566. Bright Idea: the Peak Bathtub January 3, 2008

This bathtub is designed to support your knees and conserve water. I like the idea, but I wonder about two possible problems: (1) if two people are in the tub facing each other, it could get awkward getting both sets of legs comfortable; (2) I like to occasionally slide my body down to submerge my entire head, and with this tub I can’t.

IdeaSpark*: a proposed solution addressing both problems: Manufacture just the peak (a large triangular wedge) out of a material that won’t float. Make different sizes, then anyone can buy one to use in their regular tub. Slide it down to submerge your head; remove it to make room for your partner. Bonus: way less expensive.

Designed by Lyndon Craig (here); via ApartmentTherapy.

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542. IdeaSpark*: Cellphones for pockets September 26, 2007

Let’s face it: for guys, cell phones go in pockets (women have purses). Having them clipped to your belt looks and feels awkward. But most cell phones, while they look cool, aren’t designed for pockets.

IdeaSpark*: Design a cell phone specifically for the front pant pocket. This means:

• The phone body is slightly curved to hug the thigh and limit protruding edges and corners.
• Have curves all around the edges (like the pictured phone, called the Au Infobar, via Core77), also to limit pant bulge.
• Make the shell silicone or rubber, for softness, and for more friction to prevent sliding around in the pocket.
• The shape of the cellphone would be designed to fit in the pocket the same orientation everytime (i.e. with the top facing down, so when pulling it out of the pocket, it is ready to use).
• A small cord or tab on the bottom of the phone, which will be easy to grab when you reach into your pocket.

Yes, I am suggesting substance over style, here. RAZRs may look cool; I want my phone using experience to be cool.

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482. Bright Idea: the Skyrest pillow August 31, 2007

Inflate this $30 travel pillow via a one-way valve, and you can catch a nice nap on your next plane flight. Deflated, it is about the size of a hardback book. Their website HERE; via Productdose.

IdeaSpark*: For more comfort and no neck pain, the next version should have a big hole for your face, like a massage table face rest, with the opening going out the back and sides for ventilation.

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413. Bright Idea: Nightlighter Flashlight July 31, 2007

Perfect for walks at night (maybe there are lots of nocturnal hikers out there), this ergonomically designed flashlights illuminates your path and where you are heading, and is easy to carry. It uses 3 AAA batteries, has efficient LED bulbs, and cost $30 (buy it HERE). Via OhGizmo!

IdeaSpark*: Add a retractable dog leash to this, and I would by it. When Barkley craps at night, I need a convenient light pointing downwards to help me find his stool.

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401. IdeaSpark*: Adjustable Pillow July 25, 2007

They make inflatable pillows designed for travel, but this IdeaSpark* came to me last night as I realized my pillow height was not optimal: make a bed pillow where the top 2/3rds is memory foam for comfort. The bottom third would be inflatable, so you can adjust the height/thickness of the pillow to match your needs. Ahh….

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395. IdeaSpark*: X-Tips July 24, 2007

This guy is cleaning the inside of his ear with a Q-tip, despite the on-the-box warning against doing this (it’s dangerous, they say). But that is exactly what 99.3% of us do with Q-tips, to get both the satisfaction of ridding our canals of that wax, and the visceral pleasure similar to scratching an itch you didn’t know you had.

IdeaSpark*: Create a new improved device like the Q-tip, designed for the ear canal. Instead of the cotton head, the “X-tip” will have very soft paper ridges, like a drill bit, to effectively scoop out the wax. The tip of the head will have a super-soft, blunt, feather-like protrusion, which would safely touch your ear drum, effectively warning you, if you are getting too deep.

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This IdeaSpark* posting was inspired by these Japanese swabs, designed this way because it is easier to see ear wax on a black background. Via Productdose.

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389. Bright Idea: Cutting Board 2.0 July 19, 2007

Most of us who eat at home use a cutting board everyday. Here is an improved version, with magnetic side compartments to trap the food and scraps to simplify transport to their next destination, minimizing spillage. Called the “Waste and Want” cutting board, check it out HERE; Via SciFiTech. Quite similar to this Idea (on Everyday Edisons).

IdeaSpark*: Have several separate thin plastic cutting surfaces, each shaped to fit snuggly on top of this board. When you are done cutting, put the used cutting surface in the dishwasher, and the board remains clean. Get a new plastic surface from a storage space right under the board, and you are ready to prep again.

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265. IdeaSpark*: Nomadic Storage March 30, 2007

I like to store all my crap in these clear plastic storage containers. I use all sorts of sizes, I label most of them (my wife’s favorite container is the one I label “Important Junk”), and I stack them in my closets. I buy these at The Container Store.

My wife and I are moving next week, so we are busy packing. It turns out that there are standards sizes for cardboard moving boxes (we got some from two different places, and they are the same sizes). I put all of my clear storage containers in the boxes, but they don’t always fit nicely and neatly.

My IdeaSpark* is to make very similar plastic storage containers, but in sizes that will fit nicely into your standard moving boxes. For example, make a small plastic container, where four of them will fit perfectly in and completely fill the typical medium cardboard box (18″ x 18″ x 16″). This organizational system will be very convenient for the nomadic types (like college students and military families).  Just pack and go.  I wish I had had something like that…packing and moving is a bitch.

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262. Bright Idea: Light-up Make-up Mirror March 30, 2007

This $12 make-up mirror has LED lights so you can use it in the dark. Quite convenient. For the ladies and their purses, that is. Buy it HERE (AU).

What about us men? I know I could use a handy mirror to check to see if I have food in my teeth, or a booger showing. But I am not always carrying my purse (I really do carry a man purse at times). There needs to be another option.

IdeaSpark*: A laminated piece of reflective mylar the size of a business card would fit perfectly in a wallet, and act as a super-thin unbreakable mirror. Simple.

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223. IdeaSpark*: Disposable Flower Vase March 14, 2007

Pictured is actually a foldable “OneShot” stool by Patrick Jouin (more here), but it reminds me of an IdeaSpark* that I recently came up with.

Problem: For special occassions, it is nice to bring flowers to your friends every once in a while. However, I am not sure that each particular friend has or can easily find a vase for the flowers, especially if they are preparing for and hosting a dinner party.

Solution: My IdeaSpark* is to have cheap, foldable, and disposable flower vases that you can buy along with the flowers (especially in hospital gift shops). It would look like the image above, but with waterproof plastic film between the cheap plastic rods and on the bottom. Have the top open, the neck a little higher up, and you have the perfect vase in a pinch. Chuck the vase along with the dead flowers for easy cleanup.

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216. Bright Idea: Cell Phone/Remote Control March 13, 2007

Finally: A cell phone that will also control your A/V equipment. This concept, by Sony Ericsson, will allow you to only need one handheld device while chilling watching TV. Simple and convenient. Via Gizmodo.com.

IdeaSparks*: Now, if that same cellphone could also act as an: (1) rfid finder, (2) car starter, (3) barcode scanner, (4) USB drive, (5) portable scanner (for short text, images, receipts, and business cards), and also include (6) an attached and removable bluetooth earpiece, you would be set.

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215. Bright Idea: Bracelet Phone March 13, 2007

Though this Bracelet Phone is just a concept, I like the creative idea of integrating accessories. Examples also include: a cellphone watch, and a USB Drive necklace or bracelet.

Granted, if they did ever produce the pictured Bracelet Phone, the only person that would own one would probably be Paris Hilton. Via SciFiTech.com.

IdeaSpark*: a Cellphone Necklace: two small and inconspicuous amulets would hang from a necklace, under your shirt. One, attached to a separate wire, would be put in your ear during a phone call; the other would act as the main base and microphone. There would only be a few buttons, with input (e.g. numbers) primarily being via voice recognition. No more clunky pockets.

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206. IdeaSpark*: Ergonomic Split Keyboard March 8, 2007

Pictured here is the Kinesis Keyboard, arguably the most ergonomic keyboard on the market. Not only does it optimize hand placement, the concavity of the keys minimizes the effort required for keystrokes.

However, depending on your desk and chair positioning, you can still strain your shoulders and arms while typing. The most comfortable sitting position for me is resting my arms completely on the adjustable armrests.

My IdeaSpark*: essentially split this keyboard in half, and make it so each half can attach to an end of an armrest. As a result, when your arms are in their most relaxed and natural position, the keys will be right at your fingertips. Add a small little mousepad off to the side, and you have the most ergonomic typing arrangement I can imagine.

Bonus IdeaSparks*: (1) I use the backspace key way more than the :/; key (under my right pinky). I say switch the two. (2) I also frequently use the arrow keys when for correcting or editing when typing. So, have a key near your left pinky that, when depressed, turns the J,I,K,L keys into L,U,R, and D directional keys.

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148. Bright Idea: Check-Box Greeting Cards January 28, 2007

About a few years ago, I thought I could print up some check-the-boxes/ multiple-choice greeting cards, and call them CAP Cards (for Cheap And Purfunctory). When you open it, on the Left side it says “Dear:” and then a list of check boxes besides words like “Mom, Dad, Bro, Sis, GM, GP, friend, lover, boyfriend, wife, colleague, neighbor, mail(wo)man, teacher, etc.”

On the Right side it would have check boxes next to common card sayings, like “Happy Birthday/New Year/Anniversary, Congrats, Thanks, Miss You, etc.”

I would sell them to you off a table at a flea market. A box of ten would be $10, but half of that money would go to some charity, one of the several charities options you chose from. The name of the charity and the honorary donation would be listed in the cards you buy.

CAP cards provide another option. Why spend $3 and 6-minutes of second-guessing on a regular greeting card that your giftee will then be burdened by (the struggle of deciding whether to keep it and have it become clutter, or throw it away and feel a mild sense of guilt and waste). CAP cards are meant to be thrown away, with the thought of the guesture counting.

Pictured is a similar version I just came across. You can find it HERE.

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