Electrical Engineers (EE) have come up with some of the most fascinating inventions known to mankind. Because of the discovery of modern electricity and the expansion thereof by Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and (my favorite) Nicolai Tesla, life has been pretty convenient for modern society.
However, there comes inventions that are not worth the paper the IP was written on, let alone, the thought process involved. Here are the 5 worst EE inventions (in no particular order) that come to mind.
1.) Segway. Dean Kamen invented this robotic, battery-operated, motorized rolling device that transports humans. It is considered one of the worst inventions because of its cost and overall lack of public interest.
2.) Auto Tune. Who invented this and why? Dr. Harold Hildebrand-inventor, once a geophysicist, decided to go to music school. Afterwards, he invented this voice correction (I think it’s more distortion) device, to be used secretly, for entertainers who lack the range or vocals to achieve certain notes (can’t sing). Studio engineers thought it would be cleaver to use the lowest (zero) setting on Auto Tune, where voice manipulation is heard. Cher is the first known entertainer to have used this device. Kanye West and T-Pain quickly followed suit to hurt what was left of our ears. In the meanwhile, Dr. Hildebrand’s invention has made him extremely rich.
3.) Hydrogen Blimp. Created by the Zepplin Company of Germany, the Hydrogen blimp was a Hydrogen filled, aircraft, designed to carry passengers across the Atlantic. This aircraft design was quickly scrapped when the Hindenburg exploded in Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1937. German Design Engineers were forced to use Hydrogen instead of Helium due to embargoes placed upon Germany after World War I. Although Hydrogen was cheaper, it was flammable. Surprisingly, it was not Hydrogen that made the blimp explosive, it was the chemicals used to protect the “skin” of the blimp.
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4.) Electric Face Mask. Yes, there’s an electric facemask. Designed to send impulses to target trouble areas of your face, this device was marketed to promote a younger, smoother, and fresher look to your face. Its winner counterpart is the whole back massager (the chairs you sit in while getting a pedicure).
5.) Hula Chair. As I watched an infomercial about the Hula Chair I almost fell out of my chair laughing. Not only was the device outrageous, the three simple costs (shipping and handling included) of more than $100 were a bit much. The chair throttles the lower half of your body as if you were hula-hooping or a hula-dancer. The claims were to build strength and weight-loss just as an ab-workout routine.
This is my list, what’s yours?
By the way how many humans has the Segway maimed / killed ?
The Segway has maimed a whole generation. It has made lazy people lazier. As I walked through the mall this holiday season, I saw the mall security guard riding on the Segway. Walking around, exercising her heart and legs might have actually killed her!
Aside from being an expensive toy, the only real flaw that I see with the segway device is that it is unable to do an emergency stop without a whole lot of operator effort and skill.That is because the same control handles both balance and driving.