wheels in public urinals...??? 💡 |
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13 Jul 17 - 05:14 PM (#3865960) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: punkfolkrocker Plus it'd be a substitute for fag end target aiming practice now that most places ban smoking... |
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13 Jul 17 - 09:26 PM (#3865986) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Rapparee I knew about this with UV powered by batteries or electricity, but... SODIS. My niece the microbiologist told me first. |
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14 Jul 17 - 06:47 PM (#3866155) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Donuel Using synthetics and cloned cells from the patient I am imagining 3D printing, after careful measurement, brand new corneas, bladders and other organs that do not have the complexity of mass vasculature or nerves. Easy peasy medical invention was my 1st rodeo. |
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16 Jul 17 - 01:39 PM (#3866422) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Donuel This will probably reach 2 people here but the biggest most mind blowing invention in all of mankind is CRISPR It is an organic gene editor using viral DNA to edit genes that our natural DNA healing mechanisms then take over and do the final work. What is the big deal? This invention puts a crack in Creation. Evolution is now in OUR HANDS I repeat Evolution is in our hands to change enhance or cure any disease any animal and any plant. There are limits and gene locations we still need to learn. However the benefits and dangers are here and now - NOT SOMEDAY. songs about this are still unwritten. movies are unscripted, politicians are as a rule ignorant. Where will the profits flow Who will have access to doubled life span Silicon valley is already in this game it is here it is now and people will want a say. I saw Phil Donahue yesterday. He hardly has changed a day. It makes me wonder... which suggests there will probably be great suspicion regarding the use and consumers of this greatest invention ever. aside |
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16 Jul 17 - 06:02 PM (#3866451) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Donuel Do you have a wish list for your own self editing? |
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29 Jul 17 - 12:22 PM (#3868983) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Donuel Here is an invention some of you will actually put to use one day. ORGAN GLUE that is pliant sticks wet to wet and is non toxic. It glues lung, heart , liver , kidney and brain. It is a version of sea slug glue but is synthetic. No more stiches that tear or leak. No more super glue. http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/07/27/539473673/slug-slime-inspires-scientists-to-invent-sticky-surgical-glue |
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29 Jul 17 - 06:07 PM (#3869013) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Joe_F I knew a physicist once who wished for a tiny hand on the end of one of his little fingers, for fine work in the lab. I myself, in my electronic days, wished for electrical senses: four voltage ranges between the thumb & fingers of one hand, and four current ranges on the other. |
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29 Jul 17 - 06:38 PM (#3869016) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Amos Sometimes I think the time-honored technology used to confine Live souls in meat shells is a brilliant invention that just fell into the wrong hands. |
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29 Jul 17 - 07:54 PM (#3869019) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Donuel priceless |
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30 Jul 17 - 03:34 AM (#3869038) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: BobL When working on classic Minis, I have often felt the need of a left hand on the end of a right arm (or vice versa). |
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31 Jul 17 - 08:56 AM (#3869212) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Donuel https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/47/55/25/4755251871eb56c4bd38532bba954078.jpg for detail work |
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31 Jul 17 - 11:25 AM (#3869238) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Mr Red a left hand on the end of a right arm coming to a robotics company near you. I predict. However, with modern cars I doubt you would even open the bonnet except to fill the screen washer - which reminds me - must do it now............ |
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31 Jul 17 - 02:43 PM (#3869277) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: punkfolkrocker One possible problem with all electric cars in the future... Will all the roads be rebuilt as hugely scaled up Scalextric tracks.. How many small boys will need to be employed to sit at the sides of the roads controlling all the cars with hand sets...??? |
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31 Jul 17 - 05:48 PM (#3869306) Subject: RE: BS: Inventions that are 'simply mind blowing From: Donuel Three miles away from home, the gene ppv2r5d was found to have a gene mutation that causes a form of autism. It is not a inherited condition. |
