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'American Inventor' pours on the pathos
Three ideas got through on American Inventor this week. Two had heart-stirring, sniffle-inducing back stories about helping people, saving lives and overcoming adversity. The other was a marginally useful gee-whiz consumer product. Guess which one got through.
Spoilers ahead.
Once again, the folks producing and editing this show love to sensitive tear-jerking moment. You could just imagine how thrilled the production folks must have been when they saw a hardened police officer's lower lip trembling as he described how colleagues of his had died, and how his invention may be able to save others in the future. And oh, what glee them must have felt when judge Sarah Blakely started getting weepy at the thought of a deaf boy's struggle to be understood. They even started playing Superman (It's Not Easy), ferchrissakes. Oy.
But pathos-friendly storylines and mass-market products that can bring in a gazillion dollars are apparently two separate things. Those two heart-stirring products could seriously make a difference in the world, but for different reasons, they didn't make it past the judges. So we're left with gadgets and gizmos, and nothing that stirs the soul. Maybe that's too much to ask from reality TV.
Good ideas
The Wallbanger, a tactical utility pole that S.W.A.T. and police officers would use to safely break down doors. Using a battering ram to break down a door can put officers in danger -- it can take a long time, and the people using the ram are vulnerable to gunfire. This device uses a flash-bang grenade and focuses the explosion on a door to knock it down. It's pretty cool, and the footage of the product in action sure looked convincing. Peter warned that this wasn't a mass-market product, but the rest of the judges loved it.
The Voice Inside, a handheld voice recognition and interpretive system for the deaf. Hearing people speak into a microphone and have their words appear onscreen for the deaf person to read. The deaf person would type out his or her reply; those words would be translated into speech, basically fostering conversations without the use of an interpreter. Sounds like a great idea, but it's still very much in the concept stage. Pat worried that the $50,000 seed money wouldn't be enough to implement the idea. The rest of the judges sent it through.
[A side note: The inventor told how isolating it was living in a house with four hearing people, when only one could use and understand sign language. But this is his family. He's been deaf for his entire 20-year life. Are you seriously telling me no one besides his mother could be bothered to learn American Sign Language in all that time? Come on, people!]
EZT4U, an automatic tea maker that fits on existing coffeemakers. The inventors say it allows you to brew a perfect cup of tea every time, whether you're using black, green or herbal tea leaves. The judges are all over it, but I really can't believe it's that difficult to brew a cup of tea.
Decent idea, but not quite good enough
54-piece cake cutter, a grid you push down onto a sheet cake to make 54 uniform slices. This wouldn't be a home product, but it would work well for commercial settings, like cafeterias and food service. The judges ultimately passed because it didn't have mass-market appeal. I could see it working, and I hope the inventor keeps at it -- but he spent an insane amount of money getting it developed.
Bad ideas
A potty-training chair that uses lights and music to encourage kids to "make a deposit" and flush. It's more likely to make kids avoid the potty hair at all osts, and therefore consign them to diapers for life.
An automatic meat cooker, which was basically a toaster-like apparatus for meat. Peter liked his steak, but it took way too long to cook.
Electric fingernail tool, a power sander for fingernails. It looks like something I saw in the industrial safety film "Shake Hands with Danger," which is all about the various ways you can lose limbs on a job site. It's terrifying, and there's no way anyone would go near it.
Obligatory crazy person
Rose, an "inventor" from Utah who came in with "Love Test." It's a song. It's not even a good song. And even if it was a good song, it wouldn't be an invention. The judges all told her she came to the wrong show. They also should have told her to update her meds. She seemed more pathetically deluded than malevolent, however, and I'm kind of mad at the production folks for putting her on so we could point and laugh. That's the aspect of reality TV I hate.
The finalists
In Houston, the two heart-warming products that could save or improve lives -- the Voice Inside and the Wallbanger -- went up against the Wrap Away dispenser, a rack for various kitchen wraps, which is vaguely cool but hardly something anyone really needs.
In Tampa, The three finalists were EZT4U, the automatic tea maker; Reid Building Blocks, the fireproof, floodproof building material; and Easy Mower, the amazingly maneuverable lawnmower.
And what did the judges send through? The kitchen wrap dispenser and the tea maker.
Really? Those were the best, brightest, coolest products? Those were the things the judges could see everyone clamoring to buy? Those qualify as great inventions? Both are my least favorite products from their respective groups. They just seem tired, kind of pointless, and not terribly new or exciting. Either the judges are underestimating the American public, or I'm overestimating a summer TV show.
Did either of the winning products blow you away? Which of the products they showed tonight would you have picked to win?
It seems to me that you should actually have an invention to win on American Inventor. There are lots of wrap dispensers already on the market that fit under the cupboard or in a drawer: http://www.nmoa.org/Products/npc2001/wrapcenter.htm
John | Jul 19, 2007 9:33:08 AM | #Yup saran wrap dispensers are even available at Home Depot!! And you can buy a Voice Recognition small computer now - someone from the inventing show should point at that and maybe even buy it for the nice guy. Also - there are dozens of excellent tea machines on the market - besides a zillion ways to boil water. Let's see, those two, a bra with alot of straps, a fancy hook to hang your bike, a fire extinguisher for your Christmas tree - best to keep water in the basin and the Remote Control paper cars, planes HT Racers.
Seems like HT Racers from Ricky DeRennaux is an invention that has major product appeal and possibilities.
Could be great to see next week on how all these folks improved on their inventions.I think that is when the vote is - next week.
Terry | Jul 19, 2007 3:13:49 PM | #I was very disappointed with your award to the silly Wrap dispensers thing and it should be award to the Deaf boy who show the needs for the voice Recognition to be inventor, He is not the only Deaf family but we have 28 million Deaf and Hard of Hearing living in America that need like that to save interpreter cost. WE have Deaf family, I sincerly would use this technolgy thing than the silly wrap thing. we hope you use this very wiseful in future ,
Donald Miksell | Jul 19, 2007 7:09:16 PM | #Shame on the Deaf boys family especially Mom and Dad! Do they know what child abuse is? The fact that they decided not to learn ASL (except Mom)is terrilbe. Now the boy feels as though he is poor lonely Deaf boy who can not be independent! Where is the family and why aren't they signing. I would love to talk to his Mom and Dad and give them a piece of my mind! Sure his idea may be good but if his family learned ASL then he would not feel so lonely, not independent and sad.
Shame on Mom and Dad! Slowing down your Son and preventing him from communication and making him feel so lonely!
I would like to leave a comment about the deaf boy from Houston. I missed this on Tv, but my mother called me and told me all about it. It was an amazing idea! I have an 18 year old deaf daughter and she is amazing! I am the only one in the household who knows sign language besides her. Plus, her signing blows me away at times and we still sometimes have a problem understanding each other.
She does feel very left out at times when the family gets together, I try and help her understand as much as I can. But the fact remains to whoever wrote this article... until you live the sadness, the pain and feeling left out in a hearing world: you need to keep your opionion to yourself! Also to Mr. Miksel, do you have a child who is deaf? Probably not! It is hard raising a deaf child, even more so when they have other health issues. So my friend you have no right saying; shame on the deaf boys family! I love my daughter very much and so does the rest of our family. Until you walk in our shoes, keep your trap closed!
To Mr. Miksel.I am so sorry. I got the wrong name and my comment was to Kris.
Terri | Jul 20, 2007 8:08:44 PM | #Sad but absolutely true - the majority of deaf people who grow up in hearing families are often the ONLY person who signs. The fact that twice a mother was mentioned as the only person who learned some ASL to communicate is great. There are thousands of families where no one learns at all. yes that may be hard to believe, Sarah, but it is absolutely and sadly true. Regardless of the family, the speech recognition invention is a good one because once a deaf person leaves school and family the majority of people they come into contact with are indeed hearing who do not sign or have patience.
Lisa | Jul 21, 2007 10:54:39 AM | #Teri,
I am Deaf and my family does sign, so I can say that! I know the world hearing and Deaf! A family that does not take the time to learn ASL is Typical and is wrong it is child abuse and I will say shame on them and I know what I talk about! I think invention is good but someone who has to stand there and be pathetic and oh poor me has been stunted and has no pride as Deaf! He has been abused by the family and the mother has developed an isestuaist relatioship forcing him to rely on her completing! A proud Deaf man would not stand on stage and say Oh Poor ME! The would stand on stage with pride! and say this could help the Deaf in emergency situations not stand there and say I cant understand anyone Dad or brother or sister cuz the have not bother to learn my language! Get a clue, a life and send him to Deaf school. Be proud of your Deaf and culture and get out of pitty party.
So, dont critize me I know what it like I am Deaf and I come from supportive loveing famlily that want me to be proud of who I am and guess what they want to know who I am so they learn to talk to me! So I do have the right to say shame on Mom and Dad and the family!
I think the cake cutter would have mass market appeal. I would like to know how many Costco sheet cakes are sold a year. I'm a stay at home Mom and I have bought Costco sheet cakes for birthday parties, Scout banquets, we had them at my wedding, etc... I would love to have one of his inventions.
Aimee | Aug 2, 2007 9:43:14 PM | #Hello 4-judge American inventor.
My idea invention as Cat
litter W/ wheel plug.
1.) your save back.
2.) your save money!!!
3.) your less 1 min clean up
by cat litter.
4.) less dust.......
5.) you can move cat litter
W/ wheel. easier to
clean up on floor.
6.) save news for you....ok
I believe it. you
like that about it.
I am deafness. and I want
to my own small business
for my shop outfitters,
plasma cam and weld,,,,
ETC. Plan new building
for shop as 40`x 100`x 16`
handcraft and invention.
by
Bryan Duerst
P.s. I looking at
for fund or grant !!
and I say thank you.
too much. Did all judge
support of deaf peoples.
I can`t believe that it.
I say deaf peoples pride.
and can do it`s.....
7.) give me a call here first thing u need to is dial the nbr is 1 866 327 8877 then give the interpreter my phone nbr is 715 355 5510 then interpreter will dail for you and we will use interpreter thru communcations... or u can send me e mail is native_69_deaf@yahoo.com thanks....
one more... I tell you. about
my idea inventions "lots of
somethings". save news for you
I want to know. When ? plan
again, will a American
invention on tv this 2008 ?
they I will bring a my idea
invention. Do you call to me ?
Just I asked you....
my idea invention,
Bryan
thank you,
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