Summary

The author shares their appreciation for five practical innovations encountered during their travels that they believe should be universally adopted for their convenience and benefits.

Abstract

The article "5 Genius Innovations I Wish Every Country Had" reflects the author's personal experiences with everyday technologies that significantly improved their quality of life while living abroad. These innovations include a sink garbage disposal system, a water and ice dispenser in refrigerators, tap-and-go credit card systems in subways, electronic built-in bidets in toilets, and self-ordering kiosks. The author highlights the simplicity and efficiency of these tools, emphasizing their environmental and user-friendly aspects. The article not only underscores the practicality of these innovations but also invites readers to share their own discoveries that have made life easier or more pleasant.

Opinions

The author values the sink garbage disposal for its ability to handle food waste efficiently, preventing clogged pipes and reducing the unpleasant task of removing food scraps manually.
They praise the convenience of having a water and ice dispenser in the refrigerator, noting its environmental benefits over reliance on plastic bottled water.
The author expresses frustration with cities that have not yet adopted tap-and-go credit card systems for subway travel, viewing it as an unnecessary inconvenience.
The electronic built-in bidet is celebrated for its widespread use in South Korea and Japan, suggesting it's a hygiene standard that should be more globally recognized.
Self-ordering kiosks are appreciated for their utility, especially for foreigners who may struggle with language barriers or different alphabets when ordering food.
The author believes that these innovations, while simple, have a significant impact on daily life and should be made available to everyone, regardless of their location.

5 Genius Innovations I Wish Every Country Had

During my year and a half as a digital nomad and previous expat in various countries, I’ve come across numerous tools and appliances that I believe should be universally available.

Let me clarify that I’m not referring to fantastical inventions like moon travel or teleportation.

Instead, I’m talking about simple things that made my life easier or brought me great benefits.

So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

1. Sink Garbage Disposal

Let’s face it: nobody enjoys dealing with the mush that accumulates in the sink when washing or rinsing off plates after a meal.

Despite my best efforts to discard all food scraps in the garbage bin, small particles always find their way into the sink.

Removing that soggy mess with its unpleasant consistency leaves me feeling🤢.

During my time in the US, I noticed that many houses had a device installed beneath the sink, which collects food waste and shreds it into small pieces to prevent clogging the sink pipes.

Needless to say, I would love to have this feature in my future house!

2. Water and Ice Dispenser in the Fridge

Here’s another point for the US!

In Italy, it’s common for households to make weekly trips to the store to purchase cases of plastic bottles (less frequently, glass bottles) for water consumption.

Apart from the effort involved in carrying these cases back and forth from the car to the house, relying on plastic bottles for such an essential and frequently used resource as water is far from eco-friendly.

I was impressed by how conveniently accessible water is in the US, with almost every house equipped with a fridge that has a water dispenser. You can simply fill your glass and enjoy, without any intermediate steps.

Nature will thank you!

3. Tap-and-Go Credit Card System in the Subway

Does this seem like an obvious one to you?

Yet, there are still many places that haven’t embraced the convenience of tap-and-go credit card systems in their subway turnstiles. This includes cities like Washington DC, Lisbon, and Seoul.

Com’on, we shouldn’t have to miss our train just to purchase a ticket!

(Nor do I want to download yet another app on my phone to do so.)

4. Toilet with Electronic Built-In Bidet

This one is a well-known feature in South Korea and Japan.

Do I really need to explain why I included it?

Image created with Bing Image Creator — not exactly like the real ones but close

5. Self-Ordering Kiosk

Some people might argue that it removes the human component, and others argue that it reduces employment.

While all of this could potentially be true, I appreciate the usefulness of self-ordering kiosks, particularly for foreigners in countries where people speak a different language or use a different alphabet.

6. Now, It’s Your Turn!

I’ve shared my list, and now I want to hear from you! What is something you’ve come across during your travels that surprised you or made your life easier!