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Thomas Edison's Kindle
harrymcc writes "In 1911, Thomas Edison bragged that he could make a 40,000-page book by printing the pages on thin pieces of metal. In the mid-1930s, newspapers experimented with transmitting special editions into homes via early fax machines. In 1956, Chrysler tried to sell Americans on buying 7-inch records that could only be played on a tiny turntable built into its cars' dashboards. Over at Technologizer, I rounded up these and a dozen other fascinating, forgotten gadget ideas that didn't work out — but which foreshadowed products and technologies that eventually became a big deal."
Exactly what I was thinking. I have a feeling such a book would provide a much better shave than a read.
"linux is just DOS with a UNIX like syntax" -- Galactic Dominator (944134)
Some of other Caselli's inventions were: an electrical marine torpedo which came back to the launching point in the event of missing the mark, an hydraulic press and an instrument that measures the speed of the locomotives.
A torpedo that comes back if it misses? What could possibly go wrong? This man was clearly a genius!
When you're afraid to download music illegally in your own home, then the terrorists have won!
Pages 1/20,000th of an inch thick? What exactly keeps you from lopping off your fingers?
And if you dropped it in your lap....
F-ck 4 blades, we're doing 40,000 blades
I can make a tin foil hat with my feet. It's important to practice such skills because you might get handcuffed one day.
We are the Borg...
Edward waits impatiently for the letter carrier to arrive. "Where is he?", Edward musses, checking his watch.
Every day this week, Edward had rifled through the mail as soon as it had arrived, hoping to see that special envelope. And every day this week, the postman brought only bills and grocery store circulars.
But today - certainly today - would be the day he would receive the results of his climate modeling simulation. It just had to come today!
Edward sees the postman coming down the street. His mailbag seems a bit heavier today ... Could it be? Why doesn't he walk faster!?
Finally, the mailman reaches Edward's house and pulls out a bundle of letters. Edward anxiously grabs the lot from the hands of the postman. One of the envelopes is notably thick; Edward pulls it out and checks the return address. "YES!", he exclaims, seeing it was from Popular Science. He hands back the rest of the pile and dashes up the stairs with his precious packet.
Edward gives himself a paper cut opening the envelope, but is oblivious to the pain. His mind is focused on one thing - the test results: "Is global warming real?" Surely these results will show it beyond any reasonable doubt!
Examining the first page, Edward's heart sinks...
"FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...."