October, 2007

InventorSpot.com had a great October 2007 with over 1.2 million page views and almost 700,000 unique visitors. We also added 4 new writers to our writing team to share the latest news on inventions and innovations from around the world and interesting new ideas with you.

The best articles at InventorSpot.com launched in October were: read more »

Today's funeral practices are not environmentally friendly. Between clearing land out to make burial sites, green house gases due to cremation, trees cut down to make caskets and embalming fluid which contains chemicals like formaldehyde, methanol, ethanol and other solvents, death is not as natural as it should be. Funerals are detrimental to the land, water and air. The good news is that green funeral options continue to grow in popularity. Below are some innovative burial alternatives to choose from. read more »

According to Lasse Klein, the creator of the Alien Abduction Lamp, Elvis is still alive. Apparently he's living comfortably on Mars. Not only that, but he's got an endless supply of hamburgers read more »

Dodge is bringing back the Challenger, Pontiac has the GTO and Ford redesigned the Mustang to look more like the 60's Shelby's. Could it now be Chrysler's turn?

Cuda Concept: Artist Rendition read more »

Every little boy dreams of becoming the next Formula-1 race car driver. Tearing over the pavement at speeds over 200 miles per hour....what a rush. Sadly, only a select few will ever get to experience that kind of adrenaline rush. But with the help of Caparo Vehicle Technologies, anyone can own their own Formula-1 race car, straight from the factory.

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Singapore has geared up for the ultimate in personal entertainment with WOWtv, a personalized media experience through streaming broadband channels. read more »

Ah, the paperclip. Surely, its top-ranking position in the world of office fasteners is unrivaled - only the unattractive staple could possibly compete... read more »

NEC is set to launch the fastest vector supercomputer in the World. This is not just another desktop computer, as it stands as tall as the average person and performs about 3 times faster than the next fastest computer. All this powerful computing comes at a price. Wait till you see how much money you would need to fork over to buy this computer; or at least how much it will cost to rent this supercomputer monthly. You'll be blown away!

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Salma Doll (from the Salma website)In the competitive world market for Barbie-like dolls a new contender has emerged. Salma, from the word ‘peace' in Arabic, is a new Barbie inspired doll that promotes positive Islamic values. The new doll, created by Sukmawati Suryaman, an Indonesian businesswomen, is the latest competition to Mattel's Barbie doll in the Muslim world. read more »

Here's my pick for the cool ad campaign of the week.

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Halloween is a great opportunity to let loose our inner mischief makers, terrorizing children and amusing adults with seasonal props. It's also a wonderful time to bedeck your abode with festive embellishments and have fun... read more »

In honor of Dutch Design Week I'd like to highlight some of the fresh ideas coming our way from northern Europe, with a special emphasis on those designers who work to make what is traditionally considered unattractive -- like the cords of lamps, for example-- into an integral feature of the design... read more »

They may be American, but inventors Jeff Stuebing and Eric Miramon know that all good ideas enjoy a warm reception in Asia. read more »

Honda has been known to come up with some interesting (and sometimes slightly odd) ideas. But this time, they have definitely thought inside the box....

Front View read more »

Is it possible to have a device which is a music player, video player, FM radio, photo viewer, voice recorder, a flashlight, and at the same time runs without the need of a battery charger? read more »

With so many articles on our site, I wanted to find a way to highlight some of what I think are the best articles on the site and the most popular last week in case readers missed them.

Here are my Editor's Picks for the Best of InventorSpot.com for the week starting October 21, 2007: read more »

Looking to sweeten up your Halloween? Trying to find a novel new trick or treat?

For the adult Halloween partiers this year, trick or treat your special someone with these unique condom treats.

Hand them out at your adult Halloween party or blow them up and use them to decorate your home.

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Aerial photo of Sorouh's advertisement.

The world's largest advertisement debuted in Dubai today. Sorouh Real Estate is paying UK based company, Ad-Air, an undisclosed amount of money for a 215,278 square foot (20,000 sq m) advertisement that can be seen by outgoing and incoming passengers at Dubai International Airport. read more »

In celebration of Halloween I have found some innovative last minute fashionable Halloween costumes for those of you still in need of a costume. The best part about it is that you can make these yourself with regular household items. read more »

Even with the measures in place today, a majority of stolen cars never see their original owners. However with a little help from the sky, GM plans to change that.

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Don’t know Korean? Well you better learn if you hope to talk shop with inventors. read more »

Have you ever had an iPod, cell phone, iMac, digital camera, or other expensive electronic device stolen from you? Many people have, and most of these people never see that device again. Ken Westin, CEO of www.gadgettrak.com, is sick and tired of thieves getting away with these stolen goods free and clear. He recently started the company in Portland, Oregon to help track these electronic stolen goods so that they return to the rightful owners. read more »

InventorSpot.com is delighted to announce that another new writer will be joining our team today.  We now have four new writers this season.

Lee Nunley is a writer from Denver. He has lived in the Middle East
and will be keeping readers of InventorSpot abreast of all the latest
technology and innovation news from the region.

We think he will be a wonderful addition to the team of writers bringing you the latest news from around the world on the most interesting inventions, innovations and ideas,

You can read more about InventorSpot.com and our whole team here. read more »

Disaster relief, fires, floods, car accidents, and other unforseen incidents are just another day in the life of a firefighter. We've all seen the damage that these kind of disasters can cause, and the lives that they put at risk. Just look at the recent wild fires in Southern California, and the amount of damage to property and lives. read more »

World Series got you down? Yep, me too - the epic tale of the Rox & Sox is looking like a tired old bedtime story. Half a world away, however, the 58th Japan Series is about to show the baseball world what they've been missing! read more »

Not funny...but very independent.

• Snakes have no sense of humor.
• People who own fish are the happiest pet owners.
• The smarter you are, the smarter your pet.

These are a few of the findings of the Pet Personality Test results analyzed by its creator Professor Richard Wiseman. Want to learn more? Read on...

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The Dreamchick from Segatoys is the latest trendy toy from robot-crazy Japan! Designed to look and act like a fluffy yellow 3-day old baby chick, the Dreamchick responds to your touch and makes sad sounds when you ignore it - not that you ever could! read more »

 

Can bikers help solve our energy problems? They are being challenged to do so by the Innovate Or Die invention contest, sponsored by Specialized Bicycles and Google Inc. Innovate or Die is the first-ever invention contest for the most ingenious bike that uses human pedalling to power something besides the bike itself.

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Sony is set to release the Limited Edition PS2 SingStar Bundle Pack just in time for the holiday season. Sony is hoping to capitalize on the amazing success of the PS2 over the past 7 years. SingStar is a karaoke game, much like American Idol. Sony says that these PS2 bundle packs will sell like hotcakes for the holidays. read more »

Elizabeth Valeri, our guest blogger, is a resident of Colorado with an interest in the material abundance of everyday life. That is, she is amused by the ways we “over-invent” our lives in a fleeting attempt at controlling them. She wanted to share some of her wacky patent finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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Halloween lovers my third, and last, spooky patent pick of the year has got it all: dead people, mummies and burning flesh!

 

 

 

Earlier this month, in honor of former president of India, A.P. J. Abdul Kalam’s 76th birthday, the NIF launched a children’s corner on its website devoted completely to the creativity and innovation of young minds. read more »

A 20-year-old from the UK has recently proven that one of the simplest types of computers can solve every known computational problem, given enough time. Alex Smith, who is studying electrical engineering at the University of Birmingham, will receive mathematician Stephen Wolfram's $25,000 prize in a ceremony held in the home town of the famous computer scientist Alan Turing. read more »

 

IncoStress Invention

If you've heard anyone say, "I laughed so hard I peed in my pants," it's not just an expression. Most women experience incontinence at some point in their lives, a weakening of urinary control, so that laughter, coughing, a sneeze, lifting, or exercise can be an immediate cause of leakiness. Some even leak while they sleep.

The IncoStress device, invented by a Welsh mother-daughter team, just won 1st Prize at the British Invention Show and it may be the answer for leaky ladies.

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China is giving Japan a run for its money when it comes to public transportation. The body of the very first Chinese high-speed train with speeds rivaling that of its competitor (the Japanese bullet train), has been completed. read more »

Scientists from Chili have discovered that blocking a region of the brain called the insular cortex causes rats that are addicted to amphetamines to stop craving the drug. This understanding could lead to the development of new therapies to help treat drug addiction. read more »

Cut-Away View

What gets the fuel efficiency of a 6-speed, shifts as fast as an automatic, and is made to perform but still doesn't require the extra work of a clutch?

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Cameron Cowan, our Guest Blogger lives in Denver, Colorado. Besides writing, he has an active music career around the city and can usually be found either on the jazz and coffee shop stages of the city or in the mall, his favorite distresser! He wanted to share his video game tips and finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's his article: 

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So I was strolling through my favorite store in the entire world, Circuit City, and I'm always looking for better peripherals for my gaming. read more »

The Japanese company, Hitachi, is set to release one of the slimmest LCD HDTVs ever. Hitachi will release these ultra-thin TVs this December in Japan and early 2008 in the United States. HDTVs have never been so versatile. read more »

The road ready LR3.

What do you get if you throw a new Land Rover LR3, some high-tech sensors, an advanced data processing unit and a few great minds from MIT into a mixer and blend thoroughly? read more »

Marrying art and function isn't always easy. But award-winning, Italian designer Danilo de Rossi makes it appear as effortless as the effect of gravity on a drop of water... read more »

Weird and eerie... these Japanese Eyeball Ghost Charms are that and more! Inspired by "Medama no Oyaji" or "Eyeball Daddy" from a late 1960s TV show, the creepy character can now keep an eye on you - literally - from a convenient zipper or cellphone grommet. read more »

Artist's depiction of a space elevator

 

The annual Space Elevator Games were held this past Monday in Farmington, Utah. Student teams designed 100-meter-tall space elevators in the competition, and the winning team's robot came close to winning NASA's half-million-dollar prize. read more »

Elizabeth Valeri, our guest blogger, is a resident of Colorado with an interest in the material abundance of everyday life. That is, she is amused by the ways we “over-invent” our lives in a fleeting attempt at controlling them. She wanted to share some of her wacky patent finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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My ruminations about getting older, when I first learned I needed reading glasses, were quickly dispelled when I placed an order for some designer frames and the optician handed me a bill for several hundred dollars.

Despite some taboos, tattoos have experienced a recent surge of popularity in many parts of the world, particularly in North America, Japan and Europe and most recently Australia.

The growth in the tattoo culture has also led to the growing incidence of using tattoos in creative ways in advertising. The following ten ads all use tattoos in interesting ways to help sell their products: read more »

Therma Blade Inc. Heated Skate Blade: Source: Reuters

The NHL may become an even faster sport if the new heated skate blades are approved for use. These new skates feature a heated blade which helps players glide across the ice with less friction. read more »

Scuderi Air-Hybrid After reengineering a 100-year-old design, Scuderi has now added a new twist to their Split-Cycle engine. read more »

Fart Collector

Elizabeth Valeri, our guest blogger, is a resident of Colorado with an interest in the material abundance of everyday life. That is, she is amused by the ways we “over-invent” our lives in a fleeting attempt at controlling them. She wanted to share some of her wacky patent finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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With Halloween fast approaching, I decided to scout the annals of the patent offices for inventions intended for the deepest, darkest, scariest recesses of mankind.

High-Resolution IR Camera

"Dipped (traditional) headlights only illuminate about 56 meters, when the breaking distance at 100 Km/k is about 80 meters," says Professor Ros Vidal of the University of Granada. read more »

A Taiwan company, by the name of Asustek, is in the process of launching four new budget laptops targeted at children, the elderly, and the underprivileged. Targeting this demographic with a "budget-friendly" laptop is nothing new. Other organizations and companies have already developed low-priced laptops... read more »

InventorSpot.com is delighted to announce that three new writers are joining our team today.

George Delozier is from Pennsylvania and recently joined the U.S. Air Force. He will be keeping us up to date on the latest and greatest from the world of motorized transportation. Whether it flies or drives, he plans to provide the most up-to-date information available.

Joe Eitel is a writer/graphic designer from Grand Rapids, Michigan who
intends to write about the latest news and reviews of the most innovative
new electronic gadgets on the market today. He has written many published
articles on this topic, and he plans on sharing his extensive tech-knowledge
with the readers of InventorSpot.

Sarah Olson, originally from Chicago, is keeping her eye on the freshest innovations in interior designs. She brings to you the latest morphings of function and form for the home, letting you decide whether you'd love it or leave it.

We think these folks will be wonderful additions to the team of writers bringing you the latest news from around the world on the most interesting inventions, innovations and ideas,

You can read more about InventorSpot.com and our whole team here.

InventorSpot.com Team

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In many still developing nations, such as the Philippines, a paper system is  prevalent in many important institutions. And with a paper monitoring system comes paper-related problems, namely forgery. read more »

Japanese horror cinema, or "J-Horror" has been making a name for itself in recent years. Hollywood chillers The Ring and The Grudge are adaptations of recent J-Horror flicks and their success will surely spawn others. To get the full impact of what J-Horror really means, subtitles or not, you've got to go to the source... read more »

Plush breast toys... Yes, just when you thought Japan couldn't get any weirder comes this set of five "Funwari Milk-chan" soft plush breast character toys. Does this mean it's now OK for boys to play with dolls? Well, maybe not... read more »

If there was something that you as a parent could do to decrease your child's risk of cancer, increase their level of education, and prevent them from getting involved with sex, drugs and alcohol until an age of responsibility, would you?

Even if it meant turning off the TV?

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Whether shopping in downtown Tokyo, relaxing at home with family or out on the town with friends or co-workers, Japanese just can't seem to get enough of - or away from - the Butt-Biting Bug! read more »

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Better hurry to get your invention ideas to Electrolux, because the deadline is November 1, and the contest was just announced on October 18, 2007! Your challenge is to create useful devices that solve specific challenges in Second Life: what's at stake is up to 100,000 Linden Dollars (L$s)!

 

 

 

October isn't over, which means beer is still on the brain. As a little follow up to our 10 Best Beers With Balls of 2007 article, here is a great new blog that seeks to keep us all well informed of the brewing world.
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Japan's easily accessible cigarette vending machines have been tempting targets for teen puffers. Not any more - the new "TASPO" ID card combines age verification with a handy payment function! read more »

Elana Bowman, our guest blogger, lives in Sydney and she has so many interests she doesn't have time to indulge in them all. On your average day, she'll be at work or writing or on the beach or reading or finding something new & interesting. She wanted to share some of her finds from the UK, Australia and New Zealand with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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Supermarket chain Tesco is launching the trim trolley this week, a trolley designed to help people work out while they shop!

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The very popular Popular Science Magazine is calling for submissions for the next world changing invention... not an invention, as they call it, "born in the R& D labs of universities and corporations," but ones just like most of ours, born while taking a shower or shopping at your local hardware store.

Ten inventions will be awarded prizes in a variety of categories, plus there will be a Student Award Category this year, the second year of the PopSci Invention Awards.

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Sex sells. We know that.

Sex is being used to sell almost everything, even though there are clearly products and services where sex should not be used. But sometimes, using sex to sell makes a lot of sense. Here are seven sexy ads that I think use sex brilliantly: read more »

T-Cell Attacking Flu Cell

It's been more than 50 years since Jonas Salk created the first polio vaccine; thanks to his discovery, and Albert Sabin's a few years later, just a handful of polio cases are reported each year. But fifty years is a long time to wait for another watershed vaccine, so I checked my crystal ball to see what inventions were in progress in the biomedical field.

And what I saw was the eradication of... No, this can't be... Eradication of the flu! Not only the flu, but all strains of flu... and colds! And the vaccine is not too far off. read more »

Nestle Japan employs creativity to get around a seemingly insurmountable marketing problem: adjust the product - Kit Kat candy bars - to fit the distribution network instead of vice-versa! read more »

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Who would have guessed that being born in a restroom would have started a life long obsession with toilets? However that is exactly what happened to Sim Jae-Duck of Seoul, Korea.

"If a self-improving AI is thrown together in a slapdash fashion, we could be in for big trouble," warns AI theorist and transhumanist Eliezer Yudkowsky read more »

marton-toilet-restaurant

Asia is looming full of American chain restaurants – but why would anyone patronize hem when there are so many disturbingly creative options available throughout the continent? read more »

Read the following product review at your own discretion, as it is a product review of an eco-friendly hygiene product for women.

Every month, for the past several years, the environmental woman in me has watched me throw away one disposable pad after another knowing quiet well were it would all end up. That's right! The landfills. Over 14 billion pads, tampons and applicators go into North American landfills every year according to the Lunapads website. read more »

Our Guest Blogger, Sarah Olson, originally from Chicago, is back in the States after a two-year stint in Japan and Asia. She is constantly seeking out ways to make the world more beautiful, and has a vested interested in discovering methods to enhance the feminine mystique.She wanted to share her finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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In the spirit of Halloween, it seems only appropriate that the topic of conversation should turn to bones and skeletons. read more »

Japan's spectacular castles seamlessly combine breathtaking beauty with military precision. The three Japanese castles at Himeji, Matsumoto and Osaka epitomize, each in their own particular way, the historic grandeur of Japan's golden age of swords and samurai! read more »

Solar powered Halloween lights have evolved a little more this year than last year's. Below you will find a variety of solar powered lights to choose from. The list includes: pumpkins, gargoyles, witches, monsters and a scarecrow. Some are cute and fun. Others are scarier and gruesome., but they all charge up during the day and then light up the night while saving you money on your electric bill year after year. read more »

Asia wins innovation's wacky award time and again with their creative, yet impractical, architectural monstrosities. read more »

The Red Cross uses advertising to promote awareness about the needs of the world and the needs of your local area. They work to stress the importance of volunteers, of donating blood and donating financially to the causes that really matter. Here are my picks for some of their best:

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What is environmentally friendly, cuts your grass, tones your legs and is fun to ride all at the same time? A bicycle lawnmower of course. read more »

Gigantic satellites orbiting the Earth, equipped with solar cells, could collect enough energy from the sun every year to power the world seven times over. Beaming the energy down to Earth in the form of microwaves or a laser, the satellites would provide energy which would be gathered in antennas on the ground and then converted to electricity. read more »

Sony Ericsson's line of sweetly scented cellphones - let's call them "smell phones" - come with replaceable aroma sheets that make sense AND make scents! read more »

Do you wag your tail when greeting someone you like? Bark when you want a treat? Roll over on command?

Then you're a pretty happy dog, and your owner just might be a happy human.... Now it's time to find out if your human also shares your sense of humor.... read more »

The late John Lennon and his dream of world peace were jointly celebrated Tuesday, October 9 in Reykjavik, Iceland as Yoko Ono attended the lighting of the Imagine Peace Tower.

"This column of light in Iceland will not be extinguished. It is the eternal flame we send out to the world and the universe to give light and warmth, and the hope and conviction that our dreams can come true." read more »

Our Guest Blogger, Sarah Olson, originally from Chicago, is back in the States after a two-year stint in Japan and Asia. She is constantly seeking out ways to make the world more beautiful, and has a vested interested in discovering methods to enhance the feminine mystique.She wanted to share her finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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If you’re like many women, bringing sexy back in terms of getting ones’ pins sleek and smooth can literally be an endless pain.

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Buttocks Spreader

Elizabeth Valeri, our guest blogger, is a resident of Colorado with an interest in the material abundance of everyday life. That is, she is amused by the ways we “over-invent” our lives in a fleeting attempt at controlling them. She wanted to share some of her wacky patent finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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I remember, several years ago, when I first encountered the hands-free faucet. read more »

 Going by the name "Shady," this robot climbs windows and produces a small shade to block the sun from shining on the exact spot you're sitting. read more »

It's Halloween season and you know what that means: time for what has become our annual 13 Best Haunted Houses list! There have been a few additions and subtractions from last years list , but, as always, each one has their own unique characteristics that make it a worthy haunt for even the most seasoned of haunted housers. read more »

Elizabeth Valeri, our guest blogger, is a resident of Colorado with an interest in the material abundance of everyday life. That is, she is amused by the ways we “over-invent” our lives in a fleeting attempt at controlling them. She wanted to share some of her wacky patent finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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The Apparatus for Facilitating the Birth of a Child by Centrifugal Force, may not end the age-old debate of whether or not centrifugal force actually exists, but it sure will take a pregnant woman’s mind off the business at hand during childbirth! read more »

There may be a reason why it looks like a stream of gold. read more »

I'm not a big fan of video games and on-line games. I think they are partially to blame for the obesity dilemma we have in the world, but I will admit I once was a Mario Brother addict. Yes I know I've dated myself admitting this, but my point is I understand how addicting games can be. So if you must play games at least play them while working out aboard the Ergo Bike Premium 8i. read more »

Japan is famed for its hot spring resorts, but new government regulations are forcing spa operators without access to actual spring water to improvise in some very unusual ways! read more »

 

Researchers at the University of Washington have designed "Vocal Joystick," an alternative to a handheld mouse based on the human voice. read more »

Surface Reactions Impact Many Industries

So far this week, the 2007 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to the "fathers" of certain modern technologies, specifically the recipients of the Nobel Prize for Medicine and the Nobel Prize for Physics. Today's announcement of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Chemistry winner is no exception: Gerhard Ertl, of the Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Berlin, Germany, is a father of the science of surface chemistry. Let's see what developments his seminal work has led to....

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The “Nothing,” in the title of Hans Camenzind’s Much Ado About Almost Nothing, is the electron. The book is a fascinating tale about the history of that infinitesimally small, negatively charged particle around which so much of our everyday lives revolve. It’s the story of man’s effort to understand it, make sense of it, and ultimately make use of it. read more »

Our Guest Blogger, George Delozier, is from Pennsylvania and recently joined the U.S. Air Force. Growing up with all types of machines, George wanted to share the newest innovations on all things motor with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's his article:

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70 percent of the earth is covered by water. Which mean that you can only use a pogo stick on the remaining 30 percent….until now.

Giant Magnetoresistance

The two winners of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physics -- Albert Fert, of the Université Paris-Sud in Orsay, France, and Peter Grünberg, of the Institute of Solid State Research at the Jülich Research Center in Germany - made their contributions to the computer age as far back as 1988. Now that the smallest commercially available hard drive is an IPod, the inventors that led to its development, and many yet to come, have received the grand prix of awards. read more »

At Microsoft Research headquarters in India, innovative ideas abound. read more »

© The Nobel Committee for Physiology Illustration: Annika Röhl

The 2007 Nobel Prize winners in medicine -- Mario R. Capecchi, 70, of the University of Utah; Oliver Smithies, 82, of the University of North Carolina; and Sir Martin J. Evans, 66, of Cardiff University in Wales - worked independently, but their genetics research overlapped greatly. Many other geneticists contributed to the state of the art, but the discoveries of Capecchi, Smithies, and Evans are considered watershed.

In layman's terms, what exactly did these Nobel Prize winners do? read more »

Recently, researchers from the Orbero University in Sweden led by Professor Kjell Mild have suggested that young children may be at risk for brain cancer when using cell phones because of their thinner skulls and developing nervous systems. read more »

Ever doubt the power of lips to persuade? The following ads have used one of the most beloved of all body parts...the lips...to sell a surprisingly wide range of products. Here are ten of the best uses of lips in recent  advertising: read more »

Asian gamers stage a political protest - virtually. read more »

Need to find a way to keep your small appliances charged? The solution may be coming soon as Korea finds new ways to stay energized with a non-polluting paper battery. read more »

Our Guest Blogger, George Delozier, is from Pennsylvania and recently joined the U.S. Air Force. Growing up with all types of machines, George wanted to share the newest innovations on all things motor with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's his article:

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I have 8 cylinders….but only 4 make power…? read more »

Some of the best Japanese cars never made the trip across the ocean. After seeing this list, you'll wish they did! read more »

Functionalized Nanoporous Thin Film

R&D Magazine has sponsored the "Oscars of Inventions" for 45 years. These research and design awards are coveted by government as well as private industry inventors. The 100 winners selected by R&D Magazine for 2007 are stunning innovations - resourceful, effective, inspiring. A significant portion of the 2007 awards are homeland security/military innovations; others are environmental, health, and there's even innovations for kids, like a must-have-Holiday-toy robot! Here are my picks for the top 10 inventions from R & D Magazine's list of the best of 2007: read more »

 

Pet Bed

I have a 14" by 10" photograph of my Silky Terrier hanging in a hallway. Each time my Welsh Terrier looks up at that photo, he barks... and barks...like a crazy dog! And I think he's yelling, "Alfie! Get off the wall, you stupid dog!"

So, now that I found these really cool pet beds that you can customize with your own photos, I'm wondering which pictures will let sleeping dogs lie....

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With technology and tenacity, Japan has managed to all but eliminate employment for convenience store workers. read more »

An urban jungle plan to clean Hong Kong's air is being dreamed up by one innovative architecture team read more »

Our Guest Blogger, Sarah Olson, originally from Chicago, is back in the States after a two-year stint in Japan and Asia. She is constantly seeking out ways to make the world more beautiful, and has a vested interested in discovering methods to enhance the feminine mystique.She wanted to share her finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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In light of L’Oreal’s recent lawsuit against ebay for selling fraudulent products, as well as the Colgate toothpaste recall, companies are becoming increasingly concerned about the distribution of authentic products to consumers. read more »

Beach and Burj al-Arab: From TravelingDubai.com

Our Guest Blogger, Lee Nunley, is a recent college graduate who has
lived in Cairo and Budapest. He currently resides in Denver and is
working on a book-centered Web 2.0 project. He wanted to share news about the innovations in the Middle East with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's his article:

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Millions of expats living in the Gulf countries could lose their visas, and be forced to leave Gulf countries, if a new proposal by Bahrain is passed.

Sometimes, it does take a really big ad to make a really big presence and send a really big message. Here are my picks for some of the best in oversized advertising: read more »

The Apple iPhone may be at the top of everyone's holiday gift list this year, but the fact remains is that it's NOT the best cell-phone you can buy - by far! Japan's KDDI has introduced the InfoBar 2, a sleek and sexy cell-phone that can do things Apple's product planners - and iPhone owners - can only dream about. Pity it's only available in Japan... read more »

 

Winners included the discovery that Viagra helps hamsters overcome jetlag, a method for extracting vanilla flavor from cow dung, and a study of the word "the." read more »

Our Guest Blogger, Lee Nunley, is a recent college graduate who has
lived in Cairo and Budapest. He currently resides in Denver and is
working on a book-centered Web 2.0 project. He wanted to share news about the innovations in the Middle East with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's his article:

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Recent problems accessing the social networking site, Facebook, were not a result of censorship, the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced Thursday.

Our Guest Blogger, Sarah Olson, originally from Chicago, is back in the States after a two-year stint in Japan and Asia. She is constantly seeking out ways to make the world more beautiful, and has a vested interested in discovering methods to enhance the feminine mystique.She wanted to share her finds with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's her article:

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\With so many scientific advances happening left and right, it can be hard to stay on top of the latest big thing. Or the tiniest, in this case. ”What exactly is nanotechnology?” you might ask. read more »

Our Guest Blogger, George Delozier, is from Pennsylvania and recently joined the U.S. Air Force. Growing up with all types of machines, George wanted to share the newest innovations on all things motor with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's his article:

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As a nation shifts toward more fuel efficient cars, will the motorcycle industry be able to keep up? read more »

Alcohol boosts digestion with Korea's latest contribution to the drinking world. read more »

Soon you'll be able to party it up with the astronauts when Beijing opens the world's largest aeronautical theme park. read more »

Japan has exported cars and electronics to the West for decades, but it's only recently that the nation's dynamic culture, led by Pokemon and other Anime has also made the trip. Their success has led a few enterprising types to try transplanting some of the more offbeat aspects of Japanese culture into foreign soil. Can it work? Your on-the-scene reporter visited the I Maid Café in Toronto, Canada today to find out first hand! read more »

The average person wouldn't try to ruin a 1/2 carat diamond. However, jewelers are known to do some interesting things to promote their products. read more »

From MIT Laboratory for Energy and Environment

Our Guest Blogger, George Delozier, is from Pennsylvania and recently joined the U.S. Air Force. Growing up with all types of machines, George wanted to share the newest innovations on all things motor with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's his article:

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A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is currently working on a engine that, under certain conditions, can move into a spark free combustion state. read more »

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China prepares to launch their newest moon probe in hopes of further moon discovery and inspiration for future projects. read more »

Eyecatching ads for haircare and products are not only found in magazines and tv, but on billboards, escalators and playgrounds?! Here are my picks for some of the best in ads for hair: read more »

Our Guest Blogger, Joe Eitel, is a freelance writer/graphic designer from West Michigan who always stays on top of the latest technology, and has written many articles relating to computer technologies. He has some interesting technology finds he wanted to share with the readers of InventorSpot.com.

Here's his article:

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Many people have not yet heard of a company by the name of Navigon. Navigon is not new to the GPS business, though, as they have been a leader in the GPS industry since 1991.

Finally, Fall is upon us, and that can mean only one thing: Beer! Well, that shouldn't be your only concern, but with football season in full swing and the commencement of Oktoberfest, a lot of us out there have beer on the brain. With that in mind, we here at InventorSpot.com bring you some of the ballsiest beers we could find. What makes them so noteworthy? Well, the beers on this list push the limits of conventional brewing in a number of ways. Whether they are the stoutest of the stout, or the odd brainchild of a Japanese liquor store owner (milk beer anybody?), these ales definitely have some gusto that the rest of the beer world lacks. read more »

Taiwan and Canada continually join alliances to brainstorm and develop some of technology's greatest innovations. read more »

In the past, when I packed my daughter's lunch I tried my best to use reusable containers as much as possible, but it proved to be a bit of a challenge and not always as environmentally friendly or as convenient as I hoped. The Wrap-N-Mat has given me a longer lasting eco-friendly alternative to Tupperware, sandwich baggies and foil paper. read more »

 

Robots are teaching us humans about our own physiology, enabling scientists to understand what goes on in the brain when we see an optical illusion. read more »

 

Poetry in porcelain...at the Vienna studio of designer Sandra Haischberger read more »

Innovative furniture that looks more like works of art....
Read on to discover more.
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Everywhere you look, you are surrounded by advertising. So, being inundated with advertising what would make you stop and pay attention to an ad? If you are on the streets, something witty and playful may do the trick.

Here are my picks for some of the most brilliant street ads I've seen lately:

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Racks of human skin coats, shirts, handbags, even bedsheets crowd the shelves of the SkinBag showroom. Charnel house or chic boutique? Real or just surreal? Is the shock factor of wearing clothing made from human skin worth the attendant revulsion it can't help but inspire? read more »

A press release on September 6, 2007 announced that Greenfeet, together with ChicoBag, has come up with an eco-friendly bag for this upcoming Halloween. read more »

Hello Kitty has grown up into a bonafide Sex Kitten, and Strapya World celebrates her new look with the "Hello Kitty Sexy Collection". I don't know about you, but there's something disturbingly SIN-derella-ish about combining the classic Hello Kitty head with a pair of shapely, sexy legs. read more »