The next great invention.

[Trumpton]

What do you think will be man's next great invention? There hasn't really been a defining invention probably since the internet came along and everything associated with it.

I was thinking that we (the human race) must find new sustainable power resources because the oil will not last forever. When it does run out and we haven't found something else to replace it with we're stuffed.

[Sam Slater]

We're stuffed anyway Trumpy.

A fe scientists worked out in the 90's that the Earth only had enough resources for 1 man per 1/3rd of an acre of livable land. At the time of study there was already 1 man per 1/4 of livable land on Earth.

We just don't die anymore, and is one of the biggest threats to the species.

[Trumpton]

Yup, that's the biggest problem - too many human beings on the planet.

[colonel]

A form of personal transport easily learnt, green and cost-effective. And no, I do not mean the Segway.

[planeterotica]

Giant Treadmills to produce electricity where everyone has to do 2 hours a day on, it will keep the nation fit and help to reverse global warming !happy! it would be about as poular as a square wheel !happy!!wink!!happy!

[Arginald Valleywater]

In my case the self cleaning flat.

We need to break the stranglehold of the oil companines. They run the planet, not governments. OPEC cuts production by 5% and America shits itself.

I would like to see car manufacturers going back to making basic cars, not quite 2CV level but all I want is a decent CD player, great brakes, air con, good handling and safety. I don't need the entire Maplin catalogue of gadgets, 13 cup holders, 9 seats.........the old Cortina weighed about a ton. The new Modeo is almost 1.6 tonnes......safer yes but a barge of a car.

[Trumpton]

Yup, I was thinking something along those lines too. !thumbsup!

[Trumpton]

I was also thinking about building a giant air dam to power turbines. We have water dams, then why not use the same principle for using air?

[Sam Slater]

Maybe the OLED technology could become a big invention?

Organic Light Emitting Diodes are starting to find their way into mobiles (Motorola U9) and if higher resolutions and a longer life can be achieved then it'll replace our monitors and TV screens pretty sharpish.

There's no problems with viewing angles, and glare from sunlight, and best of all, they use about 50% less power than lcd screens (which themselves used less power than the old crt screens).

OLED can produce screens so thin that they could be implanted onto paper, or t-shirts. Imagine a laptop screen that you can roll up, or fold-up and pop into a pocket.

Ok, so it's not a BIG invention, but when it has the potential to replace light bulbs then it could be massive for the environment.

[Trumpton]

Good one Prof. !thumbsup!

That's why they (I) call you Prof. !pleased!