#inventors

[crytidsprinkles]

Alt: the inventor vs the invention. a language revitalization robot that speaks my Indigenous language Anishinaabemowin pic.twitter.com/ydo88kMzT9

Photo of inventor Daniel Boyer holding language bot. Hair in large buns with braids going down and wearing cream shirt with colorful abstract design on it.

— Danielle Boyer🤖 (@danielleboyerr) February 1, 2024

#Danielle Boyer #Inventors #Engineers #Language #Robots #Anishinaabemowin #Indigenous #Indigenous people in tech #Tech #Technology #Alt text in image #Image description in image

[canyourfavesurvivecastledracula]

Could Sokka from A:tLA survive?

That depends - does he visit during an eclipse?

Nah, I jest, Dracula doesn't care about sunlight. Oh Sokka you beautiful boy. Actual mechanical genius and everloving dork. I love him.

Hmm. Sokka is a skeptic - not a Jack Seward level noodle but a strong believer in rational thought. He's a Good Boy but he's also not going to put much stock in an old woman's superstitions. He's too smart for that and too Man for that. And obviously he's not afraid, pshaw. Sokka does not accept the crucifix. He also doesn't need to shave, but I am confident in his ability to cut himself on something sooner or later.

I don't know whether Dracula would be more irritated or amused by Sokka's ...distinctive approach to things. Would he be able to recognize Sokka's actual genius and attempt to put it to use, or would he see him just as an arrogant dorky kid? Would he see in him the potential for an eager young apprentice, or just a chew toy?

Perhaps incongruously, I think Sokka would deal pretty well with the Horrors. He watched powelessly as his whole civilization was whittled away by raids and the necessities of war, to the extent that he was prepared to take on a heavily armed battleship by himself. He learned about despair and its calms a long time ago. In that sense, Castle Dracula is nothing new to him. He'll sit on his bed and cudgel his brain for escape attempts, and they'll be very clever, but he won't be overly surprised when they fail.

Sokka does have a particular weakness for Girls Associated With The Moon. Will he be so distracted by believing he's finally made it as a Ladies Man that he misses the whole baby in a sack thing? He is certainly young and full of energy enough to have kisses for everyone. We've seen his ego overwhelm his self preservation at times - but we've also seen the opposite. Has Dracula found him endearing enough up to that point to be worth rescuing?

Sokka might be manful enough to go out and get eaten by wolves. Or he might think he is right up until he sees their slavering jaws and end up cowering more than he wants to admit.

I think... Dracula kills him, or lets the Girlies have him sooner or later. There's a slim possibility that he successfully charms Dracula and ends up as his new vampire son, but I think it's more likely that Dracula only recognizes him as a child and treats him accordingly - that is, as food.

Sokka Watertribe can not survive Castle Dracula.

#Sokka #atla #avatar: the last airbender #children #cartoons #soldiers and warriors #inventors

[jokerislandgirl32]

Out of curiosity, who do you think is the better inventor between Aviva and Zach?

Hi, anon! Thank you for the ask! I apologize for the wait in getting to it!

This, anon, is a very hard question for me to answer. Zach is my love and my life, and Aviva is his greatest enemy and rival! But! I’ll pray Zach hasn’t charged the Zachbots and answer honestly before he gets them to come after me if my answer isn’t to his liking….so, here goes nothing.

Deep breath….

Aviva is the better inventor!

There, I said it! *Looks around for angry Zachbots* No, he didn’t hear me yet…Good! I’ve got some time to give an explanation! (Below the cut because it’s a bit lengthy)

The primary reason I believe Aviva is the better inventor is because she creates inventions that are ethical. Her inventions are created with the health, safety, and well being of animals, plants, humans, and the environment in mind. She would never willingly or knowingly create an invention that would cause harm or destruction to the world and its living inhabitants.

This, sadly, is not the case for Zach. Zach’s inventions are created primarily for financial gain or to benefit himself and his lifestyle. He does not stop to think of what his actions may do to the greater world around him.

When using animals as the power sources for his inventions, he does not consider the physical and psychological strain that is being placed on them. When discarding his waste or wanting to create a location for his own enjoyment or financial gain, Zach does not evaluate harm that will come to the environments that are the homes to so many innocent creatures.

This is not to say that Zach is not a talented inventor. As we have seen throughout the series, he is. Zach has created inventions such as the Zachbots, the Disruptobots, his Invisibility Cloak, his Disrupto-beam, and his Mosquito-bots - None of which directly harm animals or the environment. But, the vast majority of his inventions are self-centered, harmful creations that only benefit him.

This is not the case at all with Aviva. She wants to make the world a better place through her inventions. Her goal is to help and improve the world around her with her inventions, not improve her own personal world. Which in my opinion makes her the better inventor.

Zach *screaming*: “JIG/Violet!!!!”

Me/Violet: “Oh no, he saw me writing this post….”

Zach *still screaming*: “Zachbots! Get her tablet and delete the post!”

Me/Violet: “Oh no, posting this now and logging out before they get here! Bye y’all!”

#wild kratts #zach varmitech #wild kratts zach #love zach varmitech #aviva corcovado #wild kratts aviva #inventors #inventions #asks #ask box #anon ask #nice anon #my opinion #violet varmitech #ziolet

[pazzesco]

Hedy Lamarr Color conversions

The World War II-Era Actress Who Invented Wi-Fi: Hedy Lamarr

Lamarr’s path to inventing the cornerstone of Wi-Fi began when she heard about the Navy’s difficulties with radio-controlled torpedoes.

A Movie Star, Some Player Pianos, and Torpedoes

In June 1941, Lamarr and Antheil submitted their patent application for a “Secret Communication System,” which was awarded U.S. Patent No. 2,292,387 in August 1942. 

Hedy Lamarr: More Than Glamorous

Lamarr was a “pinup” girl and her face was said to have been the model for Disney’s Snow White. Yet, it was not just her acting skills that were underestimated. She was also an inventor who, along with partner George Antheil, received a patent for a secret communications system they devised, which Lamarr hoped would assist the war effort during World War II. [...] Though she received no compensation for her invention, she did finally receive at least one accolade before her death in 2000, the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award in 1997, given to individuals whose creative lifetime achievements in the arts, sciences, business, or invention fields have significantly contributed to society. In 2014, Lamarr and Antheil were also inducted posthumously into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

#hedy lamarr #colorization #hedwig kiesler #inventors #wi-fi #bluetooth #National Inventors Hall of Fame #George Antheil #frequency hopping

[teachersource]

Grace Hopper was born on December 9, 1906. An American computer scientist, mathematician, United States Navy rear admiral, and one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer, she was a pioneer of computer programming who invented one of the first linkers. She was the first to devise the theory of machine-independent programming languages, and the FLOW-MATIC programming language she created using this theory was later extended to create COBOL, an early programming language still in use today.

#grace hopper #computer science #programming #programmers #COBOL #computer programming #FLOW-MATIC #inventors #women in science #women in history #science #science birthdays #science history #on this day #on this day in science history

[gwydionmisha]

#Dishwasher #Inventors #US History #Women's History

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Thomas Alva Edison visits his old shop on 15th Street, June 4, 1923. He looked over the scene of his earlier experiments and got a fine comparison between the old and the new in machinery. He also had his photo taken with the old-fashioned automobile that Leon Mendel built when Edison first started his experiment with the electric light system more than forty years previously.

Photo: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images/Fine Art America

#vintage New York #1920s #old New York #Thomas Edison #June 4 #inventors #old NYC #nostalgia #electric light #4 June

[dailyunsolvedmysteries]

15 Inventors Who Were Killed By Their Own Inventions

Marie Curie -  Marie Curie, popularly known as Madame Curie, invented the process to isolate radium after co-discovering the radioactive elements radium and polonium. She died of aplastic anemia as a result of prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation emanating from her research materials. The dangers of radiation were not well understood at the time.

William Nelson - a General Electric employee, invented a new way to motorize bicycles. He then fell off his prototype bike during a test run and died.

William Bullock - he invented the web rotary printing press. Several years after its invention, his foot was crushed during the installation of the new machine in Philadelphia. The crushed foot developed gangrene and Bullock died during the amputation.

Horace Lawson Hunley - he was a marine engineer and was the inventor of the first war submarine. During a routine test, Hunley, along with a 7-member crew, sunk to death in a previously damaged submarine H. L. Hunley (named after Hunley’s death) on October 15, 1963. 

Francis Edgar Stanley - Francis crashed into a woodpile while driving a Stanley Steamer. It was a steam engine-based car developed by Stanley Motor Carriage Company, founded by Francis E. Stanley and his twin Freelan O. Stanley. 

Thomas Andrews - he was an Irish businessman and shipbuilder. As the naval architect in charge of the plans for the ocean liner RMS Titanic, he was travelling on board that vessel during her maiden voyage when the ship hit an iceberg on 14 April 1912. He perished along with more than 1,500 others. His body was never recovered.

Thomas Midgley Jr. - he was an American engineer and chemist who contracted polio at age 51, leaving him severely disabled. He devised an elaborate system of ropes and pulleys to help others lift him from the bed. He was accidentally entangled in the ropes of the device and died of strangulation at the age of 55.

Alexander Bogdanov - he was a Russian physician and philosopher who was one of the first people to experiment with blood transfusion. He died when he used the blood of malaria and TB victim on himself.

Michael Dacre -  died after testing his flying taxi device designed to permit fast, affordable travel between regional cities.

Max Valier - invented liquid-fuelled rocket engines as a member of the 1920s German rocket society. On May 17, 1930, an alcohol-fuelled engine exploded on his test bench in Berlin that killed him instantly.

Mike Hughes - was killed when the parachute failed to deploy during a crash landing while piloting his homemade steam-powered rocket.

Harry K. Daghlian Jr. and Louis Slotin -  The two physicists were running experiments on plutonium for The Manhattan Project, and both died due to lethal doses of radiation a year apart (1945 and 1946, respectively).

Karel Soucek -  The professional stuntman developed a shock-absorbent barrel in which he would go over the Niagara Falls. He did so successfully, but when performing a similar stunt in the Astrodome, the barrel was released too early and Soucek plummeted 180 feet, hitting the rim of the water tank designed to cushion the blow.

Hammad al-Jawhari - he was a prominent scholar in early 11th century Iraq and he was also sort of an inventor, who was particularly obsessed with flight. He strapped on a pair of wooden wings with feathers stuck on them and tried to impress the local Imam. He jumped off from the roof of a mosque and consequently died.

Jean-Francoise Pilatre de Rozier -  Rozier was a French teacher who taught chemistry and physics. He was also a pioneer of aviation, having made the first manned free balloon flight in 1783. He died when his balloon crashed near Wimereux in the Pas-de-Calais during an attempt to fly across the English Channel. Pilâtre de Rozier was the first known fatalities in an air crash when his Roziere balloon crashed on June 15, 1785.

#inventions #inventors #history #facts

[tompuschautz]

Gravestone of Elijah Jefferson Bond. Inventor of the Ouija Board. Green Mount Cemetery. Baltimore, Maryland.

#graveyard #gravestones #inventors #cemetry #ouija board #occult #ghosts #spooky #halloween #spirits

[ptseti]

#inventors #blackinventors

[ancientorigins]

The classic board game Monopoly is known and loved across the globe as a celebration of capitalism. But this was definitely not the intention behind its invention.

#games #board #entertainment #inventors #economics #theft #ancient #history #ancient origins

[thatsbelievable]

#Did You Know? #facts #trivia #Thomas Edison #inventors #science #fun

[canyourfavesurvivecastledracula]

Would Artemis Fowl, from his book series, survive Castle Dracula?

pros:

Child Genius (psychology, physics, folklore and mythology, chess, and more)

Ruthless (blackmailed a fairy in exchange for magic knowledge, kidnapped another fairy for two tons of gold)

Determined (crawled through painful mildly radioactive sludge to save his friends once, travelled the arctic to save his dad)

Resourceful (literally a millionaire at the start of his series, has Magical Resources by the end)

Minor magic skills (weak capacity for commanding voice and resisting psychic commands)

cons:

overconfident (regularly underestimates his opponents. the times he was wrong about his opponents things went off the rails big time)

not physically fit (so bad that he considers buying exercising gear from an infomercial when faced by his own lack of athleticism, finds running in running shoes more awkward than in dress shoes)

insufferable (he must make it clear he is the smartest person in the room)

bad cook

---------

Oh heck this is a submission not an ask! Thaaaat's why my only option is "edit."

Gonna add the other two asks to it as well:

So. On the one hand he's a child so and both inherently delicious and easy to underestimate. On the other hand his underestimability might be somewhat undercut by his need to be the smartest guy in the room. One question is whether Dracula believes him to be the child genius that he is, because Dracula also thinks he's the smartest guy in the room and is dismissive (to his detriment) of other people's intellect. So once again this seems like it might wind up an underestimation contest. And between Fowle's extensive research and familiarity with the supernatural, I think he has the advantage here... unless it makes him overconfident?

The ability to resist mind-contol and potential preparedness is a double-edged sword. It means he won't lie still when the Girlies come to eat him - which means he'll get chased and hunted instead, and he certainly can't outrun them.

I can't see his incredible wealth helping him inside the Castle. His tech skills perhaps. Can he pick locks? How good is he at improvizing? How hamstrung will he be by the theft of his Stuff?

He's a genius though, right? So unlike poor Jonathan, he will probably figure out that there isn't any key. Two weeks of brain cudgelling might actually result in some kind of a Plan. I don't know what it could possibly be, but I am not a child genius. He definitely cannot make it down the wall, but if there's another available exit strategy he will find it.

The other factor is that Artemis Fowle is specifically an evil genius. Will he attempt to join forces with Dracula? Can he convince Dracula to let him be his, I dunno, project manager? Will Dracula abide by such a deal? (Will Artemis expect him to?)

I am leaning slightly towards Artemis Fowle surviving but I really don't know

#submission #artemis fowl #inventors #children #aristocrats

[supernightboy08]

My favorite Doctors:

1. Doc Brown

2. Doctor Strange

3. Dr. Nefario

4. Fourth Doctor

5. Tenth Doctor

6. Eleventh Doctor

#doctor #doc brown #doctor emmett brown #dr nefario #doctor strange #fourth doctor #tenth doctor #eleventh doctor #doctor who #back to the future #marvel comics #despicable me #mad scientist #scientists #science #inventors #screencap #doctor stephen strange

[narrans]

A Tall and Small Collection | S2.40 | Inventors Exchange

Rey hoped his instinct was right. He felt like it was the right thing to do anyway. Theo seemed like a good guy and, unlike other humans who he saw, Rey thought he could learn a lot from Theo, who was an inventor like him.

Rey had questions as well. What else did Theo know about The Littles? Was that why he was so careful with Rey? Also, how did Theo design all of those toys to be the perfect size for a Borrower? Was it because of The Littles and his understanding of the series? And how did he make those things?

Rey had to know.

After much debate, it was decided.

Rey needed to go back and talk to Theo. At the very least, he needed to determine if it was a good, safe place for he and Hero to go and do their helping. Since Theo already knew about him, Rey thought it might be easier to convince Theo to pretend not to notice Hero and himself if they happened to be seen.

Rey planned on telling Hero everything if today went well, but that would depend on what happened.

The teenage Borrower inventor told Ashlynn and Soren both where he was going and precise instructions on how to get to Theo’s apartment. Both of them told him to be careful, and Ashlynn even dared to kiss her finger and tap it on the top of Rey’s head, before giving him a nod telling him that if he wasn’t back by dinner, they were coming for him. Then, gathering up a few of his own inventions as well as his essentials, Rey headed off into the walls.

His heart was pounding out of his chest, but his features didn’t show how nervous he was actually feeling. It was one of those things Rey had learned to do from Soren and had so many times recently to practice.

The walls were, as usual, quiet in this part of the apartment complex. It was one thing Rey was grateful for. Since it was no longer a secret that he and his family were friends with Ashlynn, a human, few dared to venture this far. It meant that there was less chance of being asked questions or targeted like before.

Though, Rey never dropped his guard as he continued walking along the path he was familiarizing himself with now, careful to make the right amount of lefts and rights to go into Theo’s room, not the little sister’s room, Bella.

In what felt like record time, he was there standing in front of the electrical cover he slipped through after his encounter with Theo. The thought of someone other than Ashlynn or Sam holding him made him shudder, but at least Theo had been considerate and gentle. Rey shook his head. He couldn’t think about that now. What he needed was a clear head and a steady hand.

Taking another quick breath, he pushed open the cover and slipped out into Theo’s bedroom.

The moment he did, he saw Theo’s mobile chair sitting at the same desk where he was before. Rey crept to the very front of the piece of furniture and peered out cautiously, keeping his hook firmly in his left hand and pin in his right. Sure enough, Theo had his back turned and was working at his desk. Also, thankfully, the door was closed and locked. Perfect!

Rey had no idea what Theo was doing, but what mattered was that his attention was elsewhere.

With caution, Rey spotted a fair amount of shelves and wires he could use to get up to the top shelf just out of reach from Theo while also being seen and heard. It took little to no time for Rey to ascend the side of the cabinet, trying out his new hooked boots for climbing, and dart from behind figurine to figurine to the bedside table. The bedspread, which was some kind of space themed, was trickier to traverse given the hooks on the edges of Rey’s boots didn’t retract back like they should have.

He’d have to work on those later.

Still, it didn’t stop him from shimmying over past the line of trim and up the bookshelves until he reached the place where he wanted to on the shelves above the desk. It was just above eye level for Theo, which was a bit closer than Rey was hoping, but he was in no mood to turn back and forget his mission. He had questions that needed answering.

The teenage Borrower crouched and peered over the ledge to watch what Theo was doing, and he suddenly found himself entranced. There were two odd boxes on Theo’s desk and another on a side table beside his desk that were making odd, whirring sounds. A spool of what looked like thick blue line fed into the boxes.

Theo was typing away at his computer, scrolling and clicking from time to time until he gave a grin and nodded. With a few more clicks, the third machine clicked into action, spinning and whirring like the others. Another buzzed and stopped, which made Theo smile. Rey watched with utter fascination as Theo reached into the machine after opening the door and pulled out what looked like a bedframe that would fit him perfectly. It had drawer slots on both sides and even had a place to hang things like hooks and line off of the edge.

Did that thing come from the machine?

Rey had to know.

He breathed in deeply and stood to his full height, forcing himself to walk calmly across the shelf until he was almost directly in front of Theo. Rey felt Theo’s eyes one him the moment they flicked up. Rey watched Theo do a double take, glancing up at the first sound and then glancing up again to see Rey boldly walking out beside various books and contraptions.

Rey stopped in front of him and steeled his nerves as he turned and faced Theo, staring into his keen blue eyes. Rey’s own pale blue ones undoubtedly showed he was mildly unnerved, but Rey refused to retreat. Instead, he kept his body relaxed while keeping his hand on the edge of his pin. Theo’s expressions changed rapidly from confusion to curiosity and then amusement.

“Hey there little guy,” said Theo, glancing over toward the door that was shut and latched, as if he wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to be disturbed while he was talking with Rey. Theo turned his eyes back to Rey, who felt like his heart was pounding harder, though not faster thankfully. “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you again. What’s up? Do you need help with something?”

Rey had been working himself up all day to do this, accounting for everything except for one major thing – how he was going to initially address Theo. Should he thank him? Start asking questions? Lay down the rules like Soren did when he first met Ashlynn?

Rey decided that, first and foremost, he needed to express gratitude. Theo had kept him safe when his sister found him in her dollhouse, and then he let him go without question. His fascination with these odd devices could wait to be second.

“I wanted to say thank you,” said Rey, swallowing dryly. “You didn’t have to cover for my blunder, and you made sure I wasn’t hurt. So, thanks.” Rey tried speaking up as loud as he dared, but it still sounded so small compared to how his voice sounded when he talked to Ashlynn. Were his nerves really that much on edge?

“Yeah dude,” nodded Theo as he set down the bedframe in his hands onto the desk. “No problem whatsoever. Anytime. Is… that all? Wait… you’re not here because of some life debt thing, are you? Like, your family won’t let you come back because I saw you until you do something heroic for me.”

“What?” asked Rey, feeling his brow instinctually furrow in confusion, but he also saw an opportunity to get some of his questions answered. “No. That isn’t it. We don’t have life debt rules or anything like that, but we do have other rules. Which I guess brings me to a question I wanted to ask you. How did you know about the rules? Is it because of that thing you said about Littles?”

“What? Oh, yeah,” said Theo as he leaned back into his mobile chair, which Rey still found curious. “In The Littles book series, Littles aren’t supposed to talk to people and have tails and live in the walls and such. I noticed you don’t have a tail though. Sorry if this is too personal, but you’re not a Little, are you?”

Rey didn’t want to tell Theo what he was or about the whole of Borrower society. This was supposed to be a game of twenty questions for Theo, not him. Still, it couldn’t hurt to share a little about himself.

“No, I’m not a Little. I’m small, but not that,” stated Rey. “And I’m not supposed to talk about it, so could I ask you something different instead? Please?” Stunned fascination was the closest thing Rey could describe when it came to Theo’s facial expressions. Sure, having a conversation with a four-inch-tall person didn’t happen every day, but it still made Rey squirm a little. It made him feel small, like he was something to be fascinated with rather than just being treated like a person.

“Um… yeah. Sure. Go ahead bud. What’s up?” asked Theo. Rey nodded a couple times, filing through what he wanted to ask first.

“Alright, I have a few questions, if you don’t mind. First question is about Littles. How do you know about them? Have you ever seen anyone like that? And is that why you seem to be completely at ease talking to me?”

Theo leaned back in his chair, wheeling back a little bit as he chuckled lightly. Rey initially felt himself bristle as he looked at Theo, but seeing the look on the human teen’s face told Rey he wasn’t being laughed at.

“That is definitely not one question, but I get why you clustered them together,” grinned Theo. He kept his voice low, undoubtedly because the other humans were home, but it was still clear enough for Rey to hear clearly. “First part, I know about Littles because of the story books. My mom used to read them to me, and I always thought the concept was fascinating. Part two, I have never met a Little before, hence why I thought you were one who didn’t have a tail. Part three, I guess that definitely helped; but, honestly, you just look like a smaller human, so I guess I’m subconsciously talking to you like one. That answer everything for question series one?”

Rey nodded, liking how direct Theo was speaking to him. It was a lot of good information all at once, and he definitely seemed patient in asking his own questions. Rey could see the human was just as curious as Rey was but refrained from bargaining for time to ask his own questions.

Whatever these books said about Littles and the rules was obviously accurate. Did that mean someone met a Borrower and decided to call them something different to keep the secret while also telling others about people who lived in the walls?

Rey suspected he would never know the answer, but it certainly made him think about how many people might be aware of the Borrower secret.

Rey snapped out of his temporary stupor and looked down into Theo’s keen blue eyes, waiting patiently for Rey’s response.

“Um… yes. That did answer those questions. Thank you,” stated Rey. “Next set then, if that’s alright.”

“Fire away,” grinned Theo, gesturing with his hand for Rey to continue.

“Alright, next questions are about your sister and those toys of hers. Did you design them with Littles in mind? Or does she have toys that happen to be this size?” asked Rey, gesturing to himself. “And how are you making them? Is it those box things on your desk?”

Theo’s eyes brightened at Rey’s question, gleaming with some mix of pride and some other emotions.

“Great question. Well, first, did you like the designs? I mean, I assume you saw them, right? Were they alright? Did you try opening the drawers or anything? Or were they too difficult to open because of weight and such?” asked Theo.

Rey thought about his time in the doll house. Admittedly, he had not tried to open any of the drawers or cabinets. He was afraid it might be noticeable if he couldn’t get the thing closed again. Still, it was impressively made. Everything felt custom, like it was meant to fit a Borrower perfectly. It also felt like, as Rey was walking through the doll house, that everything was accounted for. He remembered there was a hook stand by the door, and the hinges were perfectly sized.

It was like the house was made for someone like him. It felt like he was human sized in a normal human house, even though the colors and paint were done by a kid younger than him.

“I didn’t try to open anything. I didn’t want to possibly leave evidence that I was there. Still, everything looked and felt… precise – like it was measured perfectly for someone like me,” said Rey. Theo raised his fist in a momentary cheer and even did a thing called a wheelie in his chair. Rey knew the look as one of triumph. Evidently, this was exactly what Theo wanted to hear.

“Sorry,” apologized Theo as he looked back up into Rey’s face and saw his momentary confusion. “I nerd out over my projects when they work.”

“No, it’s… fine. I… know the feeling,” said Rey, feeling himself smile slightly. Was this how Hero felt with Sam? Kindred spirits who have the same interests?

“Oh? You’re an inventor too?” asked Theo, but he raised his finger to stop Rey from answering before he even began. “Wait, answering your questions first. I technically didn’t design them with Littles in mind, but her toys and dolls do fit the general description, height and so forth, of a Little, if that makes sense.”

“It does,” agreed Rey. A lot of kid toys could be used for a Borrower. Rey remembered some of their early plates and tools being borrowed from doll houses and toy rooms back at their old home. His mom and dad even found some clothes like jackets for winter and blankets from doll houses and toy storage.

“Anyway,” continued Todd, not noticing Rey’s momentary reminiscing. “I did design some of these things on my own using some 3D programs here on my tablet and computer. But some of the designs came from this website I found called Tay Models. Evidently, the guy is an engineer architect kind of guy and started making 3D virtual models with his friend, who I think is into design. Anyway, they started this business and are making loads of money selling these models and the plans to make them yourself.”

For a brief moment, Rey had a thought about the creators of Tay Models. An engineer and a designer? How would an engineer and a designer know about how deep to make a wall hook? The depth of a fishing hook and how it would hang on a wall isn’t something a normal person would think about. Rey wondered quietly, keeping his thoughts to himself, for a few more moments before daring to peer over the ledge at the boxes that were still whirring away.

He spotted that odd cord going into the machine, the distinct gray color catching his eye.

“And is that how you make them?” asked Rey as he pointed to the boxes below.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. They’re called 3D printers. They take an image from my computer and turn it into something physical. The trick to printing is to think about what you’re making in all different angles. Like, you know a drawer has to fit into the cabinet, but is it on a track and do you have a base on the inside of the cabinet? Do you have the right measurements for the inside? That sort of thing. Do… you want to check it out? Get closer I mean,” said Theo, placing his hands on the wheels of his chair and rolling backward a little way away from the desk.

Rey had to admit that his curiosity was peaked. He had never heard of these things, and the thought of coming up with something with a tube of plastic was intriguing. Going to check, however, meant he would have to get closer to Theo, standing on the desk within arm’s reach of the human.

Rey paid close attention to Theo’s tone and the words he used. In his mind, Rey thought Theo sounded just as excited, but not about him though – about showing off the machines and showcasing his work. It would be like one true inventor talking to another, and this was something that intrigued Rey. Sure, Borrowers were inventors and MacGyvers by necessity, but to really think outside of the box and put something together that wasn’t meant to be put together was at the heart of what Rey was doing.

It took only moments, even though it felt like longer, but Rey found himself nodding as he looked Theo in the eye.

“I would, if you don’t mind,” said the inventive teen. Theo smiled and, once again, wheeled his chair back ever so slightly to give Rey more room, most likely so the Borrower would feel comfortable. This action confirmed Rey’s instincts, so he pulled out his hook from his belt, secured it to the edge of the shelf, and slid down the line quickly at a controlled descent.

Rey could feel Theo’s eyes on him, but he put that thought on the back burner as he landed firmly and flicked the line to knock the hook loose. For an added flare, he managed to snag the hook out of the air, stepping surely where it was going to fall.

“Wow, that’s impressive,” complemented Theo as he watched. Rey felt himself beam just a little with pride as he flashed a toothless smile at the human mere feet from him. Admittedly, he wasn’t as nervous as he thought he would be, probably because he was excited and fascinated with Theo’s various contraptions and high alert were keeping him completely aware of his surroundings.

“Thanks,” he said as he walked closer to the large boxes and tiptoed to watch them work. Sure enough, there was a little nozzle feeding the plastic into the box and then into a very thin funnel where it looked like it was tracing the same thing over and over again. Rey stepped up to the other box and noticed the same thing. Fascinating.

Rey, with his curiosity flaring stronger than before, walked over to the tablet and examined the screen, seeing that the design was a box like device that looked like a drawer. It was a complete guess, but the Borrower teen’s suspicions were that the machines were tracing the outline of these boxes.

“Ah, you see the design?” said Theo. Rey whipped around and saw Theo had leaned back in his wheeled chair to watch as Rey examined his workstation. Taking a breath, Rey nodded.

“Yeah, and I have to say I’m impressed,” said Rey, and he genuinely was. Theo had three of these machines going simultaneously to not only expedite productivity, but also working with items three dimensionally before he could even work with them felt beyond Rey’s realm of understanding.

“Yeah?” smiled Theo. “Well, good. Now, I don’t want to be insulting or anything, but do you understand how the program and those machines work? I’d be happy to teach you.” Rey looked back at the program and then to the machines. This was beyond his skills, but he wanted to learn. If he could simply use this machine to get the exact parts he needed, some of his designs were attainable.

Rey decided to take the chance.

“If you’d be willing to teach, I’m willing to learn,” said Rey. Theo glanced down at his chair and then to the desk, silently asking if he could approach, to which Rey nodded while keeping track of his exits. He trusted Theo, but old habits died hard. It took a moment for Rey as he breathed deeply and kept himself calm as Theo rolled forward and placed his hands on the desk near the screen where Rey was.

“Okay, crash course of 3D printing. Ready?”

“Yes.”

From there, Rey found himself completely enthralled in Theo’s lessons. Rey learned about the tablet and how the application, or app, worked. He learned how to program and download different models and watched in utter fascination as a simple touch of his hand could activate and spin the model around so he could examine every angle of the model before it was even printed.

Theo then explained about the machine and how everything was hooked up. He explained that the filament was essentially melted and reshaped using the nozzle, tracing along the base so it could be removed once the project was complete. Rey even had enough time to practice making his own design before there came a knock at the door.

Rey practically jumped out of his skin as he heard the sound of three loud, harsh knocks on the door. The knob rattled, making his body shiver, as a booming voice sounded from the other side.

“Theo? Whadda you doin’ in there?” The words were slurred and obviously from a much older, bigger person.

“Hide!” hissed Theo without hesitation as he redirected his wheeled chair toward the door. Rey waisted no time in ducking behind one of the machines and then back behind the desk where he slipped in between the wall and the wood, sliding down halfway so he was underneath of the desk where Theo’s legs usually were.

“Just working, dad,” called Theo once he saw Rey was out of sight. The door practically burst off of its hinges the moment the lock was undone from the other side, using a special key. Theo wheeled back ever so slightly but held firm, keeping his chin high.  

“An’ who you talkin’ to?” Theo’s dad demanded, thundering into the room.

“It’s just a YouTube video I’m prepping for explaining my work. Now, will you please let me work? I haven’t bothered y-” Rey didn’t see it, but he heard a harsh slap.

“Don’t lie to me boy!” roared Theo’s father. “An’ wha’ ‘bout Bells? You getting’ ‘er from the bus or what?”

“I’m not lying, and yes, I’ll get her from the bus. Are we done now?” demanded Theo, trying to keep his tone even despite his wavering voice.

“We’re don’ when I say we’re done!” snarled the man as he took a step forward. Rey watched the wheeled chair tip and fall to the ground as Theo was practically thrown from it onto the floor. Theo crashed to the ground and glanced under the desk where he spotted Rey, wide-eyed and terrified, but also furious in his own way.

How dare a father treat their son like this!

Rey, biting his tongue, watched as the man left the room and slammed the door behind him. Immediately, he let himself drop to the floor and ran out from under cover right up to the human boy, now feeling no fear toward Theo.

“Are you alright?” asked Rey, looking around and feeling helpless to get Theo back up into his chair.

“Yeah, I’m alright,” groaned Theo, keeping his voice low this time, as he pushed himself carefully up onto one elbow. “Sorry you had to see that. He’s not usually this agitated so early in the day.”

“You… mean he does this a lot?” asked Rey. Theo, wincing, managed to push himself up as he fought with the chair with wheels back upright.

“Yeah. I try to make sure Bells doesn’t see it or bother him. I can’t wait to turn eighteen and get out of here with her. I’ve already submitted everything and sent in the paperwork, but we have to lay low until then,” stated Theo. “In all reality, this is a bit better. All I need to do it take some extra pictures and file the report with my attorney, so it strengthens my case at any rate.”

Rey had no idea what to think. Theo sounded so detached and factual about the whole thing, but it sounded serious what he was saying. Lawyers? Paperwork? Cases?

It was nothing compared to the revelation that Theo was now manually hoisting himself up into the wheeled chair, his legs dragging behind him. Rey, so shocked by the scene, took a few steps backwards.

“Did… he do that? Hurt your legs so you can’t use them?” asked Rey. He realized the question was insensitive and that he just blurted it out, but he wanted – needed – to know now. At this, Theo actually chuckled as he continued to situate himself in the chair.

“No, he didn’t do this. It was… well… long story short, it was a car accident. I tweaked my back after I got Bells out of the car. Evidently, I shouldn’t have been moving, but… well… the adrenaline kept me from feeling my injuries until it was too late,” muttered Theo who now, for the first time, wasn’t all smiles and fascination. “I’m trying to get prosthetics, which is why I’m saving money from my various printing projects to buy myself a pair, but that’ll be a long while away.”

“Wow,” mumbled Rey, staring up at Theo. “I… had no idea.” To Rey, a human’s life usually seemed so easy. They had countless food sources and the ability to travel vast distances. Everything seemed so effortless. It was hard to believe a human could have a bad day. It was hard to believe that such horrendous accidents could happen and that humans didn’t have perfect alternatives to make everything right.

Well, there was probably more to it all than that. Humans had their politics and rules that Rey didn’t understand. Instead, Rey could only mutter, “I’m sorry,” again.

“Don’t be. I’ll just be glad when the time comes to leave. Anyway, do you mind if I bother you for something?” asked Theo. It was obvious he wanted to change the subject, so Rey decided to humor Theo. After all, he had spent time and taught him about the application and printing.

“Sure, what is it?” asked Rey, bracing himself for Theo’s request.

“Well, it looks like you have some inventions there on your back and at your sides. If it’s not too much to ask, maybe I could ask you about them? Tell me about your designs and stuff? I mean, it’s absolutely fascinating. You don’t have the same tools that I do. At least, I don’t think you do. I’d be interested to know how you made those designs, what they do, and what you use for tools,” stated Theo.

A true inventor to the end. Rey nodded and looked back up to the desk. He thought about using his emergency belay device, but then he heard Theo’s voice.

“Do… you want a hand up?”

Rey, usually, would politely decline, but given the circumstances it seemed appropriate.

“If… you don’t mind,” Rey smiled. “Thanks.”

It was odd, but Rey felt little to no fear when he stepped onto Theo’s fingertips and was lifted up onto the arm of the wheelchair and then onto the desk. From there, Rey went into his own description of his inventions and how they operated. Theo absorbed every word, actually taking notes on the design and asking minimal questions until Rey explained how everything was designed.

“Absolutely amazing,” breathed Theo.

“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself,” grinned Rey. As Theo glanced at the clock, he sighed.

“Well, I’m sorry to cut our time short, but I need to go and see to my sister. She’ll be home soon,” said Theo. “But… promise me we’ll get a chance to talk like this again. This was nice.”

“Agreed, though I’ll have to see when I can come back. Soon, I hope,” said Rey, meaning it. It was nice to have someone on the same crazed inventing mindset like him.

With that, Rey descended down the line and vanished into the walls. He was practically buzzing with excitement, wanting to go back sooner than later, but knew the parameters.

Besides, he had to go and talk to a certain hero about a human who needed their help.

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

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A Tall and Small Collection | Soren

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Eunice Newton Foote was born on July 17, 1819. An American scientist, inventor, and women's rights campaigner, she was the first scientist known to have examined the warming effect of sunlight on different gases and to have suggested that an increase in the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would change its temperature and have an effect on climate. A 1856 paper of hers was the first known publication in physics by a woman. She went on to patent several inventions. Foote died in 1888 and for almost a hundred years her contributions were lost, before being rediscovered by women academics in the twentieth century.

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