which piece of technology would you like to see uninvented

"AI" and "Social Media" not allowed as too obvious, and discussed in specialized threads.

is there a bit of technology you kinda just wish wasn't around because the old primitive way was better?

fire

I find microwaves to be kinda sad and unnecessary

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348567809i/691530.jpg

ring doorbells

I liked animation better when it looked like every single frame was drawn by hand. (Not technically the same as dumping on AI but I realize there's some crossover.)

I'm not sure what piece of technology I'd be uninventing, maybe there's like a Photoshop for animators?

smart phones probably. i don't think a lot of things, such as social media, would be nearly is bad if you had to sit down at a desk in your home to use them

"AI" and "Social Media" not allowed as too obvious, and discussed in specialized threads.

is there a bit of technology you kinda just wish wasn't around because the old primitive way was better?

― Neanderthal, Wednesday, June 18, 2025 4:10 PM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

The internet

bluetooth

I find microwaves to be kinda sad and unnecessary

🖼

Counterpoint: microwaves are amazing f for leftovers my family until the early 80s had to heat up leftovers in the oven and not only did it take forever (compared to a microwave) it was hit or miss for evenness of heat since you didn’t have a little rotating plate

i also wholeheartedly love microwaves

I find that sad

The internal combustion engine.

digital bathroom scales are a little too high tech for me, I like waiting for the old spinning wheel to settle down to my fighting weight

I miss the old mercury thermometers, easier to fool mommy inti thinking I had a fever

Aimless otm

probably nuclear weapons as well

plastic

anyone saying Bluetooth, WiFi, etc. those are just frequency bands for transmitting a signal. You’re complaining about devices that made transmitting things like that easier.

Any electronic device that involves speaking, either to the device or by the device.

Siemens smart fridges and freezers are your personal assistant for all things food cooling related. They will notify you when the fridge door is left open and suggest 'No Waste' recipes based on the ingredients you have

smart fridge-freezers with wifi, like give me break with this shit!

Anything self-service, like at airport check-ins or supermarket checkouts. Like, give me a person to interact with.

car keys that aren’t actual keys (also: touchscreens in cars)

23 & Me

would much rather hear about my Cherokee Princess great-great-great grandmother over Thanksgiving dinner

touchscreens in cars otm

Teflon

Cell phones. Maybe if they were just phones, okay--maybe it's smart phones I hate.

computers

nuclear fission

television

Teflon is scientifically confirmed as poisonous carcinogenic trash, yet it's still in seemingly about 90% of cookware, air fryers, rice cookers, this new fangled overpriced hexclad garbage etc etc. In terms of vile ubiquity it's like the asbestos of the 21st century.

Bidets, so I can get rich patenting butthole cleaners.

just send instructions on how to unlock the full potential of your bathroom sink!

Anything self-service, like at airport check-ins or supermarket checkouts. Like, give me a person to interact with.

― bored by endless ecstasy (anagram), Thursday, June 19, 2025 3:35 AM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

so these still exist….

Not at the airports I use, they don't. The last few times I've been through LHR there have not been any staffed points to check in for your flight or to hand over your baggage.

Digital cinematography

Autotune