On-Demand, Low-Data-Rate Internet Access

How can we solve this problem? How does one go about building infrastructure to solve this problem?

A co-worker reported the other day that (in the house he is renting) he had to mess with the kitchen sink plumbing and found a plastic straw, a plastic knife and a stainless steel knife - sharp, not cutlery.

So, if you're a landlord and want to be alerted to such transgressions as they happen, what can you do?

Can one install a sensor in the kitchen sink that can detect something like this? Maybe? How?

And, when you detect, how do you scream? One way is to ask your tenant if your devices can connect to his wi-fi.. please?

Maybe not.. then... how? Can you buy a module from Cox or Boost or T-Mobile that will do 10 bps (yes, 10 bits per second, or less, heck even 1 bps is good enough here, you just need low power-consumption, 1 year battery life - so you can change the battery when you change tenants, but you need access when you want it)

A Mobile Smartphone

How about a phone that's capable of movement? And a camera so good, it can read and play CD's and DVD's - not immediately of course, but, give it 5 minutes and you're good to go..

Gives a new meaning to "mobile" doesn't it?

Cadence and Triad Semi Vie to be the Topcoder of Hardware

I think it's a worthwhile idea - any circuit design can testify that, in a job at a large corporation, there's too much he needs to do that he'd rather leave to someone else. At the same time, the type of work he does enjoy is little and infrequent.

Enter the topcoder of circuit-design - and architecture.

Maybe some University Professor needs to latch onto this before a large corporation does.

Inspired by Hillsborough - Your Iron Jacket

The Problem

The Hillsborough disaster of 1989 resulted in about 100 deaths from compressive asphixia - the victims couldn't breathe because of overcrowding. Think about it, your chest has no room to expand (not your stomach either). What can you do?
The Solution

What if you had a jacket with a rigid frame - so strong that it could resist large compressive force and guarantee its wearer sufficient breathing space?

Better Gmail : Predict Subject

Please Larry, Please Sergei, save the world and save your marriages. Get this right and save us time ..

Okay, you log in and start sending emails ... meaning - you just started a session (but, it shouldn't be necessary to tie this to a session.. just sayin..)

You send one email to someone saying (Subject) Happy Thanksgiving.... done..

Now, you start another email to someone else... and you start typing the Subject : Ha... 

Thinking what I'm thinking? Exactly!! Your 5 year old would be able to predict what should come next..

Please Google!

Runkeeper's Killer Stride

There hardware is in place already - you can dock your iPhone or iPod to your treadmill.

Now, wouldn't it be nice if you could relive a memorable hike that Runkeeper knows about?

Let Runkeeper tell the treadmill what the workout profile should be? And, even pick the scenery to use on the display?

Simple One for the Numbskulls @ Yahoo Finance

You've got a link to "Profile".

There, you list the managers.

Why not make their names links to the bio on the company site?

Tip : Google has this already. Really Marissa, if there's anything you learnt at the plex!