fabby – Page 9 – Invention Of The Day

Posts tagged "fabby" (Page 9)

#2377: Accuratyping

You can now buy a typing tutor program which allows you to identify your individual error rate per finger, over a period of time.

The only data I can find indicate an error distribution of 2,4,1,2,0, 0,1,2,4,14 %.

I’m guessing this may vary significantly between individuals but it is an interesting measure of one’s physiology, which might in itself allow identification of an individual. Perhaps the motor homunculus in one’s motor cortex reflects these figures.

Today’s invention however is to gather the information for an individual who has not yet learned to type and then reprogram their keyboard so that the most frequently typed letters in one’s language, eg E, are placed close to one’s most accurate fingertip (and vice versa).

(There would be little point the indvidual whose map is shown above using his right, little finger to type E, for example).

#2373: JetTraction

I was watching a lucky fellow at the weekend, driving his Ferrari around town along some cobbled streets.

The tyres were making quite a noise as they fought for grip on the polished, uneven surface.

Today’s invention is for ultra high-performance vehicles (including dragsters and motorcycles).

Each wheel is fitted with a hub-mounted set of rocket motors. These are free to maintain their orientation as the wheel itself rotates.

When a burst of intense acceleration is demanded of the engine, so the rockets fire upwards briefly, forcing the tyres into very high-pressure contact with the road surface.

#2372: PassengerPress

Today’s invention is a new way to pack people aboard passenger jets, which might gladden the hearts of the board of Ryanair (if they had any).

This consists of a huge number of vertical boards equipped with a small foldable desk and a display (yellow). These are stationary and fitted with an inflatable mattress on the front side.

An additional set of blue boards can be moved along guiderails and locked in position against a passenger, so that their face protrudes through a porthole which is movable vertically.

These would each have an inflatable mattress too, so that passengers are comfortably sandwiched.

The mattresses could be supplied with a continuous flow of air, the temperature of which would be regulated by the occupant.

This arrangement would allow people to sleep standing up, avoid deep vein thromboses and be much more densely packed than when sitting conventionally.

#2367: TasterTill

I can’t be the only person who finds self-checkouts intimidating.

It’s not just the hectoring tone of voice -every store that has these uses a radically different interface. All of them are confusing and ugly with no sense of process built in (Look at all the green boxes in the photo). Frequently, they require interventions by the few human store staff left, just to correct the inevitable errors.

Assuming that retail chains have invested such huge sums that these systems can’t be fixed or scrapped, today’s invention is a simple online training simulator.

Each different type of machine in use could be selected by a customer in advance of going to a particular store. The website would reproduce all the ridiculous interactive elements -including the noises.

This would make mildly Aspergers people like me, who get overwhelmed by the horrible, illogical detail, slightly better prepared.

#2365: UnwrapFlaps

Airliners which have suffered a complete engine failure need all the help they can get.

Today’s invention is a jet engine casing which can unfold as shown and lock into position, forming a significant extra wing area.

In such an emergency, the engine could be jettisoned through the bottom of the nacelle so that a rapid glide back to the runway could be achieved with maximal control.

#2364: CarriageUnder

Today’s invention is an alternative undercarriage for heavy planes.

Rather than the traditional set of three wheels, a single tractor unit is centrally mounted.

This emerges from the belly of the plane when preparing to land. A pilot then controls the landing process from within this vehicle, which is large enough to support the aircraft, once landed, on its own.

Having parked, the vehicle can then be driven off, leaving the plane standing on the central pillar.

The undercarriage vehicle can be stocked with food, fuel etc elsewhere, then return with these supplies and replenish the plane via a lift in the support column.

#2362: BladeBoard

Cooling computing equipment is a significant headache. It’s also a prime example of one of my particular bugbears: using random electronics engineers to design mechanical equipment.

Every odd-shaped electronic connector with graunched pins is evidence of that crappy practice (or snapped-off battery clip…I’m looking at you, Lenovo).

Today’s invention is an advance in the area of electronic cooling.

Instead of having up to five fans per desktop machine, the idea is to create a motherboard in the shape of a fan. Power would be fed in via a set of central slip rings.

Twisting the blades would cause throughflow (the thermal advantage being that, unlike spot cooling, there would be no stagnation points).

#2354: VacValves

When vacuum cleaning, the carpet tool often runs across parts of the floor which stand proud of others (eg when mats are encountered).

This allows an inrush of air which avoids the carpet or rug which you actually want to drive air through (Some systems have a fringe of bristles, but this never forms a good seal).

Today’s invention is a cleaner head with a series of sprung valves. Each valve could have a roller ball in the end to avoid damaging one’s floors.

These valves are normally sealed until the head is pressed down so that those in contact with the floor or rug are forced open.

This allows air to be directed preferentially via the surface you want cleaned.

#2351: Campons

I have lashed out lots of cash, historically, on various bits of kit to make the vibram soles on my boots less gripless.

These faux crampons either snap off on tarmac surfaces or simply fail to cope with leaves and mud on the same trip.

Today’s invention is therefore variable shoe spikes.

A small array of cams is fitted to the inside of one’s heel, as shown.

By pulling the orange handle, the cam blades rotate to allow the wearer to set the degree of bite required (from snowdrift to parquet floor).

Naturally I’d like a set with a motor and remote control.

They could also be fitted to the toe end of one’s boots, of course.

#2345: CellarSeller

Our consumerist society is so absurd that a whole industry has arisen to allow people in small homes to store the quantities of stuff they have bought but have no room to keep with them.

Today’s invention is a simple way to remind people that this is not very healthy and to help them get rid of their surplus possessions.

When you place items in storage, each is photographed before being consigned to your crate or locker.

These images are later piped to your computer screen as a random screen saver.

This keeps you aware that you already own a set of bone china crockery with matching cruets -and might discourage you from inadvertently buying more. Labelling the images could even allow one’s browser to intercede when you were in the process of making an online purchase of something like the products you already own.

Over time, if the contents of a crate had not been accessed, an owner could authorise that the images be posted to ebay, so that they could be automatically sold without the emotional pain of having to part with one’s superfluous belongings.

Tag: fabby