30 Dumbest Inventions

 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
Beating Breasts, 1963
A pair of artificial breasts with a built-in heartbeat, an invention from — where else? — Japan intended as a sleeping aid for very young children.

lol. one thing you can rely on from japan - weird ass perverted stuff

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well i guess it's more civilized than:

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Kreon

Golden Member
Oct 22, 2006
1,329
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I question if the writers of that article understand why the curved barrel machine gun was developed...

Despite the obvious advantage of being able to shoot around a corner without being exposed, it wasn't developed for that.

It was developed for tankers to spray down the outside of their tanks when enemy soldiers (particularly Soviets) were climbing onto their vehicles. iirc, it was developed for a particular tank/apc that they forgot to put a machine gun on for vehicles to support each other.

Likewise, I think the illuminated tires are cool.
Also, how is a mini-TV dumb? Isn't that what our cell phones have become now?
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
Illuminated tires would be awesome.

It's all a matter of timing. While it was a dumb invention in 1960 look at today's world and the stupid shit ricers and other groups of people put on their cars. They would sell today.

The laryngophone technology was actually widely used by the Germans in the 30's and through WWII. They used laryngomicrophone collars in all their armored vehicles as a way to minimize the affects of ambient noise levels which were extremely high in such vehicles.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
lol. one thing you can rely on from japan - weird ass perverted stuff
Yeah well....it's practical thinking though. A baby's accustomed to some things, and a steady heartbeat and a nice-sized breast are two of them.

Hell, when a cat is kneading you a bit, or even starts to nuzzle a little, most people think it's cute.
"Aww, it's trying to find a nipple to suck on, how adorable!"
 

JohnnyGage

Senior member
Feb 18, 2008
699
0
71
The L Ron Hubbard thingy was kinda weird. It says that tomatoes scream when sliced--or when probes are jammed in them. WTH!
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
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lol at the number of cigarette inventions. They sure loved their cigarettes back then! :)

That laryngophone thing was, while rather unnecessary at the time, something that is widely used in the military today.
Oh just say Rongstang mentioned military applications. But yeah, definitely still used today, albeit with different technology coupled with the basic concept.
Being able to basically whisper extremely soft and still come in clear for someone with an earpiece anywhere else is just pure win.
Not very commonly fielded but they definitely exist.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
mini-television is a dumb idea? isn't watching video on cell phones and MP3 players a big deal these days?
 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
21,035
3,518
126
Mini Television, 1966

How is this a dumb invention when 80% of the population in the US has one in a form of a a IPOD / PSP / Iphone / Zune / Navigation system.

mini-television is a dumb idea? isn't watching video on cell phones and MP3 players a big deal these days?


Dammit u beat me by a few minute while i was doing something else...
 

HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
The television glasses are pretty amazing for 1963 as well, assuming they work half-way decently. This list is awesome, no matter how much Life magazine fails at picking proper titles.
 
Mar 10, 2005
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Hubbard Electrometer, 1968
American science fiction writer and founder of the Church of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard uses his Hubbard Electrometer to determine whether tomatoes experience pain, 1968. His work led him to the conclusion that tomatoes "scream when sliced."

i fell apart right there!