Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Falling Grandmas and iPads

Dorothy’s Idea of the Day:
Recently I was reading a short article about what’s new in technology and came upon a new type of case for the iPad and laptops.  The case is lightweight and soft but hardens instantly upon impact; protecting the electronic device from breaking if dropped, or attacked, say by a bowling ball.

Wow!  This certainly is a gee whiz kind of technology.  For some reason this new laptop and iPad cover got me to thinking what we could do with that type of technology if it were applied to garments for people with osteoarthritis, brittle bones or who were healing from a broken bone.

When I could not find the newspaper article I had read I was not surprised to find a report on the new “Extreme Sleeve” in “Gizmag”


Turns out my idea is not so original.  The technology was designed to protect skaters and cyclists and had been adapted for use to protect electronics.  Maybe someone already is thinking about using the same type of protection for those at risk of breakage even if they are not into extreme sports. 

But wouldn’t it be interesting if someone could develop the reverse of this technology: a substance for flooring, for example which instantly turns soft and flexible if you drop your laptop or Grandma falls.  Just a thought.


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