Sam2–
“Someone once tried to explain to me how they now had an instrument which can’t be Assur on Shabbos. It basically uses some sort of magnetic frequencies and it creates music by passing your hand in the air between them.“
Google “Theremin” for such an instrument. It’s nothing new. The story of the inventor is fascinating – cold war, defection, kidnapping – and worth a read. For those who listen(ed) to secular music, the Beach Boys’ song “Good Vibrations” used it extensively.
computer777-
thehock-
BSD-
“A device that would allow anything I’m looking for to beep, like you can search for the cordless phone by making it beep, or call your cell phone if you don’t know where it is.“
This too already exists!
Google “Ultra 8 Wireless RF Electronic Locater – SI676FUN”
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My invention idea:
A device that can be used to pay for parking that would work similar to e-z pass.
Using this device would save you from having to walk to the parking pay device, inserting cash or CC, then walking back to your car and putting the ticket in the windshield.
It would also save you from expired meter tickets. It would NOT save you from parking too long in a time-limited metered spot, or illegal parking.
Here’s how it would work:
1) Open an account and receive a device for your dashboard (just like e-z pass) that’s connected to your credit card.
2) The device would only be valid for license plates that you register, making its theft useless for the thief.
3) When you park in a metered spot, push a button to start the billing cycle. The appropriate amount will be deducted for each time period the device continues to run.
4) A built-in GPS will be used to determine the parking rate, based on boro, street, time, etc. This info will be available for the owner to see. The GPS will end the billing once the vehicle is moved, the hour changes to non-metered parking, or a manual “off” button is pushed.
5) A hand-held device used by traffic agents will determine if you’ve set your device to pay for parking (or perhaps just a green LED to indicate it’s been set?) If you haven’t set it, you’ll get the same ticket as you would have for an expired meter.
6) If you’ve overstayed the legal duration at a particular parking spot, you’ll also get a ticket.
7) For those who prefer to pay by cash or CC, they can continue to do so (just like the “Cash” lanes that coexist with e-z pass lanes).