Wednesday 25 October, 2006
Invention: Sellotape with a coloured tear
So, ask anyone whether Sellotape (Scotch tape to my American fan-base) is any good, and they'll respond: you betcha!
Ask them whether they find it frustrating, and they'll echo their first response. Why? Because they can never find the end.
Sellotape/Scotch: if you're reading, here's the solution. Invent a tape with three thin layers. The bottom layer is the sticky stuff; the top layer is the smooth bit; the newly introduced technologically-advanced layer sits in the middle.
This middle layer would react to air, turning a lovely magenta colour on exposure. (The colour could be a user preference; I've used magenta for illustrative purposes, mainly because it's quite a nice word.)
When the user severs the tape, either with teeth or scissors, a tiny cross-section of the tape is exposed to the air, and changes colour within a few seconds. The next person who comes along wanting to wrap presents can find the end of the roll by simply finding the magenta stripe across the width of the roll.
Marvellous idea!
Or maybe, just maybe, you could sell the tape on a dispenser that allows you to not only cut the tape, but keeps the end stuck in one place, thereby eliminating the need for scissors or using one's teeth.
We've been these using over in 'merica for as long as I've been alive...
http://tinyurl.com/y7oak2
I am aware of their work, my good friend. However, I'd argue that 80%+ of households don't own them; they're seen as officeware.
So my idea rocks. OK?
Bad idea or at the very least it's half-baked. Anything you'd stick the tape on would also show the magenta bits.
Only a tiny strip at either end of the piece...
I'm not sure I buy into the '80% of households' statistic, unless you're referring to actual research done in the UK.
I don't know the stats in America, but I'd be willing to wager that most that do use the in-dispenser type.
The non-dispenser type rolls (your apparent standard here) are indeed officeware, used in those black dispensers that sit on your desk with the bottom weighted down nicely with sand.
But, those arguments are beside the point. The real issue is that you're taking a relatively simple problem with an existing, simple solution and creating a far more complex solution (in terms of production & technology) that, as Mr. Shanahan (greetings, fellow ex-sape) points out, seems to be problematic.
Hang on - wouldn't you get magenta all down the edge of the tape as well though?
As in - it obviously has 4 edges - which all have contact with air.
You couldn't cover these edges with anything because the way they make it is on ruddy big rolls which they cut down to size.
Just a thought - great idea though!
Thanks for your comment, Andrew. My idea is that the left and right sides of the tape are sealed to the elements, just for a millimetre or so either side. That way, you'd get your magenta line, but nothing down the sides.
I think it'd work...
Hello there - I have often thought of the same idea - especially around xmas time, and I agree, not every household owns a tape dispenser. Go for it!
