The Invention Of The Century...

[dlavery]

OK, the century is still young, and there are still a lot of things yet to be invented over the next 94 years, but this is definitely a biggie.

But rather than just let the cat out of the bag, it is time to don your thinking caps and do a little research.

- What has no moving parts, is completely disposable, and requires no power source?
- What will be of immediate use to over four billion people throughout the world?
- What can, for over a year at a time for a typical person, protect people from some of the most prolific killers on the planet?
- What can be manufactured and distributed by the millions, for a unit cost of around $2?
- What is so simple to use that it requires no written instructions, no manual, and no user training (it has been tested by people ranging from 8 months to 88 years old)?
- What was NOT invented by Dean, but gets directly at one of his biggest research topics?

I get to work with some of the most advanced - and frequently complicated - technologies on Earth. But every now and then, something so elegant comes along that it absolutely knocks you over - not with it's amazing complexity, but with pure, purpose-build simplicity. The invention I have just seen is one of those sort of things. It is simple. It is effective. It is affordable. It does exactly what it is supposed to do. I have had one for the last 48 hours, and it is just amazing (I got mine on Wednesday evening while having dinner with Katie Couric, but that is another story...)

Can you figure out what it is?

-dave

[Adam Richards]

Is it a flu shot?

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by dlavery

OK, the century is still young, and there are still a lot of things yet to be invented over the next 94 years, but this is definitely a biggie.

But rather than just let the cat out of the bag, it is time to don your thinking caps and do a little research.

- What has no moving parts, is completely disposable, and requires no power source?
- What will be of immediate use to over four billion people throughout the world?
- What can, for over a year at a time for a typical person, protect people from some of the most prolific killers on the planet?
- What can be manufactured and distributed by the millions, for a unit cost of around $2?
- What is so simple to use that it requires no written instructions, no manual, and no user training (it has been tested by people ranging from 8 months to 88 years old)?
- What was NOT invented by Dean, but gets directly at one of his biggest research topics?

I get to work with some of the most advanced - and frequently complicated - technologies on Earth. But every now and then, something so elegant comes along that it absolutely knocks you over - not with it's amazing complexity, but with pure, purpose-build simplicity. The invention I have just seen is one of those sort of things. It is simple. It is effective. It is affordable. It does exactly what it is supposed to do. I have had one for the last 48 hours, and it is just amazing (I got mine on Wednesday evening while having dinner with Katie Couric, but that is another story...)

Can you figure out what it is?

-dave

I'm taking a guess, but is it the life-saving straw, bascially a water purifcation system in a thick straw, that when you suck up water it purifies it for you.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Adam Richards

Is it a flu shot?

Flu shots aren't really all that new.

And Dave's comment that it requires no training, from 8 months to 88 years old also probably precludes it from involving needles.

Dave also refers to only having had it for 48 hours, and already it is amazing. Unless he's spent the last two days trying to gett the flu from infected people, it would have to be something that you can actually use, and see the results of.

I have no idea what it could be, but one of Dean's biggest research products is making clean drinking water readily available in 3rd world countries. No idea what this new invention could be, but it might be related to this.

[TheLostRenegade]

Everything in me wants to say its a syringe of some sort, but the thing that gets me is that an 8 month baby can use it!

[Morgan Gillespie]

it
From eBay? You know from the commercial… Honestly that’s my best guess.
Its new, anyone can use it, and it does exactly what it is supposed to do. It can be used as a weapon for protection. It can't cost that much to make. The part about Dean I am unsure.

[Timmyd]

im thinking it is a spoon i dont know why

[mechanicalbrain]

Originally Posted by Timmyd

im thinking it is a spoon i dont know why

Originally Posted by dlavery

What can, for over a year at a time for a typical person, protect people from some of the most prolific killers on the planet?

Yeah cause nothing scares off Ebola like a spoon. And I would of been a goner when that Kodiak bear attacked me last year but I whipped out my spoon, that bear didn't stand a chance. Actually I'm going with a water filtration device. It fits all the categories, only thing holding me back is that he said it costs $2.... He also hints that its reusable for a year... If so I have to say thats a mighty impressive filter.

[team222badbrad]

I'm gonna hold off on posting a link

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by team222badbrad

I'm gonna hold off on posting a link

I found it too!

Here's another picture:

[Andrew Blair]

I too agree that a water purifier could be the thing, but mosquito nets do the same things Dave described. Less than 2 dollars, widely available, anyone can use them, and they protect people from some of the most prolific killers. Probably more deaths from malaria, yellow fever, or similar diseases, than from water based pathogens. I think a typical mosquito net is a few dollars, and with pestiside which makes them all the more effective, like 6 bucks. Very effective, very simple.

[KenWittlief]

if its that water purifier straw thing, then I shutter to think what Dave has been doing with his for the last two days :cO

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

I too agree that a water purifier could be the thing, but mosquito nets do the same things Dave described. Less than 2 dollars, widely available, anyone can use them, and they protect people from some of the most prolific killers. Probably more deaths from malaria, yellow fever, or similar diseases, than from water based pathogens. I think a typical mosquito net is a few dollars, and with pestiside which makes them all the more effective, like 6 bucks. Very effective, very simple.

Mosquito nets aren't exactly revolutionary though

[Andrew Blair]

Good point. Maybe they're the new water purifying, ebola repelling, bear beating mosquito nets!

[team222badbrad]

Any field test results yet Dave?