What is one invention that hasn’t been invented yet but people want?
To help identify inventions that people are eagerly waiting for, we consulted with industry experts, thought leaders, and innovative minds across various fields. Their insights revealed fascinating concepts ranging from instant teleportation devices to machines that can literally heal a broken heart. These groundbreaking ideas represent technologies that could revolutionize how we live, work, and interact with the world around us.
Many modern innovations that we now take for granted—like smartphones, electric vehicles, and even the internet—were once just wild ideas in someone’s imagination. Who’s to say that the inventions listed below won’t become reality in the coming decades?
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Here are 21 inventions that haven’t been invented yet – but people desperately want!
- Instant Teleportation Devices
- Self-Charging Batteries
- Dream Recorder
- A Smartwatch that Can Detect Diseases
- Flying Cars
- Washing Machine That Irons and Folds Clothes
- Real-Time Universal Language Translators
- Hoverboards
- Cloudbuster for Rain
- Affordable Space Travel
- A Printer That Doesn’t Need Ink
- Anti-Fogging Eyeglasses
- Hangover-Free Alcohol
- Eyeglasses That Provide Broader Peripheral Vision
- Animal-Human Language and Behavior Translator
- A Panacea to Cure All Diseases
- Heartbreak Healing Machine
- Travel at the Speed of Light
- Antibiotics Substitutes
- Mind-Controlled Devices for Everyday Tasks
- Perfect Water Purification Systems
Innovations like advanced solar energy storage systems and AI-powered medical diagnostics were once dismissed as impossible. Now they’re transforming our world. The inventions below could be next.
Inventions That Haven’t Been Invented Yet (That People Want)
1. Instant Teleportation Devices
Of all the inventions people desperately want, instant teleportation tops nearly every list. Imagine eliminating your morning commute entirely, or visiting loved ones across the world in seconds rather than hours. This technology would fundamentally transform transportation, drastically reduce our carbon footprint, and make the world feel infinitely smaller in the best possible way. While quantum entanglement and other physics concepts suggest teleportation might theoretically be possible, we’re still decades—if not centuries—away from safely transporting humans from one location to another instantaneously.
Mark Thompson, Global Innovations LLC
2. Self-Charging Batteries
Every year, our laptops and smartphones boast bigger and better batteries, yet it never seems sufficient. Whether your device lasts one day or an entire week, you’ll eventually forget to charge it at the most inconvenient moment. The future lies in truly self-sustaining battery technology—whether powered by advanced solar cells, kinetic energy harvested from our movements, or some revolutionary technology we haven’t discovered yet. Once battery technology becomes genuinely self-charging, one of modern life’s most persistent frustrations will instantly become obsolete.
Michael Burghoffer, PicoSolutions
3. Dream Recorder
This might sound like pure science fiction, but advances in neuroscience suggest it could become reality someday. Dreams often contain brilliant ideas, creative solutions, and profound insights that vanish the moment we wake up. A device capable of recording our dreams would be invaluable for artists, entrepreneurs, problem-solvers, and anyone who’s ever woken up thinking, “That was an amazing dream—what was it about again?” This technology would essentially function like taking notes on your subconscious mind, capturing those fleeting moments of nocturnal genius before they disappear forever.
Sanket Shah, InVideo
4. A Smartwatch that Can Detect Diseases
Let’s be honest—most people find doctor’s visits stressful and nerve-wracking. Beyond the anxiety, medical appointments and examinations are expensive and time-consuming. Today’s smartwatches already help us monitor heart rate, sleep patterns, and exercise routines. The next evolutionary leap would be adding disease-detection capabilities. This innovation would save people countless dollars on unnecessary appointments and diagnostic tests. More importantly, early detection could buy precious time for treatment before conditions deteriorate, potentially saving millions of lives while allowing people to spend more quality time with their loved ones.
Stephan Baldwin, Assisted Living Center
5. Flying Cars
We’ve all experienced the absolute frustration of sitting in gridlocked traffic. It’s maddening—especially when you have an important meeting, a flight to catch, or a critical appointment you simply cannot miss. The anxiety, anger, and helplessness that overwhelm you in those moments are genuinely distressing. Flying cars represent humanity’s collective dream of escaping surface-level traffic congestion. We’ve seen them in countless movies, soaring effortlessly through the sky while ground traffic remains hopelessly stuck below. While they remain fictional for now, who knows what the future holds? Perhaps not in our lifetime, but someday, flying cars could transform transportation and make millions of people significantly happier.
Laura Martinez, PersonalityMax
6. Washing Machine That Irons and Folds Clothes
Everyone universally despises ironing and folding laundry. Imagine how life-changing a washing machine would be if it could wash, dry, iron, and fold clothes automatically. You’d simply load dirty laundry into the machine and later retrieve perfectly clean, pressed, and folded garments. This invention would save hours every week while eliminating the need for ironing boards and irons entirely. We already have dishwashers and robotic vacuum cleaners that simultaneously mop floors, so advancing laundry technology to this level seems like the logical next step. Trust me—this is something people genuinely want.
Nina Paczka, Resume Now
7. Real-Time Universal Language Translators
Ever since early Star Trek episodes introduced the concept, people have dreamed of a world where language barriers simply don’t exist—where you speak your native language and someone else instantaneously hears it in theirs. This technology isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem. When fully realized, it will represent one of humanity’s most significant achievements in global communication and international cooperation. Companies specializing in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are already pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with real-time translation.
Ubaldo Perez, Hush Anesthetic
8. Hoverboards
We’ve seen them in science fiction movies for decades, but proper hoverboards remain frustratingly elusive. Countless other technologies that first appeared in films—like the internet and video calling—are now integral to daily life. Society literally couldn’t function without them anymore. Just imagine if, instead of clogging roads with vehicles every day, we could simply hop on our hoverboards and zoom to work or the grocery store. The freed-up parking space could serve better purposes, commute times would drastically decrease, and with efficient propulsion systems, even our planet would benefit. The only challenge might be needing that reclaimed parking space to build hospitals until everyone masters hoverboard riding!
Colin Palfrey, Crediful
9. Cloudbuster for Rain
With climate change wreaking havoc across various regions, drought has emerged as a critical global concern. An invention people desperately want—but which hasn’t been created—is an effective cloudbuster. For years, scientists have attempted environmental manipulation to induce storms that would water crops and provide relief to drought-stricken areas. While attempts have been made with limited success through methods like cloud seeding, no invention has yet effectively generated storms capable of meaningfully impacting severe drought conditions. Nevertheless, this hasn’t discouraged innovators from continuing their efforts to invent functional cloudbusting technology. For now, the public remains waiting and hoping.
Matt Miller, Embroker
10. Affordable Space Travel
Humans have been venturing into space for decades, but that reality doesn’t help the average person. What people genuinely want is affordable space travel—the ability to book a space tour at reasonable prices and enjoy the experience of being among the stars. With reusable rocket technology now operational, affordable space tourism could genuinely become reality in the near future. While we’re at it, space restaurants where people could relax, dine, and enjoy spectacular views would be incredible additions to the space tourism industry.
Ian Kelly, NuLeaf Naturals
11. A Printer That Doesn’t Need Ink
An eco-friendly printer utilizing alternatives to traditional ink—such as coffee grounds or other recyclable materials—would revolutionize office environments. For businesses printing enormous volumes of documents, replacing ink cartridges consumes both significant time and money. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have printers running on materials we’d normally discard anyway? Coffee grounds would be the perfect solution since most businesses brew coffee constantly throughout the day. It’s a genuine win-win scenario!
Michael Van, Furnishr
12. Anti-Fogging Eyeglasses
Though it seems like a relatively minor inconvenience, pandemic mask requirements transformed fogging glasses from an occasional annoyance into a major daily problem. Previously, foggy glasses only occurred on cold days when breath condensation created temporary visual obstructions. Pandemic masking turned this into a constant frustration. Rather than constantly removing glasses to wipe them on your shirt when they fog up, wouldn’t permanently fog-resistant lenses be preferable? Despite seeming like something that should already exist, we’re still waiting for the day when we can venture into cold weather or wear masks without needing de-fogging breaks every five minutes.
Cody Candee, Bounce
13. Hangover-Free Alcohol
One of humanity’s most desired inventions would be alcohol that provides all the enjoyment and social lubrication of traditional drinks without the devastating next-day consequences. Scientists have explored various approaches to eliminating hangovers, but truly hangover-free alcohol remains elusive. Such an invention would fundamentally transform social culture and dramatically reduce the health consequences associated with alcohol consumption. Imagine enjoying an evening with friends without dreading the morning after—that’s something millions of people would embrace immediately.
David Richardson, Social Innovation Lab
14. Eyeglasses That Provide Broader Peripheral Vision
Eyeglasses offering enhanced peripheral vision would significantly reduce accidents across numerous scenarios. Both drivers and cyclists could wear them to avoid colliding with objects outside their normal visual range. Additionally, these glasses could incorporate sunglasses functionality, meaning you’d never reach for traditional sunglasses again! This innovation would particularly benefit people with vision impairments who struggle with limited peripheral awareness, making daily activities safer and more comfortable.
Jeff Goodwin, Orgain
15. Animal-Human Language and Behavior Translator
I would be absolutely thrilled if wearable technology capable of translating animal language and behavior into human speech—and vice versa—became widely available. While several major technology companies have developed primitive animal translator devices, they fall dramatically short of enabling the quality two-way communication people need—not just with pets, but especially with wild and endangered species. Current animal translators only optimize sound interpretation. It would be transformative if these devices could also decode animal behaviors, which are crucial communication signals (especially when animals are sick and cannot vocalize). Wearable formats—perhaps resembling dog tags—would be ideal. Such technology would prove invaluable for conserving and potentially resurrecting endangered species, and might even provide clues about reviving extinct species like dinosaurs.
Jeffrey Zhou, Fig Loans
16. A Panacea to Cure All Diseases
Named after the Greek goddess of universal remedies, a true panacea represents something humanity has desired throughout history. This all-purpose cure could address not merely simple health problems but also provide hope for those battling life-threatening conditions like cancer and HIV. With a panacea, emerging diseases would no longer terrify populations, and everyone could have genuine peace of mind. While medicines like penicillin treat multiple illnesses, no known invention prevents or heals every ailment. A panacea would eliminate complex prescription requirements, allowing people to live significantly longer, create more meaningful experiences, and fundamentally improve quality of life.
Milo Cruz, Freelance Writing Jobs
17. Heartbreak Healing Machine
Unlike the protagonist in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I don’t believe there should be technology enabling people to completely forget past relationships. However, I strongly believe we need some pharmacological solution—perhaps a drinkable tonic—that lessens the devastating blow of romantic heartbreak and accelerates emotional healing. Ending relationships is never pleasant, and the emotional aftermath can be genuinely debilitating. A strawberry-flavored healing tonic would be the ideal delivery method for this much-needed invention.
Sarah Chen, Emotional Wellness Institute
18. Travel at the Speed of Light
One invention people desperately want to see is the capability to travel at light speed. When considering space exploration’s exciting possibilities, remember how extraordinarily time-consuming it actually is. Currently, reaching Mars takes approximately seven months, and reaching Pluto—our solar system’s most distant planet—requires nearly a decade. These timeframes make space travel impractical beyond limited exploration missions. If we could invent light-speed travel, it would unlock incredible possibilities throughout our solar system: comprehensive exploration, asteroid mining opportunities, colonization prospects, and easier searches for extraterrestrial life. Instead of ten years to reach Pluto, the journey would take just 4.6 hours. Our fastest existing probe would require 18,000 years to reach Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system—light-speed travel would reduce this to merely 4.4 years!
Viktor Holas, Wise Barber
19. Antibiotics Substitutes
Humanity urgently needs strong alternatives to antibiotic medicines because prolonged antibiotic use slowly harms people by creating internal toxicity and potentially causing diseases like cancer when consumed consistently over time. People are literally losing their lives due to antibiotic side effects, yet they must continue taking them for temporary relief. Our world needs something more revolutionary—treatments that cure bacterial infections without causing harm even with daily consumption. Various research suggests phage therapy might provide solutions, but nothing has been definitively proven yet. We need inventions that cure diseases currently requiring antibiotics, thereby saving millions from unnecessary suffering and death.
Jeremy James, Blue Water Climate Control
20. Mind-Controlled Devices for Everyday Tasks
Imagine controlling your home’s lights, television, thermostat, and appliances purely through thought. While brain-computer interfaces exist in experimental settings, everyday mind-control technology for routine tasks remains unavailable to consumers. This invention would revolutionize accessibility for people with mobility impairments while making everyone’s daily routines more convenient. Rather than searching for remote controls or fumbling with smartphone apps, you’d simply think about what you want, and it would happen. Early prototypes using neural headbands show promise, but truly seamless mind-controlled home automation remains frustratingly out of reach.
Alexandra Martinez, Future Tech Research
21. Perfect Water Purification Systems
Despite water covering most of Earth’s surface, clean drinking water remains scarce in many regions. Compact, efficient, and genuinely affordable water purification devices could provide safe drinking water to millions worldwide, addressing global water scarcity while preventing waterborne diseases. Current purification systems are either too expensive, too bulky, or insufficiently effective for widespread deployment in developing regions. The ideal system would be portable, require minimal maintenance, operate without electricity, and remove all contaminants including viruses, bacteria, heavy metals, and chemical pollutants. Such an invention could save countless lives and transform communities struggling with water access.
Robert Jackson, Global Health Innovations
Conclusion
While we await these 21 amazing inventions, they represent the boundless potential of human innovation and imagination. The future remains uncertain, but with continued advancements in science and technology, we may eventually witness the development of these groundbreaking inventions that could transform our world and fundamentally redefine how we live, work, and interact with our environment.
If you have ideas for inventions you’d like to share with the world, please leave them in the comments below. No idea is too outlandish—after all, today’s wild dreams often become tomorrow’s reality!
Frequently Asked Questions
What prevents these inventions from being created?
Many factors prevent these inventions from becoming reality, including technological limitations, physics constraints, economic viability concerns, and insufficient research funding. Some inventions require breakthroughs in fundamental science that haven’t occurred yet, while others are theoretically possible but prohibitively expensive to develop or manufacture at scale.
Are any of these inventions currently being developed?
Yes! Several items on this list are actively being researched and developed. Real-time translation devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated, disease-detecting wearables are in various testing phases, and companies are actively working on flying vehicle prototypes. However, bringing these inventions from laboratory prototypes to consumer-ready products often takes decades.
Could these inventions have unintended negative consequences?
Absolutely. Every major technological advancement carries potential downsides. For example, perfect disease detection might create anxiety or lead to over-treatment, while mind-controlled devices raise serious privacy concerns. Responsible innovation requires carefully considering ethical implications, potential misuse, and societal impacts before widespread deployment.
Which invention on this list is most likely to become reality first?
Real-time universal language translators and disease-detecting smartwatches are probably closest to reality, as they build upon existing technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and current wearable sensors. Both could realistically become mainstream within the next 5-10 years as technology continues advancing rapidly.