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 USA
PatchWatch Printer Friendly Version
Yesterday while sitting in school trying to see how much time we had left in class, I scanned the room for the clock and realized that it was too far away for me to read. I realized that it would be much easier to have a simple watch on my wrist to tell the time rather than squint at the clock (I usually would have had my contacts in but woke up late and had to rush to school). About a year ago I received a moderately nice watch as a Christmas present, which would have been perfect to have in such a scenario, but I had rarely worn the watch in the past due mainly because I did not like feeling of it always being there, the cold metal, the tight fit, and the unnecessary weight all added to the uncomfortable feeling that having a watch gave me. I am sure many people would disagree that a watch is uncomfortable, and it really is a help and a normal part of their every lives, yet still, I believe there is a much more affordable, convenient, and practical way to be always be able to tell the time.
The PatchWatch is just a name for the product that I created writing this, but in truth it describes it very well. It is just speculation and imagination at work, but I envision a nicotine "patch" or band-aid like looking thing that would have the same adhesive principle which would stick to your body. The difference from the similar adhesive products is that when tapped once, the patch will illuminate the time immediately. This may sound rudimentary, because it is. Many things about such a product are undecided, like how it would stick, how it would know the time, and how expensive and light it would be. One of the main ideas behind the product that it would most likely be undetectable when off, making it much more convenient to have on during work or just in everyday lives. One major concept of the PatchWatch would be its adhesive side and how it would interact with the skin. I envision that after a set number of hours the adhesive will dissolve and it will easily remove, as it could be marketed as having a range of 6, 8, 10, or 12 hours depending on what the customer would require (it could also be possible someday that when a button is pressed it releases a chemical that counteracts the adhesive properties). As it would preferably be clear, there would certainly have to be wires and/or batteries (unless we made it solar) and we would try to keep it as thin and light as possible. One way of doing that is concealing the wires underneath the blurred area where the numbers would appear, which will hopefully keep the Patch/Sticker smooth and "clear". One of the pros of the PatchWatch would be its accessibility, it wouldn't be limited to only the wrist like a watch is, it could be placed almost anywhere like inside a book or in the car, which adds to the convenience of owning something.
Another aspect of the watch that is up for question would be weather it would be disposable like band aids, or rechargeable (possibly solar) which would last much longer. It would also be difficult to keep such a thing at a low and affordable price, but I believe it can be done. The Patch would also be helpful because of the lack of the chance of losing it like a watch has, and hopefully the lightweight and bendable technology it contains (bendy is almost required for such a patch) will add to the durability and convenience. The idea of a time telling band-aid may seem laughable at first, but I truly believe it would be much more convenient to just tap a small, painless, and almost undetectable patch on your arm, and have the time. It would be easier than a watch, and hopefully would be unnoticed during the day unless you are looking for the time. I understand that everything about this product is just in theory, but I firmly believe that the technology needed for such a product exists today. As of now I am still in high school for three more years, so I won't have access to a laboratory to make something like this, but I hope to someday. There are so many more aspects and ideas of this I have not discussed, but I don't want to take up your whole day, so thank you so much for reading this.
Reward: All I can ask for is official credit for the idea so at least I can get into a top engineering college, thanks!
 

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 USA
Infrastructure Overhaul - Transportation Printer Friendly Version
This idea is rather involved- please bear with me. I think one of the reasons nothing like this is being pursued right now is it has a number of components. This isn't a band-aid; it's analogous to the changeover from horse drawn carriages to cars - a paradigm shift, and an infrastructure overhaul.
One reason we can't eliminate our addiction to oil is because people want to have their own personal vehicle with the personal space that comes with it. Instead of insisting people get on trains, use this addiction in a better way. I'll probably forget some aspects of this, but this is a bare-bones abstract. I'll be happy to discuss as people bring up objections. Here we go, and thanks for your patience...
1) Create lightweight, low(er)cost, battery-driven personal vehicles, that can, as cars do now, carry four-six people. Weight can be reduced by eliminating the heavy engine and the armor necessary to protect people from 60 MPH crashes.
2) Grid the country with raised (ten feet) electromagnetic lines spaced along current right-of-ways created by interstate highways, major trunk lines, and coming near to all major population areas. Think of ski lifts, but instead of cables, it would be a stable, solid, covered (to combat snow/ice issues) track, with on/off connections built according to the best available design.
3) When leaving your house in the morning, your vehicle would be charged. You would drive as normal, at speeds up to 30 MPH (battery-powered cars can do this now, and by lightening the vehicles, could do so more efficiently). If you're staying in town, you'd just use your battery to get around.
4) If you need to travel a distance however, you'd access the electromagnetic trunk line. The driver drives onto the access ramp and a hook on top of the vehicle interfaces with the electromagnetic trunk line, which is near ground level on the ramp. The line would raise in height as you drive forward, engaging the electromagnetic current and lifting the vehicle off the ground. At this point, there is no longer any need to "drive." The car will be ferried like a personal train.
5)

a) While traveling, the driver could use a computer, watch TV, TALK ON THE PHONE, swing their seat to converse with passengers, etc. Think of the hours wasted looking at the car in front of you. Drivers could use this time as they saw fit.
b)Vehicles on the line could move at whatever speed is determined to be safe. While traveling, a system of sensors would ensure no collisions with cars in front or in back, and keep traffic at evenly spaced intervals. Traffic jams would be eliminated completely. Multiple redundancy can be built in, by having parallel lines, allowing for maintenance on one while traffic moves on the other.
c) Additionally, while traveling on the line, a turbine can recharge the car's batteries through wind power (airliners currently have such a system for emergency power generation).
d) The driver would program in their destination exit when entering the line; or they could exit whenever they pleased. Accidents due to sleeping/inattentive drivers can be eliminated by having an alarm sound, and redundancy built in by having long off-ramps where, if the driver failed to retake control of their vehicle, the vehicle would coast to a stop.
6) Upon leaving the line, vehicles would have fully charged batteries, and would again act just like today's cars. The battery system must have a range of at least 100 miles, which is easily achievable; if they do, any vehicle would always be able to recharge by driving to the nearest trunk line.
7) If power is needed for the lines (possible), the fact that they are stationary would allow for geothermal power production, which cuts down on at-home power usage for recharging batteries.
What the hell, I'll stop there. If you've followed so far, thanks. You've either got the concept or are thoroughly confused.
Benefits:

1) Drastic reduction in oil usage. This concept would remove a huge percentage of cars from the road, while allowing people to keep their personal vehicles. This is the heart of the plan, because the public might actually go for it. They're not going for trains. I'm from Wisconsin and we just lost that fight here.
2) Travel along trunk lines could be freaky fast - say 120 MPH on interstate lines. The electromagnetic rail eliminates most friction and, if lightweight, the vehicles could be propelled with very small energy usage.
3) Freight could be shipped in a series of specially designed cargo vehicles. They need not even have drivers for long distance trips. They could be programmed to exit at a particular point, then herded into a siding (much as train cars today) and distributed. This eliminates huge semi-loads riding on highways alongside human passengers and all the dangers inherent in them.
4) Having the vehicles ride at a height of ten feet means all highways could, in time, be eliminated. The cars would simply ride through the air and thousands of acres of pavement (and all the construction/maintenance costs associated with them) could be eliminated. The country could be whole again, and the only roads that would be necessary would be in populated areas and minor connections.
5) Programs could be created in which, by turning in and recycling your old gasoline-powered vehicle, you provide the raw materials to create a new vehicle built to these specifications. This would create a glut of steel, plastic, and other materials; these materials would not need to be mined anew. The costs of the new vehicles could be exponentially decreased.
6) The grid will be incrementally installed. First, build coverage every 100 miles. Then split those lines and have coverage every 50 miles; then keep constucting until the trunk lines are everywhere they're needed. Obviously, the lines should be denser in Southern California than in Nebraska. But this coverage can grow organically, just as the interstate highway system originally grew, and along the same right-of-ways.
7) Best of all, hundreds of thousands of lives will be saved from fiery, completely pointless deaths, and at least an equal number of maimings and injuries eliminated. Might there be accidents? Sure, but it will be a fraction of the amount currently happening every day on our crumbling, expensive, dangerous highways.
Ah, I'm getting tired writing all this. As I said, either you've got the concept by now or not, or you just quit reading. I probably forgot to mention an important piece of this puzzle, but I'm sure you'll let me know. If you're still with me, thanks for your attention.
I'm no engineer and am not incredibly proficient in the technologies needed to make this happen, but I'm not unlearned, either. I believe there's nothing in this concept that can't be easily achieved by today's technologies in battery design, electromagnetic power generation, etc. All that would be necessary would be a will to change.
As I said, this is a paradigm shift, but to be honest, much less of one than was necessary to switch from horse drawn carriages to cars. That transition took around twenty years (1910-1930). Almost exactly 100 years later, we need to do it again. We're running out of time.
Reward: Having my daughter grow up in a world no longer addicted to oil, and not having her have to risk a horrible death in a high-speed highway crash.
 

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