What invention would you most want in your lifetime?

[dark_lord]

A   LIGHTSABER

[Eja117]

A   LIGHTSABER

You know the only practical application other than just being awesome that I have ever come up with for a lightsaber would be rescue equipment, obviously amputation, and maybe some of the construction industry could use it

[nickagneta]

Neural nanonics...microchips of RAM hard wired to the brain so that you can store data and access it through thought.

Did I cover that with cyborg technology that makes us super smart?

Missed the super smart part in my scan of the options...sorry. TP.

[hwangjini_1]

put a button for "the end of death."

i'd vote for that one. 

[chicagoceltic]

Fun topic (as well as the topic on technology).  I voted for commercial space travel.  I think it would be mind blowing to travel in space and if I could choose one thing I would love to do it would be to walk on the moon.  In fact, I have only half-jokingly said that if I was offered a opportunity to go to the moon but there was a 50-50 chance of a fatal explosion I would likely take my chances...

[Redz]

Some sort of universal truth device could be useful. Though that might take on a godlike element.

[indeedproceed]

http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-things-you-wont-believe-science-can-do-with-dna/

[thirstyboots18]

Transporters....beam me up, Scottie.  No more need for planes, trains and automobiles.    Think of all the  real state that would free up for agriculture and recreation.

[fairweatherfan]

Clean renewable energy.  All the disease and fun personal stuff is great, but ultimately everyone dies anyway; and a true end to death would very, very quickly wind up in "be careful what you wish for" territory. 

Clean energy transcends individual lifespans and reduces or eliminates so many of the societal issues we're currently running into.  And it would greatly improve quality of life and enable most of the other inventions being discussed too.  It's the biggest challenge of this century in my opinion.

[thirstyboots18]

Transporters....beam me up, Scottie.  No more need for planes, trains and automobiles.    Think of all the  real state that would free up for agriculture and recreation.

Whoops...sorry, forgot that the Star Trek connection is not allowed.

[Eja117]

Transporters....beam me up, Scottie.  No more need for planes, trains and automobiles.    Think of all the  real state that would free up for agriculture and recreation.

Whoops...sorry, forgot that the Star Trek connection is not allowed.

my understanding is that they're getting closer to information teleporters meaning you could send bits of info thru light instead of a zip drive or the net. No need for email size restrictions I guess.  Also possibly sending electricity this way too, so you'll never need a cord again

[slamtheking]

Clean renewable energy.  All the disease and fun personal stuff is great, but ultimately everyone dies anyway; and a true end to death would very, very quickly wind up in "be careful what you wish for" territory. 

Clean energy transcends individual lifespans and reduces or eliminates so many of the societal issues we're currently running into.  And it would greatly improve quality of life and enable most of the other inventions being discussed too.  It's the biggest challenge of this century in my opinion.

This was what I was thinking based on the restrictions for what we can suggest.   Provided it's available to everyone everywhere, it would definitely shift the world dynamic in terms of wealth. 

I think a close second is a cheaper, effective way to purify large quantities of water.  water will become the new oil in probably 30 years.

[LB3533]

Didn't Obama shut down the space project thingy?

Isn't that ship in a museum/exhibit right now?

[LarBrd33]

a cure for baldness.  I've suffered enough.

[hwangjini_1]

Clean renewable energy.  All the disease and fun personal stuff is great, but ultimately everyone dies anyway; and a true end to death would very, very quickly wind up in "be careful what you wish for" territory. 

Clean energy transcends individual lifespans and reduces or eliminates so many of the societal issues we're currently running into.  And it would greatly improve quality of life and enable most of the other inventions being discussed too.  It's the biggest challenge of this century in my opinion.

This was what I was thinking based on the restrictions for what we can suggest.   Provided it's available to everyone everywhere, it would definitely shift the world dynamic in terms of wealth. 

I think a close second is a cheaper, effective way to purify large quantities of water.  water will become the new oil in probably 30 years.

sooner. that is why a number of top universities are already focusing on water as a key part of their research. not just physical water, but supply, security, safety, etc.

the general notion now is that the next generation of kids will fight wars over water, not oil.