Invention 254...

The invention(s) I came up with today might not exist anywhere else that I have been able to find, so far.  What is it?  It is a new take on something old, classic and instantly recognizable.

The Etch-A-Sketch(R) (EaS)

To add to the already endless things that can be done with a simple Red, White and Silver Grey toy may seem silly, what could it possibly be?  They already have cellphone Apps that emulate the toy on the screen of your iPhone(R) and license plate covers, etc. 

Well... the idea of a transparent overlay that would introduce mazes to navigate, picture by the numbers to draw and race tracks to navigate all on the same toy. A simple frame would snap into the EaSy frame and special knob covers would be added (see description below).  The mazes can vary in complexity from square corners to ones with curves.  You will be able to re-trace where you have been, or start in the middle (shake and erase) and then you or a friend work your way out.  Flip the maze over and see if you remember how to navigate through.  It would be an aide to memory, and spatial reasoning, as well as dexterity and fine motor movement coupled with hand eye coordination.
Art, games, training, therapy, with greater smoothness of line (because of the added knob covers) and it doesn't require batteries. [Note: Invention 256 below, and I just came up with this...]

(To be honest, I had to smile when I thought of this, and wondered why someone hadn't yet.)

The knob covers are Invention 255... but I'll include them here...

The wrist and finger twidling on a standard EaS make the manipulation of the stylus kinda rough and slow at times, and I want to improve the fine control and speed lines can be drawn.

The knobs would be only slightly larger than the originals, and press on with a rubber grip (also removable) On the face of each knob will be small smooth indents meant for a finger tip to fit in.  With only minimal pressure and a lot less wrist twisting (unless that is what you want to do) you can spin each knob with the tip of a finger.  Just think. Long straight lines that take seconds.  Smooth graceful curves as you turn both knobs at once.  Rhythmic patterns and shapes instead of chunky and jagged lines.  With practice ovals, circles and other geometric shapes will come easily. 

Think of children, of adults that re-discover the EaS again and the many new and different things one will be able to do.  Still no batteries required!

If a little light is what you need while sketching in the dark, perhaps we could with a little fiber optic light both light the stylus and the edge of the transparency which would illuminate the sheet leaving the maze or numbers in sillouette.

I had to just write this stuff down, and get it out of my head...

Mike Odd