Wednesday, November 12, 2008

my best invention

In the 4th grade at Washington Jackson Math Science Center we had an "invention convention" with our science classes. My invention was the Laundry Separator in which I slit a Rubbermaid laundry hamper in half and inserted a plastic separator. Then I cut out two flaps on the top and bottom in which you can dump your whites and colors respectively. I was inspired by my mommy who did laundry at least twice a week and would have piles upon piles of clothes all over the kitchen floor near the laundry room. I guess they have separate hampers installed into the bathroom walls these days. Needless to say I didn't win or get honorable mention. Keith Whipple with his blender guard (to prevent splattering and what not when you blend things - basically a plastic guard around your blender...) won first place. I remember picturing him becoming a millionaire by the 6th grade.

What brought up my recent walk down memory lane was Time's latest issue of the best inventions of 2008. We live in a world of geniuses people. I was truly amazed that people could even think of this stuff. Among my favorites are the following:

1. Google's Floating Data Center - wind turbines and wave-powered generators will provide the electricity, ocean water will cool the servers, and offshore real estate is free.

2. The Global Seed Vault - located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, a "backup for backups". It keeps collections of native seeds so local crops can be replanted in case of an agricultural disaster and can hold up to 4.5 million samples, which will be kept dry at about 0°F.

3. Green Crude - *James' dad actually told us about this a while back...researchers at ASU have been working on raising algae to turn into a biofuel that would be almost the same as gasoline. It would be carbon-neutral, because algae consume carbon dioxide as they grow.

4. The Dynamic Tower - the world's first moving skyscraper, powered by wind and with each of the 80 floors rotating 360 degrees, all at different speeds. First is to be built in Dubai with another planned in Moscow.

5. Camera for the Blind - hold the camera up to his/her forehead, and a Braille-like screen on the back makes a raised image of whatever the lens sees.

I also liked Montreal's Public Biking System, Sound-Enhanced Food and the new Ping-Pong Serve. I wonder if I'll ever invent anything that will change the way people live life or better processes around the world. One can only wonder.