Solutions in search of a problem

• AutoCB [S0011]
  

  Why Not user "peter" has proposed an AutoCB, which would connect you to the cars immediately around you, making long car trips less solitary. Would this kind of technology work anywhere else?

• Good Samaritan Switch [S0012]
  

  Why Not user "Cranor" proposes adding a "good Samaritan switch" to cars, allowing passers-by to turn off headlights that have been left on. Is there anywhere else where such a device might prove useful?

• Haircut subscription [S0014]
  

  "Curious Cat" likes Blockbuster's movie subscription idea, and argues that it might work for haircuts. What other regular services might you want to subscribe to?

• Child-friendly venues [S0021]
  

  "andrewski" would like to see movie theaters for babies, where it is expected that children will cry during the show. Similarly, certain restaurants have found a market in accommodating families with chilren. Is there another kind of business where kids are normally seen as a nuisance, but where they might be specially accommodated?

• Might as well... [S0017]
  

  "TheCAG" suggests placing a charity collection box outside airport security screening stations. The idea is that people wouldn't mind parting with their change, if it means they don't have to worry about getting it through screening. Where else could charities raise money that people might not otherwise think of giving?

• Pay-per-mile insurance [S0015]
  

  Why Not? book authors Barry Nalebuff and Ian Ayres propose pay-per-mile auto insurance. Is there another area where a pay-as-you-go approach might work?

• Level-sensitive guages [S0016]
  

  One of the most popular ideas on the Why Not? site (contributed by "tazlake") has been the idea of a brake light that includes a guage to show how quickly the vehicle is decelerating. Where else would you like to see an indication of level or intensity, rather than just "on" or "off"?

• Tracking things [S0020]
  

  "Idea Hamster" wants to see a Lojack for Children, a tracking device embedded into clothing that could help locate missing kids. What other things (or people) might you want to track in this way?

• Tiny-size it! [S0018]
  

  "Mandos"'s proposal to offer subscribers a smaller-sized newspaper as an environmentally-friendly alternative ran into some logistical difficulties. Still, the idea of making products smaller for the sake of the environment might prove useful in other cases. Can you think of any?

• Defensive Credit Course [S0013]
  

  Shifting the "defensive driving course" idea to a new setting, "RX7" suggests this idea might work for credit as well. Is there any other kind of irresponsible behavior that might be forestalled or corrected with a course like this?