Class 12 student from West Bengal comes up with soundless hammer after noisy renovation leaves him frustrated

How many times have people rolled around on their beds in frustration because of loud hammering, or glared angrily at neighbours disturbed by the constant noise? For Prithwish, the irritation caused by construction work led to an idea he believed could make an everyday tool considerably quieter: a soundproof hammer.

Prithwish developed the concept while he was in Class 12, drawing on his strong interest in science and technology. He proposed designing a hammer that could reduce the noise generated when it strikes a surface, using a foam-like material to absorb much of the impact.

The idea came to him after his own home underwent renovation. Construction workers were using hammers to break floor tiles, creating noise that he found increasingly difficult to tolerate.


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Renovation noise sparks the soundproof hammer idea

“My house was being renovated some time ago. The workers were using hammers to break the floor tiles and all the noise was driving me up the wall. And it was not just me who was annoyed but my neighbours, too, had a tough time. In a construction area, the noise generated from a hammer can reach upto 110 decibel, which exposed for more than 10 minutes can cause serious deafness. So I thought of this idea of a soundproof hammer,” Prithwish said.

His proposed solution involved covering the hammer with a foam-like substance designed to absorb the impact produced when it hits an object. According to his concept, this could bring down the noise level generated during hammering to a minimum.

The idea was rooted in a familiar problem, but Prithwish approached it through his interest in science and technology, attempting to develop a practical solution for a source of noise often associated with construction and renovation work.

Science, technology and a love for reading

Prithwish has a keen interest in science and technology, although economics is his favourite subject at school. He also enjoys reading books on science, particularly works written by renowned physicist Stephen Hawking.

His interests extend beyond academics. Prithwish enjoys playing cricket and football and has won several prizes for his participation in the sports.

His family includes his mother, who is a homemaker, and his elder sister, who is pursuing media science.

Inspired by Steve Jobs

While Prithwish has shown an interest in science and innovation, he plans to enter the business world and follow in his father's footsteps.

He counts Apple co-founder Steve Jobs among his role models and cites one of Jobs' well-known statements as an inspiration.

“My role model is Steve Jobs, who had famously said, ‘The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do’,” Prithwish said.

His soundproof hammer idea emerged from an everyday experience but reflected his broader interest in finding practical solutions through science and technology. The concept combined his observation of a common problem with an attempt to address it through a simple redesign of a familiar tool.