« Spam, Spam, Spam, SpamWhen I fall in love… »

What Will They Think of Next?

Sep 5th 2007Nicole Jordan
Nicole JordanMy Life As A Plebe

inventions.jpgSince I complained in a recent blog about some of my favorite products becoming obsolete, I thought I should be fair and discuss the flip-side: New inventions. Manufacturers are improving their products all the time (mostly for the better), and brilliant folks regularly come up with new ideas that make our hectic lives a little easier and more lightbulb.jpgproductive.

For example, a lot of moms (and diaper-changing dads) greatly appreciated the arrival of disposable diapers. I remember when we kids were little and living in Germany in civilian quarters, my mom had to start a fire in a boiler in order to heat water to wash our cloth diapers. Thankfully we’ve come a long way, baby.

And I actually played a role in making that happen since I worked for Proctor & Gamble’s Paper Division as a pampers2.jpgproduction manager and project engineer for many years. My Pampers lines made the first elasticized diapers in the world (how’s that for a claim to fame?!) And my lines also test-produced the first “wings” for Always sanitary napkins. Not to mention my involvement in making Bounty paper towels more absorbent and Charmin toilet tissue softer.

Yeah, I know these are luxuries, but I’m grateful for them. And I love how new stuff helps my life. Computers are getting faster by leaps and bounds. DVR’s now do what VCR’s did, only much better. I haven’t had to watch a commercial in two years (except for Super Bowl ads, which I want to see.) My new cell phone not only keeps me in touch with the world when I’m not in my office, it computer.jpgcan take pics, videos, and access my e-mail from just about anywhere I can find a phone signal

Speaking of e-mail, I still remember not too long ago when the Internet was just a twinkle in some cyber-geek’s eye. What would we do without e-mail and websites now?

As for best inventions, my favorite gadget is my microwave. I couldn’t survive without it. Well, I suppose I could, but I sure wouldn’t want to.

Do you have favorite gadgets that you wouldn’t want to live without? Inventions that make you say, “I’m so glad they thought of that!”

45 Comments »

45 Responses to “What Will They Think of Next?”

  1. twolilhahas on 06 Sep 2007 at 12:42 am #

    I’m really thankful for ramen noodles and pop top cans. And I want to be thankful for those potato scrubby gloves that look like they’re magic on the commercials, but I haven’t ever used them. But if they work like they show them working on television, and all you have to do is stick a potato under water, wear your gloves, rub the potato all around, and it’s peeled, then I’ve gotta have one!

    I really appreciate automatic transmissions, too. But that’s sort of obvious. Velcro, too.

    Thank God for the alphabet song with the catchy tune. It makes it so much easier to stick in the kids’ heads. That was a good invention. So many things and I can hardly think of any. lol

  2. cail on 06 Sep 2007 at 7:10 am #

    definitely love the whole technology wave, television, computers, cell phones, ipods… they’re wonderful. i don’t know how we survived without the internet either… remember when google was barely a blip on the radar?

    a recent favorite discussion at a dinner party during cleanup
    friend 1: paper towels are the best invention ever!
    friend 2: that and penicillin

  3. Karen Rose on 06 Sep 2007 at 7:24 am #

    Me, Me! I got to invent something once! Truly. I have two patents for Metamucil. Our project was making it smoother and my part was showing that grinding it up didn’t impact the way it manages your … impactions, if you get my drift. Hope you’ve had breakfast already :-)

    I love gadgets - I love my cell phone/PDA/camera/???? I know it has other functions I haven’t begun to tap.

    All the cool chemical gizmos that forensic scientists use. I’m fascinated by advances in DNA protocols and new doo-waddies that can test the air of an empty safe to determine what had been stored there. Yes, those doo-waddies have a name and if I ever feature one in a book I’ll find out what it is, LOL.

  4. Karen Rose on 06 Sep 2007 at 7:29 am #

    The internet - wow. My daughter has been sick recently and when we finally got a handle on her diagnosis, we went straight to the internet to read all about it. Seventeen years ago my DH had cancer and there was no internet - only library books and a good doctor friend to give us info.

    But my most used invention? MICROWAVE. You youngsters don’t remember a world without microwaves. So sad. I remember when you could only find them in 7/11’s to warm up your burritos (which I ate for breakfast with a Big Gulp of TAB every morning of my freshman year of college). We got a microwave in my sophomore year of college and my life was forever changed!

    Without a microwave, I’d be eating chips and pretzels and icecream only. I can’t remember the last time I turned on the oven. I’ll sometimes scramble an egg on the stove top, but my meals are microwaved.

    Oh - and those little silver disc thingies that come with the microwave pizza boxes that make them crispy. Yay!

  5. gannon on 06 Sep 2007 at 7:41 am #

    The microwave, absolutely!! What did we do without it?? And I must say I’m a huge fan of Clorox wipes. I use those puppies all the time! And of course, there are computers, CD’s, DVD’s, iPods, etc…. Love these gadgets!

  6. SuzyQ on 06 Sep 2007 at 7:55 am #

    I don’t know how I ever did without a DVR. And to think I was originally against getting one. What was I thinking?

    Another - digital cameras. I was so bad at getting film developed - I’d have all those little black tubes all over the place. Now my pictures are all organized on my PC and I print the ones I want.

    Nicole, thank you for making my life easier. I’ve used all the paper products mentioned, especially the pampers (but thankfully not anymore!)

    And Karen, ah, I guess I’ll be thanking you when I’m in my 60’s :)

  7. Ellen on 06 Sep 2007 at 7:56 am #

    First, I would personally like to thank you for all your contributions to the Pampers Line. I was the oldest girl of seven children and remember when a cloth diaper had to be cleaned of its “contents” and then put in a diaper pail with some kind of nose bleed inducing sanitizer before it got laundered. PeeeeeeeYu!

    What is my favorite gadget? The first one to come to mind is the Remote Control. My favorite feature is the “last channel” button that allows me to watch two things at once without ever bumping into a commercial. Last night I watched Top Chef and The Blues Brothers at the same time. Totally Fab!

    I love blogs like this. It will give me something to think about all day. I’ll be back later. Have a great day!
    E

  8. dbrown3400 on 06 Sep 2007 at 7:59 am #

    Although I appreciate all the current gadgets I use now, cell phone, DVR, iPod, etc., I would have to say the computer is my favorite, primarily because it supported me all my working life.

    I started on the IBM 360, graduated to the internal network at Wang Labs, on to Novell, LAN Manager and OS/2 and Bill Gates early stuff, much of which would fit on an iPod today. I installed and taught network operating systems and did some programming although that was not my forte. I was a Microsoft Certified trainer and present in Redmond, WA the day Gates announced the release of Windows 3.1. My favorite class was teaching IBM their own product once.

    I would be lost w/o my computer when I can’t sleep at four AM or have a brilliant idea for the ms that I’ve just dusted off.

    I’ve never invented anything but don’t know what I’d do without what we have.

  9. Keri Ford on 06 Sep 2007 at 8:01 am #

    I’m all about the refrig and freezer! Could you imagine salting your meat to keep it fresh? Ewe.

    And since I had a baby not too long ago, I’m going add my thanks to the inventor fairy for sending us pain killers.

    twolil, yes ABC song is fantastic! Another great learning device is whoever figured out you could do your number nine multiplications on your fingers.

  10. Ellen on 06 Sep 2007 at 8:32 am #

    And by the way Karen and Nicole…when I am sitting in a nursing home drinking Metamucil Martinis, I will have a smile on my face because of the elastic waistband on my Pamper.

  11. Kay on 06 Sep 2007 at 8:34 am #

    My favorite invention is the is the new medicine my son is taking. I wish I could meet the inventors and tell them how much it has changed his (and my) life! :-)

    As for electronic thingies, the washing machine is my best friend. My very active children provide it with almost constant use and it is wonderful. I think I’m one of the few people who asked for a new washing machine as a birthday present. LOL I can’t imagine doing laundry by hand.

  12. Sabrina Jeffries on 06 Sep 2007 at 8:35 am #

    Computers. I honestly think that if the word processor hadn’t been invented, I would never have stuck with being a writer. I edit a LOT, and I hate the whole retyping/whiting out/using paper tape … If I couldn’t edit on a computer, you can bet I wouldn’t be writing novels. Or at least not good ones. :-)

  13. DebMarlowe on 06 Sep 2007 at 8:56 am #

    Ellen–you had me LOL! Metamucil martinis! Let’s hope they have some really good flavors by that time!

    Nicole–no kidding–not 2 days ago, I stood for a moment in my kitchen, gazing at my microwave and wondering how my mother raised kids without one. Don’t get me wrong–I cook alot and use all my kitchen appliances, but my kids are active and always hungry. It makes leftovers and snacks so easy!

    Plus–the computer! We have friends who stubbornly refuse to have one. They get very angry when their kids have homework involving one. I don’t even want to think about going without it!

  14. darkshire007 on 06 Sep 2007 at 9:01 am #

    I would have to say the washing machine is my favorite electronic gadget (it’s a front loader with lots of lights and buttons!) Everything else makes my life easier, but I could live without it. I think I last used the microwave in August to heat some water for tea (the kettle was still packed). I actually write letters, too. I think it’s great to get something in the mail that isn’t junk or a bill. All of this says that I’m just weird. {sigh} :-(

  15. Nicole Jordan on 06 Sep 2007 at 9:02 am #

    Ramin noodles, yes! And Velcro. And pennicilin and Kay’s son’s medicine and Keri’s painkillers. And washing machines. And fridges.

    And especially computers. Donna, I’m totally in awe. You changed my life. Like Sabrina, I wouldn’t be a writer now without my computer/word processing software.

    And KarenH, that is so cool about your patents!

    >>>And by the way Karen and Nicole…when I am sitting in a nursing home drinking Metamucil Martinis, I will have a smile on my face because of the elastic waistband on my Pamper.

    I’m smiling right now at this, Ellen!

    NicoleJ

  16. Nicole Jordan on 06 Sep 2007 at 9:07 am #

    >> I actually write letters, too. I think it’s great to get something in the mail that isn’t junk or a bill.

    LOL, Dark. I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t write letters much myself, just Post-it notes - but I love getting letters.There’s a lot to be said for the personal touch in our hectic, sterile, impersonal world.

  17. dbrown3400 on 06 Sep 2007 at 9:44 am #

    Ellen, you must channel some great comedians because you come up with fantastic lines. I especially like the Metamucil Martinis, I mean, appreciate your sense of humor.

  18. Caren Crane on 06 Sep 2007 at 9:53 am #

    Kay, I am with you on better living through chemistry! Without modern meds, I wouldn’t be alive and my husband wouldn’t be someone I could live with. *g*

    As a young mom, I was deliriously thankful for disposable diapers (though now the amount in landfills and the hideously long time they take to break down makes me shudder). Also adore the microwave! SuzyQ, feeling your love of the digital camera for the exact same reasons. *g*

    I’m with Sabrina and Deb Marlowe and others on loving my PC! E-mail is the best invention ever. I have one friend with no e-mail. I find it so frustrating to communicate with her separately from the group we are both in!

    I also love getting real mail, though, and sending cards in the mail. Non-spam!

  19. terrio on 06 Sep 2007 at 11:22 am #

    Please tell me you had nothing to do with them adding “Have a Happy Period” to those liners!

    Indoor plumbing is the greatest thing ever, IMHO. And probably shoes. I can’t imagine not having shoes….

  20. Karen Rose on 06 Sep 2007 at 11:27 am #

    Ah, you scoff at Metamucil Martinis. When I was on that brand we used to have to try what we developed. My cholesterol was around 150! Once we had a booth at some GI convention and made Metamucil Smoothies in a blender. They weren’t too bad that way.

    Other inventions - hair color! Really good makeup. The automobile.

    Blenders at Starbucks that make Frappacinos…

  21. Kay on 06 Sep 2007 at 11:42 am #

    Deb, my third-grader had to use the computer for math and spelling homework! By 6th grade, my oldest had to turning ALL homework, except math, typed. There were even assignments & quizzes online! I like the idea of the homework going straight to the teacher–nothing for the kid to loose or forget to turn in. :-)

  22. Karen Rose on 06 Sep 2007 at 11:44 am #

    I worked on Always for almost 10 years and I had NOTHING to do with the happy period. I promise!

  23. Ellen on 06 Sep 2007 at 11:46 am #

    Okay…in order of importance:

    Hot Wax: Okay, so none of us really like getting the bikini wax done, but I for one appreciate not looking like a sea anemone at the neighborhood pool. Besides, my husband no longer has to worry about some dull blade slicing up his neck every morning.

    Mini Cookies: Gotta love the ability to eat a fist full of cookies that are so miniscule, they contain no calories. Studies have shown that it is the diet soda and skipped meals that have the state troopers waving me into the truck weighing lanes. The only downfall to mini cookies is their inability to be dipped without falling apart. By the time I am sipping my Metamucil Martini, I am hoping that technology will have addressed this issue.

    Salad in a Bag: Picture the in-laws pulling into your driveway. Dinner is not quite done and you still haven’t prepared a salad. Rip open the bag of salad and fill the bowls. Because we are talking in-laws, we can blindly accept the labeling “Pre-Washed” as a fact.

    Tweezers: I’m a 48 year old peri-menopausal, half Italian, female. Need I say more?

    Sanitary Product (thanks again Nicole!): As a fan of historical romance, there is always a part of my brain that cringes when I think of anything being referred to as a “rag” during a menstrual cycle. HEY: ON THE RAG: I GET IT NOW!!!

    As you can see, my lovely Gees…My job gives me plenty of time to ponder these things.

  24. Claudia Dain on 06 Sep 2007 at 11:48 am #

    Since everyone (me included) loves the change computers have brought to our lives, I’m going to go non-tech and say what I’m SO thankful for is the sticky stuff that attaches sanitary napkins to underwear. Anyone remember that hideous belt-thing we used to have to wear? Ugh.

    And my oldest kid wore only cloth diapers. We couldn’t afford disposable! Cleaning cloth diapers…all I can say is that you can get used to anything. And the old diapers make amazing rags! Always a silver lining…

  25. Caren Crane on 06 Sep 2007 at 12:25 pm #

    Terrio, I love the “have a happy period” thing on Always! Every time I see it, the irony makes me laugh. Don’t you know the designers get an evil kick out of it every day? Ha!

    KarenR: hair dye. How could I have missed it? I consider it a gift to myself and everyone in the world who has to look at my head.

    Claudia, I specifically bought cloth diapers. First, I used them for the baby spit-up. After the babies were older, they became furniture-polishing cloths. They are the best because they’re lint-free!

  26. Nicole Jordan on 06 Sep 2007 at 12:27 pm #

    Y’all are too funny! And no, my only contribution to Always was letting the research folks test the first wings on my lines. My hubby, however, had a lot to do with them, since he was group manager for a production operation.

    And an interesting fact… before the Rely brand of superabsorbant tampons was discontinued, my men friends who worked on it new a lot more about women’s needs than I did. And they used to quality test the plastic sheaths (clean ones!) by running them around in their mouths to feel for sharp edges, since the mouth is much more sensitive than fingers. One friend forgot and was sucking on one on an airplane. Makes for some really interesting conversation at cocktail parties, too. *BG*

  27. Freshechelle on 06 Sep 2007 at 12:50 pm #

    Indoor plumbing, tweezers and moisturizer are all important one. I’m going old school and going to say the printing press. If you are impatient, having a book to tote around can make any wait bearable. It’s a stretch but without the written word the many worthwile things mentioned above might not exist like medicines, the internet, this common bond of our goddesses, etc. That our goddesses have invented and developed innovations we all enjoy is so freakin’ cool. Rock my world, ladies!

  28. colinfirthfan on 06 Sep 2007 at 12:52 pm #

    Always with wings is definitely in my Top 5 best inventions ever.
    Also swim shorts. I LOVE SWIM SHORTS!!
    (sorry I got a little excited thinking about them)
    Tampax Pearl!

    Refrigerators and microwaves too.

  29. DebMarlowe on 06 Sep 2007 at 1:11 pm #

    Ohh, ohh, I’ve got a weird one! I call it my deer squirter. It is this very nifty, motion activated sprinkler. I set it in my garden, hook it up to my rain barrel, and plug it in. When those pesky deer walk up my front sidewalk all set to enjoy the delicious buffet of flowers I have planted, it goes off with a loud “che che che” sprinkler noise and lets loose a long, far reaching blast of cold water! I love it! It’s the *only* way I can keep a garden. We have been so dry my rain barrels went empty and it took the deer 2 nights to figure out they were free to come and graze. Then it rained. hee hee Watch out, bambi!

    CFF–Swim shorts are high on my list, right up there with spanx!

    Can you tell I’m happy to be off deadline, at least for a few days! :-)

  30. Nicole Jordan on 06 Sep 2007 at 1:54 pm #

    >>Watch out, bambi!

    LOL!! I’ll have to tell one of my Ga friends about that. She has deer galore and is always complaining about not being able to keep a garden.

    And yes, indoor plumbing is absolutely wonderful. I could probably live with a chamberpot if I had to, but I could not bear to be without hot showers.

    And congrats, DebM, about meeting your deadline!

  31. colinfirthfan on 06 Sep 2007 at 3:16 pm #

    Ok I definitely cannot do chamber pot. EEEWWWW!!
    Can you imagine those poor maids who had to clean the chamber pot. Poor things.

    In Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book (book #3) I remember having to read about someone handing Sophie a chamberpot that was wet. I was soo grossed out. I just couldn’t get my head back into the book. I never went back and read that book.

    K M Moning mentioned the garderobe in her highlander series a few times - but it was always clean so I didn’t have to swell on it!
    :)

  32. Karen Hawkins on 06 Sep 2007 at 3:23 pm #

    colinfirthfan, I am glad you don’t have to swell on a dirty garderobe, too!

    My favorite invention other than my computer and my cell phone (I could not live without those) is the vacuum cleaner. Without it, I couldn’t have my adorable dogs in my house because the hair would drive me out of it. And I like having my doggies in the house. I have to say, the Swifter Vac is an awesome thing. Quite light and handy and works great on my wood and tile floors.

  33. colinfirthfan on 06 Sep 2007 at 3:23 pm #

    >>I never went back and read that book.

    should actually read - I never went back and read that book again.
    I almost always re-read JQs books. I love How to Marry a Marquis

  34. colinfirthfan on 06 Sep 2007 at 3:25 pm #

    :) sorry I meant DWELL on a dirty…..

  35. Karen Hawkins on 06 Sep 2007 at 3:37 pm #

    Teehee! :D

  36. colinfirthfan on 06 Sep 2007 at 4:13 pm #

    It’s all the smoke and haze from 2 enormous wildfires somewhere in SoCal that is making all the NorCal people loose it.

    The smoke is so thick you can see the sun as a firey red ball at 8:30 in the morning!! Awful!

  37. colinfirthfan on 06 Sep 2007 at 4:15 pm #

    I can’t spell at all -I meant….. FIERY red ball

  38. Karen Rose on 06 Sep 2007 at 4:28 pm #

    Karen H - have been meaning to try the Swiffer Vac. Good to know it works well.

    Another invention I love - my MP3 player! I still remember having a portable turntable for my 45’s. My thumb-sized MP3 is a million, trillion times better.

    Oh, and memory sticks - remember when computers read cassette tapes and even (gulp, dating self) punch cards? Now one of those little sticks can hold a Gig of stuff! Amazing. I can carry backups of all my books in my purse and adds less weight than a tube of lipstick.

  39. colinfirthfan on 06 Sep 2007 at 5:30 pm #

    I remember seeing punch cards when I was in the 10th grade doing - a history of Computers. ;-)
    I also had to learn BASIC, FORTRAN and PASCAL. (dating myself now)

    Have to try out the swiffer vac.

  40. Karen Rose on 06 Sep 2007 at 7:11 pm #

    Hardy-har-har, Miss ColinFirthFan.

    One day you’ll be old and your kids will say “MP3 players? You carried around in your hand?” Because by then the epoxy in your dental fillings will store your tunes. No cavities, no tunes. I predict Twinkie futures are the ones to watch. Buy low, folks…

  41. MJ on 06 Sep 2007 at 7:38 pm #

    I’m a simple soul.

    I love my laptop and take most new technology for granted (I’m a Media Librarian - it’s my job) though I really only adopt what I find useful….I can’t live without my laptop but seldom use my cellphone for anything but emergency phone calls.

    BUT my most favourite inventions are Yellow Stickies (and yes I like the pink ones too) and Zip lock bags.

    They have changed my life. (-;

  42. Nicole Jordan on 06 Sep 2007 at 10:13 pm #

    >> Because by then the epoxy in your dental fillings will store your tunes

    LOL. We’ll look back on these early days of the Internet as primitive, too.

    And ziplock bags! How could I forget?

    I DO NOT VACUUM. So great characteristics of certain v cleaners are totally lost on me.

    And I’m not talking about the computer classes I had to go through, ColinFF, so I won’t be dating myself *BG*

  43. TinaLouiseF on 06 Sep 2007 at 10:13 pm #

    We got a microwave in the early 90s. My dad still calls it a lighted bread box. We primarily use it to reheat food.

    Computers are great, but a typewriter is very handy for filling out forms. My handwriting is fairly bad.

    I would rather have VHS than DVD. Finally bought at DVD player about 2 years ago for watching TV on DVD.

    Love power windows in a car. Very hard to lean across the seat to roll down window on the passenger side.

  44. Nicole Jordan on 06 Sep 2007 at 10:18 pm #

    TinaLF, we have a DVD player in our new car and have never even opened the thing. And the DVD player in our house, I only use for excercise tapes. The DVR’s, howerver, (recorders) are absolutely fabulous for recording TV shows and them playing them back.

    And I like power windows too, but I only like power locks if I get to be in control. Can’t stand those cars that lock automatically on their own when you engage the drive. I don’t want a dang car trying to be smarter than I am!

  45. TinaLouiseF on 06 Sep 2007 at 10:25 pm #

    My boss’ pickup locks automatically. It is a pain when trying to unload thing from the back seat and have to go around to unlock the door.