World's Dumbest Developments

[georgethetee]

I am still, slowly, getting over the fact that some idiot here in the UK invented - I am being absolutely serious - a WIND-UP radio! And of course, the BBC treated him like some kind of genius, they were so bowled over by it they retailed it themselves and gave the guy his own crap TV show! I ask you, beat that, a wind-up radio. Next year, someone may invent a steam-driven one and save all the silly old farts that bought it all that tiresome winding. Live in hope

So, I got to thinking on how many other really dumb inventions there have been; most such failures dont last long but some do... like, for example, the Flying Bedstead, later renamed the hovercraft.

Now that, for me, was one of the all time dumbest most unecessary inventions, the classic solution looking for a problem. Even now, you still get some sad fools who use hovercraft lawn mowers, thousands of people have been maimed by them, they waste hundreds of watts each just holding above the ground, a few plastic wheels do the same thing for nothing.

Best idea in hovercraft ever, though, was the hovering vacuum cleaner. People would hoover their landings, and then they would start on down the stairs... oooh, ooh... the cleaner would take off from the landing, heli-hover ffor a few moments and then bounce ona step half way down, leap into the air again and then crash in smithereens on the bottom.

SO... candidates, please, post them here for the nomination for the World's Dumbest Invention Award

[vampireuk]

Umm the wind up radio is actually a great invention;)

[DaveW]

Dudes, that wind-up radio is made and sold primarily in poorer African countries where a pack of AA batteries costs the average weekly wage. Its actually a good idea for that market. I think some American company thought of it before he did though, but they never patented it.

If you want dumb ideas, how about Bill Gates' solution to the spam problem? - Microsoft Certified Spam Senders (MCSS)

[Sazar]

thats a stupid invention ?

when I used to go camping I made sure I had a win-up torch (or flash lgiht... same difference) just incase my batteries all ran out...


wind-up radio == a good idea really...

[georgethetee]

Originally posted by vampireuk
Umm the wind up radio is actually a great invention;)

I'm sure it brings you a lot of pleasure, Vamp. Least now I know who bought it!

[UDawg]

Originally posted by georgethetee
I'm sure it brings you a lot of pleasure, Vamp. Least now I know who bought it!

Anything wind-up brings me pleasure. *blushes*

[georgethetee]

Now you really are winding me up!

[LiquidX]

Did some one say wind up?:bleh:

[LORD-eX-Bu]

I've never used a wind up radio. Just bring one with batteries:lol: or make one:clever:

[vampireuk]

george it is not our fault that you are too ignorant to see that not everybody around the world can afford such simple things as batteries. Wind up devices like that are great for people in third world countries. They improve peoples lives, having some form of entertainment how is that "dumb":rolleyes:

[StealthHawk]

Radio? What the hell is a radio :p

The only radio I ever listen to anymore is a car radio.

[Pafet]

How about: wind-up batteries :retard:

[intercede007]

Originally posted by georgethetee
I'm sure it brings you a lot of pleasure, Vamp. Least now I know who bought it!


Living in an area that gets yearly hurricanes, I have a wind-up radio as a backup in a waterproof container with a couple flashlights, important papers, extra batteries and a NOAA weather radio.

It's a great idea, they work wonderfully and if the power is out for extended periods of time (*ahem* Hurricane Opel *cough*) it offers great piece of mind when extra batteries are not available (possibly because the local quicki-mart is under 4 feet of water and the roads don't exist because of the storm surge).

[fastguy94416]

The flying bedstead was a prototype for the vertical take off and landing planes, such as the harrier. It even used the same pegasus engine that the av8-a used, and a slightly modified versoin runs in the av8-b that the marines use.

[1stFlight]

Great, al lI want to know now is where is my flying car!!! :)

Originally posted by fastguy94416
The flying bedstead was a prototype for the vertical take off and landing planes, such as the harrier. It even used the same pegasus engine that the av8-a used, and a slightly modified versoin runs in the av8-b that the marines use.

[Kruno]

Wind-up dildos? :lol:

[1stFlight]

You know what they say," if you build it, they will cum"

Oh jeez, I can't believe I wrote that...

Originally posted by K.I.L.E.R
Wind-up dildos? :lol:

[Blakhart]

The Russian and American mils (naval) have some bad assed hovercraft. Armed to the teeth they are. They can ride right up a beach and travel over land, a veritable fortress on a column of air.
One assumes that they would be quite loud.

[netviper13]

I bet my 80mm Vantec Tornado fan is louder ;)

[Voudoun]

Clothes for animals.

WMDs.

Mobile phones.

Chrysler PT Cruiser.

The Mini.

Beaurocracy.

Newsnight Review.

Ecclesiastical Authorities.

Voudoun

PS. Could I get away with the 5800 Ultra? ;)

[deejaya]

The "aerial minefield" idea that cost millions of pounds, over six years of development, around the time of the Battle of Britain, courtesy of a Professor Frederick Lindemann. The same guy who wrote Churchill constantly telling him radar would never fulfill its expectations. :p