Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Inventions

Eurekaaaaarrrrggghhhhhhh!

RokkitNite — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:08:32 -0800

Have any things ever been invented because someone lost their temper? So, while doing some research, I read the origin story for Scottish macaroons on Wikipedia, which says that, in 1931, John Justice Lees lost his rag when he messed up making chocolate fondant bars, threw coconut all over the mix in a fit of pique, and - hey presto - macaroons.

Are there any other famous inventions or innovations, either foodstuffs or gizmos or theories, where they were discovered by the inventor throwing a wobbly? Something about it really appeals to me, but I'm not sure where to start looking! Possibly apocryphal stories still welcome!

Help me find this book on low-tech inventions?

Kerasia — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:45:02 -0800

Looking for the author name and title of a book my high school teacher stole from me in 1981. The subject matter was lots of low-tech inventions and designs with instructions, with the idea that they'd help underdeveloped communities. One I remember was a radio receiver made out of cow dung, a tin and some wire. I also remember thinking at the time that the author's name was like that of Boris Pasternak but it wasn't him. My google-fu is failing me. Can you help?

examples of repurposed inventions?

Westringia F. — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:56:06 -0800

Can you give me examples of things which were invented for one purpose, but came into common use for another purpose? Bonus points if it sucked at whatever it was originally designed to do. Post-it glue is about as close as I can come, but that's more a story of an invention which needed a marketable use....

Ideas?

What famous inventions have non-famous alternatives or competitors?

damn dirty ape — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:53:46 -0800

What famous inventions have non-famous alternatives or competitors? I'm trying to develop an alternate earth where history went a little differently thus technology is a little different. Im looking for alternatives to commonly used technology. For instance, the V8 engine and the Wankel engine. Helicopters and ornithopters. Edison wanted to electrify homes with AC power and Tesla with DC power. The early web and gopher.

I'd love to hear more. Thanks.

How to join sheets of paper most effectively without staples or tape

quarantine — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:54:07 -0800

Can anyone help me save the planet one staple at a time? I sell a lot of stamps online, and in trying to reduce the footprint of this exercise (by using clean backs of paper printed on one side, recycled paperboard, etc.) I've been looking for a replacement to tape or staplers.

Yes, I know about the Staple-Free Stapler that, for instance, ThinkGeek sells, and that was previous discussed here on ask.metafilter, but as far as I know it only works on the corners of paper, and its limitation of four-five pages might be overly restrictive. My ideal one, if it exists, would be more traditionally stapler-shaped: be able to reach in and attach as far as the neck would allow. An amazon partner has one that looks like it might work, but the reviews are not very detailed.

I don't know what the technology would be: weaving, crimping, or something more clever I haven't thought of. But I'm handing it over to you.

"Why didn't anyone think of that before?"

ShooBoo — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:14:19 -0800

What are some innovations that come across as obvious solutions for problems? Something that makes you say, "Why didn't anyone think of that before?" Three that I can think of are: ketchup bottles that pour from the bottom, adding a notch to make it easier to tear open sealed packages, and having a single line for all bank tellers instead of a line for each teller. Ketchup bottles pouring from the bottom: I've also seen this with shampoo. However, I don't think they have this completely right yet as most of the time the bottles are essentially upside-down regular bottles that are top-heavy and can fall over easily.

Notched packages: I only recall seeing these in the last five years are so. How long have this been done for? It certainly cuts down on the struggle of opening plastic packages.

Single lines for bank tellers: I first noticed the switch in the mid 1970's. Previously, there were individual lines for each teller and you'd never know if you'd get stuck behind someone with an annoyingly long transaction. It would be nice if something like that could be done for cashiers at supermarkets and retail stores.

And here's one that I think someone should sell, take the pour from the bottom of the bottle one step further and use a syringe for thick liquids (ketchup, mustard, honey, etc.)

Help me find this Time Magazine illustration online

billtron — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:22:11 -0800

I'm trying to find an online version of the illustration from the Best Inventions of 2007 issue of Time Magazine. The illustration depicts a man on a bicycle covered overwhelmingly in gadgets next to a young woman holding an iPhone.

What are some great (and not so great) Australian inventions?

sam and rufus — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:23:50 -0800

What are some great (and not so great) Australian inventions? I know about drive in bottle shops, Chiko Rolls and the Black Box, but can anyone please help me out with some more please?

Who's the best Icarus?

Felicity Rilke — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:53:34 -0800

What are your favourite failed flight inventions? I'm doing research for an article on failed flight inventions, and I'm looking for stories of fantastic failures (specifically from the 19th and 20th centuries, but if it's really great and earlier, I might include mention of it).

Franz Reichelt, The Flying Tailor, was my inspiration, and while I've been reading up on albatross machines and early gliders, I'm most interested in flying apparatus which was meant to be worn (like Reichelt's overcoat).

So what are your favourite failed flying inventions/books about failed flying inventions? Help me include the most obscure, outlandish, and intrepid inventions (and consequently feel sad that they didn't work and I'm stuck with walking).

Ever heard of the Zero, kid?

bibliowench — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:44:44 -0800

Ignorantstudentfilter: What are some major cultural achievements or scientific discoveries that do not originate from white Europeans/Americans? I'm carefully picking my way through a freshman composition whose author claims that "Whites" are dominant because most "significant cultural and scientific accomplishments" were made by "European culture." I won't even get into his comments about welfare and rap music.

Part of me just wants to smack the student down with a bad grade and go watch Veronica Mars, but I actually like (ok, don't hate) this kid, and I want to show him why his generalizations are not just offensive but incorrect. I've got a list started (algebra, astronomy), but I'd like to have as many examples as possible, especially since he's probably inclined to dismiss me as yet another liberal teacher pushing my politically correct agenda.

Unsigned Patent Application Question

forforf — Wed, 24 May 2006 08:01:15 -0800

Hypothetically, what would happen if an inventor (one of several) did not sign a patent application? Let's also say this hold-out is refusing to sign because he is no longer employed with the company filing the patent application. Furthermore this inventor was very clear that when he left in Jan 2006, that if he didn't receive his 2005 bonus, then he would not provide any support post-separation. If it matters, let's say the separation was voluntary.
I'm curious what happens to the patent application itself, as well as how much of an issue this causes for the company filing the patent.
Using google and the patent office web site (uspto.gov), I found that there is a checkbox to indicate an inventor didn't sign the application, but I couldn't find anything explaining the impact to the filing (if any).
I would be curious as to what advice people would have for this hypothetical inventor.

Was Edison's original light bulb really designed to never run out?

sjvilla79 — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 21:24:51 -0800

Was Edison's original light bulb really designed to never run out? I don't know why I'm asking this question. It's weird though because I've always been under the impression the answer to it is yes. Perhaps I heard it while in school or something when I was younger. Yeah, I haven't bothered to Google this one either. I figured someone here would know enough about Edison to state whether this is fact or fiction. Ha! Is this a light bulb conspiracy? Surely not!

How to bring an idea to fruition?

ericbop — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 06:27:01 -0800

I've got a great idea for a new product. But I am not a professional designer/inventor, and I have no connections to the industry that would produce it. And although I can articulate the design concept, I'm not able to create a technically accurate mock-up or diagram. Am I SOL, or is there a way to make my fame/fortune/revolutionary impact on the breakfast cereal industry? OK, without being too specific, the product is a new type of cereal-delivery system. No, really.

Cool New Tech

cccorlew — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 08:52:09 -0800

Looking for cool new technologies that takes advantages of cheaper, faster processors, networking and sensors.
It's a grad class assignment: Find something less than 6 months old that hasn't been in Wired or Time magazines and is not mere incremental advancement, but a new idea. For example, the invisibility cloak. Ideas? Links?

Toys Invented - Now What?

interrobang — Tue, 30 Mar 2004 23:51:03 -0800

I've invented two toys. One is kid-friendly and easy to produce, and the other would require a plastic mold-injection process (so I can't possibly make a mock-up) but rave-kids would go nuts for it.

Obviously - I guess - I can't say what they are, since I'm afraid of people stealing my ideas. What do I do? Should I just email companies and tell them what my ideas are? Will they steal my ideas, or is it company policy to honor the inventor? The "kid's toy" one could be easily included in a "Klutz" kid's book, by the way. It's flat.