ALGRA is a Swiss manufacturer of customized input systems, front panels, casings and signs. Their most innovative product, Dynapic Wireless, is a switch without batteries and cables. Simply by pressing the button, a piezoelectric element generates enough energy to transmit a radio signal with a range of up to 60 m. Dynapic Wireless is available as a transmission module that can be integrated into any casing of your choice. We also offer a compatible receiver module. Specifically, we also offer a receiver that transmits signals to the internet via WiFi, thereby making it possible to combine the button with any application connected to the internet. Dynapic Wireless has been available and ready to go into production for some time. It has been greeted with enthusiasm, but has yet to achieve wide distribution.

We are already familiar with the following ideas, so they are excluded from the competition. However, they are listed here for inspirational purposes.

• Remote control for lamps
• Remote control for shutters
• Remote control for gates and garage doors
• Remote control for vacuum cleaners
• Remote control for parking barriers
• Button for restaurant guests to request service
• Multimedia button for museums
• Stop button on bus
• Order button (e.g. Amazon Dash Button)

New uses should be found for this environmentally friendly product. We are convinced that Dynapic Wireless is a promising product and also, because it has no battery, can fulfill the need for ecologically sound electrical appliances. This competition is essentially a brainstorming exercise and a precursor to a follow-up competition in which concrete plans can be developed from the ensuing ideas.

We are looking for new application ideas for Dynapic Wireless.

For which applications would the fact that our remote control is battery-free be particularly useful? Where could we make the most of the advantages mentioned below without any of the drawbacks being show stoppers?

The following pros and cons of Dynapic Wireless must be taken into consideration when making suggestions:

Pros

• No batteries (energy-self-sufficient). Thus ecologically sustainable and no battery change required
• No cable. Can therefore be used anywhere in a building or be attached to a piece of equipment without additional costs for the installation of cables
• Transmission range of 60 m (with clear line of sight) to the receiver module
• Gateway for an internet connection is available
• Maintenance-free. No maintenance costs
• Extremely long life cycle: more than 10 million switch cycles
• No audible click on pressing the button. Can be added if required
• Small size (2 mm). Can easily be integrated
• Can be produced in large quantities
• Substantially lower price than other remote controls

Cons

• Proprietary radio protocol. Needs specific receiver
• A specific receiver (a gateway) that transmits the signals to the internet is required for the internet connection. Ideally, this would be placed in the same room.
• Single button. More buttons can be combined, but, due to their size of 56.5 × 33 mm each, would need quite a bit of space.
• Higher initial cost compared to battery-operated remote controls. However, lower maintenance costs as no change of batteries is needed.
• No encryption, but still fairly secure due to the short transmission period. Not suitable for car keys and similar applications
• No reception security, as only one signal is sent without reception control. Not suitable for security-critical applications such as emergency buttons
• The user does not get any feedback from the transmittor (or at most, haptic feedback). Acoustic or visual feedback muss be generated by the receiver, which is why applications where the user can see/hear/experience the effect of pushing the button are most effective.
• The receiver needs a constant electricity feed of 15 mA and can therefore not be used with a battery.

For further information, please visit the product page

Submit your idea for the perfect new application of Dynapic Wireless. Describe your idea in a manner that is easy for us to understand.

The idea must be viable and have strong market potential. Dynapic Wireless must be usable without any modifications and you must incorporate any pros and cons into your application idea.
Your entry must comprise at least 100 words.
The most important criteria for winning is our chance of successfully selling the Dynapic Wireless.

The prize money amounts to 1000 CHF. This will be distributed among the best application ideas.