Link:<http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/25/business/fi-inventors25>


We thank the Great Depression for inventions such as the Twinkie, Monopoly, and the photocopier. During this recession, we may remember it as when the biodegradable shower mat, a tie that holds iPods, and a gadget that breaks the the vacuum seals of jars were invented. The reason for this is because people who are unemployed are sick of running to job fairs and sending out resumes so they are finally launching off the invention they have been pondering over for years. A number are trying to make millions and others are just trying to solve problems you didn't know you would have until you came across them in an infomercial. "This fluctuation happens every time there's a dip in the economy," says Andrew Krauss, president of the Silicon Valley-based Inventors Alliance. They have meetings where inventors promote and share their ideas and learn how to patent products. "But it's doubled lately -- I've never seen so many people at our meetings," says Krauss. Joe Sale thinks his invention is going to change the way people wear neckties, "one time at a time." The iTie is suppose to hold iPods, business cards, and credit cards in a pocket on the back and its secured with elastic bands that hold the tie from falling in the wearer's soup. Sale has been thinking about how to improve on the invention for years, but never had the time to create and patent the item until he was laid off from his job in August. Since then he has put $25,000 into this invention. The number of patent and trademark fillings in 2009 is falling behind 2% last year because major corporations, which generate the vast majority, are cutting back, says a spokeswoman from a U.S. Patent and Trademark office. "Inventors in states including Michigan and New York have created six local clubs in the last year. Interest in inventing is high, and our membership is growing in the middle of a recession, " says Patrick Raymond executive director of United Inventors Assn.


I chose this article because a lot of people are unemployed right now and people need to make money somehow. I think its great that people are making new inventions because there many problems that we need help with and to solve. So inventions give people money and make out everyday lives easier. Good for them.

Yes, I do agree with this article because people need money since there aren't many jobs available these days. I am glad people are making money. No one should be poor because they can't find a job.

Yes, I do think this information is presented fairly because they gave a lot of information inventors motives and how so many people are doing this. They also gave an example of a new invention.

I don't think I would use this news source again because there weren't many interesting articles on this website.