Things that technology should have solved by now

[empirestate]

1. Pulling a piece of paper out of a box.

I never used to have an issue doing this, but these days I spend an inordinate amount of time waving my hand in front of a sensor trying to get a paper towel. I would not expect this to be an unsolved challenge in 2015...

[golden eagle]

Clear cell phone reception, even in rural areas.

[kkt]

Whooping cough.  Vaccine has been cheap for decades.

[Pete from Boston]

1. Pulling a piece of paper out of a box.

I never used to have an issue doing this, but these days I spend an inordinate amount of time waving my hand in front of a sensor trying to get a paper towel. I would not expect this to be an unsolved challenge in 2015...

That's a manual dispenser you've got there.

[empirestate]

1. Pulling a piece of paper out of a box.

I never used to have an issue doing this, but these days I spend an inordinate amount of time waving my hand in front of a sensor trying to get a paper towel. I would not expect this to be an unsolved challenge in 2015...

That's a manual dispenser you've got there.

Manual dispensers don't have sensors...

[Pete from Boston]

1. Pulling a piece of paper out of a box.

I never used to have an issue doing this, but these days I spend an inordinate amount of time waving my hand in front of a sensor trying to get a paper towel. I would not expect this to be an unsolved challenge in 2015...

That's a manual dispenser you've got there.

Manual dispensers don't have sensors...

There's a new model of hand dryer out there that has almost exactly the size and shape of a towel dispenser with little or no explanation that it's not a towel dispenser.  I get the feeling it's made that way as an easy retrofit for dispensers of individual-sheet towels, but for god's sake, why can't I just know what's going to happen when I put my hands under something? 

[hotdogPi]

4. The vast majority of cars still need gasoline. It should be mostly or all electric by now.

[nexus73]

We're still using rockets.

Rick

[jeffandnicole]

5. Tomorrow's weather forecast.

[NE2]

Global warming.

[empirestate]

6.  Garbage storage.

Although rigid containers exist that can be used for the storage of household refuse when it is placed for collection, in my city they insist on using soft plastic bags that are easily ripped open by animals, scavengers and snowplows, with the result that any given neighborhood is constantly strewn with garbage that we have the technology to contain.


iPhone

[Pete from Boston]

6.  Garbage storage.

Although rigid containers exist that can be used for the storage of household refuse when it is placed for collection, in my city they insist on using soft plastic bags that are easily ripped open by animals, scavengers and snowplows, with the result that any given neighborhood is constantly strewn with garbage that we have the technology to contain.

As you point out, technology has solved this.  Your city is ignoring this fact.

[vtk]

6.  Garbage storage.

Although rigid containers exist that can be used for the storage of household refuse when it is placed for collection, in my city they insist on using soft plastic bags that are easily ripped open by animals, scavengers and snowplows, with the result that any given neighborhood is constantly strewn with garbage that we have the technology to contain.

As you point out, technology has solved this.  Your city is ignoring this fact.

Perhaps not the situation the phrase "not invented here" normally describes, but it seems quite appropriate.

[Scott5114]

I am a little surprised that we don't have some sort of permanent fix for tooth decay that would eliminate the need to brush.

[NE2]

I am a little surprised that we don't have some sort of permanent fix for tooth decay that would eliminate the need to brush.

We do. It's called false teeth.

[empirestate]

6.  Garbage storage.

Although rigid containers exist that can be used for the storage of household refuse when it is placed for collection, in my city they insist on using soft plastic bags that are easily ripped open by animals, scavengers and snowplows, with the result that any given neighborhood is constantly strewn with garbage that we have the technology to contain.

As you point out, technology has solved this.  Your city is ignoring this fact.

Right, so it's not solved. The technology has to be applied in order for the problem to go away.

[corco]

The travelling salesman problem

[Halian]

Highway signs that look like crap

[mgk920]

4. The vast majority of cars still need gasoline. It should be mostly or all electric by now.

Their propulsive energy still has to come from somewhere and the ability to store that energy was a late-19th century *fail* - and things relating to that haven't progressed much since then.

Mike

[Pete from Boston]

Highway signs that look like crap

The need for highway signs.

[NE2]

Capitalism.

[OCGuy81]

It's 2015! Where are our Hoverboards!

[vtk]

Fixed the aspect ratio for you...

[Pete from Boston]

Capitalism.

Problem or no, this is an issue of human behavior, not technology.

[OCGuy81]

Fixed the aspect ratio for you...

Thank you! :-)