Don't know if this has been suggested, and I don't have time to read every suggestion. BUT, how about a Rube Goldberg device. You know, something that achieves absolutely no purpose or achieves a relatively simple result in a totally complex manner. Specifications could call for X amount of functions the machine must perform. Judging could be based on total number of functions, i.e. sub-devices and how efficiently the task was performed, e.g. filling a bucket of water: how full did it get, how fast was it filled, was there spillage etc. Based on the off-the-wall creativity some of the teams have displayed, there could be some really entertaining totally useless devices and great variations on a theme. Also this would go back to the more basic theme of the show (some have complained it has strayed).

-- Mike Bateman (mbate_1999@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001