Harebrained Schemes 5

Here are some more ideas. I know that all my schemes are not practicable, but dreaming up impossible scenarios and solving their problems is fun. Try it yourself.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hearings, independent investigators, and similar power plays seem to be the current vogue for defaming those you oppose (along with protest marches and social media campaigns). Even if nothing is discovered by one of those games, the fact that someone was investigated raises doubts about that person – doubts that will be exploited in the next canvass. That, I suspect, is often the goal. And the taxpayer funds it. We pay for a political exercise. It's one of many areas in which politicians use public funds – our money – to further their personal or party priorities.

We live in an age when newspapers have ombudsmen, hospital patients have advocates, and prisoners have legal advisors so their rights will be protected. Much as we might wish otherwise, our representatives cannot be trusted to look out after our interests. They have their own agendas. An individual taxpayers' advocate, or a panel of ombudsmen – principled ones of course – might be employed to protect us from our government. Is it possible?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

There's an app for it. Sometimes, but not always. Most of them deal with the needs of large numbers of people, not with individuals. What the world needs is an app that makes apps. An "app app." Someone who has a specific need or want could input the needs and create an app to deal with a particular need that has not been addressed. Perhaps you want an app that deals with all the problems of retirement. You might want one that searches for jobs for senior citizens, explains Medicare, helps with planning of activities (including the choice of those suited to seniors – especially, for example, those with disabilities), identifies discounts to which you are entitled, gives you easy dinner recipes, or reads you a book. You might want an app that hypnotizes you or, with the aid of virtual reality, puts flesh on your imaginary friend. Perhaps you're interested in a job and want to know, in addition to what's available, what are the requirements for a particular position. You might even want to know the long term outlook for that industry or advice on how to apply or interview for a particular position. And you'd want the information presented to you in a way that obviates individual searches regarding these topics.

Mass marketers are rolling out all sorts of apps that promote their products or their facilities. They're interested in individuals only as targets. But only the "target" knows what (s)he really wants. After he lists the particulars of his need a dedicated app would search the web for the information, programs, resources, and advice that he needs. It would extract the data and put it in a form that is usable to the one requesting it. And it would create a reusable and up-dateable app that would be available whenever needed. The app would aslo be changeable as the needs of the individual, and available data, change, and its designer could also add more features if they might be helpful. And you wouldn't have to go to an "app store" to deal with your unique need. Your app app could even find existing programs that might suit your needs.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We now have self-driving cars. As they are perfected and the technology extended we'll have self-driving taxis, car services, and busses. With the proper sensors and computers they'll make driving safer. They don't get drunk and they wouldn't drive while distracted.

But what about ships and planes? Why do we need the crews that make travel so expensive? Certainly we need them to feed us and provide other services as well, and, of course, to entertain us, but even these functions can be, to a degree, made the responsibilities of computers and robots. Some people would lose their jobs – that always happens as society advances – but it has the possibility of improving safety and services while cutting costs. Sounds like a worthwhile trade-off.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I've tried to raise real problems and a start at finding solutions. I'll try again, but I don't know when. Stay tuned.

July 7, 2017