Help me get $10,000 from Best Buy for my invention


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Unlike the others here, I can clearly see that it is just a prototype, not a polished product. You have already done a lot of work with a working prototype and an attractive website, you are this ][ close into turning it into a Kickstarter Project where you can set a $10,000 goal and you will probably far exceed the target if it gains traction. I wouldn't bother with Best Buy. Their financial outlook is not that great so they could pull the plug on you at any time.

We are planning on doing a Kickstarter project once we get a more polished version out there, otherwise the reaction would be largely negative due to the fact that most people cannot see further than what's in front of them. This is a one-off contest by Best Buy, and even if we do not win the popularity contest, we still have a chance of being picked to win the grand prize of $50,000 or the second and third prizes for $20,000. The way I'm looking at it is there's nothing we can lose from doing this, so might as well :)

Let's face it, people text and drive even knowing the risk involved. I think if a technology that allows SAFE texting while driving, then that just might save lives. Right now I am able to type without looking due to the fact that I can literally *feel* what key I pressed.

And how do you read incoming texts?

I type 120-130WPM. Why would I want to use this on a PC? I am not being a jerk, I am seriously asking.

Thanks. :)

I am using it on a PC when I'm feeling lazy and don't want to set two hands on the keyboard to type...like what I am doing right now. I definitely don't type as fast as I would with two hands on a regular keyboard, but it's just really fun and feel magical to type this way and I could layback in my chair and put my hand anywhere. I also find it really convenient to not have to move my right hand between the keyboard and the mouse, since my left hand is all that's needed to type.

Thanks. That is an alphabet on the fingers, and the idea is you could learn the key layout and literally feel which key you are pressing because you are pressing against your own skin. It took me a day to get used to the new way of typing and 2 more days to memorize the layout. Now think about how long it took you to learn to type without looking at the keyboard.

Ok, I understand it better now. Yes once memorized that would be nice. There would be no more fingers or keyboard blocking a display. However, I still would not want to wear a glove. Maybe you guys can look into using a camera or some other non-intrusive sensor for the finger movement. What if you could pick up a measurement of electrical signals from the muscles or skin in the fingers for the sensor.

Ok, I understand it better now. Yes once memorized that would be nice. There would be no more fingers or keyboard blocking a display. However, I still would not want to wear a glove. Maybe you guys can look into using a camera or some other non-intrusive sensor for the finger movement. What if you could pick up a measurement of electrical signals from the muscles or skin in the fingers for the sensor.

Making the apparatus as non-intrusive as possible is our biggest challenge. Initially we are looking at ways to make the glove more breathable and more fashionable looking, something that you would wear and look cool even. The goal here is to make the device really affordable, so people may try it out for a low price and then decide for themselves if they like the new way of typing or not. For that to work, our current technology would be the best solution due to the lower cost.

  • 5 weeks later...

So I did not end up winning the $10,000, because the most popular idea had over 1000 votes, and mine only had around 100. Instead, I won $20,000 as a runner-up to the Grand Prize! Press release here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/18/idUS171097+18-Sep-2012+HUG20120918

So happy with this and I look forward to putting the money to accelerate the development and starting a Kickstarter campaign :)

I suggest you look up the FingerRing keyboard, there where several different working models out there at the time. but I think that was the main one used by many for a virtual keyboard that was in fact faster to use than a regular keyboard.

Ah man when you first made this post i didn't bother to lookup the product...second time around i figured i'll take and searched "FingerRing" the results..they weren't exactly what i was expecting :p

So I did not end up winning the $10,000, because the most popular idea had over 1000 votes, and mine only had around 100. Instead, I won $20,000 as a runner-up to the Grand Prize! Press release here: http://www.reuters.c...012+HUG20120918

So happy with this and I look forward to putting the money to accelerate the development and starting a Kickstarter campaign :)

Sorry to hear is that a typo though?

didn't win $10k but won $20k as runner up? seems like it's not worth winning :laugh: or did you mean $2k?

Congratulations, but what I don't understand is that you won twice as much money as you were aiming for and now you are going to start a kickstarter campaign? Are you just trying to grab as much money as you can or do you actually need more funding?

Congratulations, but what I don't understand is that you won twice as much money as you were aiming for and now you are going to start a kickstarter campaign? Are you just trying to grab as much money as you can or do you actually need more funding?

Shooting a Kickstart campaign video is surprisingly expensive (I kid you not, I got a quote of $30k once). I joked about starting a site for kickstarting kickstarter campaigns. Developing a hardware project is expensive in general, as we are custom designing system from ground up. Securing the patent also racks up the legal fee which hits 5 digits. There's obviously a lot to be done so the end product doesn't end up bulky as the Power Glove posted above. There are some proprietary technologies that will help us shrink the profile and make the glove really streamlined and slick, however that technology will literally cost an arm because wearable tech is such a new field.

  • 5 weeks later...

Nice job on the runner up! Very cool concept. Now not only do you get the satisfaction of the recognition and the money, but now you're allowed to point and laugh at all the idiots who made fun of it earlier in the thread. Enjoy! :)

As Kevin O'Leary would say your idea is a dead one take the money and run...

I disagree wholeheartedly. I do not expect most people to look further than what's in front of them, because that requires critical thinking and not criticism thinking. Most people would look at the picture and dismiss it as being ugly or dysfunctional (just look in this thread :rolleyes: ), without even realizing that it's just a prototype and proof of concept.

If you could look beyond a keyboard and view it as a platform, then the potential is limitless. I've already have people from different industries reaching out to me for specific applications of the technology, so "take the money and run" is the last thing I will do.

  • 2 weeks later...

The idea is outdated and pointless. I see no use of your idea at all.

agreed .... sorry but he is right no point in it, 1 it looks hideous, 2 its pointless 3, no.... I was really let down when i saw the video I was expecting you to type and the gloves register the movments (like an imaginary key board) this is just.... crap .... im sorry but I have to be harsh

Nice job on the runner up! Very cool concept. Now not only do you get the satisfaction of the recognition and the money, but now you're allowed to point and laugh at all the idiots who made fun of it earlier in the thread. Enjoy! :)

I still mock it :/ its awful .... just because someone didnt do as badly as someone else does not mean their product was better... just there are things alot worse out there....

Really should focus on the medical field where this will be good. It is not a junk proof of concept. yes your prototype looks worse than most cosplay but it is a working prototype. now comes refinement and design. I wish you luck.

Now do you have right and left handed prototypes? I see in the short video how things work and if you can get it tweaked I think there will be a very good niche market in the medical field for this. Better, breathable material, more refined look, and it can work. good luck.

People seem to not know how creating something goes through phases.

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