It is a blisteringly cold and rainy winter day. Bundled from head to toe, we brave the outdoor elements. Suddenly, our smart phone rings. We want to answer it, but that would mean exposing our toasty warm fingers to the frigged elements. Unfortunately, we need our fingertips to answer our touch screen phone. It's an annoying experience - until now.
Richmond startup business owner Tony Yu has invented a unique solution called Nanotips to combat this nuisance. Nanotips is a conductive polyamide liquid that "can turn any type of glove into a touch screen glove." Using nanotechnology, the solution replicates the touch of human skin when applied to the fingertips of a glove.
Lu first came up with the idea for Nanotips while riding his motorcycle. After pulling over, he became frustrated with having to take off his glove to use his smart phone.
This led to a great deal of investigation into what options there were for someone who wanted to keep their glove on while using a touch screen device. He found his choices were to either purchase expensive touch screen gloves, or go for a cheaper, ugly and, possibly damaging, alternative. What he wanted to do was make the gloves he already had touch screen compatible.
In a fine example of necessity being the mother of invention, Nanotips was born.
Nanotips is a quick-drying liquid that is placed directly onto the fingertips of any glove. It's similar to applying nail polish. It has been tested to last in any situation. Today, there are two types: Nanotips Blue and Nanotips Black.
"They are entirely different solutions but the end function is the same," said Lu.
Nanotips Blue is specifically for fabrics, as the liquid "soaks into fabric material and creates the bridge between your finger and the surface of the glove."
As for Nanotips Black, it is made for leathers, rubbers and thicker materials. It works by applying a coating of carbon nanotubes on the surface of the material. These nanotubes form a skin like layer on the glove material, tricking the capcative touchscreen device to think it's a finger.
Right now, Nanotips is in preproduction.
The company has begun a kickstarter campaign, which ends Feb. 25. This is where customers can preorder the product. So far, Nanotips has over $65,000 pledged. After the campaign, Nanotips will be available via its website and in several nation-wide retail stores.
While the biggest market is during the cold weather months, Lu believes there are more opportunities for growth.
"There are many prosthetics on the market that don't have the capability to use touch screen devices."
His goal is to one day have a liquid which will address this need, as a touch screen world is quickly becoming everyone's future.
Further, Nanotips may be featured one day on CBC's Dragon's Den, with their second audition with the show this weekend.
For more information on Nanotips and its kickstarter campaign, go to www.kickstarter.com and search Nanotips.
