InventHelp’s Gadget Girl has a guess about what the young men in the family will want for Christmas this year: the Uno electric unicycle motorbike invention. Speed demons, thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies rejoice!

Ben Gulak, an 18-year-old inventor from Canada, developed the stunt bike. The speed and direction of the bike are controlled solely by the movements of the rider’s body. The invention’s maximum speed is 25 miles per hour, but Gulak speculates that higher speeds are possible with a bigger motor. To maintain balance, the bike is equipped with two gyroscopes, one designed for turning and one for forward/backward motion. A single switch turns the Uno on and off.

Like many aspiring inventors, Gulak is looking to bring his invention to the marketplace. Although I wish him the best of luck, I can say with certainty that you will not see InventHelp’s Gadget Girl cruising around town on one of these. Call me old-fashioned, but I have a strict two-wheels-or-more policy on all modes of transportation!

The next time your cell phone goes off, it may not be Mom calling – it may be your department store. InventHelp’s Gadget Girl says: Say hello to the invention of mobile coupons.

A mobile coupon is an electronic solicitation delivered to the consumer via a mobile device, like a cell phone or a PDA. Although it remains a niche tactic for the most part, mobile coupons are slowing gaining traction among consumers and marketers.

That’s not to say it’s necessarily gaining in popularity; a recent study by research firm Forrester found that 79 percent of consumers were annoyed by mobile ads. According to Forrester, the best way for mobile marketers to warm up to the consumers is to “cut through the clutter, and focus on value, not interruption.”

InventHelp’s Gadget Girl predicts that the mobile coupon inventions will be the next boom in the e-marketing industry. Firstly, mobile devices are more integrated into a person’s daily activities than any other communications channel. Also, thanks to the Apple iPhone, many cell phones are moving in the direction of HTML compatibility.

And, smart e-marketers are already developing real-time, location-based marketing. This means that customers inside a department store could receive a mobile coupon for that store that specifically relates to their interests.

Yes, gone are the days when we sat and clipped coupons from the Sunday paper! InventHelp’s Gadget Girl will keep you updated on this trend as it rolls out.

Before I head out for the weekend, Gadget Girl would like to let you all know that the Washington City Paper has posted an article on an InventHelp and INPEX client. Erik Roberts, an inventor from Bowie, Md., submitted his Animal Sounds Whistle invention to InventHelp in 2005. After working with an independent attorney via InventHelp’s patent referral program, he was granted a patent for the idea in April 2008.

Next up for Roberts is InventHelp’s INPEX invention trade show, where he will be exhibiting his product from June 11-14. The Animal Sounds Whistle replicates the calls made by various members of the animal kingdom, and it would be ideal for use by children and zoo visitors.

“I’ve been thinking about this one, the whistle…for the longest time,” said the inventor, who is a truck driver by trade. “I mean, ever since I was like 17 or 18, I’ve just been coming up with things.”

InventHelp’s Gadget Girl wasn’t always tech-savvy – at one time, I was downright hazardous to technology. I even dropped the first cell phone I ever bought into a puddle within hours of purchasing it. After finding out that my warranty didn’t cover water damage (grrr!), I ended up coughing up the dough for a replacement. Lesson learned: water and cell phones don’t play nice!

Now, there’s a cell phone that can handle a plop in a puddle without flushing cash out of your pocketbook. The Fujitsu F705i is the world’s thinnest waterproof 3G cell phone. The F705i is so waterproof that you can wash the keypad with water. In fact, it can handle being immersed in 3 feet of water for a full 30 minutes. Luckily, most puddles InventHelp’s Gadget Girl comes across aren’t that deep!

The F705i technology isn’t all washed up, either. It automatically adjusts volume settings in response to environmental noise levels, and powerful 8-level zoom technology simplifies email reading tasks. Audio player functionality and a 1.3 mega pixel camera (which, considering the F705i’s size, is nothing to scoff at) round out this sleek, modern phone.

Unfortunately, the coolest gadgets often break overseas first, particularly in Asia. So InventHelp’s Gadget Girl is saving up for airfare – right now, Fujitsu F705i is available in Japan only.

It’s beautiful weather this week here at InventHelp headquarters in Pittsburgh. While Gadget Girl is thrilled to see the sun, I know that it’s also time to put my exercise gadgets to use. I won’t say just how many workout contraptions I have, but let’s just say I have my credit card number (and expiration date) memorized from calling infomercials!

InventHelp’s Gadget Girl knows that no workout is complete without some great tunes to get the blood pumping. I used to just cue up my workout playlist on my iPod and throw on some headphones, but now I blast the whole house with crisp, clear sound thanks to Bowers & Wilkins’ Zeppelin. It would be an understatement to say this doesn’t make Gadget Guy very happy!

This all-in-one audio system – named for the airship, not the band – is packed with tweeters, midrange drivers and a subwoofer in a mere 25-inch unit. The Zeppelin’s curvy shape resembles a football and provides even distribution of sound. A floating dock is compatible with older model iPods, and other MP3 players can be plugged into the back. Plus, a tilt stand allows me to position the Zeppelin for optimum acoustics.

A sleek, rounded controller lets me adjust volume and skip the songs that drag down my routine. Now, if I could just get myself to use the controller from the treadmill instead of the couch, InventHelp’s Gadget Girl would be in great shape! The Zeppelin retails for $599.

Now that Earth Day is behind us, there’s no reason to stop the green efforts you’ve been making the past week! This year’s Earth Day was the biggest ever, with an estimated 1 billion people worldwide participating in various Earth Day events and efforts. The 2008 theme, Call for Climate, focuses on a global warming action theme.

Even if you’re not necessarily an eco-activist (InventHelp’s Gadget Girl makes an effort, but I admit that I’m addicted to long, hot showers), here are a few ways that you can make an everyday effort to reduce global warming:

1. Change Your Light Bulbs (Difficultly Level: Easy) – The invention of compact fluorescent light bulbs makes it easier than ever to give your home the “green” light. Replacing just three frequently used bulbs in your home can save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide and $60 a year.
2. Buy Local and Organic (Difficulty Level: Medium) – By shopping for local products, you eliminate carbon emissions resulting from extensive transports across state and country lines. Plus, you support the local economy. Also, be sure to check out the latest organic clothing inventions in your favorite department store. InventHelp’s Gadget Girl is addicted to soft, organic cotton T-shirts!
3. Go Hybrid (Difficultly Level: Challenging) – One of the most exciting automotive inventions of the last 10 years is the hybrid. If you’re in the market for a new car, try test-driving a hybrid. There are plenty of styles, from compact sedans to SUVs, from a variety of automotive companies. Although hybrids are a little more costly, most drivers find that saving an average of 16,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year (in addition to thousands of dollars in gas) offsets the higher sticker price. Even if you don’t go hybrid, make MPG a factor in your buying decisions.

Just because Earth Day is over doesn’t mean you should give up the effort. Even the smallest changes add up over time. InventHelp and Gadget Girl say “Thanks!” for choosing Earth-friendly inventions!

There’s really no worse feeling than coming up with a new idea, then forgetting it before you get a chance to pursue it. While InventHelp’s Gadget Girl is less of an inventor and more of an invention lover, I’d hate for a neat idea to strike me only to have it slip away later!

Luckily, InventHelp has created a solution: The InventHelp Inventor’s Diary™. This diary is an easy-to-use journal that helps creative, innovative people to record developments in their intellectual property as they occur. And thanks to scribd.com, an online publishing service, you can get one for free.

From my experience in the invention industry, I know it is wise to document your progress. Included in InventHelp’s diary is a confidentiality and non-use agreement that can be used between the inventor and a potential reviewer. All in all, this handy little booklet is nice to have around when you feel that light bulb in your head lighting up.

If note-taking and documentation are not your strong point, you’ll find helpful tips, notes about record-keeping, and even an example entry to help get you started.

It’s become clear to InventHelp’s Gadget Girl that the popularity upsurge in environmentally friendly products is more than just a trend – it’s becoming the norm. As people worldwide work to protect natural resources, more products that focus on conservation emerge.

The latest example was unveiled at a high-tech fair in Tokyo this week: The Quick Response Liquid Powder Display. In laymen’s terms, it’s “electronic paper.” The e-paper invention is embedded with an electronic grid reacts when an electric charge is received. Tiny black and white particles respond to the charge by creating text and images. The paper invention is flexible enough to be bent, and even retains the images after the electrical charge is turned off.

As the demand for paper grows in developing countries, researchers hope that this alternative will woo consumers away from pulp paper. Since the costs of fuel and raw materials are likely going to continue to increase, manufacturers hope that electronic paper will become as commonplace as the cell phone in a business professional’s briefcase.

With Earth Day just around the corner, there’s never been a better time for InventHelp and Gadget Girl to bring you the latest on green inventions!

Before I became InventHelp’s Gadget Girl, I was just a gadget-loving diva fascinated by the InventHelp Caveman commercials. Over the years, I watched as these entrepreneurial cartoons showed the “inventions” of the wheel and wheelbarrow, and even a Neanderthal version of a unicycle.

But don’t let the loincloth and wooden club fool you – Cavey is a downright modern man! At the turn of the last century, Cavey even went 3D when computer animation became all the rage. But, it turns out that we liked Cavey just the way he was, and now he’s back to his two-dimensional self. For more on the evolution of our favorite caveman, check out our new page devoted the InventHelp Caveman.

Like all great inventors, Cavey sometimes struggles through the creative process. But with persistence, ingenuity and (of course) a little luck, he always perseveres in the face of adversity (although, his comical struggles put InventHelp’s Gadget Girl in stitches). And there are plenty more adventures to come!

These days, I get to see the InventHelp Caveman on a daily basis – in bobblehead form on my desk! When I’m having a challenging day, I just look at Cavey aimlessly bobbling about and realize that if he can make it through his trials and tribulations, then so can I.

InventHelp’s Gadget Girl thinks there’s a little Cavey spirit in every gadget guru, entrepreneur and innovator. To get your very own Cavey bobblehead as well as other cool InventHelp products and gear, visit www.InventHelpStore.com.

InventHelp’s Gadget Girl must be getting more conservative with age; years ago I’d immediately buy whatever new gadget hit the market, but now I find myself playing the waiting game. The case in point is high-definition DVD players, but hopefully all this time waiting on the sidelines will pay out shortly.

The battle for supremacy between HD DVD and Blu-ray is over, with Blu-ray unanimously declared the victor. Now, I know it’s time to take the plunge and get a new player; many people here at InventHelp have already done so. But, as I’ve said before, all Blu-ray players are not created equal…so what’s a Gadget Girl to do?

If I’m going to drop $500 on a new Blu-ray player, I want to make sure it’s not going to be obsolete in a year or two. So, I’m holding out for Blu-ray’s Profile 2.0, aka BD-Live, to be released this fall. Featuring a full gigabyte of memory (as opposed to 256 megabytes in the last model), BD-Live requires Internet connectivity via an Ethernet port. This means that BD-Live also translates online content.

Industry insiders say that BD-Live will allow customers to interact with characters and stories from the movie, as well as access additional content. Combined with top-of-the-line high-definition technology and boosted audio, this should make any film viewing a more interesting experience.

Honestly, InventHelp’s Gadget Girl could watch two people play chess on one of these things, and the clarity of the picture would still leave me captivated!

The two major contenders for the next Blu-ray player supremacy title are, unsurprisingly, Sony and Panasonic. The Sony BDP-S550 will be priced at around $500, and Panasonic’s DMP-BD50 will be between $500 and $650. Darn, I guess I’ll have another decision to make after all!