Every piece of tech is necessarily good or useful. In this slogging thread, the HackerNoon team in the technology channel discussed the most pointless technology they've come across.
This Slogging thread by Sara Pinto, Teri Eyenike, Mónica Freitas, Jack Boreham and Abeer occurred in slogging's official #technology channel, and has been edited for readability.
What's the most pointless technology you've come across?
Hmmm.
This question will require some deep thinking.
For me, it has to be the Tomatan. Basically, it's a robot that you put on your shoulder and feeds you tomatoes. I've found an article about the purpose of Tomatan, but overall, I don't think it will be of much use hahaha. Read it here: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weird-news/tomatan-hands-free-tomato-machine-set-tokyo-marathon-debut-n308836
Teri Eyenike I understand haha, have you remembered something?
Valentina Zabala Surabhi Singh Daniel Guzman Mónica Freitas Jack Boreham Limarc Ambalina Favour Amadi Khamisi Hamisi Have you ever come across something that has little or no use at all?
Sara Pinto THIS! It's the NVX 200 Speaker Phone. It’s basically a dock that converts any mobile phone into a desktop phone. It’s great for conference calls as it has physical buttons for speed dials, easy muting, and eliminates distracting microphone noise for better clarity. However, is it really worth it?
I think one of those plug-in wireless chargers are pointless. You might as well just plug in your phone using a cable 😂.
So, basically everything you can already do, but with physical buttons... which is everything you can already do on a computer... Interesting 😂I wouldn't say it's worth it haha, would you use it, Mónica Freitas?
Jack Boreham I think it's safe to say the whole concept got left behind 😂 Have you ever used one?
Sara Pinto, I have, and it's so underwhelming 😂. Half the time it doesn't charge properly.
Sara Pinto Yeah, so get a smartphone and then plug it into a wired phone? Nah, I wouldn't spend my money on this for sure. I don't see sense in it 😂
Jack Boreham We've come so far in some things, and yet here we are with these gadgets 😂
Mónica Freitas Such good investments 😂 Have you ever used and enjoyed any technology that others might find useless?
Sara Pinto, I love to throw some money away, ahaha
I think it's the reverse for me. A lot of people like smartwatches - for me, they're useless - I already have my phone, I don't need an extra gadget to control my phone on my wrist. How about you?
Mónica Freitas, I have to agree with you. I'm very skeptical about the utility of things. So, this might be controversial, but I never got the utility of hoverboards. You get on it and just don't have to walk? Are we that lazy? This is not new, I just never got the chance to rant about it 😂
Sara Pinto, I first tried a hoverboard in 7th grade, when they were first starting to appear in Portugal. A company did this whole demonstration during a PE class. I got to say it was fun, but I didn't really get the hang of it ahah. And though it was fun, I wouldn't buy one either. But speaking of laziness doesn't the same goes for the electric scooter. I remember the good old days (not) when I had to keep pushing it to get moving. Now it's way easier.
Mónica Freitas Electric scooters make more sense to me, just because it's more stable and faster. I can see its use in big cities, for when you want to enjoy the sight and still go fast from one point to another. But still wouldn't spend my money on it, mainly when there are companies that provide them for a few hours and you can leave them wherever when you are finished. Do you think hoverboards and electric scooters are useful? IC Khamisi Hamisi
Limarc Ambalina Abeer Linh Smooke Daniel Guzman What do you think it's the most pointless technology you've seen?
Sara Pinto Chindogu is the Japanese art of inventing things that aren’t exactly useless. I remember reading a book showcasing 100 or so examples. All I can say is that it was quite amusing. I mean, look at this thing:
Abeer Would you use it though? Haha
Sara Pinto, I think I’ll stick to napping with my head down. 😂 As for the sign on her head, I think I’m good. I somehow always manage to wake up right before my stop
I agree, my head deserves better support 😂 Now, waking up just in time is a talent that would like to have haha
