He’s a 21 year old student,
his career was (and still is) to become a pilot, Covid put that on hold … he
started to work in a local (Eastbourne) supermarket …
MistyClips c/o their website
… as soon as he put his
mask on his glasses fogged – what to do …
become an inventor!
 |
| Alex Wickens - modelling his invention |
... then the site says …. ‘And breathe …. ’
… but I add to this – essential care-use instructions: the company is very careful about reminding us that MistyClips are less flexible than petroleum-based products – so handle with care to ensure longevity …
I find this encouraging in this day and age … the instructions are very thorough.
Banks of 3D printers
They’re produced using a
3D printer … and are now being sent as far afield as the USA and Kuwait …
Rough Sleeping in London
An amazing young local
Eastbourne entrepreneur … Alex Wickens has defogged the opportunity to help
others as his journey progresses.
I’m very impressed by their very simple and clear website … if only everyone took this amount of care with the ‘instructions and notes’ when using these little clips …
That’s my simple #WATWB
idea for this month … MistyClips – eliminating the fog on your glasses, once
masked up, helps …
Healthcare workers …
Other professionals … eg food hygenists …
Anyone feeling the need to carry on wearing a mask … until we’re through this dreaded time …
Spring Green Misty Clip
We are the World
Blogfest
In Darkness, be Light
Care of product …getting the best out of your MistyClips purchase …
Bournefreelive: Eastbourne details about Alex Wicken's MistyClips
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters
Inspirational Stories
38 comments:
What an inspiring story. I love it! Invention came out of necessity (so many people experience fogging while masking and wearing glasses). I am so happy to learn how the product is made and the green ways it is produced. Yay! Thanks for sharing this story with us!
~Jess
What a wonderful and sustainable initiative. I love that some of the profits go to such a great (and much needed) cause too.
Hari OM
The simplest ideas... (though I do find myself wondering just how comfortable these 'stiffer than normal plastic' things might be for extended use against the skin.) Full credit for creativity though! YAM xx
Very clever. I had heard of using some metal along the nose, but these look like they work better.
How cool. Those 3 D printers can do everything except sing and dance can't they?
@ Jess – it is inspiring isn’t it – as you say invention out of necessity … thanks I’m glad the info here highlighted the environmental benefits. Great comment … thank you …
@ EC – yes it’s great they’re benefiting the locals, who are homeless and others who need employment – but as you say also a sustainable initiative … thanks …
@ Yam – thank you – simple … and that’s why I tried to highlight the ‘how to use’ aspect of the little clips – it’s well set out on their website … as the link I listed will show … worth looking at … but I so agree – full credit for initiative …
@ Liz – thanks – yes these will be better … if they’re used properly per the care-use link … metal ones would hurt …
@ Sandra - thank you ... I know 3D printers are quite amazing aren't they - and offer so much for our ingenuity to use ... no singing or dancing yet!!
Thanks to you all for commenting and I hope I’ve highlighted the need for the care-in-application as the 'plastic' is bio-degreadable … have good weekends – cheers Hilary
How cool Alex saw a problem and solved it. It really is a service for those of us who wear glasses.
This is such a wonderful story, Hilary, from every perspective. These young men deserve all the credit we can heap on them for their ingenuity and the decision to invent items that are not damaging to the environment. If only we could convince major businesses to follow suit! COVID perhaps spurred other creative ventures that we have not yet heard about. Some good had to come from this damn pandemic!
Ooh, I could do with some of these!
Sounds amazing, Hilary. And it is in any event inspiring to hear of young people innovating. Goodstuff!
Great ideas come when people think creatively.
What a great idea and so helpful for people who must wear both glasses and a mask all day long.
Even in the most miserable circumstances, great ideas sometimes emerge. Your young student saw his career dreams delayed but he didn't give into depression like so many others did.
Plus post-Covid, it will be important again to have a worthy CV :)
Fascinating, Hilary! Thank you for posting this. Definitely a product I can use. It drives me crazy when my glasses fog up from the mask.
Love,
Janie
I like the idea, though I must rather guiltily admit that I bought the plastic equivalent. I suspect this greener initiative will have come too late for many folk.
@ Natalie … yes I think he really grasped the opportunity to do something helpful for so many of us – it seems he’s winning …
@ David – thank you … I was so impressed when I read this … that I knew it was a good #WATWB. I’d guess there are quite a few local ventures happening … people can be really inspired at times – which is wonderful to see, but as you say – it can take a while to get the word out into the world …
Also amazing that he’s helping the homeless and those without work with donations …
@ Anabel – they’re quick with delivery … so hope you get some …
@ Mike – they seem to be taking off and getting talked about around the marketing-sphere. And yes – so good to see youngsters be able to adapt so easily …
@ Kathy – thankyou … people just come up trumps sometimes don’t they – and young Alex here has the world talking …
@ Inger – I know … I’m sure this will help many health professionals and others who need to wear a mask as well as have to use glasses …
@ Hels – thankfully people are able to create interesting new ideas – and Alex has certainly adapted his life while his preferred career is on hold. I do feel for many people though in the circumstances they’ve found themselves …
Having been accepted into pilot training – he’s on his way career wise … but as you say with this on his cv = way to go!
@ Janie – I can imagine people’s glasses play havoc when used in conjunction with a mask … so I hope you’ve found a way round your problem …
@ John – yes … I agree re the idea – but I’m sure if you’d known … you’d have bought these.
I’m not sure about the idea being too late to the pass – there will be many, who will need to continue wearing a mask with glasses … health workers, laboratory assistants etc so I think these MistyClips could be around for the long haul – particularly as they’re made from renewable resources and by-products from the food industry.
Thanks to you all – my pack is on its way … I’ll add a postscript to the post once the clips arrive. All the best for the weekend - Hilary
Folks are so darn clever and resourceful. This is such a nice little story. I wonder now if he'll go on to his pilot dream? Such is the fate of sliding doors.
Since I had my cataract surgery a few years ago, I'm grateful to not deal with foggy glasses, or raining glasses, or glasses in my way. And I can SEE - that's the best.
Good post - you find the neatest stories. Have an excellent weekend.
Adversity (war, pandemics etc) always, rather paradoxically, bring out the best in inventors and innovators!
The advancement of science and medicine post WW2 is beyond measure!
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I actually tried these--and a competitor. Misty Clips worked the best (I wear glasses). Nice product and kudos to him for being a problem solver!
Absolutely an extraordinary and inspiring story Hilary, thank you for sharing it! Using coffee grounds no less .. the sky is the limit for him and I'm sure he'll fly one day with his pilot's licence in hand.
Wow. I'm so impressed I think I'll lay in a stock and everybody I know can have them in their Christmas stockings!
I'm sure I'll find an alternative use for them if I never wear a mask again... but I reckon I will, sometime.
This is such a good story, and a remarkable young man. See a problem, solve the problem and make the world a better place. I love it!
This is marvelous, Hillary. As someone who *has* to wear glasses (contacts are not an option, sadly), I think this invention is extra wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Hugs on the wing!
I love that when faced with a challenge, Alex became an inventor -- and a very consciencious one at that.
Thank you for sharing this inspiration story, Hilary!
How interesting and what a bloody good invention
An enterprising chap! I think it's amazing that new technology like 3D printing is allowing 'normal' people the means to be inventive and creative. And the charity angle is the icing on the cake. Well done to him!
Well done Alex and thanks, Hilary for telling us about this! If only I'd known about them months ago. If we have to keep wearing face nappies after July 19th I'll be getting one!
As an eyeglass wearer this is a brilliant idea! Thank you so much for sharing this and for being a part of #WATWB. Sending you wishes for a wonderful week!
@ Joanne – he had a place booked for his pilot training and had qualified for it … it’s been his dream for life … so I’m sure it’ll happen.
So pleased to read your cataract surgery was so successful – and yes, you need to see … with the books, films, gardens and museums you let us know about. Just delighted you enjoyed my #WATWB find for this month …
@ Bazza – you’re right adversity (war, pandemic, etc) do, as you say paradoxically, bring out the best in inventors and innovators.
I know – so much has happened in the last 150 years … the two world wars boosted inventions – good and bad over the years. In the last 75 years we seem to have been racing ahead with creativity …
@ Jacqui – that’s brilliant to hear that MistyClips came out as the best … when you bought and tried some – excellent news.
Alex solved the problem and then brought the solution to market – amazing ‘youngster’ … but so good to read your endorsement.
@ Susan – yes … I came across uses for coffee grounds about 10 years ago – can’t remember what for – but read about it. Now they’re being used for all sorts of things … repel garden pests, other garden uses, repair scratches on furniture, grow mushrooms, make air freshener, etc etc – and now used in the manufacture of MistyClips.
Yes – Alex will become a pilot … maybe in a slightly different way to the one he planned – but he’ll be successful – of that I’m sure …
@ Jemima – thank you … that’s great you’ll be getting a stock – I’ve just done that – they should arrive today or tomorrow … and will distribute some around – a family birthday next weekend …
I don’t think we’ll be out of mask wearing for a while … and there’s plenty of people working in labs of various disciplines who will need masks forever …
@ Dan – thanks … it’s a great story isn’t it: as you say see a problem, solve and make things easier in crisis time …
@ Teagan – good to see you here. I’m exceedingly fortunate in not needing glasses, but understand others who struggle with them – especially in our present circumstances …
@ Donna – yes I was really pleased to see he’d plough some of his profits back into helping the homeless and unemployed – giving them a boost to their way of life and confidence …
@ Jo-Anne – thank you …
@ Annalisa – definitely an enterprising chap, with a supportive family. 3D printing has opened up so many doors hasn’t it – I must one day find out more about it … but you’re so right about the icing on the cake being the generous charity angle … his head is in the right place.
@ Keith – perhaps you can find a way to support him – by acquiring some of these? I’m sure we’ll be needing them in the future …
@ Belinda – that’s wonderful – they ship to the States … so hope you’ll get some from Alex. I’m so grateful my eyes are good – very fortunate …
Thanks so much to you all – excellent to have your comments and thoughts about this brilliant initiative. Enjoy the week ahead - Hilary
Misty clips! I love that! Now that I wear glasses (started this year), I have had the problem of my glasses fogging up.
I’m feeling all misty just thinking about the positive effects of these, Hilary!🥰
Good for him. It sounds like he has a very bright future ahead of him.
@ Chrys - yes ... it's a great name isn't it. Thank goodness for glasses - and I'm sure you're appreciating them this year ... and here's your problem solved - they're shipped overseas!
@ Pam - I think there will lots of positive effects of these - for many now and in the future in labs, in health care etc
@ Rosey - Alex certainly came up trumps with this invention ...
... then there's the donations for the homeless and unemployed ... guiding them for an easier future.
Thanks so much for coming by and supporting MistyClips - all the best Hilary
This is great from all angles! Helping others with a biodegradable product while filling a need. What's better than that?
Thanks Lynda - it's a wonderful local story isn't it ... and he seems to be doing so well with it - exactly ... there's not much better than this product ... filling a need, biodegradable and helping the homeless, as too the unemployed. Cheers - good to see you - Hilary
Brilliant idea - that is the single most annoying thing about masks
What a brilliant idea. I hope you have a wonderful day full of love and joy. Hugs.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com
@ Fil - thank you ... I'm fortunate that I don't wear glasses, but do realise there's lots of moisture around - so these little clips help hugely ...
@ R's Rue - thank you ... all well here ...
Cheers to you both - great to see you - Hilary
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