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Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Mon Nov 29, 2010 9:01 am
- Mark Reyland
- Green Belt
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
A death in the family
Last Friday a member of our inventor family passed away after a long fought battle with cancer. Ron Komorowski leaves behind a beautiful young daughter and a legacy of passion for all things inventing.
With an unbridled passion, Ron spent thousands of hours reading and educating himself about the processes of inventing and commercialization. He turned that knowledge into a sometimes fiery sermon of advice to inventors just starting down the same road Ron had followed many times.
Read, Read, Read - was Ron’s mantra, because it was the one thing he knew would best arm a new inventor for their journey. You see, Ron was a brilliant self educated man - a man for whom this natural passion for inventing could only be overshadowed by his passion for helping others.
From the time he spend on the invention forums, to the monthly pilgrimage he made to his beloved inventor club – Ron looked for every opportunity to preach the sermon of inventor education.
When he did put the books down, Ron was a prolific inventor. With inventions in hundreds of categories he could have chosen to run with any number of innovations he had created over the years, but Ron’s first love was Handi-Straps - and Handi-Straps say a lot about Ron himself - High quality and designed to help.
It sounds obvious to say Ron will be missed. As we look at the impact he made on the world of inventing, it is far more appropriate to say – Ron will be remembered.
Last Friday a member of our inventor family passed away after a long fought battle with cancer. Ron Komorowski leaves behind a beautiful young daughter and a legacy of passion for all things inventing.
With an unbridled passion, Ron spent thousands of hours reading and educating himself about the processes of inventing and commercialization. He turned that knowledge into a sometimes fiery sermon of advice to inventors just starting down the same road Ron had followed many times.
Read, Read, Read - was Ron’s mantra, because it was the one thing he knew would best arm a new inventor for their journey. You see, Ron was a brilliant self educated man - a man for whom this natural passion for inventing could only be overshadowed by his passion for helping others.
From the time he spend on the invention forums, to the monthly pilgrimage he made to his beloved inventor club – Ron looked for every opportunity to preach the sermon of inventor education.
When he did put the books down, Ron was a prolific inventor. With inventions in hundreds of categories he could have chosen to run with any number of innovations he had created over the years, but Ron’s first love was Handi-Straps - and Handi-Straps say a lot about Ron himself - High quality and designed to help.
It sounds obvious to say Ron will be missed. As we look at the impact he made on the world of inventing, it is far more appropriate to say – Ron will be remembered.
Last edited by Mark Reyland on Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:18 am
- Mark Reyland
- Green Belt
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
I’m hungry...
Several years ago my oldest son Phillip wanted a cupcake. Working in Manhattan he was well aware of the food trucks that roamed the city servicing hungry office workers, who, like Phillip that day wound up with a craving of some sort or another. When he couldn’t find the cupcake truck he took it upon himself to solve the problem so it didn’t happen again.
But how do you track the trucks as they roam the city? Twitter of course
.
The food trucks use Twitter to communicate their location. That system works well as long as you are in front of your computer or don’t mind weeding through a million Twitter postings. Phillip being a 25 year old young executive with much to do, needed a better mousetrap, so he built one.
Armed with a natural entrepreneurial l talent, and his vision of a world where you could always find the cupcake truck, Phillip set out on a 3 year journey to create the best Food Truck iPhone App available. He achieved that goal with the creation of StreetEats. A graphical interface app designed to harvest the Twitter feeds from trucks all over the country and presents them to the user in map form showing the current location of all food trucks registered in the system.
After hundreds of hours of hard work, two design iterations, a patent application, and positive acceptance from over 1500 downloads a day! It’s clear Phillip was on to something - and unlike those cupcakes, it’s not only good for you, it’s FREE!
Satisfy your craving; download StreetEats to track the food trucks in your city. http://www.lovestreeteats.com/
Several years ago my oldest son Phillip wanted a cupcake. Working in Manhattan he was well aware of the food trucks that roamed the city servicing hungry office workers, who, like Phillip that day wound up with a craving of some sort or another. When he couldn’t find the cupcake truck he took it upon himself to solve the problem so it didn’t happen again.
But how do you track the trucks as they roam the city? Twitter of course
.
The food trucks use Twitter to communicate their location. That system works well as long as you are in front of your computer or don’t mind weeding through a million Twitter postings. Phillip being a 25 year old young executive with much to do, needed a better mousetrap, so he built one.
Armed with a natural entrepreneurial l talent, and his vision of a world where you could always find the cupcake truck, Phillip set out on a 3 year journey to create the best Food Truck iPhone App available. He achieved that goal with the creation of StreetEats. A graphical interface app designed to harvest the Twitter feeds from trucks all over the country and presents them to the user in map form showing the current location of all food trucks registered in the system.
After hundreds of hours of hard work, two design iterations, a patent application, and positive acceptance from over 1500 downloads a day! It’s clear Phillip was on to something - and unlike those cupcakes, it’s not only good for you, it’s FREE!
Satisfy your craving; download StreetEats to track the food trucks in your city. http://www.lovestreeteats.com/
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Wed Dec 01, 2010 7:26 am
- Mark Reyland
- Green Belt
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
I'm talking to boxes...
It’s true – you are in aisle 12 and you are talking to a box, in fact you are having a conversation because the box is talking back to you.
You know you do it, we all do it.
What I’m talking about is the conversation you have in your with the package or product you are about to buy. I’m not kidding; just think about it for a second. It’s an actual private little conversation you are having in your head as you sort through the massive amount of data being presented to you there in the aisle.
You: Hmmm….what one do I want?
The Products: Me, you want me, and me, no…me!
You: Hay, this one looks good
The Product: That’s right, I do look good, I appeal to you
You: but what can you do for me?
The Product label: I can do this, and this, and this…..and even this
You: but how much will you cost me to do those things?
Okay, you get the point. We have these conversations each time we purchase a product. It’s the core of our buying decision and the most important thing a product inventor can understand about the consumer.
By understanding this conversation even happens, and inventor can design the product to maximize the things you want the consumer to know, while creating a physical presentation that evokes strong positive emotion for the consumer. That’s why successful product inventors spend so much time in retail stores looking at the products. They spend the time having those conversions in their head so they can understand how to make them work for their products.
So next time you are in aisle 12 talking to a product, keep it down a little will ya – the rest of us are trying to shop.
It’s true – you are in aisle 12 and you are talking to a box, in fact you are having a conversation because the box is talking back to you.
You know you do it, we all do it.
What I’m talking about is the conversation you have in your with the package or product you are about to buy. I’m not kidding; just think about it for a second. It’s an actual private little conversation you are having in your head as you sort through the massive amount of data being presented to you there in the aisle.
You: Hmmm….what one do I want?
The Products: Me, you want me, and me, no…me!
You: Hay, this one looks good
The Product: That’s right, I do look good, I appeal to you
You: but what can you do for me?
The Product label: I can do this, and this, and this…..and even this
You: but how much will you cost me to do those things?
Okay, you get the point. We have these conversations each time we purchase a product. It’s the core of our buying decision and the most important thing a product inventor can understand about the consumer.
By understanding this conversation even happens, and inventor can design the product to maximize the things you want the consumer to know, while creating a physical presentation that evokes strong positive emotion for the consumer. That’s why successful product inventors spend so much time in retail stores looking at the products. They spend the time having those conversions in their head so they can understand how to make them work for their products.
So next time you are in aisle 12 talking to a product, keep it down a little will ya – the rest of us are trying to shop.
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:34 pm
- Mark Reyland
- Green Belt
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
Great Cause..Let's Party!
Every so often the UIA works with worthwhile organizations to get the word out about the important work they are doing. Such is the case with World Computer Exchange. This time not only are we telling you about an important cause helping thousands of people, we’re passing along the opportunity for you to attend the Peoples Choice Awards in Hollywood!
World Computer Exchange (WCE) is an education and environment nonprofit organization committed to improving the opportunities for youth in developing countries by connecting them to the skills, opportunities and understanding of the Internet while keeping working computers out of landfills. Founded in 1999, WCE is North America’s largest non-profit supplier of refurbished computers to connect youth in schools, universities, libraries, orphanages, refugee camps and youth centers throughout Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
Their Mission: To reduce the digital divide for youth in developing countries; to use our global network of partnerships to enhance communities in these countries; and to promote the reuse of electronic equipment and its ultimate disposal in an environmentally responsible manner.
WCE is a volunteer-based organization, engaging the skills, expertise and passion of 700 volunteers world-wide to build the capacity of our 580 local Partner organizations to bring 21st century education to young people in 71 developing countries – but like all volunteer based organizations they are always looking for volunteer number 701.
Donate to WCE by December 14th to be automatically entered to win.
Here’s your chance to win 2 VIP tickets to the 2011 People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles, plus a 3 night stay at the luxurious JW Marriott Hotel/LA Live – just steps away from the Nokia Center. Get ready - because you and a friend will sit among Hollywood’s fan favorite movie, music and TV stars (really!) as they show up to accept their 2011 People’s Choice Award.
A billion+ youth in developing countries lack access to computers and the Internet. You can help connect youth in 71 developing countries to 21st century opportunities.
Find out more about how you can help the WCE and maybe even attend the People’s Choice Awards by checking out their web site http://worldcomputerexchange.org/people ... weepstakes
Every so often the UIA works with worthwhile organizations to get the word out about the important work they are doing. Such is the case with World Computer Exchange. This time not only are we telling you about an important cause helping thousands of people, we’re passing along the opportunity for you to attend the Peoples Choice Awards in Hollywood!
World Computer Exchange (WCE) is an education and environment nonprofit organization committed to improving the opportunities for youth in developing countries by connecting them to the skills, opportunities and understanding of the Internet while keeping working computers out of landfills. Founded in 1999, WCE is North America’s largest non-profit supplier of refurbished computers to connect youth in schools, universities, libraries, orphanages, refugee camps and youth centers throughout Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
Their Mission: To reduce the digital divide for youth in developing countries; to use our global network of partnerships to enhance communities in these countries; and to promote the reuse of electronic equipment and its ultimate disposal in an environmentally responsible manner.
WCE is a volunteer-based organization, engaging the skills, expertise and passion of 700 volunteers world-wide to build the capacity of our 580 local Partner organizations to bring 21st century education to young people in 71 developing countries – but like all volunteer based organizations they are always looking for volunteer number 701.
Donate to WCE by December 14th to be automatically entered to win.
Here’s your chance to win 2 VIP tickets to the 2011 People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles, plus a 3 night stay at the luxurious JW Marriott Hotel/LA Live – just steps away from the Nokia Center. Get ready - because you and a friend will sit among Hollywood’s fan favorite movie, music and TV stars (really!) as they show up to accept their 2011 People’s Choice Award.
A billion+ youth in developing countries lack access to computers and the Internet. You can help connect youth in 71 developing countries to 21st century opportunities.
Find out more about how you can help the WCE and maybe even attend the People’s Choice Awards by checking out their web site http://worldcomputerexchange.org/people ... weepstakes
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Fri Dec 03, 2010 7:03 am
- Mark Reyland
- Green Belt
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
The Junkyard?
Several weeks ago I received a call from a New York television production company who was producing an “Inventor” show. They wanted to talk about their show premise and ask our help in getting the word out.
As happens with the 2 or 3 calls a month we receive at the UIA about a new “Inventor” TV shows. They laid out the story line and I listened. “This is going to be so great” said the excited voice on the other end of the phone, “we are doing an inventor show that follows inventors while they hunt through the junk yard looking for parts to make their prototypes”. As I listened I could not help but go back in my mind to figure out if I even knew and inventor that had ever gone to a junk yard in search of prototype parts – and as I suspected I couldn’t come up with a single one.
But the thought does bring up a god point – where do inventors get their parts and pieces to make those all important prototypes?
For me, it’s retail stores. I start by breaking the new idea down into functions. Then I figure out what kinds of products already made have those same functions. Maybe it’s a fully developed product, or an individual part from the hardware store. Either way, after a search of retail for the individual parts that match the needed functions, it’s off to the garage for a little deconstruction.
Taking my little treasure trove of products apart to extract just the function I need is actually a really fun part of the process. Maybe it’s a little motor I rob from a toy, or a hinge from a kitchen gadget or sometimes all I need is the package. No matter, it’s all part of the process of invention and the discovery of creating something new.
What I can tell you is that I don’t think this production company is going to get very far with their TV show, after all, even the best junk… is still junk.
Several weeks ago I received a call from a New York television production company who was producing an “Inventor” show. They wanted to talk about their show premise and ask our help in getting the word out.
As happens with the 2 or 3 calls a month we receive at the UIA about a new “Inventor” TV shows. They laid out the story line and I listened. “This is going to be so great” said the excited voice on the other end of the phone, “we are doing an inventor show that follows inventors while they hunt through the junk yard looking for parts to make their prototypes”. As I listened I could not help but go back in my mind to figure out if I even knew and inventor that had ever gone to a junk yard in search of prototype parts – and as I suspected I couldn’t come up with a single one.
But the thought does bring up a god point – where do inventors get their parts and pieces to make those all important prototypes?
For me, it’s retail stores. I start by breaking the new idea down into functions. Then I figure out what kinds of products already made have those same functions. Maybe it’s a fully developed product, or an individual part from the hardware store. Either way, after a search of retail for the individual parts that match the needed functions, it’s off to the garage for a little deconstruction.
Taking my little treasure trove of products apart to extract just the function I need is actually a really fun part of the process. Maybe it’s a little motor I rob from a toy, or a hinge from a kitchen gadget or sometimes all I need is the package. No matter, it’s all part of the process of invention and the discovery of creating something new.
What I can tell you is that I don’t think this production company is going to get very far with their TV show, after all, even the best junk… is still junk.
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by stereo-vision » Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:37 pm
- stereo-vision
- White Belt
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 7:34 pm
I use google images to find many hard to find parts I need to make my prototypes if I can't find them in local stores. I've also dug through the bone-yards of many appliance and electronic repairmen. The only things I ever got from junkyards for a prototype was a sun visor, a tail-light reflector, a few radio dials and a windshield wiper motor.
stereo-vision
stereo-vision
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:22 am
- Mark Reyland
- Green Belt
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
Ahhh…To patent or not to patent? – That is the question.
I couldn’t count the number of new inventors that start their story by talking about how they ran straight to a patent attorney the morning after they had this great epiphany of an idea they know will change the world as we know it.
In fact, this is so epidemic I wanted to take a moment to talk about ways to protect your new found innovation without spending a fortune on a device that often amounts to simply a very expensive stroke of your ego.
After all, if someone walked up to you with any other document that had your name on it and said “Pay me $10,000 and you can hang this on your wall” you would no doubt say No Thanks. But for some reason with a patent it’s different. Inventors always want to say “Yes” often ending up with the same net result.
So what other options do you have? Several
Nothing – you can do nothing. In fact nothing is a good option for many “inventors” simply because like a headache, the excitement of this new idea will eventually pass, and you can go back to watching that football game.
An Inventor’s Notebook – We did a post not long ago about the proper way to structure an inventor’s notebook so it will protect your idea in court. It’s not hard, very effective, and only about $3.99
A Copyright – In the US copyrights are automatic and their basic protection is FREE. In a nutshell, everything you develop in both 2D and 3D is automatically copyrighted the moment it is created. From your sketches, to your prototype, the protection is in place without doing a thing. That being said, we recommend you check with an attorney to ensure you are documenting things correctly, and evaluate the need to file a formal copyright on your particular project
.
A Non Disclosure Agreement – An NDA is a contract for secrecy. Very simply stated it contracts the signers into keeping secret the information provided each party. In the world of inventing it is often much more effective a protection than a patent. You see, a “patent application” is worthless in any effort to exercise your rights of protection. In fact, it’s often 3 or 4 years after your file date that you will enjoy any protection from your “awarded patent”, and even then only the level of protection you can afford to peruse in court. The reason a simple NDA is often more effective to an inventor is because once you have a well written NDA you can use it over and over at no cost. It also turns your innovation into a “trade secret” protected by the terms of the NDA and enforceable the moment it’s signed – not 3 or 4 years down the road. The party who signed your NDA could not rip you off without violating trade secret law and being subject to civil prosecution.
Now, please don’t get me wrong – Patenting a really great, commercially viable, and financially worthwhile innovation is sometimes a great idea - However, patenting an “Idea” that you don’t yet know to be commercially viable or financially worthwhile is often just a waste of your time and money.
As with all legal documents, we highly recommend you consult an attorney.
I couldn’t count the number of new inventors that start their story by talking about how they ran straight to a patent attorney the morning after they had this great epiphany of an idea they know will change the world as we know it.
In fact, this is so epidemic I wanted to take a moment to talk about ways to protect your new found innovation without spending a fortune on a device that often amounts to simply a very expensive stroke of your ego.
After all, if someone walked up to you with any other document that had your name on it and said “Pay me $10,000 and you can hang this on your wall” you would no doubt say No Thanks. But for some reason with a patent it’s different. Inventors always want to say “Yes” often ending up with the same net result.
So what other options do you have? Several
Nothing – you can do nothing. In fact nothing is a good option for many “inventors” simply because like a headache, the excitement of this new idea will eventually pass, and you can go back to watching that football game.
An Inventor’s Notebook – We did a post not long ago about the proper way to structure an inventor’s notebook so it will protect your idea in court. It’s not hard, very effective, and only about $3.99
A Copyright – In the US copyrights are automatic and their basic protection is FREE. In a nutshell, everything you develop in both 2D and 3D is automatically copyrighted the moment it is created. From your sketches, to your prototype, the protection is in place without doing a thing. That being said, we recommend you check with an attorney to ensure you are documenting things correctly, and evaluate the need to file a formal copyright on your particular project
.
A Non Disclosure Agreement – An NDA is a contract for secrecy. Very simply stated it contracts the signers into keeping secret the information provided each party. In the world of inventing it is often much more effective a protection than a patent. You see, a “patent application” is worthless in any effort to exercise your rights of protection. In fact, it’s often 3 or 4 years after your file date that you will enjoy any protection from your “awarded patent”, and even then only the level of protection you can afford to peruse in court. The reason a simple NDA is often more effective to an inventor is because once you have a well written NDA you can use it over and over at no cost. It also turns your innovation into a “trade secret” protected by the terms of the NDA and enforceable the moment it’s signed – not 3 or 4 years down the road. The party who signed your NDA could not rip you off without violating trade secret law and being subject to civil prosecution.
Now, please don’t get me wrong – Patenting a really great, commercially viable, and financially worthwhile innovation is sometimes a great idea - However, patenting an “Idea” that you don’t yet know to be commercially viable or financially worthwhile is often just a waste of your time and money.
As with all legal documents, we highly recommend you consult an attorney.
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Scrupulous » Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:23 pm
-
Scrupulous - Black Belt
- Posts: 2414
- Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:32 pm
- Location: United States
Mark Reyland wrote:As with all legal documents, we highly recommend you consult an attorney.
Who is "we"?
________________
I'm Ken Campbell, a registered US patent practitioner at the Affordable Patent Service™.
As a forum moderator, though, any input I provide should be considered general information, and not legal advice. The ideas I express are not necessarily the opinions of InventorSpot.com or its affiliates. In general, any action taken as a result of information, analysis, or advice from any forum members on this site is ultimately the user's responsibility.
I'm Ken Campbell, a registered US patent practitioner at the Affordable Patent Service™.
As a forum moderator, though, any input I provide should be considered general information, and not legal advice. The ideas I express are not necessarily the opinions of InventorSpot.com or its affiliates. In general, any action taken as a result of information, analysis, or advice from any forum members on this site is ultimately the user's responsibility.
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Roger Brown » Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:49 am
-
Roger Brown - Black Belt
- Posts: 1208
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:53 pm
- Location: USA
I assume the "We" would be the United Inventors Association since he
is the Executive Director of that group and posts this link at the end of his posts http://www.uiausa.org
I am glad to see him state the same thing you and I do when we talk about using any documents to recommend you consult an attorney. To many Inventors skip that part and sign things they know nothing about because they are excited to get attention from a company.
is the Executive Director of that group and posts this link at the end of his posts http://www.uiausa.org
I am glad to see him state the same thing you and I do when we talk about using any documents to recommend you consult an attorney. To many Inventors skip that part and sign things they know nothing about because they are excited to get attention from a company.
Come visit my sites at http://www.RogerBrown.net
or http://www.looking2license.com
I have gotten 9 products licensed spending less than $100 on each, you can too.
or http://www.looking2license.com
I have gotten 9 products licensed spending less than $100 on each, you can too.
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:38 am
- Mark Reyland
- Green Belt
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
Is this a good idea?
Lately there has been a controversy over Mattel’s new Barbie. No, she’s not scantily clad or large breasted. This time Barbie is high-tech and it’s causing quite a stir.
The new “Video Barbie” has a camera, not so discreetly, mounted in her chest, a video screen on her back, and even a jack for downloading your data. The FBI has even issued a warning over the fear of its use by pedophiles,
The question is not should Mattel market this toy, but rather what level of responsibility do we as inventors have for the way the product “could” be used?
Obviously when we design products we have a focus on the overall function, but think of the hundreds of other uses the product could have that we may not have even though about. Many of those uses revile themselves through consumers who often see things we have missed. Sometimes that’s a good thing – and sometimes it’s not.
About now the inventor of this Barbie doll has to be watching this controversy unfold with amazement as the world takes his idea and twists it into something he/she never intended. Could he have known? Should he have known?
What about Mattel?...wow think about the investment they have made to a toy that may ultimately be taken off the shelf by public opinion. Did they drop the ball? Should they have done their homework?
This is a perfect example of how even companies that have been doing this for many years sometimes get it wrong. When they do it costs them millions of dollars. When an individual inventor makes this kind of mistake it can cost everything you own.
How do you handle this dilemma? Do you make a list of all the possible uses? Ask your family and friends? And do you take the time to design in “fixes” or “the work around” to these unintentional uses?
Lately there has been a controversy over Mattel’s new Barbie. No, she’s not scantily clad or large breasted. This time Barbie is high-tech and it’s causing quite a stir.
The new “Video Barbie” has a camera, not so discreetly, mounted in her chest, a video screen on her back, and even a jack for downloading your data. The FBI has even issued a warning over the fear of its use by pedophiles,
The question is not should Mattel market this toy, but rather what level of responsibility do we as inventors have for the way the product “could” be used?
Obviously when we design products we have a focus on the overall function, but think of the hundreds of other uses the product could have that we may not have even though about. Many of those uses revile themselves through consumers who often see things we have missed. Sometimes that’s a good thing – and sometimes it’s not.
About now the inventor of this Barbie doll has to be watching this controversy unfold with amazement as the world takes his idea and twists it into something he/she never intended. Could he have known? Should he have known?
What about Mattel?...wow think about the investment they have made to a toy that may ultimately be taken off the shelf by public opinion. Did they drop the ball? Should they have done their homework?
This is a perfect example of how even companies that have been doing this for many years sometimes get it wrong. When they do it costs them millions of dollars. When an individual inventor makes this kind of mistake it can cost everything you own.
How do you handle this dilemma? Do you make a list of all the possible uses? Ask your family and friends? And do you take the time to design in “fixes” or “the work around” to these unintentional uses?