I.

Background

Group Name: Three (3)

Grade & Section: 12 - St. Br. Lorenzo Gabriel

Date: October 4, 2023

1. Fidget Spinners
Product/s: 2. Magnetix

Typically, fidget spinners consist of two main parts: a central

Fidget Spinners: component housing a small ball-bearing unit and an outer
(Product Description) component. The outer part is often designed with multiple
lobes, which are weighted with various elements like small
ball-bearing components, solid weights, or balls. Fidget
spinners come in a range of materials, such as plastic, brass,
stainless steel, titanium, and copper (Fidget Spinner Business
Guide, n.d.).

Magnetix: Magnetix toy sets comprise building blocks equipped with

(Product Description) magnets, enabling these components to attach to metal
spheres (Magnetic Lawsuit, n.d.). According to information
from Magnet Shop, the construction set includes a variety of
shapes and magnetic building blocks for toys. Within this set,
you'll find pentagons, squares, rectangles, and triangles that
can be assembled to construct a wide range of forms,
including:
● Houses
● Spheres
● Cubes
● Animals
● Cars
1.1 Fidget Spinners: A Product Analysis

In bygone days, fidget spinners held the spotlight as the must-have toys that
appealed to individuals of any gender. Throughout the season, the toy that garnered the
most attention was marketed as a remedy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
anxiety, and autism (Pappas, 2017). A fidget spinner is a compact gadget designed to fit
comfortably in your hand. It usually consists of two main components: a central bearing
that you grip between your index finger and thumb, and a three-pronged rotating blade,
similar in shape to a rounded Chinese throwing star. When you flick it with your free
hand, the blade begins to spin around the central bearing (Benwell, 2017). In retrospect,
the fidget spinner phenomenon provided a moment of fascination and highlighted our
continuous pursuit of inventive answers and the persistent curiosity that characterizes
our human journey.

A. Functionality

The mechanism that makes fidget spinners work is quite straightforward.

Like any spinning object, fidget spinners spin around a central axis, which is
created by two rings. What sets them apart is the use of a ball-bearing
mechanism in place of regular sliding, which greatly reduces friction as they spin.
To maximize their spin time, fidget spinners typically have three wings, each with
weight evenly distributed from the center.

source:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-21529-0#:~:text=The%20mechanism%20behind%20the%20spinners,be
%20reduced%20significantly%20during%20rotation

B. Design and Innovation

 Surprising Science (2017) mentions that in 1993, inventor Catherine
Hettinger developed the initial prototype of the fidget spinner as a means to
engage with her daughter, who had a disability. In 1997, she patented her
version; however, it didn't gain recognition, and no one adopted it . By 2017, it had
reached its zenith in terms of popularity. Initially, the fidget spinner had a basic
configuration with a central ball bearing, three-lobed sides, and a triangular
shape. Over time, as it gained widespread popularity, it underwent numerous
modifications, with some deviating significantly from the original design while
retaining the same core function. While it's hard to pinpoint the exact number of
these variations, it is estimated that there are at least a hundred and the count
continues to grow (Cohen et al., 2018).

source:
patentimages.com

1997
 Source: patentimages.com

2017

C. Psychological and Therapeutic Benefits

According to Lee (2017), some retailers have advertised fidget spinners as

having health benefits, like reducing stress, helping with PTSD, managing
anxiety, and improving focus, especially for people with ADHD. However, when
we look into the science behind these potential benefits of fidgeting, it can leave
us a bit uncertain. The reason is that, while there are different ideas about how it
works, there isn't solid scientific proof to firmly support these claims. One
interesting idea is that fidgeting might keep certain parts of your brain busy,
preventing them from distracting the rest of your brain with random thoughts.

D. Post-Trend Analysis

The fidget spinner, which was a brief sensation, witnessed its popularity
decline and was regarded as a passing trend in June 2017. This decline was in
part due to injuries related to their use, which generated negative publicity. Some
instances of fidget spinner use even resulted in unfortunate accidents and
fatalities. Unlike numerous toy fads that typically experience a rapid rise and fall
in popularity, the fidget spinner held a distinct status. These puzzling little devices
seemed to be everywhere, but they vanished from the scene as swiftly as they
had appeared.

E. Concerns and Controversies

Reports by The Swaddle Team in 2017, psychologists and experts in

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) have raised concerns about the
effectiveness of fidget toys for children in addressing restlessness or distraction.
In fact, some experts argue that individuals who are prone to distraction may
 actually become even more distracted when using a toy that requires continuous
attention and manual fidgeting.

There is some caution when purchasing fidget spinners raised by Penfield

Children's Center:

● Fidget spinners contain small metal parts that can come loose and be
swallowed, posing a choking risk for young children. Unfortunately, many
of these toys lack clear warnings about this danger, leaving parents
unaware of the potential hazard.
● The plastic or metal components of spinners have been reported to break
off and cause cuts on the user's fingers, particularly when young children
with small fingers handle them.

F. Chemical Content