Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Weird Inventions by Bathroom Readers’ Institute Page B
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Authors: Bathroom Readers’ Institute
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“the best bodyflyers from Latvia made spectacular show, flying at a height of 25 meters during the live broadcast to billions of viewers all over the world.” Still, it would’ve been way cooler if they’d introduced them by saying, “Behold! The LEVITATIONARIUM!”
SILENT PARTIES
Y ou know what the worst part about a dance party in which people get together to dance to loud, thumping, nonstop electronic music? All of the music of course. Who needs all that audible music delivered via speakers so as to be heard by all in attendance, right?
The concept of a “silent party” goes back to a 1969 Finnish science-fiction movie called A Time of Roses . Taking place in the distance, space-age future, partygoers are depicted dancing in a silent room. Brainwashed? No. They’re all listening to the same music on individual pairs of headphones, sent out via wireless signal. That’s a pretty obscure movie, but it may have inspired the “silent disco” trend that took off in the British isles in the 2000s.
In 2000 a BBC-sponsored “silent gig” was held in Cardiff, Wales. The hundreds of attendees listened to various DJs spin music through wireless headphones, to which the music was beamed. The concept is ideal for places with noise restrictions, or where curfews limit how late clubs or private parties may play loud music. If the place is silent, the music can go on well into the night. The only sound is the sound of feet shuffling.
SELF-DRIVING CARS
A long with food pills and video phones, the idea of self-driving cars has long been a staple of Western culture’s collective idea of “the future,” and thanks to the brain trust at Oxford University, those visions are finally on the verge of becoming reality. Led by Professor Paul Newman, a group of scientists has developed a self-driving system, which they’ve installed on a Nissan Leaf and have begun testing on university grounds. (Although the system still requires someone to be situated squarely in the driver’s seat.) The programming, which uses 3-D laser scanning to build up a map of the vehicle’s surroundings that’s accurate to within a few centimeters, has been tested successfully at up to 40 mph.
Don’t worry, there’s no chance of the vehicle going all HAL 9000 on the driver: The system won’t even offer to drive unless the road conditions match the necessary programming requirements. Newman even describes the scenario as “essentially an advanced driver system,” sort of the next-next-next generation of power steering.
Although the current price of equipping a vehicle with the technology hovers in the range of $7,560, which is still pretty cheap all things considered. Newman’s goal is to reduce the cost to a decidedly more reasonable $150.
THE MEDITATION BAG
P eople who meditate find that the hardest part of seeking serenity is cutting out all the immediate distractions of the outside world—ambient noise, discomfort as they sit on the ground, things like that.
Being able to turn off your senses so as to reach a higher mental or spiritual plane is the theory behind sensory deprivation tanks, in which a person floats in body-temperature water in the dark. Another way to cut out sensory input so as to look inward: the Sleeping and Meditation Bag, patented in 1982.
“Sleeping bag” is in the name, because that’s its jumping-off point. It’s a sleeping bag that you can wear while sitting up, in the cross-legged meditation position, or while lying down. It completely covers an entire adult and can be pulled tight with drawstrings to keep out the elements, distractions, light, and noise. And it’s got a soft cushion to keep your tush comfy during those prolonged meditation sessions. On all sides is a thick layer of puffiness to send you on your way to spiritual bliss.
HIGH-FIVE SIMULATOR
S ometimes you need a bro to give you a high-five to celebrate a job well done, a witty barb, or other minorly awesome event in your life that
SILENT PARTIES
Y ou know what the worst part about a dance party in which people get together to dance to loud, thumping, nonstop electronic music? All of the music of course. Who needs all that audible music delivered via speakers so as to be heard by all in attendance, right?
The concept of a “silent party” goes back to a 1969 Finnish science-fiction movie called A Time of Roses . Taking place in the distance, space-age future, partygoers are depicted dancing in a silent room. Brainwashed? No. They’re all listening to the same music on individual pairs of headphones, sent out via wireless signal. That’s a pretty obscure movie, but it may have inspired the “silent disco” trend that took off in the British isles in the 2000s.
In 2000 a BBC-sponsored “silent gig” was held in Cardiff, Wales. The hundreds of attendees listened to various DJs spin music through wireless headphones, to which the music was beamed. The concept is ideal for places with noise restrictions, or where curfews limit how late clubs or private parties may play loud music. If the place is silent, the music can go on well into the night. The only sound is the sound of feet shuffling.
SELF-DRIVING CARS
A long with food pills and video phones, the idea of self-driving cars has long been a staple of Western culture’s collective idea of “the future,” and thanks to the brain trust at Oxford University, those visions are finally on the verge of becoming reality. Led by Professor Paul Newman, a group of scientists has developed a self-driving system, which they’ve installed on a Nissan Leaf and have begun testing on university grounds. (Although the system still requires someone to be situated squarely in the driver’s seat.) The programming, which uses 3-D laser scanning to build up a map of the vehicle’s surroundings that’s accurate to within a few centimeters, has been tested successfully at up to 40 mph.
Don’t worry, there’s no chance of the vehicle going all HAL 9000 on the driver: The system won’t even offer to drive unless the road conditions match the necessary programming requirements. Newman even describes the scenario as “essentially an advanced driver system,” sort of the next-next-next generation of power steering.
Although the current price of equipping a vehicle with the technology hovers in the range of $7,560, which is still pretty cheap all things considered. Newman’s goal is to reduce the cost to a decidedly more reasonable $150.
THE MEDITATION BAG
P eople who meditate find that the hardest part of seeking serenity is cutting out all the immediate distractions of the outside world—ambient noise, discomfort as they sit on the ground, things like that.
Being able to turn off your senses so as to reach a higher mental or spiritual plane is the theory behind sensory deprivation tanks, in which a person floats in body-temperature water in the dark. Another way to cut out sensory input so as to look inward: the Sleeping and Meditation Bag, patented in 1982.
“Sleeping bag” is in the name, because that’s its jumping-off point. It’s a sleeping bag that you can wear while sitting up, in the cross-legged meditation position, or while lying down. It completely covers an entire adult and can be pulled tight with drawstrings to keep out the elements, distractions, light, and noise. And it’s got a soft cushion to keep your tush comfy during those prolonged meditation sessions. On all sides is a thick layer of puffiness to send you on your way to spiritual bliss.
HIGH-FIVE SIMULATOR
S ometimes you need a bro to give you a high-five to celebrate a job well done, a witty barb, or other minorly awesome event in your life that