Tech Directions - May 2008 - (Page 21)

Second place: Dylan Gilbert, grade 8, DuBray Middle School, St. Peter, MO. Teacher: Donna Marx Picture Holder My invention is to use the Ping-Pong ball as a picture holder. You need to flatten an area on the ball by cutting a little off the bottom. You then glue the bottom of the ball to a piece of sheet metal. When the glue dries, cut the sheet metal to fit the circumference of the ball. Make a slit on the top where the picture will go. The slit should go almost to the bottom of the ball. If desired, paint the ball before you make the cuts. My invention could improve people’s lives by helping their budget and style. You could buy a pack of six Ping-Pong balls for $10, a small can of paint for $3, and a piece of sheet metal for $5, which adds up to $18— less than half the price you’d pay for commercial picture frames. And making Ping-Pong ball picture holders is an easy way to add your own personal style to your room or house. Judge’s comments: Dylan thinks out of the box here with a simple and practical application for folks to make their own picture frame holders. I can see these being sold as kits in hobby and homemaking stores. Dylan, think a little bit more about the picture frame part, and maybe you want to use two ping-pong ball halves for larger pictures . . .then think about taking this idea commercial! Third place: Dan Shannon, Lakewood (OH) High School Teacher: Jan McAndrew Water Purifier My invention is a water purifier. My problem statement is that people in third world countries just use bowls to catch rainwater, which is unsanitary. A simple water purifier could make the water safer. I would make it out of Ping-Pong balls, plastic, and screen. The Ping-Pong balls would trap some bacteria in the rainwater. Balls could be purchased in bulk for as little as $0.40 each in lots of 5,001–10,000. (The most expensive would be $0.89 if bought in lots of 1–100.) The filter’s stainless steel screen is 0.036 dia. wire. Bought in bulk, it would cost $248.97 for 500 sq. ft. The plastic could be recycled plastic bottles, which we could get for free. The cost for the single product, consisting of 20 Ping-Pong balls, recycled plastic, and 6" × 6" screen would be $6.25. I would sell them for $8.99, making a profit of $2,740 on 1,000 purifiers. To make a water purifier, refer to the drawing. Put the recycled cylinder on top of the tray. Then, place the Ping-Pong balls in the cylinder. You will not have to assemble with screws because the cylinder will be heavy enough to stand on its own. You also want it to be easy to disassemble for cleaning. The molding of the cylinder and tray will be done by us. They will be packaged with the Ping-Pong balls and screen. Judge’s comments: I can see Dan’s invention being used in developing countries. The large surface area of the Ping-Pong balls can effectively help to clean and purify water. A simple antiseptic treatment applied to the surface of the balls prior to assembly may also greatly aid their effectiveness. A very nice job here. www.techdirections.com TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION 21 http://www.techdirections.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - May 2008

Tech Directions - May 2008 Contents Technically Speaking Direct from Washington The News Report Mastering Computers Technology's Past Technology Today Road to Success - Service Learning Enhances Tech Ed Experience Balsa Tower Walls Brave 'Big Buster' These Kids Are Really on the Ball - Inventors Competition Winners School Web Site of the Month Animator Career Exploration Tools Guide Index to Volume 67 More than Fun

Tech Directions - May 2008

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