OMG! I am in geek nirvana!  If you haven't heard, an IBM 'Blue Gene' supercomputer is going to compete on Jeopardy! The New York Times reports that human champions are able to provide correct responses 85% of the time to questions asked.

The computer will offer answers to the question via a synthesized voice and will choose its own follow up categories. IBM says that for the show, the computer would not be connected to the internet. How Watson will be presented and what gender the computer will be are under consideration. A screen and a projected avatar are one consideration. I think they should make the computer have the image and responses of Saturday Night Live JEOPARDY! spoof featuring Will Ferrel as Alex Tribec and a 'Sean Connery'-like contestant - remember how funny those skits were?

 Ready to build your own supercomputer, 4G device, or household appliance?  Start small my inventor friends. Patent your idea first to protect it!  - Peace out...Danni

Hi Raina,

We're thinking along the same lines... the question of when a new concept is just too different for the general public. Will people adapt to the new concept in a short enough period of time to make the product successful, or will it never catch on. That's an interesting question for inventors that are pushing the envelope beyond what is known and familiar.

I don't know, but I can only imagine that some of the everyday items that are so familiar to us that we take them for granted were once different and shocking when they were first invented. There is still a small segment of the population that refuses to use computers......Something I can't relate to at all!

Thanks for your comment!

Danni

 Hey inventors! Happy Spring. The weather is absolutely gorgeous. I'm interested in hearing from you. What do you think of this new invention? So many inventions can go either way. When you step out of the box to be innovative, you can either revolutionize a product or shock people so much that they aren't ready for such a drastic change. Let me know what you think of this, and the topic of too much change too fast on the buying public. It seems like we embrace technology, but europeans are more open to alternative architecture, etc.  What's your opinion? 

What the !*#&*%...??? That's what I first said when I saw this new product.

No this isn't a freaky flashback, or a smoke-induced hallucination. This is a new invention to gas kids at the dentist office while they play a Gameboy. Somehow I think this will sell more for "aftermarket" uses (like exports to Amsterdam). Don't eat that funky brownie... get to work on your idea.

Biomed technology is so cool!  In the 1940's it was hypothesized that our ears emit unique sounds based on the vibrations of hair folicles inside. It wasn't until the introduction of supersensitive microphones that these unique ear emission sounds could be detected. A UK scientist is researching whether these unique sounds can be used as an identity verification over the phone much like a retinal scan in person. Read more.

In other invention news...did you know that the birth control pill was invented in Mexico? It's amazing the array of inventions that are high-tech, low-tech, and everywhere in between to save lives, make our days easier, etc. Your invention ideas as worth merit.  Keep inventing peeps!

For the man who has it all.... the gold bullion wireless mouse (I'm sure Trump has three. One for his penthouse, another for his office, and the third for his yacht.)

 This gold bullion wireless mouse is a new invention that sells for $35. You'd be surprised how small items like this can turn into big money for the inventor. If you have a more high-tech invention that you're working on, check out this site. Whether your invention is large or small, simple or high-tech, protect your ideas! Get started for free. Catch ya' later bloggers and inventors...

Response to Arnie:

Golf carts are cool these days. Check this out:

 This is the Hummer golf cart, they make Escalades and other luxury models too. This is the must-have for the rich and famous. Sports stars, entertainers, etc. are all getting them.

This new invention falls under the "is this for real...?" category:

As if the smart car was already too big...

Check out the latest "Puma" car, an invention from GM and Segway...

The self-balancing Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (P.U.M.A.) can reach top speeds of 35 MPH, has a lithium battery that lasts up to 35 miles with a single charge, and features vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication for potentially reducing the number of accidents. No word on when or if this'll actually go into production but it's expected to be priced at just 25% that of a regular automobile.

So if the average car costs $25,000 then this would come in at around $6,520. How is this any different than driving a golf cart? I'd rather have the golf cart...which in retirement communities they drive around town and to the store anyway...

If you're brewing over your own design for the latest personal transportation solution, be sure to get started on your patent. Get started for free with a reputable company like:

http://www.sellidea.com/

Happy inventing!

 

  Guys, thanks for indulging my recent passion for robots. I couldn't resist showing you this... When are they going to bring back the Robot Wars TV show? Wouldn't that be cool...

"Sculptor Kenji Yanobe's Giant Torayan robot, a 7.2-meter (24-ft) tall mechanical baby that sings, dances and spits fire, was sighted in Tokyo's Roppongi district last night. The fire-breathing robot spent the night on center stage at "Roppongi Art Night," an all-night event featuring installations and performances by dozens of artists at various venues in the area."

I know you guys could build something this cool and sell it. Be sure to patent your idea first!

Pablo, as far as I can tell, this mower is still in development. I read up on it more and it should work like a Roomba for the lawn. I agree with M3 that I'll wait for the price to come down.  Afterall, we'd still have to empty the grass by hand and I'm not about the outdoors or manual labor. I'd pay that much for something that cleaned itself too...