Public Invention Projects

Project #30: Number Spectra: Build a map of common irrational combinations
Often computer programmers and engineers write software which produces decimal expansions of numbers which in fact have a closed-form expression which is unknown or not observed to the programmer.

The Sunlight Regulatory Device License
This is an attempt to construct a new kind of free-libre open source license aimed specifically at medical devices. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for open, transparent devices which are both suppy-chain resilient and fully tested under normal regulatory regimes. In order to build an system of for-profit and non-profit firms that support such devices to alleviate want now and in the future, we believe a license that encourages a new kind of sharing is required: one that allows re-use of device designs and test documentation by forcing publication at the time of reuse for regulatory clearance.

FerroFluid Valve
This is an attempt to build a passive ferrofluid one-way valve. If this could be accomplished, it would be much easier to make a pump-on-a-chip. My previous attempts to do this were deeply flawed (see below).
I am now attempting to build a (very simple) physics simulation of planar ferrofluid to test out some additional ideas before 3D printing. This was inspired by a Public Invention volunteer, Veronica S, who did the initial CAD design compiled from my previous thoughts, causing me to realize some flaws to the initial design.

Project #44: social tetrahedrons
This is an interactive 3D simulation for representing Mark’s conception of the fourth dimension as “abundance” or “condition,” which may be thought of as power or development. It is represented as a slider in this visual application.
The ultimate purpose is to match needs with offers, for example to work on technical projects, base on an interpretation of Maslow’s Pyramid, having four dimenstions. People express their desires by placing themselves on a tetrahedron that captures, for example, the Mind/Body/Spirt and Abundance situation, and might then be matched with projects that are suited to them. Exactly how this will be done is still being worked out; this is a step.

Project #46: triad balance interactive diagrams & GUI elements
This interactive page presents what may be a new graphical user interface element — the “triad-balance” diagram. The purpose is to use a single click on a triangle to enter three values such as “Mind/Body/Sprit” or “Strength/Endurance/Flexibility” that are presumed to in some sense be “in balance”, or where it is interesting if they are in balance. The Triad Balance widget is fully responsive and stylable in css.
This is an open source demonstration project of Public Invention. This grew out of the project Social Tetrahedrons instigated by Mark Frazier. Although I searched a good bit, I may have missed a previous implementation. If the triad-balance diagram has been implemented previously please inform me at
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Public Invention accepts and publishes a wide variety of humanitarian invention ideas. Some of these are just a simple idea; some have a one-page, and some are fully developed projects with sophisticated prototypes. All of them need volunteers with a wide variety of skill sets! Because it changes constantly, please checkout our spreadsheet.