What cool technology are we missing out on

WillyNelson · 5 Sep 2011 at 16:17

A few years ago I saw a programme about the sort of popular 'lifestyle' technology that they had in the far East, S Kora, Japan, etc. Things like toutchscreen smartphones, contactless payment, superfast broadband and the like. Now that we've got that over here, what other kind of cool/useful stuff haven't we seen brought to the UK that we can expect in the next few years?

Also, about 10 years ago when I last went to the US a lot of people were using their mobiles like walkie talkies, sending short voice messages in the way that people exchange texts. They also had swipe & pin machines in a lot of the shops and mini versions of their bank cards on their keys to pay quickly. So what other cool technology did we miss out on because it wasn't offered or adopted over here?

Emphacy · 5 Sep 2011 at 16:19

sexy robot women, damn them Japanese

moss · 5 Sep 2011 at 16:20

When I was in Japan I noticed lots of people had what looked like mini netbooks with touchscreen.

cHk4 · 5 Sep 2011 at 16:22

WillyNelson said:
Also, about 10 years ago when I last went to the US a lot of people were using their mobiles like walkie talkies, sending short voice messages in the way that people exchange texts.

I've been out of the mobile phone game about 5-6 years now but the phones back then had the tech to do it (can't remember what it was called) but the providers wouldn't turn on the service for it as it was free iir.

WillyNelson · 5 Sep 2011 at 16:26

It used to be something like Push To Talk. My old RAZR had a big button on the side for it, but yes it was never activated.

inflynx · 5 Sep 2011 at 16:34

This:

gary996 · 5 Sep 2011 at 16:35

I used push to talk when I worked in Canada. Was fantastic to use

Kurisu Makise · 5 Sep 2011 at 16:36

yes its real

Stumble Bum · 5 Sep 2011 at 16:38

I'm still waiting for my wireless electricity.

Camarilla · 5 Sep 2011 at 17:03

Stumble Bum said:
I'm still waiting for my wireless electricity.

*cough*

GarethSouthgate · 5 Sep 2011 at 17:04

They have a few 3D TVs that don't require glasses to be worn.

Uhtred · 5 Sep 2011 at 17:15

WillyNelson said:
...contactless payment, superfast broadband and the like. Now that we've got that over here...

we...have?

MuttsNutts · 5 Sep 2011 at 17:16

How about HVD? (Holographic versatile disc)

Holographic Memory Storage Technology has been around for donkeys years but has been too expensive to market for end users etc

Look Here

It's in interesting read

Liampope · 5 Sep 2011 at 17:32

Samsara said:
yes its real

No it's not. It's a concept. The flexible OLED screens exist and may be turned into such a device some time down the road, but not yet.

Ally79 · 5 Sep 2011 at 17:35

Them hover-boards from Back to the future!

Pawnless Endgame · 5 Sep 2011 at 19:00

Germany has packstations. We need them here. Basically, it's your own locker that you can use to send and receive parcels and you have your own P.O. box address for itexcept it'll be something like "packstation 155" followed by the zip code. Then you don't have to wait in the house all day for a courier delivery or chance missing it then having the hassle to collect it from a depot 1 hour's drive away. Just collect it from your packstation after work.

kiteloopy · 5 Sep 2011 at 19:34

Monserrat said:
Germany has packstations. We need them here. Basically, it's your own locker that you can use to send and receive parcels and you have your own P.O. box address for itexcept it'll be something like "packstation 155" followed by the zip code. Then you don't have to wait in the house all day for a courier delivery or chance missing it then having the hassle to collect it from a depot 1 hour's drive away. Just collect it from your packstation after work.

We have that already. Except only for business. You'll find big warehouses...like supermarket depots, have little areas that other companies can rent temporary. IIRC you can also use their haulage trucks to transport to other depots.

Dave**** · 5 Sep 2011 at 19:38

I saw a funky machine a few years back on BBC News that was able to create bowls, plates and cups from flat discs of what looked like plastic. After you had used the item it was then put into another machine that turned it back into the flat disc again for storage ready to be used again. It looked very cool!

Srengam · 5 Sep 2011 at 19:45

Adaquate water pressure.

(living in Wales :rolleyes:

)

Edrof · 5 Sep 2011 at 19:50

A humane and legal way of disposing of Piers Morgan.