Seems like some folks' computer monitor surrounds are plastered with sticky note reminders until there is no more space. Clearly, these people would use additional space if they had it.

A solution: vertically oriented conveyor belt mounted to the side of the monitor. The conveyor would be controlled by software through a USB, FireWire, etc. connection. Modes include slow scrolling, frame-advance and manual.

See illustration for a rough idea of what a single belt installation would look like. Mount one on each side and one horizontally on top of the monitor if desired.
-- half, Nov 22 2003

Illustration http://half_crazy.tripod.com/hb/sticky
[half, Oct 05 2004, last modified Feb 05 2005]

Nice illustration, you must have spent a lot of time on it. The belts should have a camera somewhere at the back that scans the post-it-s into the computer. After scanning a litte robot hidden behind the monitor takes the note off the belt and discards or archives it. That way you have the convenience of scribble notes and you always have a fresh piece of belt available.
-- kbecker, Nov 23 2003


Odd...the link worked from some of my machines but not others. Try this new one. Not much to see, but hopefully it will work this time.
-- half, Nov 23 2003


Worked for me, and I won $50 for looking at it. Thanks half!
-- waugsqueke, Nov 23 2003


You're welcome. I'll take my percentage in small unmarked coins, please.
-- half, Nov 23 2003


Could you introduce a fast-lane and a slow-lane - possibly on either side of the monitor? The important post-it notes would be attached to the fast-lane and would rotate into view frequently, whereas the low-priority ones would go into the slow-lane and could therefore disappear behind the conveyer for long periods of time. A small recepticle underneath the conveyer would collect the notes which fell-off after a period of time, acting as an archive.
-- dobtabulous, Nov 24 2003


Nice one, [half]. (+).
-- lintkeeper2, Nov 24 2003


I'm tempted to build a prototype of this idea using one of those motorized tie racks. Maybe use a serial or parallel interface... Interesting...
-- KLRico, Nov 25 2003


It would be pretty simple to implement on/off, even some speed control with a parallel interface.
(Honestly, I've been looking for an excuse to buy the hardware to tinker with USB hardware interfaces. That's the real reason I was thinking about USB.)
-- half, Nov 25 2003



random, halfbakery