Someone sent me a list on Facebook today – it was corny but I did it, and now I’m thinking in list format.  Doing my usual evening trip through my Google reader, I got to thinking about the inventions and innovations I’d like to see.  Here we go:

1) HDR Cameras (High dynamic range): I remember traveling through Europe and my dad had a video camera where the camera was hooked up via a wire to a VHS recorder he wore like a messenger bag.  Thank god for those videos – they are priceless today.  So when I was out last week in Zurich taking 5 photos in a bracketed sequence, then wasting time on the flight home processing them…  It occurred to me that this is a perfect example of a process that needs streamlining.  I think we are close, and I’m sure the day is coming soon, but by far this is an innovation that I’m ready for.  Now that there is a deluge of high-megapixel cameras, lets focus on the quality of those pixels instead of the quantity.

On a side note – I’ve never understood why digital cameras need the same mechanism as normal film cameras.  If you have a sensor that can pick up light….  why does it need more time (different shutter speeds) to get the information it needs?  I mean, film makes sense – it needs the exposure to light.  By why camera CCDs?  If its taking a digital snapshot anyway, why keep it open longer?  Why cant it do a night exposure in 1/60th of a second like a day exposure?

2) Wireless electricity: I know this is a pipe dream, but we can all hope.  How cool would it be to have a “Charge Zone” – maybe a small area that you put your phone, iPod, etc., and it charges it – all without wires?  Don’t mock me – I hear that researchers are already trying.  And if you think its totally impossible…  What is lightning?

3) Auto GPS w/ weather radar and real traffic data:  I suppose the issue here is the gathering of the traffic data.  But, well, someone must come up with a fix.  I’d like to put in my destination and have a true rendering of the route with weather and other possible issues that may come up.  And I’d like it updated throughout my trip.  How about uploading the trip details to a website so parents can watch kids as they drive?  So many applications…

4) Cheap online video delivery: Without a CDN, its nearly impossible to stream video to mass audiences.  Mark Cuban just did a great post about this and I agree.  There needs to be more CDN’s and more available streams in order for the internet to really be a video delivery format.  We’re closer but still a long way away.

5) Autopilot for my Automobile: There must must must be a way we can get this going.  I’m sure the Europeans will beat us to it.  But you should be able to control a car on a highway w/o using the steering wheel.  Perhaps an auto-pilot lane or something similar.  Think about the implications: if all the cars in the lane were moving at 75mph, would ’safe following distance’ really apply anymore?  We could pack tightly and still move quickly.

6) V/STOL Vehicles for Commuters: Vertical or Short take off / landing.  Think Harrier Jump Jet.  How cool would it be if commuters in the Poconos could take a different means to commute to NYC?  OK, I know the problems, crowded airspace, “isn’t this just a helicopter”….  Think about it though, it has the potential to change how we commute, how far we live from work, etc.

7) A true all-in-one device:  iPhone may be a good start.  But I mean with a real camera, real web access, and real storage capacity.  We’re well on our way.

8) True, universal video conferencing: Skype, Paltalk and iChat have started this trend – when bandwidth continues I expect to see this shortly on mobile devices as well.

9) Wifi Everywhere: Mobile phone bandwidth counted with M’s and not K’s.  I look forward to this quite a bit.

10) Automated, self parking lots: The europeans have this down.  We are light years behind them in our parking technology.  Example one: in the historic city of Brugge, Belgium, they have build vast underground parking garages under the city.  Above ground you have one of the charms of europe with few cars parked on the street and below ground you have a massive parking structure.

Example two: in Zurich, you follow the signs for the P.  The signs show the number of spots available at each lot.  When you pull into the lot, it directs you to free spots.  You pay via card at self-payment machines throughout the complex.  This is also underground and there is no way to view it from the city itself.  Amazing!

Now, I realize this would be difficult to do in NYC, where the underground is complex and confusing.  But why not in other cities?  I’ll point to Boston being an example of a place where underground development (BIG DIG) has worked (SORTA).  We need to streamline our lives and this is a simple way to start…  How about putting some stimulus money into a project like this?  Read about the URANIA Parking Garage, Translated from German.