Winners!

From our March 2, 2000, contest

By Staff -- EDN, 4/13/2000

Could it be? Is this Wally Widget? Has he finally shown his face before making his final farewell? Our latest (and last) contest winner likes to think so. Meanwhile, TTI Inc likes to think of the device as one of its PM100 series handheld pressure calibrators. You decide.

First prize ($100): John Zelno, ViaSat Inc

This is it! The final winner of our Name That Widget! contest. Drum roll please...and the winner is...John Zelno of ViaSat Inc! And how did John's entry rise above all the rest? Well, unlike many of you who suggested that the device was some sort of cork remover, John claims that the mystery device ISWallace P Widget himself! Kudos to John for giving Wally the recognition he deserves and for providing such an appropriate sendoff to our Name That Widget! contest.

Although we appreciate that the company finally put a much-needed face to Wally Widget's name, we think TTI Inc (www.ttiglobal.com) would appreciate our revealing what its device's true purpose is. The widget is one of TTI's Tek Know PM100 Series handheld pressure calibrators. This series is accurate to 0.05% of full scale, including hysteresis, repeatability, and temperature effect. Even at 10,000 psi, the squeeze pump, which operates on either water or oil, can generate test pressure. The indicator comes separately or as a set with the hand pump. Base price for this calibrator is $3180.

Runners-Up

• Gumby gone high tech.—Doug Lupo

• A foot-in-mouth extractor for managers.—Bill Maher, Paradyne

• The IRS' new, improved taxpayer cash-extraction device.—Paul G Pomeroy, Structural Dynamics Research Corp

• Precision "jaws of life" for rescuing data trapped in a crashed hard drive. —Roger Hala

• Mr Meter-head, made especially for young, aspiring electrical engineers.—Kenneth W Boyer Jr, Vascor Inc

• An electronic virtual dog walker.—A Diffenderfer

• A digital ego inflater. —Ted Lamparski, General Atronics Corp

Wally wants to thank all of you who have participated in his Name That Widget! contest, whether you are entrants or simply readers looking for a biweekly chuckle. Before he makes his final exit, Wally wants to remind you to check out the next issue of EDN; the issue will feature a readers' survey, so you can tell us what you'd like to see more of or less of in the pages of EDN. After that, check our pages for more fun and games—in the tradition of the departing Wally Widget.