For many engineers, a big part of the creative process involves taking inspiration from the world around them. If you also happen to be a parent, you're lucky enough to have access to one of the most inspiring resources of all - the next generation. The five innovations featured in this blog are all parents whose projects started as a problem-solving exercise involving their children. From tools and games to safety equipment, they're proof that sometimes the best ideas really do come out of the mouths of babes...
Mechanical engineer Josh Malone enjoyed water balloon fights with his children, but found the experience of individually filling and tying the balloons tedious. So he developed Bunch O Balloons, a device that easily attaches to a standard garden hose and can simultaneously fill up to 100 empty balloons. When full, the user can simply switch off the water and give the hose a gentle shake to detach the balloons, which are automatically tied and ready to throw.
As an avid mountain biker, engineer Glen Dobson was looking for a safe way to include his two young children on his trails, but found most traditional child bike seats too cumbersome for off-road cycling. So he created the Mac Ride, a lightweight, front-mounted bike seat that provides better balance while providing a more interactive experience for the child, helping to make them more comfortable and confident in preparation for learning to ride on their own.
Any parent of small children will tell you that babies and toddlers often have trouble differentiating between day and night, which can make it very difficult to get them into a consistent sleep routine. Former software developer Adam Nelson developed the Goodnite Lite, a combined night light and parent controlled timer that displays a glowing blue moon during the night hours, and a yellow sun when it's time to get up. The device has been hugely successful in promoting healthy sleep routines, and has been featured on a number of US TV shows and won Nelson Entrepreneur Magazine's award for Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011.
Many parents spend their time trying to convince children not to play with their food, but maths teacher and artist Nathan Shields developed a technique that positively encourages it. His Pangraph is inspired by the classic Spirograph drawing tool, and allows kids and parents to create unique works of art using pancake batter. The batter is squirted out of the Pangraph's holes and moved around using a skillet, allowing users to create beautiful and delicious pancakes for the whole family.
Norwegian engineer and robotics hobbyist Kåre Halvorsen developed the MorpHex transforming robot to keep his son entertained while he worked on other projects, only to find that the futuristic device ended up taking on a life of its own. The machine resembles a clean white sphere that can roll around at speed, but it can also unfold itself like a lotus flower, revealing six legs that can be used to scuttle across the floor. RGB LEDs also create a hypnotic light show. It's little wonder that this spellbinding creation has clocked up over 3 million views on YouTube.
What are your favourite inventions and innovations built for or inspired by children? Do your own kids help to inspire your engineering endeavors? Let us know in the comments section below...