InventorSpot

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(Editor: This article was originally published for Father's Day 2006)

Father's Day is the worst. Every year, it's the same lame presents. Come on, you know what I am talking about! If I never see another tie, cologne, BBQ set, belt, wallet socks, underwear, shirt, sweater or lame ass book, I will die happy. Listen up, guys and let me know if you agree with me. I think I have come up with some really novel gift ideas for dear old dad (other than the obvious stuff he really wants but I can't afford like a Porsche, the model girfriend or the giant flat screen tv). Here's my picks for what to get the old man, depending on what type of Dad you have (together with some choice ad content from their vendors)...
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Check out the latest in fingerprint technology. The smartTOUCH™ garage door opener by bioMETRX Inc. (installed on the side of the garage door) allows a homeowner to open their garage door with a touch of a finger. Its weatherproof, shockproof and tamper-proof. The smartTOUCH™ garage door opener currently comes as a hard wired unit, designed specifically to beat the elements for years of reliable service and dependability.
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Last summer, I wanted to redecorate my son’s room. I just assumed that I would paint the room. Maybe stencil it if I had enough courage. While I was searching for bedroom furniture, I came across wall murals for kids rooms. You put it up just like you would wall paper. What a great alternative to just painting. I thought that was pretty much the coolest thing I had seen. Until I came across self-adhesive wall decals made by Blik.
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For interesting furniture, I am not quite sure if this idea is more whimsical than inventive, but I thought it was cute enough to share here. Portia Wells, the creator of this slipcover seating concept, says: "There is social weight to the commodities which we dress our belongings and ourselves. Through what we acquire, we are able to manipulate what we project to others.
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MocoLoco.com had an intersting feature about conceptual surfaces that they discoverd at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2006. FAF studio has designed some great looking products made of laser cut mylar (using mylar polyster vellum). The fronds have crystals at the end that make them move with the slightest external movement such as a breeze.
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According to Wikipedia, "The word "fractal" has two related meanings. In colloquial usage, it denotes a shape that is recursively constructed or self-similar, that is, a shape that appears similar at all scales of magnification and is therefore often referred to as "infinitely complex." In mathematics a fractal is a geometric object that satisfies a specific technical condition."

I recently discovered an artist who goes by "Blatte" who has done some interesting work with fractal art. In corresponding with him to discussing our interest in featuring his artwork on our site, (more..)

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[acidfree:1134 align=left size=180] I just got wind of a new child car safety seat. In September 2005 (I know I'm a little late), SafeGuard announced the SafeGuard Child Seat. It is claimed that it is a revolutionary breakthrough in child seat safety. Since car crashes are still the leading cause of death for children in the United States, the SafeGuard was designed to address the top five misuses of child seats, as cited by NHTSA, and provide parents a child seat that is intuitive and easy-to-install. read more »

[acidfree:1154 align=right size=180] Ahhh. I finally found it again - the Touch 'n Hold Door Opener and Closer. Hard to believe that someone would get excited about such a boring product but I love things that make life easier. About four years ago, we bought a new glass/screen door for our front door (exactly like the one in the picture). Anyway, it came with the best door opener/closer (that's what I'm calling that thing that keeps your screen door open). Instead of the traditional metal rectangular washer like device that you have to manually move to keep the door open, all you need to do was to press a little button with your foot and the Touch 'n Hold would keep it open. In order to close the door, all you need to do is open the door a little more and the door will close (no bending involved). read more »

Richard Sweeny has created a series of sculptural works created through the cutting, scoring and folding of paper. By pleating paper, he creates some arresting scultural pieces, all inspired by his experiment using paper for lamps.

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[acidfree:1147 align=right size=240]Michelle's blog about diamonds reminded me of something I just saw in Wired Magazine. And go figure, I was able to track it down on the web to share with you. Here's the beginning... click through on the end link for the rest of the story. The New Diamond Age Armed with inexpensive, mass-produced gems, two startups are launching an assault on the De Beers cartel. Next up: the computing industry. read more »

Whirpool Brand (the appliance maker) is having the 2006 Whirlpool Brand Mother of Invention Grant. It provides moms with the necessary business resources, such as seed money and expert advice, helping to make business dreams a reality. At the end of the contest, any ideas submitted will remain solely owned by the contestant. Whirpool will not own any part of the ideas.

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I thought balloon art could be interesting as an artistic material but the idea of using soap to carve designs is as old as the hills, or as old as soap, I guess. But to someone who hasn't seen it before, I guess what's new is what's been forgotten.

I guess this stuff is not actually innovative, but I thought it was interesting...inventive too.

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Well, I don't really believe in lame stereotypes but one that holds true for me since I LOVE Diamonds is ...that diamonds are truly are a girl's best friend.

A great site for fun reading RandomGoodStuff.com had an interesting article about an innovation in making your own diamonds.
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Arigami is the art of folding air in especially prepared latex contatiners says Arigami.com. Basically, its a very fun twist on the balloon art you see at carnivals and parties.

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[acidfree:1119 align=left size=240]Well, when I saw this article on 10 Gadgets for the Filty Rich, it reminded me of all of Amused and Bemused's postings, but without the silliness. I thought the article had a great title and was interesting highlight of cool gadgets out there so I am sharing here with you. "Do you travel in private jets? Decorate your foyer with real Renoirs? Use the word "foyer"? Then there's no way you're going to get your gadget fix from anything you can get at Best Buy. You crave the most exclusive, the top of the line, the most unusual, and the most attention-grabbing technology, and price is no object. But there are expensive gadgets, and then there are expensive gadgets. We aren't talking PlayStation 3 expensive — we're talking gear so expensive you'll have your butlers pick them up in your gold-plated helicopter. read more »

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Well, our site has gone through alot of trauma over the past few weeks with constant problems with our servers and the ultimate failure of the complete loss of a server from our hosting company Midphase.

I need a drink, and since I can't have one (I won't bore you with the details), I decided I needed a little levity.

I decided that since the other bloggers at AmericanInventorSpot.com are all posting on different types of inventions and innvoations, I'd get into the act to and do my own special feature in inventive appearance. read more »

[acidfree:1088 align=right size=200] "Each year, billions of tons of concrete become the stuff of buildings, highways, dams, sidewalks, and even artworks. The list goes on. Not only is the material ubiquitous, it has a long history. The Romans invented cement-based concrete more than 2,000 years ago and used the material to build architectural masterpieces such as the Pantheon. To Christian Meyer, a structural engineer at Columbia University, there's just no question about it: "Concrete is the world's most important material." read more »