The Invention Of The Century...

[Matt Krass]

Originally Posted by JosephM

So how long before we see a photoshopped pic of Dave with his head in the toilet taking a refreshing drink?

I think the real question is, when will we see a non-photoshopped pic of Dave with his head in the toilet taking a refreshing drink?

Seriously though, I'm going with LifeStraw here...

[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?

[ChuckDickerson]

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

My guess is the LifeStraw. If correct and Dave has one then I assume they are currently available for sale. One of these should be packaged with every MRE distributed to disaster victims. After going through Katrina these things would have been welcomed. MRE + LifeStraw + Airdrop = Cheap Life Saver.

[Conor Ryan]

Ok so theres almost no doubt in my mind its a LifeStraw, saw one at church the other day and read the pamphlet about it. Its a great invention, thats already getting a lot of usage. Its great, cheap, effective, and its a real life saver. But its not perfect yet, it only has a 1 year life span before the filter wears out. However its a revolutionary idea.

Intresting fact: The life straw can be used as a desalinization tool. But it wears down its filter capacity from about 700 Liters over a year of usage to only 350 Liters.

[phrontist]

What about the WaterCone? The LifeStraw uses Iodine and fabric filters, both of which would wear out quickly. This means it is essentially temporary and disposable. Furthermore, you can't consume iodine treated water long-term if memory serves. The WaterCone is cheaper per liter of water purified, lasts about 5 years, and produces truly pure water.

I'm voting WaterCone.

[ahecht]

Well, WaterCone only does 1.5L per day, which isn't that much in the sort of hot and sunny climate that you would need to use it. Slingshot would probably work longer than 5 years, and doesn't need the sun to be out.

[Zach Purser]

Originally Posted by dlavery

- 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

Did someone finally give Dave a bar of soap?