[msglenn]

But isn't there a certain lack of humility in attempting to solve a set of problems that you have no insight into because they do not affect you at all?

There is nothing wrong with trying to address "third world problems" if you have the skills and background knowledge to actually do something, but if you grew up in a middle class suburb then stick to working on what you know. A lot of the innovations in the first world eventually end up being used and applied to bigger problems anyway.

[venomsnake]

Okay - there are a lot of First World Problems too left solve.

Like - drop in replacement system for the flywheel of a car consisting of electrical engine with recuperation braking system backed by supercapacitors (batteries are expensive) you could turn any car in de facto hybrid for a fraction of the cost and it could be used on the current fleet that will be in commission for a long time to come.

Heat pump that cools tank of water at night to 4 degrees and pumps up the cold back into the build which would make air conditioning at summer much less straining on the grid and cheaper to operate.

There a lot of inefficiencies in out energy production and consumption system that could be eliminated by some engineering ingenuity and sufficiently smart software.

[tocomment]

Most houses in hot places like Florida have swimming pools. You could really solve two problems right there, and you already have the water "tank". You pump the swimming pool water through the house to cool it, and you're also heating your pool. I wonder if anyone has tried to build that?

[tocomment]

Those are great ideas! I'd be up for working on those. So you're actually thinking to replace the flywheel of an engine instead of refitting the brakes? (I'll put my heatpump comment in a separate comment)

[tocomment]

Actually what about putting in a bigger alternator and stronger belts and having it charge some super capacitors? That's already connected to the engine through a belt so whenever you use engine braking you could also be partially charging.

Can the alternator run in reverse though and provide energy to the engine/drive train?

[venomsnake]

Well it was just an idea conceived over 2-3 beers with a friend with just some basic napkin math that said we don't brake too much of the laws of physics. I can see multiple approaches working.

But the goal - make the existing fleet of vehicles better while cleaning the air as a bonus is a worthy one and smog is a first world problem.

Edit: honda have something similar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Motor_Assist

[tocomment]

Wow, funny, that's actually how hybrids do work!

"Hybrid automobiles replace the separate alternator and starter motor with one or more combined motor/generator(s) (M/Gs) that start the internal combustion engine, provide some or all of the mechanical power to the wheels, and charge a large storage battery. When more than one M/G is present, as in the Hybrid Synergy Drive used in the Toyota Prius and others, one may operate as a generator and feed the other as a motor, providing an electromechanical path for some of the engine power to flow to the wheels. These motor/generators have considerably more powerful electronic devices for their control than the automotive alternator described above."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternator

[hawkharris]

If someone doesn't have the skills necessary to solve so-called third world problems -- or if he or she simply is not interested, that's okay. We should feel free to focus on the challenges that appeal to us.

I'm just advocating for a little more humility in the tech industry. We should put our contributions in perspective before asserting (as many tech entrepreneurs do) that we're changing the world and people's lives.

[mgkimsal]

Changing the world? Probably not. Changing the worlds and lives of specific people? Probably yes, and that's OK, but I do understand the perspective that's being called for.

I'd met with someone last year and built a quick prototype for his idea. Was thinking of doing an actual partnership with him - I'd initially been impressed with his hustle (which turned out not to be as great as I'd initially thought). I'd indicated that I liked the idea, but it was also essentially a feature than foursquare or yelp could add in an afternoon - I'd prototyped the thing in a couple days - what was needed was sales execution on the street to make it happen. With that in mind, I'd asked him what he'd do if, for example, yelp offered a small buyout (say, $2m).

"Oh no, I wouldn't sell - this will change the world - this will replace Facebook in the next 5 years - I wouldn't sell for $50m".

With that, we parted ways. Even if his idea is right - and honestly, I think it will likely come to pass - he/we aren't in a position to take down Facebook, and a small cashout deal would put him in a much better situation to tackle his other ideas. The idea will happen, I'm pretty sure, but not in the way he sees it happening.

[jpadkins]

I disagree to a bit. You need people who really believe that they are going to take down myspace (or friendster...) even if they are irrational. Was there any serious, rational reason why any engineer would believe facebook would grow like it did when it was first started? I think you need to suspend disbelief if you are going to be part of something game-changing (although I have never been a part of it, so I could be wrong).