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Strength in Numbers

Feb-22-10 By Kristeen
With his Master's Degree in Biochemistry, Joseph Hawumba returned to Makerere University where he teaches biochemistry to science, medical, and veterinary students. He also carries out frontline scientific research and writes academic papers. Hawumba became a Problem Solver on IdeaConnection and was recently interviewed on his success.

3RD World Wheelchair

Feb-18-10 By Kristeen
Amos Winter, a MIT graduate student, has developed an innovative mobility aid specifically for developing countries. Conventional wheelchairs are nearly impossible to propel on the sandy roads and muddy walking paths frequently encountered in the developing world. The Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC) uses an innovative approach to solve this problem by assembling this wheelchair from available bicycle parts.

Numbrella Umbrella

Feb-17-10 By Kristeen
Just because it works doesn't mean it's pretty. Sometimes products are designed without questioning their actual target audience. Sure it rains all over the world, and yes, we all need umbrellas, and true, it would be nice to have our hands free - to talk on our cell phones and ride our bikes, but as the saying still holds, fashion before function people.

Backwards Innovation

Feb-16-10 By Kristeen
Read Peter Lloyd's latest Right Brain Workout discussing the possibility that the invention of cars may have been a Backwards Invention. He explains that not all invention needs to take us in the direction we presume to think of as forward. Sometimes backwards is forward in the same way that less is more.

Why Didn’t I think of that?

Feb-15-10 By Paul Wagorn
Frustration often begets creativity and innovation.

Wally Hermes Megayacht

Feb-15-10 By Kristeen
A joint venture between French high fashion house Hermes and Wally Yachts formed to create Wally Hermes Yachts (WHY). Their first motor yacht redefines luxury living at sea; the 58 x 38 meters, multi-story floating personal holiday resort features almost an acre of floor space and an ultra-stable Norwegian Ramform hull. Its diesel-electric propulsion is the most efficient motorization to date and was conceived to reduce energy consumption up to 200 tons of diesel per year. Photovoltaic panels cover almost 900 square meters and generate enough energy to supplement most of the boat’s auxiliary system needs. It can cruise at 12 knots in a Force 4 gale and has enough range to cross the Atlantic four times without refueling.

Fresh from your Fridge

Feb-11-10 By Kristeen
Designer Hanna Sandström teamed up with Whirlpool and Green Fortune to come up with a fridge that will help you grow your own garden greens. Lettuce and herbs purchased from the supermarket can be automatically fed with light and water to prolong life and growth. The Kitchen Garden system can also nurture a seed to a plant ripe for eating. For those of you without a green thumb, or dwelling without space for a garden, this concept refrigerator may be the perfect new kitchen appliance.

Lead to Innovation

Feb-10-10 By Kristeen
This new concept design takes the lead from old pencils and uses it as ink for your printer. With the Pencil Printer pencil stubs can be re-used and made into ink to be used to print documents. It works by separating the wood and lead inside the printer. You simply put a pencil into the hole on the top right of the printer, start the machine, and then you’ll see the device printing on paper using the pencil powder. Designer Hoyoung Lee also adopts eraser to erase off the printed paper so that you could use the paper again. WOW!

Perfect Portable Printer

Feb-08-10 By Kristeen
Print your documents anywhere and anytime with Stick POP, a new concept portable printer designed by Jihun Kang, Youngho Lee, Jieun Lee and Changsu Lee. Measuring only 9 inches by 2 inches, this portable printer fits well in your bag and is battery operated to eliminate the need for an external electrical source. Just hook it up to your computer device via USB and start printing. The front panel features a monochrome OLED display to show the current printing status and document name.

Flex and Fold Water Bottle

Feb-05-10 By Kristeen
Vapur is a new and innovative flexible water bottle designed to fit in your pocket, purse or briefcase. The completely collapsible bottle is unique and innovative because it can be rolled, folded or flattened and tucked away, making it the most portable refillable water bottle on the planet.