Wednesday, 01 October 2008
08:00pm

Hosted by the ebullient James O'Loghlin, The New Inventors highlights the brightest new inventions in Australia. Tonight's show features new ideas on how to create multiple identities with your mobile phone; safely secure a ladder from the ground before you begin to climb; and open a childproof gate without having to reach up. Deciding the winner of these three inventions are engineer James Bradfield Moody, science broadcaster Bernie Hobbs and designer Alison Page. Inventions featured on the program:

Invention 1: Swarm by inventor Christine Satchell from VIC.
We'd all like the boss to think we're hard at work, when in fact we're out having a good time. Swarm is software that makes it possible by turning a G3 mobile phone into what some have called a 'lie phone'. It can tell the boss you're in work mode and at the same time tell your friends where to join you for some fun. Invented by Christine Satchell, the Swarm software allows people to keep their phones permanently switched on without being interrupted by unwanted callers. Swarm - creates multiple identities on your mobile phone.

Invention 2: Wiseman Ladafast by inventors Cecil and Chris Wiseman from NSW.
The Wiseman Ladafast is a clever clamp which can go up a ladder and lock it onto a wall or gutter whilst the user stands firmly on the ground. It's the brainchild of Chris Wiseman and his dad Cecil who, after one too many 'near misses' with ladders, set out to design a device that could cut the risk before you climb. Their invention fixes around the ladder's side rails, then a small set of wheels helps it scale the ladder using the rails like a set of tracks. Once at the top, the Ladafast can be locked onto the guttering to secure the ladder ready for a safe climb. Wiseman Ladafast - safely secures ladders before you begin to climb.

Invention 3: Accessible Childproof Latch by inventor Neville Brown from NSW.
Neville Brown describes himself as 'someone in a wheelchair who insists on living life'. When faced with a childproof gate at his son's school, which he couldn't open, he immediately started working on a solution. His Accessible Childproof Latch allows a short stature adult or someone in a wheelchair to open the gate using a special key whilst maintaining the gate's normal childproof latch function. The unit is able to be retrofitted, and because it does not compromise the normal childproof functioning of the gate, it can be left on the gate indefinitely. Accessible Childproof Latch - opens a childproof gate without having to reach up.

The New Inventors will be repeated on ABC2 - Saturday, October 04 at 6:05pm