| How to Invent a Product Posted: 05 Jul 2021 01:00 AM PDT The word "inventor" conjures all kinds of images in our minds. We picture the mad scientist stumbling upon technologies that seem impossible, and whacky characters gluing pieces together in their basement. The reality is that inventing something isn't always super complicated. If you come up with an idea for a product that doesn't exist, you can be an inventor! If you're curious about what this process looks like, read on to learn how you can bring your idea to life. [Edit]What is the invention process like? - The first step is to figure out what kind of problem your invention will solve. This process can take a variety of different forms, but the first step is to identify the problem you want to solve. Does your imagined product make a daily task easier to perform? Does your idea entertain people in a unique way, or improve on current solutions? Identifying the appeal will make it easier to guide your design. From there, start brainstorming potential products that could solve the problem you imagine.[1]
- If you can't identify the need for your invention, you're not going to be able to turn your invention into a marketable product.
- When you hear "product," don't assume that it means concrete physical object. Websites, apps, and services all qualify as products!
- An important note on this process: do not publicly share any of your ideas. If the idea for your product is publicly disclosed, you may not be able to patent it in the future.[2]
- Research the existing market to make sure your idea is original. Once you have a sense for what problem you'll solve, hop online. Start poking around in search engines and online shops to see if anything already exists that solves that problem. If you already have an idea for a product in mind, check to see if it already exists. If it does, your product has already been invented and it's back to the drawing board. If it hasn't, you're in luck! You may have a marketable idea.[3]
- This research process may take some time. You may have to scour pages upon pages of Amazon results, Google searches, and startup websites to ensure that you have a genuinely original idea.
- The last step is creating a prototype to start tinkering. A prototype is a real-world version of what your final product will look like. You can make one by drawing a sketch of what your product will look like, or by creating a 3D model of your idea. Then, either you're your product by hand or hire someone to make it for you.[4]
- You may go through multiple prototypes before you stumble on one that matches your vision.
- For example, if you invented a broom that oscillates back and forth to clean more efficiently, you could physically cut the head of a broom off, drill the hinge into place, and wire the motor yourself to see what it will look like. You could also hire a fabricator to make a custom hinge and a soldering hobbyist to put the motor together.
- For service-based products, your prototype might include a description of your services, a logo, or an outline of how the service would work.
- If you're inventing an app or website, you might sketch out the home screen, logo, and menu options. Then, you could design the pages in Photoshop or code a few screens yourself. Alternatively, you could hire a freelance coder to craft a basic version of the app for you.
[Edit]Where do you get ideas for inventions? - Consider how you would improve on things that already exist. Inventions don't need to be radical, brand new ideas. The LED lightbulb was a brilliant invention, but it's not like lightbulbs didn't already exist! If you can slightly improve upon a thing that already exists, you'll have a major edge when it comes to marketing your product. Just make sure that you aren't explicitly ripping off a specific brand if you go this route.[5]
- For example, there were other social media sites around before Facebook—MySpace and Friendster. What did Facebook do differently? It was easy to use. You didn't need to know HTML to customize your page like MySpace users did, and you didn't need to search for posts other users made like Friendster.[6]
- Think about where your talents lie. If you know a lot about wiring, you might consider trying to invent a better light switch, keyboard, or alarm clock. If you're really creative and good at coding, you could try inventing a new photography app that makes editing easy.
- Think about problems that desperately need solving. Consider all of the minor inconveniences in your daily life. From the time it takes for your phone battery to charge, to lost car keys, there are all kinds of normal problems out there that people would happily pay money to solve. While it's possible to come up with the problem you're going to solve after you have an idea for an invention, it's much easier to identify the problem first.[7]
- Is there something in your personal life that drives you insane and there's no solution out there, try to brainstorm what a potential solution looks like. If you always sleep through your alarm clock, what could you do to make that impossible? If you're really bad at remembering names or dates, what kind of app might you invent?
- Keep an open mind and entertain your silly ideas and mistakes. Don't let your assumptions and laser-sharp focus keep you from identifying a great product. Maintain an open mind, let your ideas flow freely, and don't write a potential product off just because it's a little odd. Some of the best ideas are developed accidentally, so treat your failures like progress and consider each idea from multiple angles.[8]
- The inventor of the Slinky was trying to build a spring to keep ships stable in rocky seas. He accidentally knocked prototypes off of a shelf and saw how his products moved, which is where he got the inspiration for the toy![9]
- The popsicle was invented by an 11-year-old who left a cup of soda outside in freezing weather. When he stumbled on the frozen cup, he noticed he could hold the frozen stirring stick he left in the cup like a handle.[10]
[Edit]How do I protect my invention? - File a patent if you're confident in your idea and ready to build. There are dozens of different types of patents and trademarks, so talk to a patent attorney if you're interested in legally protecting your idea.[11] However, you do not necessarily need a patent if you're planning on going at this alone without investors or corporate help. It may also be a good idea to wait if you aren't sure the product is marketable yet. Once you're ready though, talk to a patent attorney.[12]
- Patents can cost $5,000-10,000, and there may not be a need for a patent if nobody knows about your idea and it's unlikely someone else is going to beat you to the punch. If you aren't positive you want to invest the time and energy on your invention, just wait.[13]
[Edit]How do I manufacture my product? - Create the product yourself to start a small business. For physical products, contact suppliers, purchase materials in bulk, and assemble the product yourself. Sell the product on a personal website, set up an Amazon shop, or market the product to local businesses to get it on their shelves. For digital products, code and design everything on your own and upload the final product online or to app stores.[14]
- You don't really manufacture service-based products. If you're starting a small business for a service, you might create your website, begin advertising, or craft your billing system. Remember to register your business and get any necessary permits before you start on your journey!
- It takes a lot of time and energy to manufacture and sell the product yourself. However, you'll have total control over the direction of your business, you'll get to keep all of the profits, and you won't need to rely on anyone else.
- Partner with a company or hire freelancers if you need help. You can hire a machinist, designer, or manufacturer to create inventory for you. Alternatively, you can reach out to a company in your field and pitch your idea to them. They may try buying your idea off of you, suggest a licensing deal, or offer to make the product and bring it to market in exchange for a cut of future profits.[15]
- You can reach out to venture capital firms if you strictly want funding to develop the idea yourself.
- For corporate help developing the prototype and product, contact companies in your product's sector. If you've invented an app, reach out to software companies. If you've invented a home cleaning product, reach out to companies that make cleaning solutions and home supply products.
- Ever seen Shark Tank? If you haven't, it's basically a show where inventors and entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to investors and corporate bigwigs. Try watching a few episodes if you're going this route to see how other inventors pitch their products.
[Edit]How much does it cost to invent a product? - It can range from free to $100,000, so it really depends. If you already know how to code, your invention is an app, and you aren't worrying about patents, you may not have any costs at all. If you file for patents, purchase raw materials to make your prototype, and hire a manufacturing firm to build a new type of catalytic converter, you may be spending thousands upon thousands of dollars. It depends on your skillset, the invention, how much work you want to put into the prototype, and the degree to which you're willing to spend money on a business.[16]
- The cheapest way to go would be to not make any physical prototypes and try to pitch your idea to a company who already has the capital to create it. In this scenario, you may not make more than a small percentage of the profits, though.
[Edit]Can you get rich inventing something? - You can, but it can take a lot of time and effort. A single great idea can make you a ton of money. However, it takes a lot of time for a prototype to turn into a marketable product, and even then, it may be years until consumers see the benefits of your invention. Try not to get discouraged and stick with it if you believe in your product.[17]
- You may need to invest a fair amount of money yourself as well. Patents, supplies, and hired help can require a lot of cash.
- A fair bit of luck is required to strike it rich with an invention. It's possible for an idea to simply be ahead of its time. Even if your invention is phenomenally helpful and functional, people may not see the need for it and corporations may not understand its marketability. There's a fair bit of chance that goes into this process, so try not to get discouraged if everyone doesn't see the brilliance of your invention![18][19]
- The founders of Netflix tried pitching their idea to Blockbuster back in 2000. Famously, the CEO of Blockbuster laughed them out of their office! It wasn't until 2007 that Netflix blew up and became profitable. The lesson here is that even if you aren't lucky right away, persistence will pay off![20]
[Edit]Warnings - There are "invention promotion" companies out there that claim they'll turn your idea into a marketable product. They often request a small sum of cash to do this. These companies are usually scams, so you're better off avoiding them in most cases.[21]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References __QAM__
[Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Photograph Fireworks Posted: 04 Jul 2021 05:00 PM PDT Fireworks look beautiful in photographs, full of light and color. You may wonder how you can best capture fireworks in an image without issues like over or underexposure, blurriness, and graininess. To photograph fireworks well, start by picking a good shooting location. You can also use camera settings that will help you achieve a high-quality image. Then, set up the camera on a tripod to keep it steady and frame the fireworks with landmarks, a skyline, or even people to capture interesting photos. [Edit]Selecting the Shooting Location - Look for a high spot in an open area. Try to position yourself on a spot that is high up, such as a ledge in a field or a high slope by a main road. Check that you can see the spot where the fireworks are supposed to be in the sky from your vantage point and that you are at a 45-degree angle from the ground when you look up.[1]
- Keep in mind if you want to include people in some of your shots, you may pick a high spot that you can move down from easily so you can be closer to crowds.
- Check that the spot is upwind from the fireworks so you get a clear shot. Shooting downwind from the fireworks can cause smoke to get into your images as the fireworks go off. Prevent this by making sure your shooting location is upwind from where the fireworks are set to go off.[2]
- To determine the wind conditions, check the weather beforehand. Note if it is going to be a windy night and plan accordingly.
- Pick a spot that has a view of the skyline or a landmark for a unique shot. You may want to include a beautiful city skyline or a historic landmark in the area where the fireworks are set to go off. Find a shooting location that allows you to see the skyline clearly below the fireworks. Or go for a spot where a landmark or building appears in one side of the frame or in the foreground.[3]
- You can always shift your shooting location slightly while the fireworks are going off to get different objects in the foreground, as well as no objects at all in the shot. Try to find a spot where you can move around and play with different compositions.
[Edit]Setting up the Camera - Switch your camera to manual mode. You do not need an expensive camera with a lot of different settings to photograph fireworks well. In fact, you can use a film camera or a digital camera to get a great image as long as it can be switched to manual mode.[4]
- Make sure the focus mode reverts to manual when you switch to manual mode, as this will allow you to focus the camera as needed during the fireworks show.
- If you are shooting with the camera on your smartphone, download an app that allows you to have a slower shutter speed on the camera, such as Slow Shutter Cam.
- Some digital cameras will have a "Fireworks Mode" on the settings dial or in the menu options on the camera. Use this mode, if available, as this allows the camera to adjust the settings for you so you do not need to do it yourself.
- Turn off the flash to limit distractions around you. Switch the flash off, as it is not strong enough to illuminate the foreground in the dark. It can also distract you when you are taking pictures and bother others around you.[5]
- Use a wide or telephoto zoom lens to capture the fireworks. Look for a telephoto zoom lens that is 70-200mm or 70-300mm, as this will allow you to capture the fireworks in full from a distance. You can also use a wide lens that is 24-70mm or 24-120mm if you are shooting a bit closer to the fireworks.[6]
- It may be good to have both lenses on hand so you can switch between them to suit your vantage point.
- Start with a slow shutter speed of 2.5-4 seconds. Using a slow shutter speed will allow the camera shutter to stay open long enough to capture the long light trails of the fireworks. Avoid going lower than 2.5 seconds, as a shutter speed that is too low can cause the fireworks to appear blown out or overexposed.[7]
- You may need to play around with the shutter speed as you photograph the fireworks, shifting between 2.5-4 seconds. Try a few different speeds once you set up your camera to vary the types of images you get.
- Set the camera to a low ISO level and a narrow aperture field. Start with an ISO that is at 100, as this will allow you to use a low shutter speed. You can usually leave the ISO at 100 as you shoot. The aperture, or how wide the lens opens, should be around f/5.6-f/8. This will keep the aperture just narrow enough to capture the fireworks without letting in too much light.[8]
- You can try playing around with the aperture field as you photograph the fireworks, bumping up to f/11-f/16 depending on how bright your images appear.
[Edit]Taking the Photographs - Arrive early for the fireworks to reserve your shooting spot. If you know the fireworks show is going to be popular, you may aim to get to the location 30 minutes-1 hour early so you can set up your camera gear and be ready for the show.
- If you are not sure about the details of the location, you may visit it a day early to stake out a good location for shooting the fireworks.
- Try to find a spot where you'll be able to include the launch site in your photos, especially if you can frame it with an interesting background.[9]
- Put the camera on a tripod to get a steady image. Always use a tripod when you are shooting fireworks, as this will ensure you get a clear, high-quality image.[10] Set up the camera, or your smartphone, on a tripod in the shooting location. Make sure the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture have already been set, as you do not want to have to touch the camera too much once you start shooting.[11]
- Look for a tripod that fits your camera model at your local camera store or online.
- Get a remote shutter release to avoid touching the camera. The remote shutter release attaches to your camera and is controlled by a small remote you hold in your hand. This feature is ideal when you are shooting fireworks, as touching your camera while shooting can cause the images to appear blurry or unclear.[12]
- You can buy a remote shutter release at your local camera store or online.
- Focus the camera on a distant object near where the fireworks are going off. Look into the lense and adjust the focus manually so it is on an object that is fairly far away, just beside or in front of where the fireworks are going to explode. This will then ensure the fireworks appear in focus when they enter the frame.[13]
- You can also try zooming out or in and focusing on the fireworks to get a different perspective. Your wide or telephoto zoom lense should make doing this fairly easy.
- Frame the fireworks with people, objects, or a landscape. Use your surroundings to make the photographs more interesting and unique. Try placing a landmark in one corner of the frame and focusing on it as the fireworks go off. You can also focus on the skyline just below the fireworks to get a nice landscape in the foreground.[14]
- Including people watching the fireworks can also make the photographs more interesting. Try shooting at a lower angle to capture people in the foreground or background of the image.
- Reduce the shutter speed if the fireworks appear blurry or unclear. If you notice your images are coming out blurry or unclear, it may be because your shutter speed is not slow enough. Bump it down 1-2 speeds so the lense stays open longer and you can capture the full effect of the fireworks.[15]
- You may need to also play around with the aperture setting when you reduce the shutter speed to find the right balance.
- Use "bulb mode" to experiment with exposure. To do this, press the shutter down as the fireworks are launching. Continue to hold the shutter for several seconds until the burst fades and then slowly let it go. This allows you to create a long exposure that will capture the fireworks as it explodes.[16]
- Use a remote shutter release to do "bulb mode" as this will prevent you from touching the camera and causing it to shift or move, which can ruin the photograph.
- You may want to use a wider aperture setting in bulb mode—start somewhere around f11-f9.[17]
- Shoot in RAW mode, rather than JPEG mode, if you are using a digital camera. RAW mode will make it easier for you to edit RAW images later to remove shadows or blurry area in the images.[18]
- If all you have is a handheld camera, like a smartphone, you may get better results by taking videos instead of still shots.[19]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - A digital or film camera with a manual mode
- A tripod
- A remote shutter release
- A flashlight
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Cook BBQ Ribs Posted: 04 Jul 2021 09:00 AM PDT While barbecue ribs are especially popular in the American south, their appeal for meat-lovers is universal. Succulent, spicy, and smoky, barbecue ribs are surprisingly easy to cook. Learn how to make some lip-smacking barbecue in the following tutorial. - Choose which cut of ribs you want. barbecue ribs essentially come in two varieties. Spare ribs are fattier and take longer to cook. Baby back ribs are leaner and cook faster.
- Make the rub. The rub is a spice mixture that you rub on the rib rack to give it flavor. A typical rub for a 2 lb rack of ribs might consist of:
- 1 tablespoon (5 ml) cumin
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) paprika
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) onion powder
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) chili powder
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) black pepper
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) white pepper
- Make the mop (optional). A mop or baste is the liquid sauce that you coat the ribs with to keep them juicy and flavorful while they are cooking. Some people prefer dry ribs, without a mop.
- Trim the ribs and apply the rub. Ribs will usually come with a large membrane on the back, non-meat side of the rack. Most people trim the membrane and discard it because it is hard to chew and prevents the rub from covering the entire rack. Coat the ribs evenly with olive oil or vegetable oil (optional). Apply the rub generously onto the meat so that the front and back of the rack are completely covered.
- For spare ribs, place the ribs on a covered barbecue grill at 225° F (107° C) for 5-6 hours. For baby back ribs, cook at the same temperature for 3-4 hours. Place the ribs on the grill so that they are not directly over the heat source.
- If desired, apply the mop every 45 minutes evenly across the ribs.
- When the meat in the center of the ribs is white and the juices run clear, not pink, the cooking is done.
In this video, Gwen Schoen of the Sacramento Bee educates us about different kinds of ribs and shows us how to barbecue spare ribs with a dry rub. - BBQ ribs can be smoked in a smoker instead of being grilled. Cooks frequently use hickory and/or applewood chips in the smoker. The temperature in the smoker and the cooking time for the ribs are the same as when they are grilled.
- Right before serving, stoke the fire or turn up the heat on your grill and place the ribs over direct flame for a few minutes.This will give the ribs a deeper color and more pronounced grill marks.
[Edit]Warnings - Make sure your ribs are fully grilled. Undercooked pork may result in trichinosis. The recommended internal temperature for cooked pork is 160° F (71° C), a metric set by the CDC.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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