[GalFisk] The cutting edge

[GalFisk]

How did a computer technician come to suspect that the cosmetics industry had created a new innovative product?

[doriana_]

Is there a relevant misunderstanding of a word or phrase? Is some sort of pun or other wordplay relevant?

[GalFisk]

Is there a relevant misunderstanding of a word or phrase? Is some sort of pun or other wordplay relevant? No to both.

[Sundowner64]

The cosmetics industry = one specific company? the cosmetics industry as a whole? some (not specified) company?
A cosmetics product? a technology product? would it make the computer technician's life easier? help in his work?
Was the computer technician at work when he came to this conclusion? at a customer? at home? was he working (or doing something in work context)?
Did he see something? hear something? was something offered to him?
Razors or products for shaving relevant?

[GalFisk]

The cosmetics industry = one specific company? the cosmetics industry as a whole? some (not specified) company? Unknown, assume the industry as a whole.
A cosmetics product? This a technology product? No. would it make the computer technician's life easier? No. help in his work? Definitely not.
Was the computer technician at work when he came to this conclusion? at a customer? Either of these would work. at home? was he working (or doing something in work context)? Yes.
Did he see something? Yes. hear something? was something offered to him? No to both.
Razors or products for shaving relevant? No.

[Sundowner64]

Is exactly one product relevant? does it really exist? is it an entirely new product? or an improved version of an existing product?
Is it a tool of some sorts? does it use up when used (like soap)?
Did the man see the product? something he took for the product? a box or container? did he read something? an advertisement?
Did he see something on a computer screen?
Relevant what exactly the man did? did he handle hardware? pull cables? fix a software problem?

[Sarisberie2]

Computer technician = relevantly HAM, HAF etc? Relevant what field he, or his workplace/company was in? Specifics of his job relevant? Was the product cutting edge? Something new to the cosmetic industry, other industry? A new take, or improvement, on an existing product, or completely new? Did he suspect it due to his work? A person he knew at work? Elsewhere? Did he take any action based on his supposition? Did he share his suspicions with someone else? Did he investigate further on his own?

[GalFisk]

Is exactly one product relevant? No. does it really exist? Yes. is it an entirely new product? or an improved version of an existing product? This.
Is it a tool of some sorts? No. does it use up when used (like soap)? Yes.
Did the man see the product? Noish. something he took for the product? a box or container? did he read something? an advertisement?No to all.
Did he see something on a computer screen? Yes.
Relevant what exactly the man did? did he handle hardware? Yes, this. pull cables? fix a software problem? Not in this puzzle.
Computer technician = relevantly HAM, HAF etc? Irr. Relevant what field he, or his workplace/company was in? No. Specifics of his job relevant? Yes. Was the product cutting edge? Probably. Something new to the cosmetic industry, Yes. other industry? A new take, or improvement, This. on an existing product, This. or completely new? Did he suspect it due to his work? Yes. A person he knew at work? Elsewhere? No to both. Did he take any action based on his supposition? Yes. Did he share his suspicions with someone else? Irr. Did he investigate further on his own? DOYD of "investigate".

[JenBurdoo1]

Did something from the product interfere in his work? Get into the computers he was repairing? WAG: Did oils from the product seep from users' fingers into or under the keys, smear the screen, etc?

[GalFisk]

Did something from the product interfere in his work? Yes. Get into the computers he was repairing? Not "into". WAG: Did oils from the product seep from users' fingers into or under the keys, smear the screen, etc? Something smeared the screen. Unknown whether it's oil. Explore.

[Biograd1]

What is going on with this forum, there have been no posts on any threads in over two weeks!

Was the improvement something along the lines of a smudge-proof product? a product that will not come off in the shower or while swimming?

[GalFisk]

What is going on with this forum, there have been no posts on any threads in over two weeks! No idea. Easter coma?

Was the improvement something along the lines of a smudge-proof product? No. a product that will not come off in the shower or while swimming? Possibly.

[Biograd1]

Did the product get on the screen from people's hands? if so, is the product for use ON hands (such as nail polish)? or did it get on the hands while applying it to the face?

[GalFisk]

Did the product get on the screen from people's hands? Yes. if so, is the product for use ON handsYes. (such as nail polish)? No. or did it get on the hands while applying it to the face? No.

[Biograd1]

Is the product used to dye part of the hand? to moisturize it? to protect it from the sun?

[GalFisk]

Is the product used to dye part of the hand? No. to moisturize it? Yes. to protect it from the sun? It may have SPF, but that's not important.

[Sundowner64]

Did the traces of the product help him to do his job? like: they indicated which parts of the screen the users were touching?
Was it a touchscreen?
Did the product traces get there by people using the screen (i.e. using some software that was running on the system)?
or were they left by people who manufactured/handled the screen?
Did the man leave the traces himself?

[GalFisk]

Did the traces of the product help him to do his job? No, quite the opposite. like: they indicated which parts of the screen the users were touching? Yes but irr.
Was it a touchscreen? No but irr.
Did the product traces get there by people using the screen (i.e. using some software that was running on the system)? Yes.
or were they left by people who manufactured/handled the screen? No.
Did the man leave the traces himself? No.

[Sundowner64]

Were similar traces not there in other similar situations before? (as the man considered something innovative)
Did the people before use other cosmetics? no cosmetics at all? a specific group of people relevant? children?
Is the cosmetics product applied to the hands? to moisture the hands? protect the hands? clean the hands? is it sunshield? disinfector gel?
Is the "innovative" in the puzzle statement ironical?

[Biograd1]

So it's some kind of moisturizing lotion? and is waterproof so it won't come off e.g. while swimming or bathing? and when people who have used this moisturizer on their hands then use devices with touchscreens, some residue is transferred to the screen via their fingers? causing it to get dirty/blurred? and the technician noticed that wiping the screens with water-based cleanser wouldn't clean them? so he suspected the invention of this new waterproof moisturizer?

If this is all true, is this it? or is there more to work out?

[GalFisk]

So it's some kind of moisturizing lotion? and is waterproof so it won't come off e.g. while swimming or bathing? and when people who have used this moisturizer on their hands then use devices with touchscreens, some residue is transferred to the screen via their fingers? causing it to get dirty/blurred? and the technician noticed that wiping the screens with water-based cleanser wouldn't clean them? so he suspected the invention of this new waterproof moisturizer?

If this is all true, is this it? or is there more to work out?

That's enough for the

***SPOILER***

I'm that technician. Lately, I've noticed that my usual screen cleaner sometimes won't remove the fingerprints from student computer screens at work, and I need to resort to using label remover fluid (which has stronger degreasing properties) to get the screens clean.