74 results found displaying 58-60
   
 United Kingdom
Pocket Venus Fly Trap Printer Friendly Version
Have you ever been bothered by a persistent fly at work or out in a restaurant? Here's a fun solution. I could see this going viral with 'user' videos of people having fun with it (like the chewbacca mask).
Imagine a package the size of a tin of travel sweets, those little round pocket size ones. You take the lid off (and clip it underneath maybe) to reveal the trap. Maybe design and badge it to look like travel sweets, as a gimmick.
The trap consists of two hinged semicircular spring loaded flaps, with a soft plastic coating impregnated with a smell. A subtle smell designed to attract a fly without putting you off your food. The flaps are maybe flexible, maybe rigid, fringed with some sort of interlocking edge. The fringed edge will help prevent the fly escaping when the trap is triggered. When open, a narrow slot in the middle (between the flaps) allows dead flies to drop down into the base. In the centre of the slot is an electronic eye which scans (within the fringe) for movement. Design options here suggest a fly trap replica or a cartoon mouth fringed with vicious (but soft) teeth.
To set or reset the trap, the flaps are manually opened against a spring (or springs). This tensions the spring(s) which lock in place when the flaps are (near) horizontal. Maybe a small tab on the outside/top edge of the flaps, outside the fringe, would make this easier. The trip mechanism must be gentle enough not to hurt small inquisitive fingers but strong enough to kill a fly.
The fly, attracted by the smell, approaches and hopefully lands on one of the flaps. The electronic eye detects movement within the area of the trap and triggers a mechanism which releases the spring(s), allowing the flaps to spring closed, vertically, trapping and squishing the fly.
As an option, a small switched led in the centre may also attract moths in the dark.
A small rechargeable battery in the base powers the device, with a USB port for charging.
An easily accessible physical switch will turn the device off, so the flaps can be opened and cleaned without tripping the mechanism. Maybe a 3 way switch fitting through a slot in the side of the tin/case. Switch positions could be: up for on with a 'moth led', centre for on and down for off. Replacing the lid could automatically push the switch down, turning it off and locking it.
The dead fly may need to be pushed down the centre slot if it doesn't fall down. Maybe a comedy plastic shovel could be clipped inside the lid for this. The trap mechanism should be easily removable from the tin/case to give access for cleaning and battery replacement, and the unit would need to be switched off to prevent activation while cleaning.
Not just practical, but cheap to make, a fun conversation piece and comedy gold - especially if it works as expected!
Reward: If it takes off, I'd appreciate a few to hand out to friends, depending on how successful it is.
 

There is 1 reply to this idea



Want to use this idea? Check out the Site Concept as well as the Site Rules.
66°

   
adc85
 USA
Website that teaches how to program Printer Friendly Version
How about a very interactive/fun website that teaches people how to program or make websites? Here's how it would work:
- Someone creates an account on the website. The account creation process would figure out where the person should go/start in the midst of all of these interactive tutorials. The same account could be used to add or edit existing tutorials (an approval system would be made). They can do as little as adding on a sentence to someone else's tutorial or create a flash application that would enhance how to create x with language y.
- There would be all kinds of interactive/fun tutorials ranging from HTML, Java, C++, web design, Photoshop, and so on. It would help people who think they don't have what it takes to make a good website or have what it takes to program. This will be the site's main purpose: to get more and more people better at this stuff seeing as how so many people are in need/desire of a website but in so many cases have to get other people to help them make it.
- There would be some kind of incentive to making tutorials or even going through the tutorials. That I don't know yet.
- The tutorials could contain mini games (whether they were simple text-based or bigger flash applications) that help introduce an idea or whatever.
Reward: I dunno.
 

There are 8 replies to this idea

Want to use this idea? Check out the Site Concept as well as the Site Rules.
30°

   
markshian
 Malaysia
Giant Plane Safety Parachute and Balloon Printer Friendly Version
Many people these days fear for their lives when travelling on planes due to the fact that thier safety and emergency features just aren't good enough.
Some planes have two engines some have only one. Let's say all the engines are down. The plane usually goes crashing to the ground due to engine failure.
Maybe if i design some kind of giant parachute twice the size of an airplane which can be opened during an emergency which would help the plane glide safely to the ground.
In case of emergency landing on water.
To prevent the plane from crashing into the water. the parachute will first help slow down the pace of the aircraft and allow pilots to control the landing angle.
A giant air bag which can be designed to blast open at the bottom of the plane so it stays afloat the ocean upon landing.
And even if the plane does crash into the water, if the impact didn't split the plane, the baloon at the bottom will bring the plane to the surface of the water.
Reward: Many lives will be saved. Safer more ensured journey.
 


There are 15 replies to this idea



Want to use this idea? Check out the Site Concept as well as the Site Rules.
39°

Results are currently sorted by "relevance". Click here to see the hottest ideas first.
OFFSHORE