4 ms·

it's one of those ideas that seems so obvious and sensible in retrospect it makes you wonder how many other stupid designs are hidden in plain view, and why did

it's one of those ideas that seems so obvious and sensible in retrospect it makes you wonder how many other stupid designs are hidden in plain view, and why did this problem not get solved until 2017, when there are robots on Mars and probes orbiting Jupiter and Saturn ?

DiThi 9y ago
I got this idea long ago but I couldn't think of a way of using this idea. Then I thought it was obvious and that it was not implemented for some non obvious reason I didn't know.
- amelius 9y ago
  Same here.
- 21 9y ago
  A block of concrete is cheap and zero maintanance. And the machine typically is carried only twice in it's lifetime. A water reservoir needs some way of filling, thus extra work for the buyer (typical ad: our washing machine doesn't need filling as those clunky reservoir ones!!!), maybe requires some maintenance. If you leave water in it for years it will rot, so probably you also need to put some disinfectants in. So basically this idea is more environmentally sane, but more expensive. But there could be a market here, people care and are willing to spend more these days to save the env.
  - DiThi 9y ago
    > thus extra work for the buyer The soap water inlet can be a flexible tube that one can put inside the reservoir, then push a button and the exact amount of water is added (or some more and have it overflow to the drum). > maybe requires some maintenance Not if done correctly. And if it wasn't done correctly it seems easy to fix. > so probably you also need to put some disinfectants in They can just come with a bleach tablet inside.
agumonkey 9y ago
I'm already trying hard not to fall into full alankayism [1] and this only reinforces my view. Jobs said that many people in companies are clueless... [1] for people that never watched his talk where he demonstrates how pretty old and forgotten software can be, enjoy this fully https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2LZLYcu_JY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2LZLYcu_JY
Matt_Mickiewicz 9y ago
Just think about the time gap between the invention of the wheel and until the 1970's when someone finally thought of attaching them to a suitcase!

DiThi 9y ago

I got this idea long ago but I couldn't think of a way of using this idea. Then I thought it was obvious and that it was not implemented for some non obvious reason I didn't know.

amelius 9y ago
Same here.
21 9y ago
A block of concrete is cheap and zero maintanance. And the machine typically is carried only twice in it's lifetime. A water reservoir needs some way of filling, thus extra work for the buyer (typical ad: our washing machine doesn't need filling as those clunky reservoir ones!!!), maybe requires some maintenance. If you leave water in it for years it will rot, so probably you also need to put some disinfectants in. So basically this idea is more environmentally sane, but more expensive. But there could be a market here, people care and are willing to spend more these days to save the env.
- DiThi 9y ago
  > thus extra work for the buyer The soap water inlet can be a flexible tube that one can put inside the reservoir, then push a button and the exact amount of water is added (or some more and have it overflow to the drum). > maybe requires some maintenance Not if done correctly. And if it wasn't done correctly it seems easy to fix. > so probably you also need to put some disinfectants in They can just come with a bleach tablet inside.

agumonkey 9y ago

I'm already trying hard not to fall into full alankayism [1] and this only reinforces my view. Jobs said that many people in companies are clueless... [1] for people that never watched his talk where he demonstrates how pretty old and forgotten software can be, enjoy this fully https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2LZLYcu_JY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2LZLYcu_JY

Matt_Mickiewicz 9y ago

Just think about the time gap between the invention of the wheel and until the 1970's when someone finally thought of attaching them to a suitcase!