0:00:15 > 0:00:18Hello, and welcome to My Genius Idea, the series that's looking
0:00:18 > 0:00:24for the biggest, best and brightest ideas from all of you.
0:00:24 > 0:00:29In My Genius Idea, we're looking for the next generation of inventors.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33We received ideas from all over the UK.
0:00:33 > 0:00:39The genius ideas ranged from how to look after your pets, robots to help out around
0:00:39 > 0:00:42the home, flying cars and eco-powered planes.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Only 18 ideas made it to the heat,
0:00:47 > 0:00:52and they'll now go head to head to see who will be crowned the overall winner.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57Our budding inventors will work with experts to help their inventions come to life, and they'll go behind
0:00:57 > 0:01:01the scenes of some of the UK's most successful organisations to
0:01:01 > 0:01:05give them the inspiration needed to progress their inventions further.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07I used it to inspire what I did.
0:01:07 > 0:01:13Deciding if they can progress in the competition will be down to expert inventor and judge Tom Lawton.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Tom has always had a passion for inventing.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23I love it. There are so many ideas around us, under everybody's nose.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27A solution that needs to be solved or a problem that hasn't been addressed.
0:01:27 > 0:01:33Tom started inventing when he was 10, and by the time he was 21, he developed his first product -
0:01:33 > 0:01:35the world's first recordable alarm clock.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39You always have ideas, and being an inventor
0:01:39 > 0:01:42is about seeing those ideas through into something real.
0:01:42 > 0:01:48He's gone on to build a successful career as an inventor, winning international awards for his work.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51It's great doing a programme about young inventors
0:01:51 > 0:01:54because young inventors have a very fresh perception of the world.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58I hope to be inspired by some of these young minds.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Hoping to impress Tom with their ideas today are...
0:02:08 > 0:02:10And here are our young inventors now.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Welcome to the My Genius Idea nerve centre. How are you all feeling?
0:02:14 > 0:02:16- I'm feeling fine. - A little bit nervous?
0:02:16 > 0:02:20- A bit nervous.- I'm going to come to you first, Kate. What's your genius idea?
0:02:20 > 0:02:23My genius idea is a piano which the keys light up.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Why would you want a piano where the keys light up?
0:02:26 > 0:02:28So you can find the right notes.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Kate's idea is an electronic system which
0:02:33 > 0:02:38will fit onto a piano and light up the keys that need to be played.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43If she can make her invention work, she can use it on a piano to help her hit all the right notes.
0:02:43 > 0:02:48I think I have the winning idea cos it can help everyone become musical.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53That might help me be a better player. Oliver, I'm going to come to you next. What's the genius idea?
0:02:53 > 0:02:57My genius idea is a wireless controlled washing line.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59And how did you come up with this idea?
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Well, my mum's always complaining about muddy feet in the garden,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06so I thought of something that might help her.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Oliver's idea is a wireless controlled
0:03:11 > 0:03:14washing line that will be operated by a pulley system.
0:03:14 > 0:03:21It was the ski lift at his local snowboarding centre that gave him the inspiration for his invention.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24It works on a pulley system,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28which will be controlled by a computer in the house,
0:03:28 > 0:03:33and to make it go round, you would have to press a button with your foot.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36OK. I'm going to come to you now, Leigha. What's your genius idea?
0:03:36 > 0:03:41My genius idea is a ramp that fits under a wheelchair so people who are disabled can get up the stairs.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Leigha's idea is a ramp that will fold away under a wheelchair
0:03:47 > 0:03:49and be released at the touch of a button.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53I thought of my idea when I saw my friend struggling in a wheelchair.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58But will this cheerleader be able to ramp up her invention and win the competition?
0:03:58 > 0:04:02My idea is the best because it helps people.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07In the My Genius Idea HQ, Kate, Oliver and Leigha will each have
0:04:07 > 0:04:12one hour to develop their idea with a top expert.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15- I'm Cefn.- Kate is fine-tuning her idea with Cefn Hoile,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18who is an expert in making prototypes.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22What is hard about playing the piano?
0:04:22 > 0:04:27Playing the piano is always hard because you always have to try to find the right notes.
0:04:27 > 0:04:33Kate's idea is a teaching tool that sits on your piano and lights up the keys that need to be played.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36What's the piano going to do differently?
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Well, all the keys can light up in two different colours for each hand.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42When you've played the right notes, what's it going to do?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44The next ones are going to light up.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47- OK.- But so you know which ones to play afterwards, they're
0:04:47 > 0:04:51going to be a bit lighter, the ones that you play next.
0:04:51 > 0:04:56So to develop her idea further, Kate will need to find a way to light up the keys on a piano.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01How is Oliver getting on with his invention?
0:05:01 > 0:05:03He's working on his wireless controlled
0:05:03 > 0:05:07washing line idea with Lee Russell, a software engineer.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Would you like to tell me about your idea?
0:05:09 > 0:05:12It's a wireless controlled washing line,
0:05:12 > 0:05:17and it runs on a pulley system, which is activated by a button.
0:05:17 > 0:05:23- OK.- And it will sound an alarm when it's 90% dry.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Oliver's idea is a washing line that sounds an alarm when your clothes
0:05:26 > 0:05:28are ready to take off the line.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33- You'd like to have an alarm sound when your washing is 90% dry.- Yeah.
0:05:33 > 0:05:40I think the very difficult bit is going to be measuring that 90% dry.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43So Oliver's found that the main challenge of his invention
0:05:43 > 0:05:48will be to calculate just when the washing is dry enough to be taken off the line.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Leigha is getting advice on her fold-away wheelchair ramp
0:05:53 > 0:05:55from Phil Robbins, a design engineer.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Why don't you tell me a little bit more about your idea?
0:05:58 > 0:06:02- My invention is a ramp that fits under a wheelchair.- And how did you come up with that idea?
0:06:02 > 0:06:07Well, my mum cuts a girl's hair, and she struggles getting up the stairs.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13Leigha's invention is a fold-away wheelchair ramp that can be operated
0:06:13 > 0:06:15independently by wheelchair users.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18I'm thinking it really needs to be portable.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21OK. There's lots of different technologies that we can use to do that.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24A ramp that's big enough to go up a flight of stairs, we need to
0:06:24 > 0:06:29fit that beneath the wheelchair, so we need to look at some different ideas there,
0:06:29 > 0:06:35or you can also look to develop the idea to be usable by the person in the wheelchair on their own.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40So Leigha has discovered there are lots of different challenges to make her wheelchair ramp portable.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44She'll need to focus on the size of her invention to make it work.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49The success of Kate's invention depends on being able
0:06:49 > 0:06:53to light up the keys on a piano to show which ones need to be played.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57- She's looking into ways to make her idea work.- So what are you thinking you might control?
0:06:57 > 0:07:03The lights on and off, and you can control the timing of that.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05OK. Faster and slower?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Yeah. My idea has different colours for different hands.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Can these light up in two different colours or more?
0:07:11 > 0:07:16You can get special LEDs which are described as RGB, which is red, green and blue.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21You can have the same light go green at one time and then red at another time.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25When you make the keys, can you make them sort of see-through-ish type colours?
0:07:25 > 0:07:29One of the advantages of what you were saying originally in terms of
0:07:29 > 0:07:32using an existing piano, though, is people don't have to buy a new piano.
0:07:32 > 0:07:39Building a piano is probably harder than building lots and lots of lights to illuminate an existing piano.
0:07:39 > 0:07:45So we could use them to light up the key, then you'd be able to see the key to push.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Kate's now got the choice of changing her idea so the lights shine
0:07:49 > 0:07:53down onto the piano keys instead of being lit up from the inside.
0:07:53 > 0:08:00She needs to think about which to choose - it could be the difference between winning and losing.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04Oliver needs to find a way to tell users when all the clothes
0:08:04 > 0:08:07on his wireless-controlled washing line are nearly dry.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11The clothes will get lighter as they get drier because they'll lose some of their water.
0:08:11 > 0:08:18- Yeah.- So what I'd like to do today is we're going to weigh the clothes dry, then we're going to wet them,
0:08:18 > 0:08:23and weigh them wet, and calculate the difference between those two weights. Right.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25If you'd like to place that on the scales.
0:08:27 > 0:08:32- 153 grams.- So let's wet the T-shirt and weigh it again.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Calculating the difference between the wet and dry clothes will let
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Oliver know how much water the clothes hold.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42It's 286 grams.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Now we need to find out the difference in percentage between these weights.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50Oliver can work out that the T-shirt weighs 53% more when it's wet.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55I think we should do the same experiment again, but with a different item of clothing, because
0:08:55 > 0:09:01I'd like to check to see if the different materials in the different items of clothing hold more water.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05- So should we do the same experiment, but with a jumper this time?- OK.- OK?
0:09:05 > 0:09:08If the percentage isn't the same, it means the clothes
0:09:08 > 0:09:11hold different amounts of water and will dry at different rates.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15237 grams.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20So while some might be nearly dry, some could still be wet and will cause problems with his invention.
0:09:20 > 0:09:25It was 721 grams.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28After finding out the wet and dry weights of the clothes,
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Oliver can see that different clothes' materials can dry at different rates.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36So he now realises that he needs to find a way to make his alarm sound
0:09:36 > 0:09:39when all the clothes are dry, not just some of them.
0:09:39 > 0:09:44He'll need to solve this problem if he's any chance of staying in the competition.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Leigha wants her wheelchair ramp to be portable,
0:09:50 > 0:09:55so she's starting to look into different designs that could help her idea become a reality.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00And what I've done here is, I've just mocked up a couple of little designs
0:10:00 > 0:10:03of folding mechanism, so we've got something that can hinge.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It could hinge multiple ways,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08and also...
0:10:08 > 0:10:09it can roll up.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13So why do you think a ramp like this might be good for your invention?
0:10:13 > 0:10:19Will it be because it will fold up so it can be easier to go under it?
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Yeah. We also need to think about the strength as well,
0:10:22 > 0:10:26so do you think that looks strong enough to hold a wheelchair?
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Possibly.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Possibly. Now, what they have in the Army is, they have these
0:10:31 > 0:10:37special forms of tank that they use to lay bridges across water.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41It will put its bridge down across the river, and
0:10:41 > 0:10:44then it can drive over it, and all the others can drive over it as well.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47I think we can incorporate this into your design.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52I'm really interested to seeing that in my own invention.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55'With only 20 minutes left, I'm off to see how the budding inventors
0:10:55 > 0:10:57'are coming along with their ideas.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58'First up, it's Kate.'
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Kate and Cefn, how's it going?
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Fine. I've learnt about these little computers and the lights
0:11:04 > 0:11:06and that if you shine that on there,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09you can see it, and you can even see it on the black notes as well.
0:11:09 > 0:11:10That's a really good idea.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Cefn, do you know of anything like this that's been created before?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Well, there's nothing that I know of that is like a true piano,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21and that's something that's very important to Kate, learning...
0:11:21 > 0:11:23is that the keys are weighted
0:11:23 > 0:11:26and that it has the authentic piano experience.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29We're going to be trying to fit that sort of behaviour
0:11:29 > 0:11:31into something that's like a real piano.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34It sounds like you're really cracking on with this,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37so I'm going to leave you to it. Well, done. Brilliant.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42'Has Oliver managed to solve his problem of trying to work out when washing is nearly dry?'
0:11:42 > 0:11:45- Ollie, how's it going? - It's going all right.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49I've learnt that dry clothes weigh less than wet clothes.
0:11:49 > 0:11:55It's an interesting idea, this, and I think I know where you're going with it. Can you explain some more?
0:11:55 > 0:11:58When the weight stops changing...
0:11:58 > 0:12:00In a sense stops drying?
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Stops drying, stops losing the water out of it, that should mean that the clothes are dry.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08That's brilliant. How will the technology help you know when these are done?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10We've got a lot of options,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12and Oliver and I need to talk about that later to say,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14how exactly do you want this alarm to work?
0:12:14 > 0:12:18I wouldn't mind having one of these when they're done because I hate bringing my washing in.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21'I wonder how Leigha is getting on with her wheelchair ramp.'
0:12:21 > 0:12:25- How's it going?- I've learnt about different kinds of ramps.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28There's a kind of ramp what you can roll up like that one,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32and there's a kind of ramp what you can just slide out like that.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34OK. Show us how this one works.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38- Oh, OK. So it uncoils? - It opens like that.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41We've also been throwing around a few other ideas as well.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43What's going on here?
0:12:43 > 0:12:46The tank carries bricks along, and then it goes up and places
0:12:46 > 0:12:50them over the river, and then all the tanks can go across.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52I'll leave you to carry on some more research
0:12:52 > 0:12:56because it sounds like it's going in the right direction. Brilliant.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01'So what does expert inventor and judge Tom make of the ideas so far?'
0:13:01 > 0:13:04We've got three great original ideas that are showing
0:13:04 > 0:13:08a wide variety of imagination, so I'm always impressed with that.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11With Leigha's, it's a mechanical design type solution.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13With Ollie's, there are all sorts of different
0:13:13 > 0:13:17washing line-type devices, but he's bringing it up to the 21st century.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18Kate's has really got merit.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22I love the fact that you don't have to have it integrated into your piano.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24It's something that could fit onto any piano.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26OK then Tom, I won't keep you any longer.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Have another good look around.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31'Tom will be judging all their ideas later on.
0:13:31 > 0:13:37'He'll want to know how well Kate, Oliver and Leigha
0:13:37 > 0:13:42'have understood the technology behind their ideas and how well they can sell them to him.'
0:13:42 > 0:13:43What are you doing with that?
0:13:43 > 0:13:47'Only one of today's inventors can win a place in the semi-finals.'
0:13:47 > 0:13:50What are you looking to do with these experiments?
0:13:50 > 0:13:55Well, I'm looking so it would fold up under the wheelchair, and when it
0:13:55 > 0:13:58placed it out, it needs to be the right size to get through the door.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Our young inventors are maximising their time really well.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06They're trying to get as much information as possible out of their expert.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest, so we sent them up, up and away
0:14:09 > 0:14:15to check out an invention that we still use today that was first thought up over 300 years ago.
0:14:20 > 0:14:26Lindstrand Balloons is one of the world's leading designers in hot air balloons.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31Andy Marshall is their design engineer and will be showing our young inventors the science needed
0:14:31 > 0:14:36to get a balloon in the air, proving that simple technology can last for years and years if you get right.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40Hot air balloons really gave people the idea that flight was possible.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44It opened up a whole world of science which didn't exist up to that time,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47so ballooning really set the world of science this motion.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49It would be good if at the end of the day
0:14:49 > 0:14:53the children understand that the simplest ideas are often the best.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59Today I hope I might learn something which will improve my invention.
0:14:59 > 0:15:04I'm really excited to learn about how air balloons stay up in the sky.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Andy begins by showing the young inventors the special
0:15:07 > 0:15:10types of material needed to keep a balloon air born.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14So this is the material that the balloons are made from.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17If it gets damaged, you can imagine if it were to get snagged on a bush
0:15:17 > 0:15:21or something like that, it would cause a hole in your balloon.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25If I rub that with my fingers,
0:15:25 > 0:15:30- it's called self-healing fabric. - It's really good material because
0:15:30 > 0:15:36if you get a hole in it, you just give it a rub, and it's just magic.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Now they know what the balloon is made of, they need to know how much
0:15:42 > 0:15:48air is needed to lift it, and Andy has a sweet experiment for our young inventors.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51We've got a doughnut and a balloon, and we're going to
0:15:51 > 0:15:54work out just how much doughnut this balloon can carry, OK?
0:15:54 > 0:15:57And yes, you are going to get to eat it.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04The gas in the balloon can lift a total of 76 grams,
0:16:04 > 0:16:08but the balloon and basket together weigh 71 grams,
0:16:09 > 0:16:11so therefore the balloon should be able to lift
0:16:11 > 0:16:14the difference between the two numbers,
0:16:14 > 0:16:15in this case, five grams or less.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24- So how much doughnut did the balloon lift?- 4.8 grams.- Wonderful.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Who wants to eat the last bit?
0:16:30 > 0:16:35It's time to test the science on a much larger scale.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38To inflate the balloon, you fill it first with cold air,
0:16:38 > 0:16:42then the clever bit to make it fly, you fill it with really hot air.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46The hot air that's coming out of the burner
0:16:46 > 0:16:48is going up and filling that bag,
0:16:48 > 0:16:53and it's making the air inside of it weigh less than the air around it.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55So the balloon is pushing up.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58It's wanting to break free and fly up into the sky.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00It's like blowing a bubble underwater.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02It wants to float up until it gets to the surface.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13OK. Big question of the day, then, who would like to go in the balloon?
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Me! Me! Me!
0:17:18 > 0:17:22MUSIC: "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz
0:17:22 > 0:17:25- See you later. Have a good one!- With the balloon tethered to the ground,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29the young inventors get a taste of what ballooning is all about.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32It's really calm and gentle.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38- How was it? - Great.- Brilliant.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40I'm feeling very good.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42It's just been amazing today.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45No other day could top today.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50We're back in the My Genius Idea HQ,
0:17:50 > 0:17:54and it's the last ten minutes of their development session.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Now Kate, Oliver and Leigha
0:17:56 > 0:18:00will see if their ideas have the ability to work.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04Kate's been working on a lighting system to help her piano-teaching tool come to life.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09Now it's time to put it to the test and see if it could really work.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12And you can see that there's one key that's lit up.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Just try pressing that key and see what happens.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17OK. So it's played a note.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20And you can see that the light has changed to another key.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21So just keep going.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25SHE PLAYS PIANO NOTES
0:18:28 > 0:18:30So what did you think of it?
0:18:30 > 0:18:32I think it was really good,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35and it could really help people if it was improved even more.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- Yeah. Do you want one at home?- Yeah.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Oliver's decided that his invention will sound an alarm
0:18:41 > 0:18:43when the washing is dry.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46He's been looking further into how this could work.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49What I've built here is a very basic prototype,
0:18:49 > 0:18:53so when the washing dries this slider will move from the bottom to the top.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55So if you move that up towards the top,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00then you see the light comes on, and that's our signal to say,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02washing's dry. Come and get it in.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05So have you any thoughts?
0:19:05 > 0:19:09Have you got any thoughts about how you'd like that signal to be sent?
0:19:09 > 0:19:11I might think about texting.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16Because that would be very useful, wouldn't it, because that would mean that someone could be anywhere,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20and they'd be able to get the message saying, washing's dry!
0:19:20 > 0:19:26And Leigha has been trying to find the best design for her wheelchair ramp invention.
0:19:26 > 0:19:32Her expert has one which she can put to the test to see if her invention could actually work.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35So what we're doing, we put the ramp into place.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Do you want to just push the wheelchair up there?
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Keep your fingers on the handles.
0:19:41 > 0:19:47There you go. And then what happens, you turn these two wheels, and, hey, presto!
0:19:47 > 0:19:50It's packed way again, and you still have access to push the wheelchair.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54There was another slight issue I was thinking about.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57I've got a little door frame here that I can just use to show you.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59I'll put that in place.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01It's not going to fit, is it?
0:20:01 > 0:20:04- No.- OK. Well, it's something for me to think about.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06We're going to try to look to package it
0:20:06 > 0:20:09a bit smaller and make sure that everything can fit in there.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12- So are you happy with this idea, then?- Yeah.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16With time up, Kate has worked out a way to shines light onto piano keys.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Oliver has solved his problem of how to tell when your washing is dry,
0:20:20 > 0:20:25and Leigha has chosen the design she thinks would be best for her wheelchair ramp.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29But who will impress Tom the most to win a place in the next stage of the competition?
0:20:35 > 0:20:39'All three of our budding inventors now have to pitch to Tom, and it's Leigha to go first.'
0:20:39 > 0:20:42It's time to talk Tom through your genius idea.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Leigha, off you go. Good luck.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53'Leigha will have to convince Tom that her idea for a fold-away
0:20:53 > 0:20:58'wheelchair ramp is worthy of a place in the semi-finals.'
0:21:02 > 0:21:07- Hello, Leigha. Can you explain the idea to me?- My invention is a ramp, and people in wheelchairs use it.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11I came up with it because most of my friends are in a wheelchair,
0:21:11 > 0:21:15so I thought that it would help most people.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Can you elaborate on the idea? What does it do?
0:21:18 > 0:21:23It folds under like a fan under the wheelchair, and then you press
0:21:23 > 0:21:27- a button, and it folds out, so you could get upstairs.- A clever design.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31That would give a lot of independence to the person in the wheelchair.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34You could use it in schools and shops.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38Presumably something that works with the wheelchair they've already got.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Is it made of any special materials?
0:21:40 > 0:21:44It can either be made out of fibreglass or aluminium.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48- And why would you choose those two materials?- Because they're strong and very light.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50You've spent time with an expert.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Did you learn anything from your time with them?
0:21:52 > 0:21:56The different ways how the ramp could, like, fold up.
0:21:56 > 0:22:02I think you've made a very clear presentation as to exactly what your idea is,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04and thank you very much.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Thank you.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09With her presentation over, all Leigha can do is wait
0:22:09 > 0:22:13for the others to pitch and for Tom to make his decision.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Next up, Kate will need to show Tom she's understood
0:22:21 > 0:22:25the technology behind her idea to try and win a place in the semi-finals.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29Hi, Kate. Can you tell me about the piano light?
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Well, the piano light is a piano which has keys that light up
0:22:32 > 0:22:34to help you play the piano.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39- So who's it aimed at? - Well, it's aimed at anyone who wants to play the piano, really.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Can you take me through the diagram and explain exactly how it would work?
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Well, you choose the speed that you want to play at with the speed dial,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49and you press "start", and the notes light up.
0:22:49 > 0:22:55Dark is the one you play first, and as they get lighter, the lighter ones are the ones you play last.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59Can you tell me a little bit about the technology that's involved behind this?
0:22:59 > 0:23:04At first, I thought that the lights could sort of shine under the keys,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07but then when I worked with my expert,
0:23:07 > 0:23:14I realised that I couldn't put them under the keys and I'd have to have a light shining down onto the keys.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17It can be fitted onto any type of piano.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19You can fit it on top,
0:23:19 > 0:23:23and little lights would shine onto the thing.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- OK. So it could be retro-fitted to a real piano?- Yeah.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30I think it's a really, really good idea, and I love the idea
0:23:30 > 0:23:34of encouraging people to pick up playing musical instruments,
0:23:34 > 0:23:35so thank you very much.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40'I think it went really well.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42'He said it was quite good.'
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Tom's not looking for a finished idea today. He's looking to see
0:23:49 > 0:23:51which one has the most potential to cut it in the real world.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55He'll be judging them on how well they've understood the technology
0:23:55 > 0:23:58and how well they can explain their idea to him.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Hello, Oliver. Can you tell me about your wireless-controlled washing line?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Well, your foot button will be on the path,
0:24:05 > 0:24:11so you can press the button down, and it will send
0:24:11 > 0:24:18a message to the computer to say that the washing can go around,
0:24:18 > 0:24:20and then you can peg your washing on...
0:24:20 > 0:24:26- So you press the foot button and that will bring the washing towards you, and it will rotate it around?- Yeah.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30And when the line's full, it will take the weight,
0:24:30 > 0:24:34and then an hour later, it will take the weight again.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Why do you need to know what the weight of the washing is?
0:24:37 > 0:24:43I've learnt that when the clothes are dry, it's going to weigh less
0:24:43 > 0:24:48than when the clothes are wet, so it will send the message to your phone.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51So it's about measuring the change in the weight,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54and when it sees that it's had some change, but then no more,
0:24:54 > 0:24:58it knows it's as dry as it wants to be, so it wirelessly
0:24:58 > 0:25:02and intelligently alerts you as to when your washing is dry?
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Yes, that's exactly what it does.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09Listen. You've really absorbed this idea, and you've kind of...
0:25:09 > 0:25:11you've done all the research around it.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15I think you've done a really good presentation, so thank you very much.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16Bye-bye.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21'It went fine. I had to answer a few questions, then.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25'And then he thought it was real good.'
0:25:28 > 0:25:30So for two of our budding inventors, the competition
0:25:30 > 0:25:35will be over shortly, but who has won a place in the next round?
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Will it be Leigha with her idea of a fold-away wheelchair ramp?
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Kate and her custom-fit piano light system?
0:25:47 > 0:25:51Or Oliver with his invention of a wireless-controlled washing line?
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Tom, what did you make of the three ideas you saw today?
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Well, there's three very different ideas for three
0:25:56 > 0:26:00entirely different approaches to innovation, so brilliant.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02It is a hard job, but have you come up with a decision?
0:26:02 > 0:26:05After much deliberation, I have.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10OK. Well, Tom, if you'd like to take a seat, it's time to welcome back our young inventors.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17'It's crunch time. They've all spent time developing their ideas and have
0:26:17 > 0:26:22'pitched them to Tom, but who has won that place in the semi-finals?'
0:26:22 > 0:26:26You've done so well to get this far, but only one of you can go through
0:26:26 > 0:26:30to the next stage, the semi-finals, so it's over to Tom.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34Well, I think you've all done really well.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38Leigha, I think it's brilliant that you're thinking about access for all,
0:26:38 > 0:26:46but I'm concerned that the idea might not be practical enough for the user in all situations.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Kate, I think it was a great pitch,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52and you've really moved the idea on since spending time with your expert,
0:26:52 > 0:26:56but I do wonder how effective it could be as a teaching aid.
0:26:56 > 0:27:01Oliver, you've demonstrated how you can use existing technology to solve a problem,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04but I wonder whether it's too complicated.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08But considering everything, I have come to a decision,
0:27:08 > 0:27:13and the inventor that I'm going to send through to the semi-final of My Genius Idea is...
0:27:23 > 0:27:24Oliver.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29So Oliver wins with his idea of a wireless-controlled washing line
0:27:29 > 0:27:32and is still in with chance of winning My Genius Idea.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Oliver, well done. How are you feeling, mate?
0:27:35 > 0:27:37- Great.- Yeah? Look at that smile!
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Guys, you did so well to get this far. Unlucky.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43So we have our first genius idea through to the next stage.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45We'll see you next time on My Genius Idea.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:56 > 0:27:58E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk