Winners!

From our Nov 11, 1999, contest

By Staff -- EDN, 1/6/2000

First prize ($100): Jim Lemery, Precision Interconnect

No, the widget from our November 11 issue isn't a road flare for the information superhighway. The device on top of the sparking cable is actually a Coilcraft power inductor.

When your Web browser grinds to a halt after choking on all those bandwidth-robbing banner ads, you need to get out of the way of everyone else's whizzing data packets. And, to make sure those whizzing data packets don't hit you, you need the widget from our November 11 contest. It's a road flare for the information superhighway, says Jim Lemery, a fact that should be intuitively casual to the most obvious observer. Just look at those sparks spewing forth from that copper cable! Jim takes the $100 prize for correctly (sort of) identifying a widget that, surprisingly, mystified everyone else.

Of course, Jim's "sort of" correct identification isn't the really correct identification provided by the widget's manufacturer. According to Coilcraft (www.coilcraft.com), the widget in the picture isn't the copper cable itself, but the tiny power inductor on top of it. The DO1813HC series inductors have rms current ratings from 0.72 to 6A, inductance values from 0.56 to 48.1 mH, and dc resistance as low as 0.01V.

Runners-Up

A millennium-edition Y2K 2-kV Van de Graaff Christmas-tree topper.—Alec Bath, Waferscale Integration Inc
For compatibility with flow-powered cleaning devices, this device will force toilets in South America and Australia to flow in the clockwise direction.—Bob Belcher, Wave Mechanics Inc
A miniature hairball remover for cats. Just shove the end down the cat's throat, and it attracts the ball. Then pull it out.—Bob Thompson, Coverter Concepts

Name this widget and win $100

Show some flair, not flare, in our latest widget contest and win $100 to start the new millennium in style. You could even use the prize money to pay for a DSL or cable connection and let those banner ads come through without slowing you down. Suggest a name or purpose for our newest widget that will spark laughter in Wally Widget's heart. Send your entry (or entries), along with the issue date, by e-mail (widget@edn.cahners.com), by fax (Wallace P Widget, 1-617-558-4470), or by snail mail (Wallace P Widget, EDN, 275 Washington St, Newton, MA 02458). Tell us what you think the mystery widget is. Don't tell us what it really is; tell us what it could be. We'll publish the winning entry and some witty and amusing honorable mentions in an upcoming issue. We'll also identify the manufacturer and tell you the device's real purpose. Please supply an e-mail or mailing address so we can notify you if you win.