iPod creators design the perfect thermostat that learns your habits

nest-thermostat

A new view on temperature regulation.

Let’s face it, programmable thermostats can be complicated. They’re like any other device you have to program — they sound neat but actually using them can be annoying. And yet, the thermostat is one of the most important parts of a home for keeping the carbon footprint low. So how do we simplify something that can add up to a complex ordeal what with mornings, evenings, different rooms, different preferences, and so on? Well, the creator of the iPod — a marvelously simple but powerful device — has an idea…

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TapSense: New touchscreen technology recognizes different parts of the finger

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TapSense is an experimental touchscreen system, that is able to tell the difference between different parts of the user’s finger.

Devices with small touchscreens, such as smartphones, certainly have their attractions, but they also have one drawback – there isn’t much room on their little screens for touch-sensitive features. Users will sometimes have to go into sub-menus, or make do with jabbing their fingers at tiny controls. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute, however, are working on an alternative. Their prototype TapSense system can differentiate between screen taps from different parts of the finger, and will perform different tasks accordingly. (Pics and video)

 

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A solar charger that rewards you for staying off the grid

changers_solar_chargerA solar charger with benefits.

Besides a reduced monthly power bill, there’s a certain smug satisfaction to recharging your gear with solar energy. It’s almost like you want everyone to know how eco conscious you’re being, and with the Changer solar charging system, you’ll actually be rewarded for bragging about it…

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Children’s drawings transformed into stuffed toys

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From the mind of a child.

Child’s Own Studio is a home-based craft business which makes stuffed toys from children’s drawings; some drawings are sent in by adults who want personalized gifts for their children, and sometimes children submit the drawings to make gifts for their parents…

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Imec – membrane-based plant cultivation lets plants grow on film instead of soil

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWvrkJJbPoM&hd=1[/youtube]

This video provides more insight (on both the advantages and the disadvantages of Imec)

Tokyo-based Mebiol is working on an membrane–based plant cultivation technology called Imec that makes it possible to let plants grow on thin film instead of soil. The film is made of a water-absorbent material called hydrogel and is just “tens of microns” thick.

 

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Leash Locket – retractable leash magnetically snaps to your dog’s collar

leashlocket

Featured invention at the Davinci Inventor Showcase 2011

An innovative retractable dog leash designed to fit into a compact, incredibly strong locket that snaps to a magnetic collar attachment when not in use, allowing your dog to carry the leash when you want hands-free convenience.

 

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DeLorean Motor Company goes back to the future with all-electric DeLorean

electric-delorean

Electric DeLorean DMC-12 in the works

It comes as no surprise that the DeLorean DMC-12 is a popular car for DIY electric car conversions given the car’s iconic classic/futuristic status.  And it’s official that DeLorean EV is coming from Humble, Texas’ reborn DeLorean Motor Company itself.  Who else would build a time machine electric car and do it with some style?

 

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Logo Hooks – revenue generating multi-purpose hook

LogoHooks

Featured invention at the DaVinci Inventor Showcase 2011

Logo Hooks® is a new patent-pending concept that creates a branding opportunity while providing an important service. The innovative hook design with space for advertisement creates simple but powerful synergy. Patrons/guests are frustrated by having to place their purses and other possessions in a location that is not secure or sanitary. Logo Hooks® will quickly become a necessity for theatre and event patrons everywhere while creating groundbreaking revenue opportunities for the venue owner.

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New Radar technology provides real-time video of what’s going on behind solid walls

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Now you see it. Now you don’t.

The ability to see through walls is no longer the stuff of science fiction, thanks to new radar technology developed at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory…

Much as humans and other animals see via waves of visible light that bounce off objects and then strike our eyes’ retinas, radar “sees” by sending out radio waves that bounce off targets and return to the radar’s receivers. But just as light can’t pass through solid objects in quantities large enough for the eye to detect, it’s hard to build radar that can penetrate walls well enough to show what’s happening behind. Now, Lincoln Lab researchers have built a system that can see through walls from some distance away, giving an instantaneous picture of the activity on the other side…

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RazorChain – simplifies sales forecasting and operations planning

RazorChain

Featured invention at the DaVinci Inventor Showcase 2011

RazorChain delivers business forecasting made simple by a cloud based subscription service (SaaS). RazorChain is a website that helps Sales and Operations Managers to consolidate and communicate forecasts.  RazorChain helps you answer the questions:

 

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Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.