Packaging Problems for Cereal and other packaged dry food

How many times did you try to open a brand new cereal plastic bag or package inside the carton box? It sometimes takes force or strength to open it. Other times, it takes pure luck to open it smoothly. Why is the packaging is so hard to open nicely? I end up making a big mess every time I try to put some cereal because the plastic bag opening is all messed up now. The cereal companies should fix this and make it easier. Or do they make $ because we end placing more cereal on the counter top than the bowl which ends up mostly in the trash. Interesting.

The packaging can be improved in many ways. Other companies (ex: Ziploc) had figured this one out. Plastic storage bags used for storing food or sandwiches and more.

Nothing new here - it is just using an existing ideas in another application. Not sure about the patent issues if used as is. I am sure another method can be invented.

That is it for now.....

The easy way to fertilize your yard because I don't like gardening

I don't like gardening that much. However, I enjoy having a green grass and nice looking front and back yards. That is why I have a gardener but I still fertilize the yard though even though I don't like it. Somehow, I don't think the price was worth having the gardener do it and I like his work for everything else. So what can I do?

Imagine this - you pour the fertilizer into a container next to the sprinkler valve. When the sprinkler starts, it mixes the fertilizer with water that flows to the sprinkler heads. All I have to do is fill these containers only when I want to fertilize. I think a different form on the idea exists from Miracle Gro (click here). However, you have to connect to a hose and spray the areas you want. Not exactly what I was looking for.

I can imagine many people would love to install something like this in their backyards.

That is for now....

P.S. I don't think I am lazy. I just don't like gardening

A sensor keeps kids a good distance from TV

How many times do you tell your kids to stay further back from the TV? "Sit on the coach and watch" or "don't sit too close to the TV ... you will ruin your eyes." Well, I know I do that on various occasions. When their favorite movie or TV show is playing, it grabs their attention and it draws them closer to the TV like flies. How can control that?

Imagine, the TV is equipped with a motion IR sensor - like the ones on motion detectors for security alarms. When a person is too close to the TV (set any distance you prefer), the sensor will turn the TV off. Of course, you can make it more elaborate by giving early warning or some indication so people have a chance to go back.

This is just a simple way to keep kids back without parents being on their case all the time...

That is it for now...

Home away from home with digital frames...

Imagine you walk into your room in a hotel after an exhausting trip to find the room is ready for you: the temperature is set to what you exact settings, a personalized post card on the edge of the bed welcoming you and wishing you a wonderful stay, or a delightful snack like an apple or a home style chocolate chip cookies.

Different hotels attempt to differentiate themselves from others by adding these nicer touches and personalizing the guests stay. They build a relationship in hopes that you enjoy your stay and plan to come back in the future.

Imagine when you walk in, you have digital frames in the room that display your favorite pictures: family picture, family dog, your new born or your favorite scenes. These images are displayed around your room or suite. Now, it is getting closer to having a touch of home - "home away from home".

Setting up an environment where digital frames are placed in every room in the hotel. Through a wireless setup, every room is uploaded with personal images that are provided by the guests when they first book their stay at the hotel. These frames can be uploaded with personal messages or other soothing images to the liking of the guests.

That is it for now....

Count those calaries the RFID way?

How many of you count calories? I am sure many. At least you have done it once and gave up soon after. It is time consuming with lots of details to keep track of. What a hassle? Some times, you really need to do it for medical reasons especially.

Here is an idea - imagine if every food product packaging out there comes with an embedded microchip (example: RFID - Radio Frequency ID) with the data embedded describing all you need to track regarding your diet. You will keep a reader with you that can be as small as a credit card. All you have to do, is scan your card over the package every time you eat. Don't have to worry about counting any thing. At any time, the reader can tell you your total calories consumed amongst other details for sodium, cholesterol..etc.

If you take this further since you will be carrying it around with you and now it keeps track of the calories you have burned as well. What if that were your cell phone, it will even be better so you don't have to carry yet another device. Next thing you know, your doctor is calling you telling you to stop eating because you exceeded your calories limit for the day... STOP right here... may be that is taking it too far but possible. The different technologies do exist but need to be glued together.

Any venture capitalists out there interested....

That is for now...