Browse Tag: invention

6 Inventions to Recover from Daylight Saving Time (National Napping Day)

Are you dreading this upcoming daylight saving time? Even if you plan ahead and to go to bed early, you may still feel ridiculously tired the next day. Time and time again, studies show this practice to be dumb and consistently dangerous to people’s health in a variety of ways. This national event is so notoriously terrible, it sparked a second national event, National Napping Day. In 1999 William Anthony, a Ph.D professor from Boston University, created National Napping Day to aid in the loss of sleep on a national scale. Currently, the states of Arizona and Hawaii have succeeded in fighting against this standard, as well as several countries such as China and Japan. Conversely, Florida is fighting to permanently keep daylight saving time, the Senate voting 33-2 in rally of the idea.

We can’t do anything now, but we can help with the drag of it all. We’re pretty passionate about inventions here, and even more passionate about sleeping. Here 6 inventions to help you through the drag of daylight saving time  enjoy National Nap Day to its fullest potential.

1) The Barisieur

Waking up today is going to be a bit harder than normal, so why not wake up like a king or queen? We’re suggesting the best case scenario, waking up to the sweet smell of coffee…..literally. The Barisieur is an alarm clock and coffee brewer. Imagine the soft sounds of bubbling water greeting you in the morning, your stirring intensified by that perfect coffee smell permeating your bedroom. Not only is this the dream we’ve all been waiting for, but it’s design is quite possibly more sleek and sophisticated than the actual idea of waking up to the smell of coffee. MMmmmmmm.

2) Bath Buzz Caffeinated Soap

Now that you’re awake, it’s time get ready for your day. How can you fit in another caffeine boost to your morning routine? The shower of course, where Bath Buzz offers a solution in their caffeinated soap. There’s a whopping 2400mg of caffeine infused in their peppermint scented soap. That equals up to at least 24 cups of coffee! In addition to the energizing benefits of caffeine, you may be surprised to know caffeine is really good for your skin. Caffeine is a prominent ingredient in countless anti-aging skin care products and helps to improve blood circulation. This unassuming bar of soap is guaranteed to help jump start your day.

3) Shelterin Inflatable Car Air Mattress 

You’ve made it past the first half of your work day and it’s lunch time, you’re doing good! Many studies show that short 10-20 minute naps are super effective when dealing with afternoon-slump fatigue. You heard science, now’s your chance to find a cozy spot! I suggest using the Shelterin Inflatable back seat car mattress to aid in your nap-quest. Don’t worry about finding an air-pump, this air mattress comes with a car electric air pump. It shouldn’t take more than a minute to inflate this mattress that’s compatible with 95% of car models. After all, it may be easier to fit in a quick nap from the back of your car if your work doesn’t like your sleeping at your desk (I can’t imagine why).  

4) Ostrich Pillow

Maybe you can’t get to your car, or you’re lucky enough to have If you have a super cool work space. If that’s your case, then I highly suggest using the Ostrich Pillow. Don’t let its looks deceive you, this pillow can conquer any surface for the perfect power nap. If you frequent planes, it’s the perfect travel accessory that you didn’t even know you needed. There’s also an opening in the front for nose and mouth breathing, which is really relevant for those of us that value sleep without that “hot air” feeling.

5) Portable Coffee Cup Holder

Congrats, you’ve made it halfway through the day! You’re doing great. It’s time to stack up on another cup of coffee. After that power nap, it’s going to take everything you have left to motor through the rest of your day. You can’t risk keeping your eye off the ball for even a second. And by ball, I really mean that precious, precious cup of joe. That’s where the Office Table Desk Clip comes in handy. Now you really can keep your eye on the prize. Besides, you can’t risk spilling your drink all over your papers, computer, or keyboard! As an added bonus, this nifty tool double to hold your phone, cosmetics, or even a flower pot.

6) Coffee Joulies

Alright you’ve made it to the final stretch and your work day is almost over! I don’t know about you, but I’m always burning my tongue on a fresh cup of joe. Coffee Joulies conquers against this classic tongue battle by using advanced phase change material technology to store and release energy. To translate this to English, the beans absorbs and conserves the heat from the initial pour, making sure the cup doesn’t exceed burning temperatures. As your cup cools down, the stainless steel stones will then release the previously stored heat to maintain the “perfect” temperature for your coffee. Food Network can be quoted saying “The beans really work” and that’s honestly more than enough for me.

Pat yourself on the back!

Congratulations! Looks like you’ve made it through your work day. Now that you’ve enjoyed National Napping Day to its fullest potential, it’s time to stop and think about everything we’ve learned today, and no I don’t mean confirming daylight saving time is absolutely dreadful. I mean, look at all these helpful products that may have helped you through your day! It’s never too late to start looking at good inventions and assessing their usability. What may come off as a laughable product may really come in handy on days when you need them most, like National Napping Day. If you’re feeling inspired and wanting to create your own invention, feel free to contact us at 888-373-3876. If this article inspired you to take the next step in your own inventing journey, make sure to comment and let us know. As a reward, I might even get an official nap time at my desk (OH BOY)!

Krissy Pizzo is the social media expert and writer for Source Direct, an Invention Company based in Palm Harbor, Fl. If you have any additional invention tips or comments, feel free to email her at kpizzo@thesourcedirect.net. If you absolutely dread using email, you can comment below! 

Success Stories: The Weave Scratcher

STOP THE PAT! From hairpiece to sew-ins, The Weave Scratcher offers a simple solution to the most common predicament: itching. Source Direct helped create this product in 2011 and we are excited to announce it is taking off. ESSENCE magazine featured The Weave Scratcher as their top tool for “soothing an itchy sew-in weave”. We have been picked as “Amazon’s Choice” for weave scratching products online. Sometimes a good product requires time, attention, and patience while carefully building a following.

The Weave Scratcher was created to help ease discomfort without disrupting your style. To better understand The Weave Scratcher, it helps to understand why people experience itching in the first place.  

During the braiding and weaving process the hair is pulled very tightly. When hair is pulled too tightly, the scalp becomes irritated and can develop an inflammation of the hair follicles. This inflammation reaction can account for that furious itching sensation. Even when done properly,  an excess or lack of moisture to the scalp can turn quickly turn the scale. Seborrheic Dermatitis, commonly known as dandruff, is the other common perpetrator for this problem. An overgrowth of yeast on the scalp triggers an inflammation of the roots. This causes an array effects including a buildup of dry layers, flaking, and itching.

Anything from getting the hair wet to sweating without carefully drying the scalp can cause these itching sensations, and what a list! There’s too much to worry about with maintaining and caring for weave, so Source Direct spent a lot of time developing the right tool to properly assist.

Its firm but flexible design is meant to fit in between any hair weft or braided base with ease. The soothing bobby pin ends massage your head comfortably and carefully. It’s light and compact size allows clients to use the Weave Scratcher when at home or out and about. This tool can fit perfectly in your wallet, purse, clutch, or pocket. Our design is embodied to best suit the needs of our clients and their scalp. This handy tool is perfect for anyone who wears wigs, braids, or extensions.

We look forward to announcing the exciting collaborations we are currently working on, as well as more news to come. For anyone interested in joining the Source Direct Inventors Club, call 888-373-3876. 

Krissy Pizzo is the social media expert and writer for Source Direct, an Invention Company based in Palm Harbor, Fl. If you have any additional invention tips or comments, feel free to email her at kpizzo@thesourcedirect.net. If you absolutely dread using email, you can comment below! 

Stop Hashtagging “Hustle”: A Labor of Love

I can’t go online without seeing “#hustle” or “#hustling” painted across my social media. Apparently, my friends are “hustling” on their way to the gas station. Somehow they’re “on the grind” while seeing the latest Marvel movie or getting pizza. These terms are so overused, YOLO suddenly took a backseat.

yolo GIF

Don’t get me wrong, the positivity of motivational posts are admirable and great. But I have to wonder, if I’m seeing a person post #inspiration everywhere, what are you actually getting done? When you spend so much time getting hyped by liking/sharing motivational posts, you’re taking precious time away from actually accomplishing those goals. I think it’s time we had a heart to heart.

#1 What does it mean to hustle?

Opportunity is everywhere, with the internet creating a democracy for business. Everyone can sell, market, and post online. And that’s the problem. Everyone can sell, market, and post online. With all this white noise floating around, it’s hard to figure out what to do or who to listen to. What does it really take? Is your friend Jo actually the “biggest hustler out there” while he binge-watches all of House of Cards?

House Of Cards Success GIF by GaryVee

Let me fill you in.

It’s not about being the best. It’s about having the patience, resilience, and willingness to put in the effort. You become the best by working harder than everyone you know. Simply put, there will always be someone working harder than you. The grind is keeping up that, with everyone else, consistently. The real hustle is putting in more effort, time, and sacrifice than you could ever imagine. Starting from the beginning of your journey, it means working really, really, really hard. Weirdly enough, this is where people usually get stuck or give up entirely.

working adventure time GIF

As human beings, we’re inclined to make excuses for ourselves. Working hard becomes tiring and we and say it’s money, we can’t afford to do it. This is our biggest hurdle in our attempts to accomplish our goals.

That’s the true meaning of “hustling”. The willingness to put the effort into your dreams and not stop, for any reasons. Need to pay the bills? Keep your job and work your side-hustle during any free time. If you’re not willing to put in the effort, then you’re not ready to step up and play ball. It’s not hard, it’s long and tedious. Well I lied, it’s also really, really hard. How?

#2 The biggest secret of all

You don’t have to be great.

By Laws of Nature, if you put time and practice into learning something, you’ll eventually get good enough. Even if you’re the very worst ever at drawing, with more time and practice, you literally have to get better. It’s the by the laws of nature. No excuse, even if you mess-up royally or learn from a terrible mentor. If you adjust your sails, you have to get better over time. Time is the key word here. With time and effort, anything is possible.

Grinding 24/7 GIF by GaryVee “If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt Disney 

I said you don’t have to be good, that doesn’t mean you have to work any less. The key is working smarter, not harder. That’s the goal and the endless mantra you should always tell yourself. Some parts will easier just as some parts become harder, like everything else. Time and effort are essential because it all comes down to :

  1.  How patient are you?
  2.  Are you willing to wait while you get better? How much effort are you willing to make time for your dream?

#3 Time Is Everything

The biggest part of the side-hustling is making the time for it, like scheduling date night. If you can eat ramen for a week to pay for that cruise, you can certainly invest in yourself. Find a job relating to your dream job or whatever your goal may be. If you can’t quit your job, work harder and gain experience elsewhere. As I stated earlier about our internet democracy, literally everything is at your disposal. Invest in online programs through recommended websites or enroll in college classes pertaining to your field. Skip the Marvel movie to accomplish anything and everything to help improve your skills in whatever your dream may be.

tim meadows mr glascott GIF by The Goldbergs

I honestly believe most people are put-off to this all when motivational speakers become too tough or use tough love. When people say “there’s no excuse” it’s not from a lack of empathy. Honesty is key, and it’s okay to admit working two or three jobs sounds impossibly hard. Working super hard isn’t the most fun lifestyle, it’s one of the myriad of reasons why independent businesses so frequently fail. Not only is it work, but it’s time. Time is the key, remember? People become discouraged when they finally gain the self-discipline to work really hard consistently and it doesn’t work out right away. That’s understandable, everyone wants instant gratification. That’s not the reality though, and it’s okay if working super hard doesn’t sound like a fun lifestyle for you. It can take months to years before you even see results, and it’s hard to handle it all yourself. The easiest way around that is to pay someone else to do it for you.

#4 Be Resourceful

You know the saying “there’s an app for that”? There’s a website somewhere ready to help you, right now. There are infinite online programs, business, or independent contractors ready to help you with anything and everything. Outsourcing has become a wonderful tool readily available to anyone because of the internet. 

Outsourcing Working Alone GIF by USource

Hire a cheap virtual assistant to save three hours in your day to read that book that will teach you what you need to know. Pay $15 to have someone do your laundry while you take that free seminar on public speaking or attend that university class that will help towards your degree. If you have more funds? More power to play with to be more efficient. There are businesses for practically anything you can think of, offering their services to help you directly. Have an invention or product that you have no idea how to make, market, or distribute? We at Source Direct make it our priority to assist people in creating and selling your dream product creation. We specialize in manufacturing and distributing and offer our services with every step of the process. We can help from the patent process to selling your dream product in stores for you.

If there’s a will, there’s certainly a way. There’s really no excuse with all of the free information available on the internet. It’s all up to you. Do you want to hashtag “hustle” your way through Netflix, or do you want to get started?

Krissy Pizzo is a writer and social media expert for Source Direct based in Palm Harbor, Fl. If you have any additional invention tips or comments, feel free to email her at kpizzo@thesourcedirect.net.

4 Most Anticipated Inventions of 2018

Who doesn’t savor that feeling of anticipation, counting down the clock for your favorite movie, music, or video game to be released? For us, our eyes are on the prize: product development. Waiting for our favorite new inventions to hit the market can feel unbearable, but 2018 is here, and we’re ready! Here are some inventions wrapped with interesting or promising discussion since announcement. Let me know if I missed anything, so I add any new product developments to future lists. In the meantime, here are some highly anticipated inventions I can’t wait to put my hands on:

4. Sleep.Ai

This product settles the classic couple’s dispute: snoring. Does your spouse say you snore, or maybe you’re not getting the sleep you need? Sleep.Ai helps diagnose the problem. Literally.

It’s alright, I’m not a morning person, either….

This wearable product comes in the form of a soft arm strap that connects to an app on your phone. Simply record your sleeping through the app, and its’ expert-built-algorithms analyze both the factors and remedies to reduce snoring. If you snore too loudly or uncomfortably, the wearable arm strap will gently vibrate, like a “soft poke”. It will not disrupt your sleep, eventually training your snoring habits over time. Do your teeth grind? They have an app for that, too!

This product is on my list because it uses invention assistance to help diagnose snoring, teeth grinding, and possible sleep apnea. National Sleep Foundation states snoring affects approximately 90 million American adults – 37 million on a regular basis. This is not only a very common struggle, but poor sleep and sleep apnea can accumulate into bigger problems in the long run.

“The partner of someone afflicted with sleep apnea loses approximately one hour of sleep per evening and may wake up as many as 21 times per hour, a side-effect of apnea known as “Spousal Arousal Syndrome”

Even the partners of struggling snorers are suffering. It’s about time they received some outsider assistance. I look forward to watching Sleep.Ai’s effectiveness in helping not only the user, but relationships as well.

 

3. HoverBike

I know, it’s disappointing, we were all looking forward to jet-packs in the future. We may be lacking in that regard, but hopefully the Malloy Aeronautics revolutionary HoverBike can remedy this dilemma. This diverse tool can lift it all. It’s most current build allows transporting up to 300 lbs of food, aid, equipment, or most importantly, people! Welcome to the future.

credit

The design is backed by research conducted at the US Army research labs.  This vehicle can lift 130kg (300lb) just like a helicopter, can fly to the same speed and height as a typical light helicopter, but unlike a helicopter it can operate safely close to the ground and around people, and can be done so, with little or no training.

This English based team has already signed a contract with the US Army granting them full collaboration with their research laboratory. With the help from SURVICE Engineering and only 2 mysterious Angel investors, they’ve basically created a user-friendly helicopter bike. 2018 doesn’t get any cooler than that.

 

HoverBike’s easy to learn, easy to use features make this invention market friendly. That combined with it’s sheer strength and power based off a helicopter makes the HoverBike stand out from any similar prototype of the past. Its’ patent is currently pending, but they anticipate this product to enter the market by the end of the year. We may not have jet-packs, but we’ll have the HoverBike.

 

2. Canute Braile e-reader

Bristol Braille took due diligence working closely with the blind community and for the blind community when creating this special e-reader. Nooks and kindles are integrated into our society at an affordable price, and Bristle Braille took the initiative to accomplished this feat for the blind community.

This pristine new braille e-reader holds thousands of e-book files easily accessible by its interactive user interface. Canute introduces the first “multi-line” technology, in comparison to the single-lined machine standard. Multi lines are incredibly important because they give greater interpretation of context to subjects such as science, mathematics, music notation, and even poetry.

“The foundation of Center for Braille Innovation was to be the broker around the world and find what new technologies we can leverage to really support braille, e-braille as well’

says Brian MacDonald, president of the National Braille Press, a contributing organization to the Braillists community. He continues,

“I have to give credit to two guys…two doctoral students at MIT from India. They went to a school for the blind there and saw that these kids were struggling to just measure inch marks…just struggling”

The Bristol Braille community works with the Braillists, in addition to other organizations, in the research and creation of the Canute. If it sounds like a lot of organizations and groups came together to work on this, it’s because they did.

Bristol Braille Canute is expected for release by Spring of 2018 and is available for pre-order now.

 

 

1. Pilot Translating Earpiece

After closely watching every step of this product’s development, this invention makes top of the list, no question about it. I believe Pilot to be the most exciting, and potentially, the most influential of all. What’s greater than breaking barriers, in real time? Everything from their design, product development, online marketing, and user-friendly interface makes this the most anticipated product of the year for me.

 

Pilot’s earpiece provides universal audio translation from one earbud to another, in real time. Essentially, you can speak to your friend in your native language, and they will hear theirs. CEO of Waverly Labs, Andrew Ochoa, initially came up with this world changing idea when he simply met a French girl. He felt frustrated by his inability to communicate with her, all efforts to use translating apps to no avail. He recalls the experience to be horrible, and I can understand why. Having phones up, in our face, takes away the human connection of speaking with someone. The goal of the Pilot Translating Earpiece was to take us back into the real world, phones down, connecting with another human being.

 

It’s easy to see how the function of the invention is invaluable, but what separates Pilot from other tech doesn’t stop there. With electric product development, every minute detail makes a difference. I find all of Pilot’s aesthetics to be visually satisfying in every category to hit. Their logo is smooth and original, the headphones come in three polished colors, and even their websites graphics are super. The headphone’s sleek design is almost reminiscent to Apple’s AirPods with it’s clean and slender design. Even the small holding case screams of the stylistic modern tech design, and it works.

Pilot translating earpiece is scheduled for Spring of 2018.

 

If you’re now looking forward to the release of any of these exciting products please like, share, and subscribe with your friends. I have so much more I look forward sharing with you on future releases, tips, and general inquires about the inventing community.

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Can’t get your cell phone charged? Two high school juniors have a solution!

636495595865485919-Sydney-and-Leena-2.jpgWho hasn’t, at some point, searched high and low for their cell-phone charger? When the power bar on the screen creeps toward zero percent, a sense of panic can set in if a power source to recharge is not readily available.
 
Two high school juniors are working on an invention to solve that problem and forever banish that feeling of dread. Plus, it’s a device that could be in great demand in developing countries that lack the infrastructure for charging cell phones.
 
Sydney Conn and Leena Vyas have a simple solution: Use the wind to help charge cell phones.
 
Best friends since the second grade, the teens won $5,000 in the Innovation Connector’s Big Idea Pitch for their Breeze Charger. The competition took place a few weeks ago in Muncie.
 
Conn is a junior at Winchester Community High School and Vyas is schooled at Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City, Ohio, near Dayton. They met in second grade at the Montessori school in Greenville, Ohio, and quickly became friends.
In its basic guise, the entrepreneurs have developed a way to harness the power of the wind to turn a propeller that turns a generator, creating electricity to charge a cell phone or rechargeable battery.
 
Vyas got the idea while on a family trip to India. She noticed many people didn’t have a proper home, but almost everyone had a cell phone. It was a big problem, she said, to find somewhere to recharge the phone. “So the idea came to use the wind created by a moving vehicle to charge the devices,” she said.
 
That can be a car or a rickshaw, either pulled or powered by pedals or a small engine. The two said their invention could be used in developing nations where there is no reliable supply of electricity.
 
Vyas worked on her idea in the seventh grade as a science fair project. Vyas asked Conn to join her in their freshman year, 2015, when they presented their invention at a conference in New York City.
The prototype used a large propeller and a stick from one of those flags people attach to their car windows to show support for their favorite team.Sydney Conn holds two models of a "Breeze Charger," a device to harness the wind to charge cell phones. Conn and her friend, Leena Vyas, were Big Idea Pitch winners for their breeze chargers invention.
 
The second model was much smaller, but too expensive to produce because of the plastic casing. It also didn’t work well in low wind conditions.
 
“So we realized we needed a fan that spun easier,” Vyas said. “And we wanted to be able to use it on bikes so it could be used in Third World countries, even if you didn’t have a car.”
 
Ever resourceful, the pair solved the expense problem by using part of a plastic water bottle, an item that is plentiful in developing countries, they said.
 
 
Models three and four ditched the propeller, after consulting with engineers, in favor of a “muffin fan” that spins much more easily. Think of the fan in the back of an older desktop computer for a visual.
 
The larger fan spins better, Vyas said, “because it had more surface area for the wind to hit.”
 
Conn said a switch was added so the user could recharge a battery for use later or a cell phone.
 
It only takes one minute to charge the battery at 30 mph, and six full charges can juice up an iPhone 7. Flip phones, Conn noted, take less power than iPhones.
 
Conn said her aunt heard about the Innovation Connector’s Big Idea Pitch on the radio and encouraged the girls to enter.
 
In preparation, Conn attended workshops there and the girls worked on a presentation. On the first night of competition, they went up against 40 other entrants, each doing a three-minute presentation or pitch. They advanced into the top five.
 
The top five (actually six were chosen) moved on to the Excellence in Innovation Awards Banquet where they presented their ideas to about 350 community movers and shakers and a panel of judges. Conn and Vyas were the youngest presenters.
 
“They had a special ‘it’ factor,” said Ted Baker, executive director of the Innovation Connector. “The cool thing is, they won with a great presentation and a well-thought-out product that has meaning to it.”

Shown are some prototype models of "Breeze Chargers" developed by Leena Vyas and Sydney Conn. At left is the original model. At right are the latest versions. The devices use the wind to charge cell phones or batteries.

Did the girls think they would win?
“No!” they both said at once.
 
“We were super nervous. We practiced our pitch probably 50 times before we went,” Conn said.

 

“I would have been a lot more nervous if I was up there by myself,” Vyas added. “Having Sydney there made it a lot better.”
Besides the $5,000 prize, which the pair will split and use for college, they also get to use the Innovation Connector’s marketing, consultation and legal services to further develop the Breeze Charger.
Both girls are thinking about careers, and it’s a good bet theirs will include science.
 
Conn is seeking a career in the medical field, possibly becoming an anesthesiologist.
 
Vyas wants to be an engineer.
 
Their college choices have not been made, but they speak highly of a recent visit to Earlham College, where they met the head of the entrepreneur center.
 
As for the Breeze Charger, the plan is to further develop the design and get it patented.
 
Vyas said they want to make 10 working breeze chargers and give them to people to test out. “Then, once we finalize our design, we hope to send them overseas so people can use them for the main purpose we created them for.”
 
“Our main goal is to help people rather than for us to earn money,” Conn said. “We want to help people in other countries that don’t have the same opportunities that we have in the United States.”
Via http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2017/12/25/cant-get-your-cell-phone-charged-two-high-school-juniors-have-solution/964395001/

Colorado girl, troubled by Flint water crisis more than 1,000 miles away, invents lead detector

Image may contain: 1 person, smilingOutside Denver, a talented 12-year-old is getting national attention. It’s not for her music, it’s for Gitanjali Rao’s contribution to science.

“If my mom asked me what do you want for Christmas, I’d be like, lead,” Gitanjali said.

That’s right, lead, which Gitanjali needed for an invention.

“Imaging living day in and day out drinking contaminated water with dangerous substances like lead. Introducing tethys, the easy to use, fast, accurate, a portable and inexpensive device to detect lead in water,” Gitanjali said in her presentation for the Young Scientist Challenge. She won the national competition for her invention.

It was inspired by a real-world problem. “I’ve been following the Flint water crisis for about two years,” Gitanjali said.

In Flint, Michigan, nearly 100,000 residents drank lead-contaminated water for more than a year.

“Lead is mostly harmful to younger children, about my age — giving them growth defects and potentially damaging their brain,” Gitanjali said.

Gitanjali said that despite living in thousands of miles away from Flint, “that’s not something I want to go through, what the Flint residents went through .. our water quality’s just as important as doctor’s appointments or dentist’s appointments.”

If you’ve never tested your water, Gitanjali said “that’s a big problem!”

No automatic alt text available.With Gitanjali’s device, instead of taking days to send water samples to a lab, her device detects lead in seconds using carbon molecules — and a mobile app.

She’s one of many who love science at school, but one of the few who turned an idea into an invention, said teacher Simi Basu.

“I am so confident that she will be able to take it to the market if we keep providing her help,” Basu said. She said what makes Gitanjali different is that she is a “risk taker — she’s not afraid to fail.”

She said her next project is to create a “happiness meter which measures the amount of serotonin in your body or the amount of gamma rays and I still have to figure out how this works.”

When she does, the science world will be waiting.

Image may contain: one or more people and indoor

Forbes’ ’30 Under 30′ salutes 15-year-old Munster inventor, scientist, Annie Ostojic

Annie Ostojic

Annie Ostojic began winning state and national recognition for her scientific projects and inventions as a 9-year-old student at Frank Hammond Elementary School.

Recently, Forbes Magazine named the 15-year-old Munster High School sophomore to its “30 Under 30” list joining more than 4,000 past game-changers such as basketball’s LeBron James and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The youngest named in this year’s energy category, Ostojic is the third-youngest selected for 2018.

Nominations span the world with 15,000 to 20,000 applicants vying for a spot in 20 different categories including art, education, finance, games, healthcare, manufacturing and industry, and science.

According to Forbes Magazine, one “30 under 30” alum serves as a judge in each of the 20 categories, with 30 honorees named in each category. The honorees are vetted by a panel of blue-ribbon judges in their respective fields.

“I don’t know who nominated me,” Ostojic said. “In October, I received an email from Forbes to send in more information.”

On Nov. 14, Forbes notified Ostojic she had been selected, recognizing her as an innovator and student researcher for two inventions — her development of a novel microwave design, and her reflective device using indoor lighting to collect solar power and charge hearing aid batteries.

Ostojic’s invention of a better microwave involves a cavity design that uses cylindrical parabolic reflectors to cook food thoroughly while also saving energy. In 2015, the then-13-year-old Wilbur Wright Middle School student was named the top middle school science student in the nation for that microwave design and winner of the $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize.

For that Broadcom Masters science competition in Silicon Valley, California, Ostojic was selected from a field more than 2,200 students in the nation by a panel of scientists.

Ostojic said her newest invention honored by Forbes was inspired by a friend whose hearing aids require changing 200 batteries a year.

Her reflective device uses indoor lighting from LED bulbs to generate solar energy that recharges batteries in a process known as photovoltaics.

“One hearing aid battery can recharge in aAnnie Ostojic, Munster High School half hour,” Ostojic said about her invention that could prevent these batteries from being disposed of in landfills. “This is a huge problem. More than 3 billion of these batteries are discarded every year.”

Currently, Ostojic has two provisional patents and met former President Barack Obama twice at the White House after winning national science competitions with her microwave design.

“We went to the EPA and the patent office,” she said about her trips to Washington, D.C. “I also met Bill Nye the Science Guy and was interviewed on NPR.”

As a freshman at Munster High School, Ostojic qualified for the INTEL International Science Fair as one of 14 delegates from Indiana.

“The first time you can compete internationally is when you’re in high school. You have to be picked from your state,” she said of the May 2017 experience in which she was one of four girls in the state delegation.

Some 2,700 delegates from the U.S. and around the world gathered at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the INTEL science fair, she said. “The purpose is to network with other kids. Each of us was given pins and a lanyard,” she said.

As the students networked, they exchanged pins that were attached to the lanyards.

Wearing her lanyard festooned with pins from various states and nations around the world, Ostojic said, “I’m still in contact with people from India, Singapore, and China.”

Networking also is at the heart of Ostojic’s Forbes recognition.

As a member of Forbes’ “30 Under 30″ list, Ostojic will be able to network with all those previous, current and future innovators and industry leaders.

“For the past seven years, the Forbes ’30 Under 30′ list has emerged as the way that the world discovers the next generation of entrepreneurs and game-changers,” said Randall Lane, editor of Forbes Magazine and creator of the Forbes Under 30 franchise.

“This is the ultimate club: the people that will reinvent every field over the next century.”

Ostojic said she wants to concentrate on helping younger students achieve their dreams through science.

For her own future, she said, “I’m very interested in engineering and the medical field. And working with computers.”

Annie Ostojic of Munster

 

via http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/forbes-under-salutes–year-old-munster-inventor-scientist-annie/article_3b0caab0-2050-5cd8-a1ec-d589cb59f226.html