#1793: SeeSleeve

I hate folders on my computer desktop. Once you put stuff in there you have to think up a name for all the contents and they suddenly become invisible.

Rather than create a virtual paperclip (Microsoft already messed that one up), today’s invention is a transparent envelope.

Clicking once on the envelope would visually shuffle the contents enough to remind me what was in there. This would allow me to hold together documents of every file type on my desktop in such a way that I can still identify where things are at a glance.

I might later choose to file the results of my work in an old-fashioned folder, but for work in progress a clear envelope would be a useful tool.

#1792: Chronochrome

Today’s invention is to create a paint tool for Gimp or Photoshop which contains information about paint drying behaviour.

One could specify the properties of the paint so that a realistic drying time would be simulated. This would allow ‘wet’ paint to be manipulated for a while on screen.

It would also be possible to have such virtual paint exhibit smart features, such as a tendency to mix more with some than other colours or to flow depending upon the simulated canvas’ local absorption properties.

Paint colour might even be allowed to change on subsequent viewings, so that a digital picture could bleach realistically when viewed years later.

#1791: TrimTime

Today’s invention is a novel beard trimmer.

A wristwatch has hands which have sharp edges. The watch glass has radial slots cut through it.

If you want to trim your beard, press the hair up against the glass, so that some hair pokes through.

Now, activate the separate watch motor, so that the hands race around at 100 times normal speed. The hands thus cut off protruding hair, which can be shaken back out through the gaps.

After use, the watch remembers what the time was and resets itself.

#1790: WineWave

It seems that if you want to swirl your wine in the glass before sniffing it, there is an optimal combination of depth, glass diameter and rotation rate.

Depending on these factors, you can generate dynamic wave patterns with either single or multiple crests so that the amount of mixing between air and wine can be controlled.

Today’s invention is therefore a wineglass turntable for viniculturists.

Pour the wine in to the marked level and then run the turntable at the correct speed. After the appropriate interval, smell the wine.

Oh, and if it smells ok, drink it.

#1789: Divertical

Formula 1 steering wheels are becoming stupidly complex. A system which needs so many electronic controls can’t really be operated safely by people using pushbuttons at 200MPH.

In particular, the need to turn the wheel, about a near horizontal axis, with all that inherent arm crossing, is a throwback to the days of sailing ships.

A much more ergonomic approach, for vehicles which never need to turn much and whose drivers are already fatigued, is to have a wheel whose movements more directly map onto the directions which the front wheels are required to follow.

Today’s invention is therefore a racing steering device which has all the usual bells and whistles mounted on a pad which rotates about a vertical axis (shown from above in the picture).

Push/pull seems much more natural than clockwise/anticlockwise -especially when supported by a spring and damper system.

#1788: Glovendor

Today’s invention is a vending machine which will make you a pair of rubber gloves in the shape of the astronaut’s hands which most closely resemble your own.

It seems that NASA astronauts have all had their hands moulded in plaster in order to create their gloves. The range of hand shapes and sizes is surprisingly large.

A customer would approach the machine, insert their hands onto a plate and have them scanned in 2D. The resulting data would allow a pair of gloves to be quickly selected and moulded in latex, using one of the fifty or so pairs of moulds held in each machine.

The name of the astronaut and his or her image would appear on the machine’s screen at the same time as the gloves were dispensed, a few minutes later.

#1787: Microtator

All microwave ovens have cools spots where the intensity of radiation may be lower than required to cook food properly.

Today’s invention is a way to ensure that your food gets heated adequately to suppress the proliferation of bugs and also to taste better.

A small disc-shaped reservoir with a microwave-transparent window and a rounded base is filled with water.

As the oven works, two tiny jets of steam are driven from the circumferential pipes shown, so that the reservoir spins on the rotating dish within the oven.

This extra rotation ensures that all parts of the bowl of soup shown will be irradiated correctly.

#1786: RemoteRemote

The TV remote control in a typical hotel room is considered dirtier than the toilet, sink handles, door handles, and even the bedspread.

Today’s invention removes the bacterial infection problem by offering a remote which is operated by one’s feet.

This would take the form of a footstool with a number of big buttons in the surface, modeled after a simplified remote and operable with shoes still on.

The stool would allow the actual remote to be inserted into a slot and there would be direct mechanical links between pressing the pedals and the buttons on the embedded remote.

Happy fifth birthday, IOTD!

This is just a note to say that tomorrow will be the fifth anniversary of this blog.

I’ve managed to post something new on 98% of the 1826 days since 21st November 2006.

Many thanks to the readers and commenters who have helped support my efforts. It’s greatly appreciated. Special thanks also to Kona for suggesting it in the first place.

There are many more ideas in the pipeline -as well as a forthcoming book detailing the methods and mindset which I rely on to maintain creativity.
Cheers,
Patrick

(I should also have expressed my thanks to everyone at SXC, whose photos I’m very grateful to be able to use)

#1785: SweepStalks

Today’s invention is a way to get cylindrical haystacks to roll to one side of the field for collection.

I’d attach a motor and wheel unit by stabbing some prongs at the opposite end from the wheel into the stack.

This would drive the stack along the ground like one of those cottonreel tanks I so loved as a child.

Maybe school teams could be encouraged to develop elastic or solar powered motors and race their designs against each other.