786 karma · joined August 6, 2014
The technology/invention uses a microfabricated surface to entrap insect pests, inspired by the action of microstructures on leaves of plants. The first pest to be targeted is bed bugs, because of their commercial importance and proof of concept using this method.
Earlier, we were able to generate synthetic (plastic) materials that exactly matched the natural leaf surface geometry including the sharp microscopic hooks, using a double molding fabrication technique (Szyndler et al. 2013). However, those synthetics did not permanently entrap bed bugs. We have recently had very promising results using a variety of different materials and alternative microfabrication methods. We have been able to generate arrays of microscopic hooks, producing modifications of shapes beyond those found in nature (Fig. 1). This exciting result means that we have a greater ability to vary the material and mechanical properties of these new surfaces, thereby increasing the probability of better performance in entrapment by these synthetic materials. We are currently at the stage of generation of prototypes and evaluation, and characterization of these different microfabricated surfaces.
it took 3 years between the submission of our first patent application and the granting of the patent. Two additional related patents have been granted subsequently.
Apart from that there is no concrete info on when a product might be avaiable.
Agoda also have a scam going - where if you elect to pay later in a foreign currency then they add on a 17% service charge which is hidden in some fine print which I still haven't found. This is illegal here in Australia and I am contemplating taking them to small claims court over it. The amount is small ($100) but I would like to set a precedent.
The top ones would spend all their time traveling the world to the offices and meeting with staff in each location and the sending emails to the rest of the department about what the staff in that location were working on. They would harvest ideas from the staff as they went and then present that as their own or approve projects that staff have suggested to them. I really didn't see how they were worth the $5M they were earning since they didn't come up with the ideas for what would be done and didn't do any real work.