Local

Young inventors share their ideas at Kettering

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Tags:

local, randy conat

Randy Conat
More: Bio, E-mail, News Team

FLINT (WJRT) -- (05/06/09) -- Some sharp, young thinkers showed off their inventions today at Flint's Kettering University.

They were told to solve some "every day problems" and that's just what they did.

Don't you just hate it when you're riding your bike and there's nothing around to eat? Problem solved. "I have crackers and Bugles," Snack Hat inventor John Trecha said.

Reporter: Can I have a cracker, please? Do dogs follow you, trying to get a snack?

null: Follow us on Twitter

Trecha: No. Right now, I'm in the middle of making a Web site and I'm planning to sell them.

A fifth grader attached some LED lights to the fingertips of a glove. "It has many uses: camping, fishing, night barbecue, power outages," Light Glove inventor Thomas Beaubien explained.

When little children have trouble falling asleep, what about a pillow that plays a lullaby? You'll want to talk to Terrell Jackson, the inventor of the Sleepy Time Pillow.

Reporter: Does it make you sleepy? I fell asleep in under five minutes.

One of the more annoying, yet practical inventions, is a walker with an alarm on it. You press the button and get a loud alarm. You can get people to move out of your way.

If you need some medical help, it always there.

Reporter: How did you come up with that idea?

Deonna Steele, Walker Alert inventor: I was just thinking about helping the elderly?

In all, 115 students submitted ideas for the Young Inventors Fair.

"The main goal is get them to be good problem solvers, team players and creative thinkers," said Sue Tippett form the Genesee County Intermediate School District.

That they are.

Don't you just hate it when you get uncooked popcorn seeds in your popcorn? So does Elise Cassidy. That's why she invented Kick Out Kernels. "There's a little disk underneath the bowl that catches seeds. After eight shakes you take the lid off and throw the seeds away."

These young inventors prove they're putting their thinking caps on.