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Tech ideas emerge from Twitterland

Published online on Wednesday, Sep. 09, 2009

By David Pogue / New York Times
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I'm pleased to present the results of the first annual Pogue Tech-Idea Crowdsourcing Exercise.

I asked my Twitter followers for their best tech-product enhancement ideas. They responded wittily, passionately -- and immediately (this is Twitter, after all).

Let the Twitterfest of fresh ideas begin!

Cell phones

The first thing everybody pines for is better service. But the second-place wish list is all over the map. Here are my favorites, complete with the Twitter names of their inventors.

"Self-charging cell batteries that charge through kinetic motion as you walk around." (Narniaexpert) Hey, yeah! Wristwatches do it -- why not cell phones?

"I'd love a cell phone that is 100% waterproof. I've lost several to the washing machine and toilet!" (passepartout)

"Flip-out charging prongs, so you can charge it anywhere there's an outlet. No need to carry cords/chargers." (betaboy78)

And my favorite, from someone who's clearly seen too many sci-fi movies: "Poor-quality, blue-tinted hologram conferencing." (kbranch)

Home theater

"Separate volume controls for dialogue and background noise/soundtrack." (molliejoan1)

"Use your hand as the remote -- the TV recognizes your gestures. No more searching for lost remotes!" (renzoroni)

"Spray-on sticky floor coating, for that authentic experience!" (ColinDabritz)

"GPS for the remote, and mute button for the kids." (larrybehrens)

Cameras

"A pop-out U.S.B. connector to download your photos, like the one on the Flip camcorder." (vidiot_) (This is my favorite idea of all.)

"Voice recognition. I should be able to tell my camera what to do. Enough with endless menus!"

"A warning when your thumb is in the way of the lens!" (RT@trainman74)

Music players

"Karaoke mode." (zigziggityzoo) But a caution from Whirledworld: "Karaoke mode MUST be disabled on airplanes!"

And finally, this suggestion: "After an hour of continuous play, it tells you to put the earbuds away and go be social with an actual person." (MisterRoo)

Good idea, MisterRoo. In fact, maybe they should build that feature into every electronic gadget.


Personal-technology columnist David Pogue writes for The New York Times. He can be reached by e-mail at pogue@nytimes.com.

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