Idea of the Day - A new idea each day. Some Don't Suck!

Our Latest Posts About: Safety

We Need Better Pedestrian Technology

Sunday, July 16, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Pedestrians need better technology to avoid accidents at intersections.

Cars today are loaded with all sorts of technology to avoid accidents, but pedestrians technology hasn't changed in decades. Isn't it time somebody put some effort into finding new ways to cut down on the number of pedestrian accidents too?

The problem is many drivers speed up when the traffic light is about to change, often catching pedestrians by surprise, giving them no time to get out of the way. What we need is a warning system for both the driver and pedestrian, based on radar, sonar or laser sensors. When sensors detect a car zooming down the block in the direction of a pedestrian, both the pedestrian and the car should have some sort of visible and audible warning that there's a potential collis... [More]

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Big Brother... Rear Bumper Cameras

Thursday, June 29, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Rearview bumper cameras are a great idea. Here's how to make them better.

I love the rear view bumper camera on my new truck, but it's a shame it's only turned on whenever I'm backing up. This made me think about other uses for it. For example, why not use the camera to make full-time recordings of whatever's behind you... in case you need evidence after somebody hits you from behind?

This would be super easy for car makers to implement. All they need to do is keep the camera on the entire time, and continuously record whatever is behind you on an endless loop. In the event of an impact, the recordings would be frozen, so they aren't automatically erased.

Power Cords 101

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Are you using the right power cords?

Choosing the right power cord is something many people take for granted. After all, if your tools turn on when you plug them in, doesn't that mean it's okay? Not quite.

Here's what you need to know. Some power tools require a lot of power, and although they'll turn on using just about any cord, that doesn't mean it's a good fit.

When you use an extension cord that's too thin, it puts a strain on the cord itself. As it heats up, it's not only a safety hazard, but your tools won't work right. This is especially true of tools like drills, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, and just about anything with a motor because the motors won't spin as fast as they should.

Keep in mind, length is another huge factor. The longer the extension cor... [More]

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Tire Changing 101

Friday, May 12, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why do so many people risk their lives changing tires on busy highways and bridges?

The other day I saw somebody in the middle of a bridge changing a flat tire. Can you imagine that? Right in the middle of a bridge! Why on earth would anyone do that?

As I passed the driver, dozens of questions rolled through my mind. When did he notice the flat? Didn't he notice it before getting on the bridge? Did he think something bad would happen if he waited until he reached the other side? Doesn't he realize he could get killed doing this?

Simply stated, you should never change your tire on an active roadway... Ever. The safest thing to do is to slow down, turn on your hazards and slowly drive until you reach a safe place, preferably off the highway and away from busy traffic.... [More]

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Is There Safety in Numbers?

Wednesday, May 10, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why do large crowds of people turn into mobs?

They say there's safety in numbers, but as the numbers get larger, things can get pretty ugly.

For some reason, whenever large groups of people get together, a strange phenomenon takes place. With each new person added to the group, the group turns into a crowd, and as the crowd grows, so does the chance that it will turn into something entirely different... a mob.

Mobs are totally unpredictable, regardless of the situation that brought them together. I first experienced this in 1986, when I went to see the New York Mets ticker tape parade in New York City after winning the World Series. The parade was beautiful and there was nothing but positivity in the air, but as I drifted through the crowd, I soon realized things were get... [More]

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Do We Need MORE Traffic Cameras?

Friday, April 21, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I think we need more traffic cameras, as long as they're used in strategic places.

We all hate traffic cameras... 99% of them are nothing more than traps designed to catch a driver who think's they can make it across an intersection before the yellow light turns red. Clearly their only motive is making money, but I would love to see this technology used for something far more important... catching JERKS who try to cut past traffic by driving on the shoulder.

Sitting in bumper to bumper traffic sucks... but what's even worse is watching a bunch of jerks cut through the traffic by riding in the shoulder. Not only is it frustrating watching them cut ahead of you, but knowing that when they eventually reach the front of the line, they'll only add to the delay as they merge back i... [More]

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Driving Mellow

Monday, April 3, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Before you blow your horn, have you considered the steering wheel?

I'm a mellow guy by nature, and driving is no exception, so it's always fascinated me why so many people act like crazed lunatics behind the wheel.

As a Mellow Driver, I tend to drive in the slower lanes, but I see aggressive drivers every day go nuts flashing their lights and honking their horns whenever the driver in front of them isn't going 80+ miles per hour. When you see their faces, they look like they're about to blow a gasket.

What amazes me most is that they continue to flash and honk for miles, instead of simply grabbing their own steering wheel (yes, all cars have them), and driving around the slower driver. Isn't that easier?

Better Car Blinkers

Wednesday, March 8, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Don't you hate when somebody's turn signal stays on for 20 minutes?

It drives me crazy whenever I drive behind somebody who doesn't realize they left their blinker on and it blinks for miles. It's not only annoying, but its a potential safety hazard because you can't tell if or when they may actually turn or change lanes.

The solution is for car makers to add an override that shuts the blinker off automatically if the driver doesn't make a turn after a certain distance is reached. This is exactly what motorcycle manufacturers have been doing for decades.

Hey Car Makers... Shut the Lights!

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Who's fault is it when your battery dies because you left a light on?

Most cars sound an alarm when you leave your headlights on by mistake, because it could drain your battery, but for some reason, there is no alarm when you leave an interior light on. Why is that?

This little oversight is responsible for countless dead batteries over the years, but the solution is pretty simple.

The easiest solution is to use electronic switches that automatically turn off 5 minutes after you turn them on, so they don't stay on all night. This eliminates the problem entirely because every light, including both interior and exterior lights will shut off long before draining the battery.

A second solution is to simply treat the interior lights the same as headlights, so that if you lea... [More]

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Dash Cams Should Be Standard

Friday, January 13, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why aren't Dash Cams a BUILT-IN option on new cars?

Just minutes after an accident takes place, the facts of the accident start changing. The driver in one car says one thing. The driver in the other car says something completely different, and passengers and witnesses all say something else.

By the next day, each of those stories change even more.

The only story that doesn't change is the one recorded on a Dash Cam. It's the only account of a traffic incident that stays exactly the same, day after day, yet in spite of the popularity of Dash Cams, there are very few drivers who have one. That's because none of the major car makers even offer one as an option. That's a shame. I think they should not only offer them as a built-in option, but they should make them stand... [More]

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Safer Texting Buttons

Tuesday, November 29, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Texting while driving is unsafe. Here's how to make it safer.

We all know how unsafe it is to text and drive, yet it's hard to entirely avoid the distractions because although we can try to resist the urge to type replies while driving, it's hard to ignore reading messages as they arrive.

The solution is to make it easier for people to quickly switch from reading and writing texts to simply talking (hands free) on the phone. To make this happen, smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung can show TWO easy buttons on the lock screen when a text message comes in.

One button sends a reply to the sender that says "Call me".

The second button says "Call Now". It doesn't send a reply. It just dials back the person who sent the text.

In both cases, the driver doesn't need... [More]

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Are Mirrors Above Urinals a Good Idea?

Thursday, November 24, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Are restroom urinal mirrors a good idea? You bet!

About a week ago, I saw something in an airport restroom that I've never seen before, eye level mirrors just above the urinals. I didn't know what to think of them at first. They seemed a bit out of place.

Eventually I realized that when men are using the urinals they can't keep an eye on their luggage and my next thought was... why not put them in EVERY public restroom? It's not just about keeping track of your luggage. They can be just as handy if you've got shopping bags, or simply so you can see if anyone is trying to take your wallet.

The bottom line. I love the idea.

Apple Needs a Dedicated Feature for Emergency Contacts

Friday, September 2, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Did you know that Apple has a feature to show emergency contacts on your lock screen?

Most people don't know that Apple has a way to show emergency contacts on the lock screen, because it's buried inside the "Health App", where very few people even notice it. That's pretty strange, considering how important it is.

What Apple needs to do is either create a dedicated ICE App that is easy to find, or at the very least, give people an easy way to flag people in your Contacts List as being an "Emergency Contact". All you would need to do is check each contact you want to see in your lock screen and they will be available on the lock screen in the event that police, ambulance drivers, paramedics or emergency room staff need to reach your family in an emergency.

There Should Be a TEST Before Getting a Gun Permit

Friday, August 5, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why do you need to take two tests to get a drivers license, but you only need to fill out an application to get a gun permit?

A car in the hands of an unskilled driver can be deadly, so before you can get a license to drive a car, you need to take two tests to prove you understand the laws, and can demonstrate your driving skills.

Obviously, a gun in the hands of an unskilled shooter can be even more dangerous, yet there is no such testing requirement to get a gun. All a potential gun owner needs to do is fill out a short application and wait for the required background check, and that's it. The background check doesn't do anything to insure the potential gun owner understands gun laws, or knows how to properly handle a gun.

Just like a Driver's License, there should be

... [More]

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Why We Need Two Kinds of Car Horns

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Car horns are supposed to be for emergencies.

Detergent Pods Shouldn't Look Like Candy

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why the heck are laundry and dish washer detergent pods so colorful?

On the surface, detergent pods seem like a brilliant idea. You just pop them into your washing machine or dishwasher. There's no more measuring messy powders or liquids, what could be wrong with that? I don't actually have a problem with the concept. It's the execution that's completely messed up, and it's not the fault of the inventors.

The problem comes from the marketing departments of these companies. Instead of being satisfied that people will want to use them simply because of the convenience alone, they decided to make the pods more appealing by adding colorful dyes and flowing swirls that resemble... CANDY.

When a child bites down on a detergent pod, they literally explode into their mouth caus... [More]

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Driving Mode. An Option To Block Inbound Texts While Driving.

Sunday, April 17, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

There should be quick a way to temporarily block inbound texts while driving.

We all know how dangerous it is to send text messages while driving. Even people who don't send messages can be easily distracted if they receive a message while driving.

Most mobile devices already have a quick and easy way to enable "Airplane Mode", so device makers should add a button to disable texting too. After all, more people drive each day than fly.

It's surprising that there isn't already an option to disable texting anywhere in the settings menus on today's SmartPhones. Right now, the only way to disable texting is to turn the entire phone off or use Airplane Mode. While that seems like a simple solution, it also blocks you from using the GPS, and from making or receiving calls in the... [More]

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Headlights Should AUTOMATICALLY Turn On When Wipers Are Turned On

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Most states have a law that requires headlights to be turned on whenever you use your windshield wipers.

I'm not questioning the law itself. When it's raining, visibility is low, so it's critical that every car have it's headlights on. That's not the point here. What I find interesting is that most cars still don't do this automatically.

If a driver turns on his windshield wipers, but forgets to turn on his headlights, he not only risks the burden of getting a ticket, but he may cause an accident.

While there may be some cars that do this automatically, the majority of cars produced today still don't do this, and they should.

Autonomous Planes With Self-Defense - Anti-Terrorist Systems

Saturday, March 19, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

We have cars that can take control to prevent accidents. Why can't planes do it too?

Let's face it. In the wrong hands, a commercial aircrafts is a massive weapon, yet we don't have any safeguards against pilots using them as a missile?

It's not like we don've have technology to make them safer. Today's cars can not only apply the brakes when they sense an accident, but they can even take over the steering. In fact, Google's fully autonomous car doesn't even have a steering wheel and it's been proven to be safer than a car that has one.

There have been automatic pilots in planes for decades. They can already take off, land and navigate without pilot intervention, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize these systems would be perfect as an autonomous self-defen... [More]

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Why We Need More Non-Ambiguous Terms For Left and Right

Sunday, March 13, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

If I told you there was something on the left side of your car... You might ask "My left or yours?".

Every now and then we read about people who've had operations done on the wrong side of their body. If you do a simple web search for "surgeon operated on wrong side", you'll get countless results because the doctor's often don't make it clear which side they're referring to.

For example:

CNN-Patients, beware of wrong-side surgeries

Quote:
According to a 2006 study looking at the frequency of surgical errors in the United States, each year there could be as many as 2,700 mistakes where a surgery is performed on the wrong body part or the wrong patient. That's about seven per day.

[u... [More]

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Uber Should Require Mandatory Feedback to Confirm Passengers Arrived Safely

Saturday, March 5, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Uber needs a few more safety features.

Every day, millions of people use Uber to find a ride. Thankfully, just about every ride ends well, but once in a while we hear stories of rides that don't end well. Uber's solution is to provide an anonymous feedback system for people to share their experiences. Community feedback is a great way to weed out bad drivers, but because it's not mandatory, there's no system in place to insure that passengers arrived safely.

Unfortunately there have been a few really bad drivers involved in assaults and in one case a driver was discovered to be a serial killer.

It didn't take long for Uber to grow into a huge company. If they are going to continue growing, they need to do more to insure the safety of it's passengers... and it's drivers.... [More]

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Emergency Contact Information Should Be Visible on Mobile Lock Screens

Friday, February 26, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Lock Screens have one major flaw... Nobody can find your emergency contact information.

My September 2014 post "Emergency Contact Info Needs to Bypass Locked Phone" was read by nearly 3000 visitors, but as it stands today, mobile phones still lack this essential feature.

When I originally wrote about it, new laws were being passed to force mobile phone companies to include auto-locking features in mobile phones to curb the number of mobile device thefts. Although locking phones is a great way to curb the number of mobile phone thefts, they need to also include a way for owners to display emergency contact information.

All they need to do is create a simple page for the owner to enter a list of people to contact... [More]

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Driving While Distracted Laws

Thursday, February 25, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

We need to re-think the laws that ban cell phone use in cars.

In most states it's illegal to use a mobile phone in a car unless you use a hands free device. These laws were put in place because of the countless deaths caused by distracted drivers.

Now that wearable technology is becoming popular, we need to re-think those laws because it could easily be argued that wearable technology such as the Apple Watch or Android Wear are completely hands free, yet they are just as distracting.

I'm not advocating that we create new laws that ban using wearable technology. The main point is that technology keeps changing, so instead of creating laws about how we use our devices in cars, why not replace them with generic laws about driving while distracted?

Unlike banning each de

... [More]

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Hospital Bed Hand Sanitizers

Saturday, February 6, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Patients need clean hands too!

One of the first things you'll notice when you walk into any hospital or nursing home is that there are hand sanitizers everywhere. They're spread out every 20 feet or so in every hallway. They're next to elevators, bathrooms, vending machines, cafeterias and inside just about every patient's room.

With all those hand sanitizers, you would think that everyone in the building has clean hands. Not quite.

While it may be true that every staff member and visitor has clean hands, odds are just about every patient in the building has dirty hands.

I've spent a lot of time in hospitals and nursing homes and I've never seen one that pays attention to the cleanliness of patient's hands. That's pretty bad.

I've seen patients reach under b... [More]

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Built-In Dash Cameras as a Factory Option

Monday, January 18, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

It's time car makers finally offer dash cameras as a factory option.

It happens every day. A car travels down the road and reaches an intersection with a green light when suddenly another car crosses it's path. The result is a T-Bone collision where both cars sustain extensive and potentially life threatening injuries.

It happens in a flash and within minutes the police arrive at the scene and ask both drivers what happened. Most of the time, the officer will get two totally different stories. One driver will claim that he had the right of way, the other will claim the opposite. Unless there are impartial witnesses on the scene, the officer is forced to split the blame 50-50... unless one of them has a dash cam.

When the facts of an accident or traffic violation are in... [More]

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NFC Gun Lock Rings

Thursday, December 17, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Gun safety for the 21st century!

Owning a gun is a big responsibility, which is why gun owners take precautions to insure their gun doesn't end up in the wrong hands. We've all heard stories of children killed when the owner didn't adequately put it away, or of owners who were killed by intruders who somehow managed to gain control of the weapon. Although it's rare, there are even times when a criminal manages to shoot police officers with their own guns.

In recent years, gun makers have been looking for new ways to prevent unauthorized use of guns, including things like "Smart Guns" that feature fingerprint locks. However, as most people have discovered, fingerprint identificati... [More]

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Speed Sensitive Texting Block (With Auto Response)

Friday, September 25, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

A split second distraction can cost you your life.

Most people know that it's unsafe to text while driving, but they don't realize it's just as unsafe to receive a text while driving as it is to send one. Regardless of how important a text may be, it's not worth risking your life for.

Resisting the urge to send text messages is pretty easy, but we don't have much choice about when a message comes in because most of the time the sender has no idea you are driving.

Although most smartphones have a Do Not Disturb option, very few people take the time to turn it on when they get in a car, especially since this would also block incoming calls. What SmartPhones need is a way to automatically block inbound texts whenever the phone is moving.

The key here is to turn off the ale... [More]

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TWO Hospital Call Buttons.

Monday, September 14, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Wolf... Wolf... WOOLF!

If you've ever spent time in the hospital, you know about "The Button". The idea is pretty simple. If you need anything, hit the red button and your nurse will come running to see what you need. Right? Not exactly. In reality, it could take quite a while before anyone comes, and that's pretty messed up.

You can't exactly blame the nurses. The problem is the system itself. With a dozen or more rooms to cover, there's a good chance that multiple alarms will go off at the same time, and most of the time it's not an emergency. So whenever an alarm goes off, they have no sense of urgency.

Since there's only one button, a nurse doesn't know if a patient is on the floor gasping for air, or if they simply want another pillow for their feet.

Th... [More]

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Driving Mode Button. Block Texting With One Touch.

Friday, July 10, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

There needs to be an easy way to turn texting off with one button.

Its extremely dangerous to send text messages while driving a car. Even people who have no intention to send messages can be easily distracted if they receive a message while driving.

Countless lives have been destroyed because of texting, so there should be some method to disable texting while driving.

Most mobile devices already have a quick and easy way to enable "Airplane Mode", so device makers should add a button to disable texting too. After all, more people drive each day than fly.

It's surprising that there isn't an option to disable texting anywhere in the settings menus of any of the major smartphones on the market. This option should not be added, but it should be added someplace like... [More]

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Automatic Headlights When Wipers Are On

Sunday, June 14, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Sounds obvious, but I see people driving in the rain without their headlights on, even though they have new cars

I saw a big flashing sign on the NJ Turnpike the other day reminding them that they have a law that requires you to have your headlights on whenever your wipers are on. It makes sense. When it's raining, you have limited visibility, so turning on your headlights insures that other cars will see you.

In NJ, the law specifically states that daytime running lamps, are not enough to qualify for the headlight requirement, so you need to turn on your lights to avoid a ticket.

Here's the thing...

Even if states didn't require you to put your headlights on whenever your wipers are on, doesn't it make sense for this to be standard on all cars?

Thankfully, so... [More]

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Cook Time Option For Stoves

Thursday, June 11, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Did I leave the gas on?

One of the great things about today's ovens is the ability to literally "Set it, and forget it". Unlike older models where the only timer control was an alarm that rang when it reached the preset time, newer models can even turn off the gas when the timer ends. This simple feature is a great safeguard against overcooking. With a microwave, you can't even start cooking unless you set the cooking time.

So, why not have a similar option for the stove?

Most of the time, you won't need a feature like this, because you tend to stand in front of the stove, but it would come in handy when you simmer a soup or a sauce for an hour or more. If you can't hear the timer, you can ruin the whole meal.

Besides saving the meal, it could also save some lives wh... [More]

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Sleepy Driver Hotline... Live Operators To Help You Stay Awake.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

The fact is, some people get tired behind the wheel, especially on a long trip.

When that happens, one of the best ways to stay awake is to talk to somebody. But what if it's late, and there's nobody else in the car? That's why there should be a service people can call specifically to help people stay awake.

The concept is pretty simple. For a small monthly fee, a call center will take your calls 24 hours a day, and stay on the line until you're fully awake.

The conversation itself isn't important, as long as it's somewhat stimulating, even to the point of being frustrating, which reminds me of this classic Monty Python sketch.

While I doubt anyone would start a calling service that starts arguments wit... [More]

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Apple Watch Needs More Speed Sensitive Features.

Friday, May 8, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Time to stand?... but I'm driving!

Now that I've used the Apple Watch for a couple of weeks, I've noticed a few of the features don't seem to factor in things like speed.

The first time I noticed this was when I was driving for about an hour and the Fitness / Activity App sent me a signal telling me it was time to stand.

If you're not familiar with the Activity Apps, they keep you motivated by reminding you to get up and move when you've been sitting too long.

Since the Apple Watch is linked to your iPhone, whenever the built-in GPS detects that you are moving faster than a human can walk, run, or even cycle, it should know when you are in a car or bus, and suppress or change the alerts to stand up. If nothing else, it should change the alert reminding you to stand, t... [More]

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Texting While Walking Is Dangerous

Saturday, April 25, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Everyone knows you shouldn't text and drive... Texting while walking is just as dangerous.

Recently I saw a guy walking down the street while he was crossing the street. While that doesn't sound surprising, you may be surprised to hear that each year nearly 10 percent of all Emergency Room visits are cell phone related, and a large number of those are from people who weren't driving a car. They were walking.

Injuries include everything from minor bumps and scratches caused by simply tripping, or bumping into people or objects, to more serious injuries or even death from falls or walking into traffic.

This only paints part of the picture, because when asked, most people will not admit that they were texting at the time of the accident. If you think of it, if a doctor aske... [More]

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Making Umbrellas Safer

Sunday, April 19, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I don't own an umbrella, Here's why.

I don't know about you, but I hate umbrellas. I'm not sure when my hate for umbrellas started, but whenever I see somebody using one, all I can think of is how unsafe they can be.

I know my view is in the minority. Umbrellas as a simple and popular way to keep you from getting wet, but the way I see it, I'd rather get wet than feel unsafe.

To me, there are so many unsafe things associated with umbrellas that I wouldn't know where to start, so here are a few of the biggest problems.

First, I hate the points, Whenever I see them, I can't help but worry about poking people in the eye, so a safer umbrella should use rounded points.

Next, with most umbrellas, I feel like I'm unable to see far enough ahead to be safe. I like seeing... [More]

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Why Aren't Explosive Gas Detectors Mandatory?

Sunday, March 29, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

A few days ago, an entire building blew up in New York City because of a gas leak.

We've all seen news stories from time to time about a house or a building that suddenly blew up. Sometimes they have lots of photos of where the building used to be, but for the most part, there's not much left to see except a small pile of debris. The rest of the debris is usually found scattered over several miles.

The strange thing is gas leaks are pretty common, and most of the time people don't pay attention to it. There was recently a gas leak in my neighborhood, and I smelled it as I walked my dog. I didn't say anything. I assumed it was just some other smell or somebody would've done something about it, so I kept walking.

A few hours later, I saw the gas company outside and I wen... [More]

Continue...Why Aren't Explosive Gas Detectors Mandatory?...

Planes Should Block Pilots From Intentional Harm

Friday, March 27, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I've had this idea in my head for almost 15 years. We need to stop focusing on stronger doors and taking away nail clippers. Let's render the planes incapable of harming human life.

Right after 9/11, when everyone focused on beefing up security and locking the pilot's door, all I could think of is... Who cares about the door? Just make sure the plane has a self-defense system that blocks ANYONE from intentionally causing harm with the plane. We all know the bad guys went to flight school to learn how to be pilots. It would only be a matter of time before the bad guys didn't need weapons to get into the cockpit, because they would eventually find a way to become actual pilots.

We have planes today that can take off, fly into a war zone, drop bombs with pinpoint accuracy, t... [More]

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5 Ways The Apple Watch Can SAVE LIVES

Monday, March 16, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Digital watches have been around a long time. Why is the Apple Watch different?

We all know technology companies love to hype their new products as the next big thing, so it's not surprising that a lot of people think the Apple Watch is nothing new. In fact, there are millions of people already wearing SmartWatches from companies like Samsung, LG, and Sony wondering what all the fuss is about.

The fact is. The Apple Watch IS different, and it's going to surprise a lot of people, and even save lives.

That may sound like a bold statement, but it's entirely true, and it's only going to get better as new Apps and future models roll out.

Even with the first generation models and Apps, there are already a number of potentially life saving features.

1. Integrated into eve... [More]

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Ping App - Checks in Periodically To Monitor Senior Citizens

Thursday, January 8, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Ping? Pong. Ping? Pong. Ping?... Ping?... Ping?... Call for help!

When senior citizens live alone, it's vital that they have a way to call for help in an emergency, which is why many senior citizens have a button they can use in an emergency to call for help. But there are times when the button is simply out of reach, or they are rendered incapable of pushing it.

One solution is a proactive monitoring system that, at a minimum simply "Pings" senior citizens, with a simple alert giving them a chance to let the system know they are doing okay.

If they don't answer after several attempts, a family member gets an alert letting them know there may be a problem, so they can check in, and even turn on the camera and mic to make sure they are okay.

Taken one step furthe... [More]

Continue...Ping App - Checks in Periodically To Monitor Senior Citizens...

A Do Not Disturb Button on Steering Wheels. Mute Everything and Block Calls.

Saturday, November 22, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Sometimes you just plain need to concentrate on the road.

Mute buttons aren't new; a lot of cars have had them since the 90s. Before Bluetooth came along, Mute Buttons came in handy when your phone rang, so you could instantly silent the radio and answer the phone.

Now that most cars have Bluetooth, you no longer need a Mute Button, because it usually mutes the radio when a call comes in, so you can talk hands free.

I think it's time we re-think the purpose of a mute button. Instead of muting the radio so you can answer the phone, a Mute Button should allow you to BLOCK the call in the first place.

Simply stated, there are times when a phone call can be a dangerous distraction. Rather than reach for the phone and looking for the "Do Not Disturb" option, a steerin... [More]

Continue...A Do Not Disturb Button on Steering Wheels. Mute Everything and Block Calls....

3 Benefits of a Device to Monitor Teenage Driving

Wednesday, November 19, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Here's a great idea. Spy on your kids when they drive!

Spying on your kids? What a horrible idea. How could I even suggest this? It sounds so unfair.

After all, kids today are so wonderful and we trust them to drive below the speed limit. We have no reason to think otherwise. Why wouldn't they be safe drivers, just like we were when we were that age? Um.. come to think of it. This is a great idea.

I saw a commercial for a device from Progressive Insurance that you plug into your car's computer port under the dashboard that basically let's them monitor your driving habits. As a reward for using it, you get a lower rate. This made today's idea seem quite plausible, but instead of using such a device to let an insurance company monitor your driving habits... why not... [More]

Continue...3 Benefits of a Device to Monitor Teenage Driving...

4 Cell Phone Parental Control Ideas Your Kids are Guaranteed to Hate.

Saturday, November 8, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Your kids are going to hate these ideas. That's why you'll love them.

So, your kids want a cell phone. They told you that all their friends have one, and they are the only ones in the whole school without one. You've held out all this time with the usual speech.

"When I was a kid, nobody had a cell phone... We couldn't even call or text our friends when we had to walk 7 miles to get to school... And we liked it!"

To you, it's not just the money, a cell phone can be like opening Pandora's box, because today's phones are not just for making calls. I think a lot of parents would feel better if phone makers considered some of these Parental Control Ideas.

1. Camera Screening. All photos auto-shared to the parent's account.

When the first camera phones were relea... [More]

Continue...4 Cell Phone Parental Control Ideas Your Kids are Guaranteed to Hate....

Fire Trucks Should Always Have Green Lights at Major Intersections

Saturday, October 25, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Colliding with a speeding 25,000 pound fire truck is devastating... Not to mention for the fire victims.

For years, many firehouses have had a traffic light directly in front of their garage so they can stop traffic while they pull out. The trouble is, most fire trucks have no control of the rest of the traffic lights they encounter on their way to the fire.

With today's automated traffic lights, GPS and wireless communications, there is no reason why a fire truck shouldn't be able to trigger all the traffic lights along their route to be green before they reach them.

This would not only give them safer passage to the fire, but also speed up the response times.

The technology is easy. It's a matter of price. Any city that can justify the expense of traffic cameras a

... [More]

Continue...Fire Trucks Should Always Have Green Lights at Major Intersections...

An Pet Collar That Lights Up When a Smoke Alarm Goes Off.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

40,000 Pets are killed in house fires each year

One of the causes of these deaths is that pets are hard to find.

As I've already posted on the October 16, 2014 Idea Of The Day:
3 Ways Smoke Alarms Can Be More Pet Friendly the problem with pets is fear. Fire Lieutenant John Rogers was quoted on PetSafetyAlert.Com: saying "When animals are stressed, they hide from us, big-time. Because they are small, smoke affects them worse and quicker than it does a human."

My idea for today centers around combining two existing ideas, an LED collar, and a an audio trigger that turns on the LED when a smoke alarm goe... [More]

Continue...An Pet Collar That Lights Up When a Smoke Alarm Goes Off....

What Was I Thinking? Urine Contains Ammonia. Ammonia and Bleach Can be Toxic.

Sunday, October 19, 2014 10:52 PM By Joe Crescenzi

I'm a science geek, but sometimes I ignore some of the basics.

On the surface, the facts seem so simple.

1. Pets pee.
2. Everyone hates the smell of urine.
3. Bleach kills germs and makes things clean.

Based on that, it's obvious why so many people grab the bleach when we clean up after our pets. The trouble with that it leaves out two very important scientific facts.

1. Urine contains ammonia.
2. You should never mix bleach and ammonia, because it produces toxic fumes.

Most people know you can't mix ammonia with bleach, and most people know urine contains ammonia, but even with those facts, I've been guilty of cleaning cat boxes and pet accidents with bleach. Sometimes the fumes from the reaction were enough to make me wheeze and cough like crazy as my eyes wate... [More]

Continue...What Was I Thinking? Urine Contains Ammonia. Ammonia and Bleach Can be Toxic. ...

Tesla's Making Autopilot Cars in 2015. Why This is More Practical Than Google's Self Driving Cars

Friday, October 17, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Johnny Cab was Sci-Fi only a few years ago. Are we ready for the real thing?

10 years ago, DARPA created a race to build self-driving cars that could complete a race in the middle of the Mohave Desert. It didn't end well. None of the cars finished.

Each year, a new race was held and the cars could not only complete the race in the middle of nowhere, but in an urban environment (using an abandoned military base). This means the cars not only had to drive, but merge with traffic, navigate typical obstacles and obey local traffic signs.

Meanwhile, as Google was making headlines showing off prototype / concept cars that could drive themselves, Tesla Motors has been making the real thing, cars that will be shippin... [More]

Continue...Tesla's Making Autopilot Cars in 2015. Why This is More Practical Than Google's Self Driving Cars...

Emergency Contact Info Needs to Bypass Locked Phone

Monday, September 22, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Congratulations. The new law that requires auto-locking phones can kill you.

That may sound a bit extreme, but the new law that requires cell phone makers to include anti-theft protection also prevents emergency responders from using your cell phone to contact your designated "In case of emergency" (ICE) contacts.

Emergency responders and hospital doctors often need to make quick medical decisions, so every minute counts. Anyone with special medical needs such as diabetes, allergies, etc. is risking inadequate or incorrect treatment.

Cell phone makers need to make emergency contact information accessible at all times, without unlocking the phone.

This information should be part of the initial phone setup, and cell phone owners should be encouraged to insure that... [More]

Continue...Emergency Contact Info Needs to Bypass Locked Phone...

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* Note: The ideas on "Idea of the Day" were posted without any formal research into existing inventions.

In some cases, patents may already exist for these ideas, in other cases, there may not be any existing patents and you are free to develop and explore the viability of developing and patenting the ideas.

The authors make no claim that any of the ideas are safe, practical, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for the results of trying, developing, patenting or using any of the ideas on this site.

For some people, our ideas are just an interesting read, but our goal is to encourage you to take action. If you see an idea that you like, do something with it... Take action.

- Joe

Idea Of The Day. A new Idea Each Day. Some Don't Suck.

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