In the bustling town of San Francisco, there lived 12-year-old Idris. Idris wasn’t like the other children in his society. While most of the children spent their time playing football, watching movies and playing video games together, Idris spent his time wisely in his workshop, an old and rusty shed in his backyard. The shed was filled with wires, tools and half-built machines. All his friends at school called him “Inventive Idris” and that’s because of his love for science and innovation. He was a gifted and intelligent child born with one dream: to change the world for with his inventions. However, even the greatest scientists need a little help sometimes, and that’s where his best friend and trusty sidekick came in, Problem Solving Elliot! 11-year-old Elliot was just as passionate about science as Idris. He admired great minds like Nikola Tesla and Marie Curie and spent hours reading about their discoveries and great inventions. More importantly, he had a gift for seeing solutions where others only saw problems which made him and excellent problem – solver which is why his friends always called him Problem – Solving Elliot. Whenever and wherever Idris got stuck, Elliot always had a new perspective to push him forward.
One day, while walking back home from school, Idris and Elliot saw an old man walking up a flight of stairs with a few packets in his hand. The two boys noticed that the packet kept slipping from the old man’s hands. While most children at that age may not take this too seriously, Idris said with a curious look on his face, “Why hasn’t anyone invented something to make this task easier?” “Maybe we should. This could be a great start for us, you have always wanted to invent something that would help people.” That night, the two friends sat down and brainstormed ideas. They thought and thought and tried to come up with different ideas that would work. “As people become older, their grip may become weaker and picking up, slippery or wet objects could become a challenging task.”, said Elliot. “We need something that gives people a better grip, so things don’t slip out of their hands,” Idris said, sketching designs in his notebook. “As people become older, their grip may become weaker and picking up, slippery or wet objects could become a challenging task.”, “What about gloves with super-strong grip pads?” Elliot suggested. “Something that helps hold onto anything, groceries, tools, even wet or slippery objects!” Feeling excited, the two of them got to work. Idris started designing the gloves, using a special lightweight but durable material, while Elliot researched how to create the ultimate grip pads. They tested different textures rubber, foam, and even gecko-inspired sticky surfaces. However, their first attempt was a disaster. The gloves were too sticky, and Idris couldn’t even let go of his water bottle! In their second attempt, they made the grip too weak, and objects slipped away. Now Idris was frustrated and said, “I can’t do this, we’ve tried everything, and I haven’t been able to design it perfectly.” Elliot, being the problem solver insisted that they shouldn’t give up and that they can rework on the design and try again. Elliot adjusted the material, while Idris reworked the design for better comfort. They worked and worked with determination and excitement.
Days turned into weeks, and soon, their gloves had the perfect grip, strong enough to hold slippery objects but flexible enough to release them easily. “We need to think strategically,” Idris said. “What if we model it after something in nature?” Elliot asked. “Like how tree frogs have sticky pads on their feet? Or how octopuses grip objects underwater?” Inspired, they modified the grip pads using a micro-suction technology similar to an octopus’ tentacles. Then they tested it again, holding their breath. It worked! The Super-Grip Gloves allowed Idris to easily pick up and hold onto anything, even a smooth or wet glass without it slipping. “Yes! We’ve done it, we’ve designed the super-grip gloves! However, their journey wasn’t over yet. They wanted to take their invention to the real world, to those who needed it most. They pitched their idea at the local science fair, hoping to attract investors but many people doubted them. “You’re just kids,” one judge said. “How can we trust that these gloves will work in real situations?” Idris felt embarrassed and tried to avoid making eye contact with the judges. However, Elliot, always the problem solver, stepped forward. “Give us a chance. Let us demonstrate. We will prove to you that the Super-Grip gloves do work.” They were given one week to prove themselves and they took the Super-Grip Gloves to a nearby senior citizen center. The elderly residents, who often struggled with holding onto objects, were amazed. “This would make life so much easier!” one woman said, as she effortlessly gripped a heavy pot with the gloves. The word spread fast and soon, hospitals, construction workers, and even athletes showed interest in their invention. Investors who once doubted them now wanted to fund their project. Idris and Elliot knew they had succeeded for sure. The two boys, barely even teenagers, had done it. They had invented something that would surely help not only elder citizens, but all those who needed these super-grip gloves like construction workers and doctors.
The two boys, Idris and his problem-solving sidekick, Elliot headed back home, delighted and overjoyed because of their success. They headed back to the workshop and went inside. As they stared at the blueprints for their next big idea, Idris grinned and said, “Ready to change the world again, Elliot?” Elliot laughed and replied, “Always.” Just then, Idris’ mom called them in for dinner. They raced inside, their minds still buzzing with ideas. As they ate, they envisioned a future where their inventions would make life easier for people everywhere and as the stars twinkled outside, they knew this was only the beginning of a lifetime of innovation and discovery.