Adjustable Lenses

Several years ago, after trying out a pair of progressive lenses that didn't work for me, the notion that there is no reason glasses couldn't be adjustable popped into my head. What could be simpler? All you'd need was lenses made of some sort of flexible plastic that could easily be adjusted to change the focal point, from long distance, to middle distance to reading distance. That's the sort of thing I need and that's why I tried progressive lenses in the first place.

The ArmPhone

The Apple "SmartWatch" -- behold:

Sorry to be disrespectful to the memory of Steve Jobs, but when this device came out I was profoundly underwhelmed. Why would anyone want something like that? First of all, these things are both clunky and ugly as heck. And after interacting with one for any significant length of time, the eye strain would be sending you to your nearest ophthalmologist. I find it enough of a challenge to set the alarm on my digital watch, thank you. Navigating text messages, making phone calls, reading online texts, etc. on such a tiny device would drive me nuts.

The Cash Eater

Moving right along into a very different realm, I'd now like to share one of my more outrageous ideas. I call it the "Cash Eater" because that's exactly what it does: it eats cash.

We are already familiar with those machines that make change. Insert a dollar or in some cases even a five dollar bill, and out spills a bunch of quarters. Like a slot machine, only less exciting. :-)  I use one all the time at the laundromat:

Self-Driving Motorcycle

What About Trucks?

The Automobile of the Future

Among a great many auto manufacturers and hi-tech companies enthusiasm for the self-driving car abounds. According to many this exciting new development is "just around the corner," once certain tricky but supposedly manageable issues are resolved. Meanwhile, some very intriguing and in some cases really beautiful designs have emerged.

One of my favorites is the brand new Sedric, from Volkswagen:

A New Concept: The Retro

(........continued from previous post)

Not necessarily, because as I see it, there IS a future for the self-driving car so long as manufacturers are willing to accept some very simple modifications. And by the way, ANTOAVTYCAD is a bit unwieldy, I must admit. So I gave the matter some thought and came up with a better name: the RETRO. Not "retro" in the usual sense, as a throwback to something old and outdated. But "retro" as in "retro-fitted." Or, more specifically, a self-driving car retrofitted with controls permitting it to operate both autonomously and under the guidance of a driver. Given the advanced technology of today's autonomous vehicles, adding controls of this kind would be a relatively simple and inexpensive task.

The ANTOAVTYCAD: A New Type Of Autonomous Vehicle That You Can Actually Drive

Autonomous, or "self-driving" cars are much in the news today, and, judging from the hype, they are just around the corner. According to most experts: not yet. And, in my humble opinion: not ever.