Today’s invention is a clock with no central mechanism.
Instead, the hands would each be located on a central axle, but be propelled by a small car at the distal end, driving in a circle at a speed of 1 revolution per hour or 12 hours.
These vehicles could be radio-controlled on eg a clock-tower face.
In the event of some malfunction, each vehicle could be replaced much more easily and cheaply than repairing elaborate clockwork.
Self-organisation is one of the most fascinating phenomomena, especially when the rules are simple and the behaviour useful.
Today’s invention ticks at least one of these boxes.
It is a linear tray for glasses.
A handle contains a hairdryer. This is attached to an airtrack of the kind used in Physics classroom demonstrations.
When one of the glasses, which have magnets on either end of their bases, is removed, the fan senses this and instantly switches on. This activates the air track, so that the remaining glasses move, under the action of the repelling magnets, so as to redistribute themselves evenly along the length of the track.
This ensures that the centre of mass of the glasses is always approximately just above the handle, making serving easier.
(A short circular track would be possible too).
Imagine a bicycle which can be left almost anywhere with minimised fear of theft.
Today’s invention is a new form of bicycle lock.
The seat post is hollow and connects to the pedal axle which has a diametric hole through it. The seat too would have an aperture created in it.
A chain with a hook on the end is dropped through the seat and seat post, emerging through the pedal axle. The hook is engaged with a metal loop of which there would be many embedded in concrete around an urban area.
The end of the chain emerging through the seat would be tightened and locked in place.
This tension would hold the bicycle upright.
It would also make it very difficult to remove the frame or the seat.
Even the wheels would be impossible to remove because they would be pinned down to the concrete by the chain.
Today’s invention is an even more terrifying roller coaster ride.
As the passenger vehicle rides up a hill, as shown, the passengers see signs saying ‘under construction, gap ahead’.
They can see no track ahead but as they reach the missing section, the carriage engages with a swing arm (red) which rotates about a fixed point and creates the illusion that they flew through the air to connect with the next section of track.
(A better version of this might replace the arm, visible to those on the ground, with a section of track which extends from underneath the part which lies just before the gap).
I was lying awake last night, listening to the clock in my room and wondering what time it was.
Having taken my contact lenses out made it difficult to see the clock, let alone read the time.
Today’s invention is therefore a clock whose ticking changes, depending on the time.
If it’s 2 o’clock then one would hear tick,tick,tock. 9 o’clock and it would say tick,tick,tick,tick —tick,tick,tick,tick—tick,tock.
The grouping of ticks into sets of four would make it much easier to perceive accurately the totals involved.
Today’s invention extends the idea of a rotating-wheel space station, in which the spinning can press objects against the interior of the outer surface of the torus, creating artificial gravity.
Instead, I foresee the use of rocket-powered race vehicles, running on the flat inner surface, as shown.
Races could be viewed through transparent sections of the ‘roof’ of the station.
The spectators would enjoy high-speed contests with no air resistance…so the vehicles could be almost any shape.
There would also be the added thrill of knowing that one false move would mean vehicles disappearing off into space.
Too high a speed could cause the crowd to be pinned to their observation couches or float around uncontrollably (depending on the race direction).
Today’s invention is an approach to creating a genuinely space-saving kitchen.
It takes the form of a multi-hotplate hob, mounted vertically.
The saucepans would each be made of copper and have a flat side. They would hook in place on the hob and have handles parallel to the wall.
Signs which indicate a wet floor are often not seen until after one has tripped over them or slipped in the liquid they are warning about.
Today’s invention is therefore a ‘wet floor’ sign made of spongy foam.
When there has been a spillage, one or more of these cones dropped on it will soak up the mess and can be wrung out later over a bucket.
The softness of the material means that even if you stumble across the sign, it won’t itself cause an injury.
Today’s invention offers a way to get more airline passengers aware of how to operate an airliner door, in the event of an emergency.
The main doors to each of the toilet blocks in an airport would be made to resemble closely the doors on various current aircraft.
It would be necessary to operate one of these to use the bathroom.
In this way, many more of the travelling public (who don’t read the safety instructions) would be informally trained in the use of this vital mechanism.
When the weather is hot and the office fan is working overtime, how come it spends most of its time blasting air in the wrong direction?
Today’s invention is a rotating fan which incorporates a cheap thermal camera.
This directs the fan’s airstream towards regions of the room which are hotter than average.
Ideally it would also benefit from having a processor running face recognition software.
This opens up an opportunity to have the airflow directed towards individuals (perhaps according to how hot, or hardworking, each indvidual is).
