31 May, 2006
TV2 Young Inventors Get Patents
Three young inventors have been granted patents for the inventions they created for TV2's Let's Get Inventin' show.
The inventions are an in-car coffee machine, a gadget that stops kids being scared of that horrible noise the bath makes
when you let the water out, and a crayfish pot designed to stop people pinching your catch. And, there may be more
patents to come - the New Zealand Patents Office says another seven inventors may also qualify.
The show's inventions will be on display from this weekend at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in
Auckland, and as the series develops new inventions will be added to the exhibition.
Each week on the show, build-buddy Sam Britten, son of legendary New Zealand inventor John Britten, helps the young
inventors to develop their ideas from concept through to a working prototype. Along the way kids can learn the basics of
welding, electronics and metal fabrication, in fact anything needed to build their ideas. The kids then test their ideas
out in the real world.
The show is receiving an average of 900 emailed compliments a week from young viewers who say they enjoy learning
something new while being entertained by 'such a cool show'.
"Let's Get Inventin' is a great way for children to learn about science and technology in a fun and practical way. We
are really pleased with the good response the programme has had from both parents and children," says TVNZ's
Commissioner of Children's Programming, Annie Murray.
At the end of the series viewers get to decide who the overall winner will be, with the lucky winner getting an all
expenses paid trip for two to the UK where they will have their invention developed by New Zealand inventor Bill Martin
at his famous ZEROSHIFT invention factory.
For more see tvnz.co.nz (keyword: goober), or www.younginventors.tv
ENDS