Author: SYED SHAH

My product is called AdjustPillow, which is an adjustable pillow whose size and density can be changed. The pillow size can be changed because there are a total of 5 mini pillows inside the larger pillow which can be added or taken out, and doing so adjusts the size of the pillow. The density of the pillow is managed through a small air pump which can be used to add or subtract air from the mini pillows through its extensive air tube network. When air is filled into the air tubes, they expand and that increases the density, whereas when subtracted they shrivel up and the density decreases, and these dictate how firm or soft the pillow is.

I first found “https://www.amazon.com/Sleeper-Adjustable-Sleeping-Shoulder-Washable/dp/B0BB2P45WP/ref=mp_s_a_1_15_sspa?crid=2GMTA87OQDV0H&keywords=adjustable+length+pillows&qid=1670796418&sprefix=adjustable+length+pillows%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-15-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyR0xMMUJOS0pVRlRTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjA1NDI5MU9LUDc3VUxMTUEyViZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDUzNjg0MkFQT1dNSDdOUTdOQSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGZfbmV4dCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=“ which is basically many small memory foam pieces stuffed inside the pillow. I did not like this idea as the foam can make a mess or just get lost. So it’s too messy if an item which I did not like. 

I then decided to have mini pillows packaged into a larger pillow. But then I found this “https://www.amazon.com/EverSnug-Adjustable-Layer-Pillows-Sleeping/dp/B0B9K7MPJ7/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=3A99CU4L5G44D&keywords=adjustable+pillows&qid=1670797374&sprefix=adjustable+pillows%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNjA5WDRWQ1NXNjlQJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzc0MzgwMkxTT0U1VlVDMkZDOCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzAyNTA4M1ZPOVg2Mk81RDRZQSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnV”, which is what I had in mind. But my competitive advantage will be that I unlike this multi part pillow, mine’s will allows change the density, so people can chose if they would like a firm or soft pillow, or something in between. I think this is great because while I found a number of pillows online where they had one pillow case and several pillows inside, I couldn’t find anything that would allow the density to be changed, so this doesn’t seem like an idea that has really been done before. Therefore, this will be my competitive advantage. 

Scratch Link: 

By putting the mini pillows inside the larger pillow, the pillow cover will get larger, but by taking out the mini pillows, they will get smaller.

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/776102810

Youtube Link:

https://youtu.be/rJYK_ITZVew

Link: “https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/765425403” 

Description: 

You are a hungry fox, and the chicks are your dinner! But be careful of the eggs, as their hard shell will definitely hurt you. 

Instructions: 

• Use the left and right arrow keys to move left and right 
• You start with 10 health, catching a chick has you gain 1 health, and getting hit by a egg makes you lose 2 health 
• Once your health reaches 0, it’s game over. 

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/761459618

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/758129026

My proposed solution to the broken faucet problem could be a water storage portable faucet. This could be like a small water tank that can be used to wash stuff with, while also allowing it to be refilled or kept full with a tube. More like a faucet extender than anything else. Like a portable faucet, with a tube that connects a water storage with a water faucet, allowing it to function beyond it’s original location. 

I then spoke to Jake, a childhood friend of mine, who said that water is heavy and so if the water storage unit is too big, then it will just break because it can’t store that much water. Water storage containers are made with heavy duty plastic or metal, so 3d plastic is too weak to do that. But if I could get heavy duty plastic or metal, then maybe it will work. 

Building upon my recent post, one real problem is that the faucet broke. This is a real problem because it’s a real observable problem. Not some negative thought they can’t resolve in their head. This causes them pain as the broken faucet is a mental burden, not just a physical one. Attempts to solve this problem have been seeking an alternative water source, such as water from the restroom. 

I have gotten first hand understanding of the suffering caused by this broken faucet, as I am affected by it everyday. Since I eat dinner mostly at home, and I have a habit of washing my hands in the kitchen before I eat, it is without a doubt more work. However, I just wash my hands, and I think that’s inconvenient. My mom cooks, which is much more difficult. I can gain empathy by cooking something myself, and see for myself how truly painful cleaning a frying pan in the small bathroom sink is. That is something I will do, to truly understand their suffering. 

I observed my mother as she cooked breakfast in the kitchen. As I observed, I couldn’t help but notice a few problems she was facing.

Problem 1: Kitchen faucet broke, which was a first as that almost never happens. 

Problem 2: She made trips to the bathroom to wash her hands. 

Problem 3: Even though it only took a few seconds longer, the trip was frequent and therefore inconvenient.