Inventions I Need Now – 2009 Edition

Every now and then we all think of something that ought to have been invented already. Here goes my list of the top of my head.

1. When I get some cold, cough, fever etc. I want the exact diagnosis right away – no clinical diagnosis (“it should be a viral – just wait it out”), no guessing (“let’s try an antibiotic for a few days”), etc.
2. Written, spoken language recognition everywhere. Scanned docs should not be treated as images. I shouldn’t need my hands to browse the internet or flip channels in my tv/radio or turn off the microwave, etc.
3. Not-dumb traffic signals – I should never have to wait several minutes at a light when there is no other vehicle in sight
4. Easy-empty tooth paste tubes – getting the last ounce out should not require pro-wrestler strength
5. One volume setting for all programs all channels, be it on TV, radio, iPod, whatever (I have a feeling this one is already around, just not available in the stone-age devices I tend to own)