Mercurial > thoughts
changeset 44:596399a9563f
added short descriptions for all ideas.
author | Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu> |
---|---|
date | Sat, 13 Jul 2013 03:22:14 -0400 |
parents | 7d00e0dbdddb |
children | bb47bc2ab85b |
files | org/ideas.org |
diffstat | 1 files changed, 124 insertions(+), 106 deletions(-) [+] |
line wrap: on
line diff
1.1 --- a/org/ideas.org Sat Jul 13 03:10:44 2013 -0400 1.2 +++ b/org/ideas.org Sat Jul 13 03:22:14 2013 -0400 1.3 @@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ 1.4 one to wear the towel more securely than just 1.5 wrapping it tightly and hoping for the best. 1.6 1.7 -- Easiest way to disguise onself as a woman is to wear a burka. 1.8 +- crossdressing :: Easiest way to disguise onself as a woman is to 1.9 + wear a burka. 1.10 1.11 - book-mode :: intelligent color highlighting for books and 1.12 articles. It would disambiguate pronouns and involved 1.13 @@ -171,22 +172,23 @@ 1.14 prove themselves as a good predictor. I wish this could be 1.15 automated. 1.16 1.17 -- don't forget about that mirror in the student center!, it's two 1.18 - mirrors at right angles, like staring at a corner of a room. The 1.19 - light reflects so that it shows you what you actually look like, 1.20 - instead of your mirror image. 1.21 +- true reflection :: don't forget about that mirror in the student 1.22 + center!, it's two mirrors at right angles, like staring at a 1.23 + corner of a room. The light reflects so that it shows you what 1.24 + you actually look like, instead of your mirror image. 1.25 1.26 - remote control wasp :: use computer to drive wings with remote 1.27 power/logic. 1.28 1.29 -- public (distributed?) database of email->private-key pairs, to 1.30 - enable automatic encryption. 1.31 +- encrypted email phonebook :: public (distributed?) database of 1.32 + email->private-key pairs, to enable automatic encryption. 1.33 1.34 -- every equivalent creature will see each others' eyes as black -- 1.35 - it's universal. Even if the creatures see in radio waves, and their 1.36 - eyes are 2m long pieces of jagged metal, when those creatures look 1.37 - at each other, they will see black, the absence of light and color 1.38 - (since it's being absorbed by the sensor array). 1.39 +- universal eye color :: every equivalent creature will see each 1.40 + others' eyes as black -- it's universal. Even if the creatures 1.41 + see in radio waves, and their eyes are 2m long pieces of jagged 1.42 + metal, when those creatures look at each other, they will see 1.43 + black, the absence of light and color (since it's being absorbed 1.44 + by the sensor array). 1.45 1.46 - intelligent microwave :: it learns where the hot nodes of its fields 1.47 are, and uses them to evenly heat any food item. It has an infared 1.48 @@ -207,10 +209,10 @@ 1.49 and learn the exact heating profiles for things that have been 1.50 cooked before -- it can get faster the more its used. 1.51 1.52 -- brain-aware image compression algorithm 1.53 +- compresion :: brain-aware image compression algorithm 1.54 1.55 -- Credit card proxy - would be a company which works like paypal 1.56 - except for real world transactions 1.57 +- Credit card proxy :: would be a company which works like paypal 1.58 + except for real world transactions 1.59 1.60 - Flesh pillow :: a pillow like the arm or torso of a human, complete 1.61 with simulated temperature, bones, and heartbeat. 1.62 @@ -228,35 +230,41 @@ 1.63 release of chalk dust, like fur, and how it likes to rest in a 1.64 certain direction. 1.65 1.66 -- silver socks 1.67 +- silver socks :: socks laced with silver for the antimicrobial 1.68 + properties. 1.69 1.70 -- UROP: magnet gear/metal teeth tape device to distill urine through 1.71 - evaporation and easily dispose of urea crystals for use in desert -- 1.72 - produce drinkable water. 1.73 +- UROP :: magnet gear/metal teeth tape device to distill urine through 1.74 + evaporation and easily dispose of urea crystals for use in 1.75 + desert -- produce drinkable water. 1.76 1.77 -- UROP: Make the LED in line with the flow for the microinjector, so 1.78 - that it may transmit maximum flow. Motor that changes distance of 1.79 - internal magnet from windings depending on desired speed so as to 1.80 - obtain maximum power efficiency. 1.81 +- UROP :: Make the LED in line with the flow for the microinjector, so 1.82 + that it may transmit maximum flow. Motor that changes 1.83 + distance of internal magnet from windings depending on 1.84 + desired speed so as to obtain maximum power efficiency. 1.85 1.86 -- web scraper which monitors various lottries, looking for "special" 1.87 - gimmick changes in the rules (like 4x winnings on Wednesdays) and 1.88 - computes expected value... 1.89 +- lottery scraper :: web scraper which monitors various lottries, 1.90 + looking for "special" gimmick changes in the rules (like 4x 1.91 + winnings on Wednesdays) and computes expected value... 1.92 1.93 - Memristiors novel design :: make an evolutionary algorithm to make 1.94 old stuff using all four basic circuit elements. 1.95 1.96 -- Conductive concrete 1.97 +- Conductive concrete :: concrete that has embedded metal fibers so 1.98 + that it can conduct electricity. 1.99 1.100 -- little bitty melting pot 1.101 +- little bitty melting pot :: might be useful for some types of 1.102 + manufacturing/3D printing -- how small can an induction melter be 1.103 + made, for example. 1.104 1.105 -- power strip/timer programmable combination 1.106 +- power strip/timer programmable combination :: meh 1.107 1.108 -- algorthms which learn what their inputs are and in what order, and 1.109 - can adapt to changing circumstances -- they remember previous 1.110 - arguments and adapt so as to respond to different connections. 1.111 +- algorthms :: which learn what their inputs are and in what order, 1.112 + and can adapt to changing circumstances -- they 1.113 + remember previous arguments and adapt so as to respond 1.114 + to different connections. 1.115 1.116 -- hear a true pure tone by direct stimultion of the nerves of the ear 1.117 +- true pure tones :: hear a true pure tone by direct stimultion of the 1.118 + nerves of the ear 1.119 1.120 - mechanical analogue to the electrical op-amp :: would be an object 1.121 with two levers -- you pull on one lever and the other moves the 1.122 @@ -284,95 +292,104 @@ 1.123 eyes closed. slogan: want to make a movie people can't take their 1.124 eyes off of? Just take those parts out! 1.125 1.126 -- capture reading of a scientific atricle via screen capture while 1.127 - people read it, then use it to make the article better. like the 1.128 - movie-pruning idea. 1.129 +- optimize an article :: capture reading of a scientific atricle via 1.130 + screen capture while people read it, then use it to make the 1.131 + article better. like the movie-pruning idea. 1.132 1.133 -- super reading program that teaches people the ideal mental mask to 1.134 - apply during reading so as to read very fast. 1.135 +- super reading program :: teaches people the ideal mental mask to 1.136 + apply during reading so as to read very fast. 1.137 1.138 -- explosive thermite epoxy putty (one part would contain the rust, one 1.139 - part the alumimum) 1.140 +- explosive thermite epoxy putty :: one part would contain the rust, 1.141 + one part the alumimum. 1.142 1.143 -- use the above screen capture routine to make a quiz program that 1.144 - constructs questions about the content you seemed to gloss over 1.145 - while reading. could be easy if the pdf came with embedded 1.146 - questions. Dylan: automatically generate word-cloud about the parts 1.147 - you found most interesting; help others who read the same stuff by 1.148 - drawing attention to the interesting parts. 1.149 +- reading comprehension :: use the above screen capture routine to 1.150 + make a quiz program that constructs questions about the content 1.151 + you seemed to gloss over while reading. could be easy if the pdf 1.152 + came with embedded questions. Dylan: automatically generate 1.153 + word-cloud about the parts you found most interesting; help 1.154 + others who read the same stuff by drawing attention to the 1.155 + interesting parts. 1.156 1.157 -- make a samurai sword, but use osmiridum instead of martensite for 1.158 - the cutting part; it should be a better sword. 1.159 +- hard sword :: make a samurai sword, but use osmiridum instead of 1.160 + martensite for the cutting part; it should be a better 1.161 + sword. 1.162 1.163 -- use the induction technology used to recharge electric toothbrushes 1.164 - with no metal links to send data -- without any metal at all! 1.165 +- close range wireless :: use the induction technology used to 1.166 + recharge electric toothbrushes with no metal links to send data 1.167 + without any metal at all! 1.168 1.169 -- reading is a form of synsethesia 1.170 +- reading :: is a form of synsethesia 1.171 1.172 -- A machine which translates the text eg, "ACTGAC" into actual DNA 1.173 +- DNA printer :: A machine which translates the text eg, "ACTGAC" into 1.174 + actual DNA 1.175 1.176 -- ferro-fluid magnetic field suspended micro generator to make 1.177 - electricity 1.178 +- black generator :: ferro-fluid magnetic field suspended micro 1.179 + generator to make electricity 1.180 1.181 -- alcohol/fluid flow powered battery 1.182 +- alcohol battery :: alcohol/fluid flow powered battery 1.183 1.184 -- folding razor blade sword 1.185 +- folding razor blade sword :: 1.186 1.187 -- learn perfect pitch using another sense in combination (sight or 1.188 - touch) 1.189 +- perfect pitch :: learn perfect pitch using another sense in 1.190 + combination (sight or touch) 1.191 1.192 -- kaleidoscope projector 1.193 +- kaleidoscope projector :: 1.194 1.195 -- razor blade de-sharpener (for guilt free disposal) 1.196 +- razor blade de-sharpener :: for guilt free disposal 1.197 1.198 -- bricks filled with luminescent plant material 1.199 +- bricks :: filled with luminescent plant material 1.200 1.201 -- metal grids with seeds inside, which grow together and form a 1.202 - durable biological matrix. The metal substrate delivers 1.203 - water. (maybe use plastic instead of metal?) Dylan: enrich plants 1.204 - with inorganic compounds; electrical interfaces in cellular plant 1.205 - matter => remote-controlled photosynthetic/bioluminescent 1.206 - structures. 1.207 +- bio metalic structure :: metal grids with seeds inside, which grow 1.208 + together and form a durable biological matrix. The metal 1.209 + substrate delivers water. (maybe use plastic instead of metal?) 1.210 + Dylan: enrich plants with inorganic compounds; electrical 1.211 + interfaces in cellular plant matter => remote-controlled 1.212 + photosynthetic/bioluminescent structures. 1.213 1.214 -- conducting extracellular matrix 1.215 +- conducting extracellular matrix :: to allow better control of 1.216 + organic systems and an enhanced nervous system. 1.217 1.218 -- cross-modal memory hashing 1.219 +- cross-modal memory hashing :: a way to retrieve memories more 1.220 + robustly. 1.221 1.222 -- flossing thimble-gaurds (these actually exist) 1.223 +- flossing thimble-gaurds :: (these actually exist) 1.224 1.225 -- integrate lattice learning with rules by generating hypothetical 1.226 - examples 1.227 +- rules + lattice learning :: integrate lattice learning with rules by 1.228 + generating hypothetical examples 1.229 1.230 -- wooden refridgerator to give food a better taste Dylan: like barrels 1.231 - for wine, or planks for salmon. Maybe just have "flavor planks" for 1.232 - your pre-existing fridge. Need to mitigate effect of temperature on 1.233 - volatility? 1.234 +- wooden refridgerator :: to give food a better taste Dylan: like 1.235 + barrels for wine, or planks for salmon. Maybe just have "flavor 1.236 + planks" for your pre-existing fridge. Need to mitigate effect of 1.237 + temperature on volatility? 1.238 1.239 - radioactive transmutation molecule by molecule :: create precious 1.240 metals or something else economically advantageous. 1.241 1.242 -- innolculate food with tons of harmless bacteria so that there's no 1.243 - room for bad bacteria as a method of preservation 1.244 +- crowd preservation :: innolculate food with tons of harmless 1.245 + bacteria so that there's no room for bad bacteria as a method of 1.246 + preservation 1.247 1.248 -- pasteur - style holding jar with siphon as a way to store liquids ar 1.249 - room temperature indefinately w/o refridgeration.(7/26/2009) 1.250 +- old school preservation :: pasteur - style holding jar with siphon 1.251 + as a way to store liquids ar room temperature indefinately w/o 1.252 + refridgeration. 1.253 1.254 -- Throw rude people out of resturant as a matter of course -- make 1.255 - ambiance much better. 1.256 +- resturant policy :: Throw rude people out of resturant as a matter 1.257 + of course -- make ambiance much better. 1.258 1.259 -- make something that mixes soap with firehydrant water (and reduces 1.260 - the pressure a bit) and use it to clean windows of buildings. 1.261 +- clean windows :: make something that mixes soap with firehydrant 1.262 + water (and reduces the pressure a bit) and use it 1.263 + to clean windows of buildings. 1.264 1.265 -- make an ocarina out of pure silver 1.266 +- ocarina :: make an ocarina out of pure silver 1.267 1.268 - fire pen :: pen which burns words on to the page, thus never needing 1.269 any ink. Is ther a way to make it runnable from the 1.270 human's energy? 1.271 1.272 -- website to design your own soda, and label, and have it mailed to 1.273 - you / sell it from your own online store. 1.274 +- website to design your own soda :: and label, and have it mailed to 1.275 + you / sell it from your own online store. 1.276 1.277 -- solar panels that float on the ocean 1.278 +- solar panels :: that float on the ocean 1.279 1.280 - handcuffs with more than two cuffs (3?) :: great for daisy chaining 1.281 people, binding them to environment, etc. 1.282 @@ -383,15 +400,15 @@ 1.283 to text or smtg. Could also store sound as an image of the 1.284 wavefront encoded as a vector image. 1.285 1.286 -- Mouse with a horizontal scroll wheel in addition to the vertical 1.287 - scroll wheel 1.288 +- Mouse :: with a horizontal scroll wheel in addition to the vertical 1.289 + scroll wheel 1.290 1.291 -- logic maintance system for big institutions to make sure the things 1.292 - they are thinking about doing are not retarded 1.293 +- logic maintance system for big institutions :: to make sure the 1.294 + things they are thinking about doing are not retarded 1.295 1.296 - http://www.regulations.gov/ 1.297 1.298 -- genetically engineered glowing fruit -- sell seeds? 1.299 +- genetically engineered glowing fruit :: sell seeds? 1.300 1.301 - memory slide :: IF memories are encoded using particular sensory 1.302 impressions, what happens if the sensory organ 1.303 @@ -408,25 +425,26 @@ 1.304 holes -- uses field effects for everything from the buttons to 1.305 inductive charging and data transfer. 1.306 1.307 -- midi to ocarina "tabs" program (online website? buy ocarinas from it 1.308 - too) 1.309 +- midi to ocarina "tabs" program :: (online website? buy ocarinas from 1.310 + it too) 1.311 1.312 -- 3d printing with sound pulses (or just patterns) -- like the 8.03 1.313 - lecture 1.314 +- 3d printing with sound pulses (or just patterns) :: like the 8.03 1.315 + lecture 1.316 1.317 - lighter flint on spring :: make hot, throw it at something, and it 1.318 makes sparkles! 1.319 1.320 -- Rebranding New+Clear Energy with informational campaign and 1.321 - public debate forum to enforce its transparent and open 1.322 - nature. France needn't be the world leader in nuclear 1.323 - energy. (Dylan) 1.324 +- nuclear energy :: Rebranding New+Clear Energy with informational 1.325 + campaign and public debate forum to enforce its 1.326 + transparent and open nature. France needn't be the 1.327 + world leader in nuclear energy. (Dylan) 1.328 1.329 -- Engineer a material which has both ductility and high surface 1.330 - tension to make the "third" minimal-surface-energy solution to a 1.331 - bubble suspended between two equal-diameter rings. (Solutions are 1.332 - cylindrical catenary curve, two separated half-bubbles, and a 1.333 - double-cone) 1.334 +- bubbles :: Engineer a material which has both ductility and high 1.335 + surface tension to make the "third" 1.336 + minimal-surface-energy solution to a bubble suspended 1.337 + between two equal-diameter rings. (Solutions are 1.338 + cylindrical catenary curve, two separated half-bubbles, 1.339 + and a double-cone) 1.340 1.341 - Textbook whose content can be varied continuously :: alter level of 1.342 difficulty, rigor, diction, emphasize crossover with certain