The Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge named the top 25 Inventions of 2006 and we have some pictures! This is part V, that’s it!
Sean G. Westcott, Engineer, Eugene, OR. Solar-Powered Bus Stop Light: The Solar-Powered Bus Stop Light allows a waiting passenger who sees an approaching bus to press a button located on the bus stop pole, illuminating a light that signals the driver to stop.
Dr. Daniel M. Schuman, Doctor, Henderson, NV. SinuClear Microlaser Hand Tool: Multi-purpose surgical-hand tool to work around delicate vital body structures without causing injury to the healthy tissue. The tool has a dual therapeutic and diagnostic use.
Matthew C. Grossman, Student, Austin, TX. Shift Bicycle: This bicycle is intended to help small children learn to balance on their own without the crutch of training wheels and the worry of skinned knees. The bicycle features two rear wheels that are spread apart at slow speeds to provide critical stability, and as the rider gains speed, the two rear wheels merge together to act as one wheel until the rider reduces speed and consequently returns the bicycle to the two wheel configuration.
Robert C. Kelly, Firefighter, Burlingame, CA. Resc-hue Lite Line: The Resc-hue Lite Line is a waterproof, fire-resistant light that is based on electroluminescence principals and provides 360-degree lighting when firefighters, divers, the military or anyone in a low light environment needs it most.
Brent W. Crutchfield, Veterinary Student, Greensboro, NC. Quick-See: Quick-See uses paper coated with thermo-chromic ink set to change color allowing people to cut their pets’ nails at the appropriate place. The artery and nerve within the quick of the nail causes the color to change over the area not to be cut.
Previous:
Part I, Part II, Part III, IV
Press release – Link.
Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge – Link.
22 thoughts on “The Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge – Top 25 Inventions of 2006 (part V)”
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I don’t understand what’s so great about the bus stop light. Solar powered lights have been around forever. Can’t they just wave at the bus? Is busses passing people by really a big problem that needs a solution?
Learning to ride a two wheeler is a wonderful right of passage, skinned knees and all, that doesn’t need to be homogenized and neutered by some shiny, injection molded plastic looking would be “engineering marvel”
I think all of the accolades heaped upon that bicycle are from people who fail to understand that the biggest obstacle to overcome when learning to ride a two wheeler is getting the bike started. Once the wheels are in motion, the centifugal force keeps the rider upright. This thing teaches nothing.
Learning to ride a two wheeler is a wonderful right of passage, skinned knees and all, that doesn’t need to be homogenized and neutered by some shiny, injection molded plastic looking would-be “engineering marvel”
I think all of the accolades heaped upon that bicycle are from people who fail to understand that the biggest obstacle to overcome when learning to ride a two wheeler is getting the bike started. Once the wheels are in motion, the centifugal force keeps the rider upright. This thing teaches nothing.
Wait a second there.
Matthew Grossman’s bicycle was first developed at Purdue, and designed by Scott S. Shimm.
I’m not certain if Matthew Grossman got the rights to it, but it would be of interest if anyone else knew.
http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/2005/050428.Shim.bike.html
I’ve got one of the solar powered bus stop lights on the way home from work and it is neat as all get out. Four Luxeon Star LEDs are employed, three providing a constant on demand white light illumination for people waiting at the stop while a fourth amber Luxeon flashes when a differnt button is pressed. It is great for reading the timetables posted at the stop, and ideal for signalling the bus at night.
Peepsalot:
These units are used in areas with poor or no lighting, which makes reading schedules impossible without a light. In the same fashion, you can wave at the bus all you like if and not be seen if there is no light. So if the headlights don’t catch you you miss the bus. Allowing the bus and passing cars to be aware of people waiting on the shoulder of the road is also great with regard to safety and crime prevention. The neat technical aspect is the use of luxeon LEDs which are remarkably efficent and have tremendous lifetimes (20,000+ hours) eliminationg many of the problems associated with powering and maintaining such equipment .
Thanks for the positive feedback on my invention.
I appreciate it.
The bus signal is only one device on this system, but I am working on peripherals right now that will do things like:
Provide two way communication
Act as a ground based GPS unit
Provide security surveillence
Provide real time Audio/Video displays for the disabled
Monitor air quality
Augment disaster relief efforts by using a “passive repeater” system during times national disaster
Facilitate the implementation of the Intelligent Transportation System, as mandated by congress.
And lots more, because the system is completely modular.
Thanks for the positive feedback on my invention.
I appreciate it.
The bus signal is only one device on this system, but I am working on peripherals right now that will do things like:
Provide two way communication
Act as a ground based GPS unit
Provide security surveillence
Provide real time Audio/Video displays for the disabled
Monitor air quality
Augment disaster relief efforts by using a “passive repeater” system during times national disaster
Facilitate the implementation of the Intelligent Transportation System, as mandated by congress.
And lots more, because the system is completely modular.
Thanks for the positive feedback on my invention.
I appreciate it.
The bus signal is only one device on this system, but I am working on peripherals right now that will do things like:
Provide two way communication
Act as a ground based GPS unit
Provide security surveillence
Provide real time Audio/Video displays for the disabled
Monitor air quality
Augment disaster relief efforts by using a “passive repeater” system during times national disaster
Facilitate the implementation of the Intelligent Transportation System, as mandated by congress.
And lots more, because the system is completely modular.
Also, Peepsalot, this system could be used to allow busses to not slow down so much for stops with nobody at them, allowing them to make their rounds quicker, and thus more often. (Or, contrarywise, go at the same frequency while slowing down other trafic less.)
As Don Norman said of the SHIFT bike long ago, it’s rather ridiculous to heap accolades on a design when there is no evidence of its utility or effectiveness.
Anyone who’s studied two wheeled vehicles can tell you the problem with this design: A tricycle turns left when you nudge the handlebar left. A bicycle turns right when you do the same thing. (Go out and try it.) Imagine trying to operate a vehicle that turns left some times and turns right at other times, given the same control input. Sounds like a nightmare to me.
To design a vehicle so that it switches capriciously from one operating dynamic to another, and then to pitch it towards novice riders (!), is an invitation to injury. I hope this design never sees production.
Dogs Rule! What a fabulous yet simple invention. It will make every pet and groomer happy but the styptic makers aren’t going to like it! Thanks from our pets and those of us who love them. Good luck.