General

@krishman: how do you think we could improve on it? Personally I don't have any issues with these since i don't take public transportation so I'm not sure how we could improve on that idea.

@pockii take the idea and improve it. the current prototype is gross as heck.

@krishman: Thank you for that reference,Our group was thinking about something to do with gloves, especially when trying to use your phones with bulky gloves on. =.=
I don't think we're gonna be taking that idea, but maybe help us think of something similar!

@silverfoxr: That sounds like a great idea, but sadly for us I don't think we will be able to gather the materials and production to produce the product for that.

@ashleyattacked: The first idea... I could think of something for that, but for the other two.. seems a bit impossible for us. haha

(I dont know where you are but im in ontario for future reference of this post) someone at my university posted this last year https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/21730_383129795220542_8103097657824707551_n.jpg?oh=a3625e36c7f19f3f32a71fe0bc6139cf&oe=568F41C4 that i thought was really innovative. Im not sure if they actually went anywhere with this. But anyways, looking for something similar, where like your bus pass can be slipped in and used so you can tap on with your go card easily, or have easy access to take out swipe passes for the subway, and a plastic screen for those with monthly passes where u just have to show the bus driver. as well w/ gloves that have those little finger tips where u can keep the gloves on and still use your smart phone. This was removable w/ velcro but maybe have it in a all in one glove format.

Edit: so the problem would be for people who commute and have to constantly take cards out of their pocket. Also versatile for people who have more than one metro pass (visual monthly pass ontop of a tap pass for instance) also maybe add something you can clip and tuck your keys into for people who drive/have to lock their front doors, not sure how you would work that in but your the team of people after all.

This is an issue with me cause ive already lost my bus pass once cause it fell out of my pocket on the go train, probably when i was in my pocket to take my phone out. And my friend has to shuffle around her purse/wallet to find and fish hers out at times, this only gets worse while wearing gloves.

@byakuran: Were going to be needing to build the product and then sell it to the public through different connections and events. There is about 30 different groups so there will be competitions among us

I hate getting the bottom of my pants wet with snow. It's so impossible to avoid...I walk around on my tip toes holding my pant legs up above my ankles...and they still get damp. Then I can't sit down anywhere without touching the cold wetness against myself and hating it so I put on a skirt.

Fix that.

Also, while you're at it, make a kind of salt that doesn't powder up when you sprinkle it on the ground and make the tip of your tongue get numb and taste like poisonous chemicals.

Then find some way to make the snow on the side of the roads at the beginning and end of winter not look so disgusting and black. I like the way it looks all nice and white from December til February...but that ugly way it turns black in November and late March/April is gross.

Oh and make the snow that lands on the trees when theres no wind stay on the trees instead of falling off the next time the wind gets above 5 km/h. It was prettier the first time it tried. There was no need to change anything.

And snow plows are too loud. Make them more quiet at night.

I think something to design and market for Canadians in winter would be a combination engine warmer and ice shield for a person's car and front windshield. There are already things you can plug into a wall and put on the engine block to keep the car engine warm (allowing the car to start properly in winter) and there are also ice shields that prevent snow and ice from forming on a car's windshield, but I can't think of something that hybrids the two.

Think of it like a large heated blanket (clearly made of a more water-resistant material) that goes under the hood of the car, but also comes out the back of the hood and attatches at the top inside the front doors of the car. When plugged in, elements in the blanket heat up (just like a standard heated blanket you'd find at home) and it warms up both the engine and the front window, preventing ice/snow from forming or staying on the front window. This way, when a person needs to get up in the morning to go to work, the car's engine is warmed up and the front window (at least) is clean.

Additional features to consider...
-Extended warmers for the passenger and driver side windows.
-Storage battery (for times where you cannot plug your heater into an outlet.
-Remote control/smart phone control capabilities (Turn the heater off or on).

One of the biggest annoyances for Canadian drivers in winter is getting the car ready in the morning. It can waste a lot of time getting where you want to go. Something like this would cut that time down immensely.

Do you have to physically make and sell the product? The only thing I can really come up with is some kind of contraption that lets out warm air and can be attached to cars. It would be useful when the snow builds up quickly when you're driving back so that you can melt it and clear your path? Heated driveways?