Pedal activated bins are delightful
What little inventions do you love?
(TheColonel, Fri 8 May 2009, 0:41, 10 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Locks
Locks are pretty smart. Particularly big old ones. There's something very satifying about the clunk of locking/unlocking them.

Perhaps I've missed my calling and should be in the prison service...

*ponders*
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 8 May 2009, 9:13, Reply)

Sporks.
A spoon AND a fork in one.
Genius.
( Cawl, Fri 8 May 2009, 9:19, Reply)

Sandwich bags...
...with the slidey top sealing thingie.

And powerful showers.
(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Fri 8 May 2009, 9:29, Reply)

Electric staplers
The little glasses screwdriver that fits neetly in to the corkscrew on penknives.
Perforated paper.
Bubblewrap.
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Fri 8 May 2009, 9:39, Reply)

The internal combustion engine
Works for me.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Fri 8 May 2009, 9:40, Reply)

Not the bicycle?
I'm shocked!
( Cawl, Fri 8 May 2009, 9:41, Reply)

Ah, that leads to a long list unto itself...
The derailleur
The hydraulic disc brake
Air sprung, oil dampened suspension
The horst link suspension system

edit: Did you know that the bicycle is the most efficient machine ever constructed? A bicycle can achieve 90% energy efficiency, roughly three times greater than the most efficient internal combustion engine.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Fri 8 May 2009, 9:53, Reply)

I didn't know that at all,
Although I'm sure there must be something more efficient.
In a lab somewhere, some stupidly specific machine...
( Cawl, Fri 8 May 2009, 10:53, Reply)

I don't think there is...
...nearly machines waste energy in friction and heat. A bicycle generates bugger all heat (braking system excepted) and a well oiled chain actually improves energy transfer.

Just look up how efficient something like a solar panel or nuclear power station is in comparison and you'll be very surprised.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Fri 8 May 2009, 12:46, Reply)

blood sugar monitors
with direct links via SMS transmission to the local NHS centres in which a database of diabetic patients containing a neural network which determines the likely tolerance on a patient by patient basis, thus providing the limits at which the NHS needs to make proactive contact with the patient to prevent negative side effects and identify possible diagnostic problems.

Ahem. Guess what I've spent the week working on. \o/
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Fri 8 May 2009, 11:28, Reply)