One Touch™ Can Opener This year's International Design Excellent Awards (IDEA), published in the July 20, 2007 edition of Business Week, have been awarded to 81 product designs. Some of the top awardees were clearly designed with boomers, seniors, and disabled persons in mind. The One-Touch™ Can Opener was originally designed for seniors, but this Gold Medal winner from Hong Kong is in demand by all age groups. Tell you why.... Press the shiny green button and this gizmo walks around the can by itself! read more »

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may become a thing of the past when researchers can fine-tune a new technique called deep brain stimulation. Depression and other mental conditions, such as Parkinson's, may be treated by pinpointing the exact neuron responsible for the ailment. Besides repair, the technology could also likely take things a step further in tomorrow's brave new world, and enhance cognitive abilities such as memory and alertness. read more »

You would not believe what they can do with airplanes these days... read more »

As television continues to lose both audience and relevance in a society increasingly fascinated with online and wireless media offerings, Japan's classic "Samurai Dramas" buck the trend by providing exciting and engrossing entertainment the old fashioned way. read more »

Invented by e-Smart Technologies, which is based in Busan, Korea, the Super Smart Card is a payment and security card unlike any other. Also known as the Biometric Verification Security System, the Super Smart Card works as a matching system for identification. read more »

When I first read about the solar energy boat race, Solar Splash, I was immediately intrigued. Though I don't like open waters; therefore, will not get on a boat, the combination of solar energy and cleaner transportation in competition has had me tempted to face my fears and give these solar powered boats a try. I think it's an innovative idea with wonderful educational opportunities and a great start to the building and using of non-polluting, fuel-free vehicles (land, water and air) of the future. read more »

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are some inventions that help improve the lives of some people, and then there are the inventions-sometimes the simplest kind-that revolutionize the lives of billions of people. Abul Hussam's water filter, for instance, is providing clean water for entire countries of people suffering from arsenic poisoning, a toxic chemical in dirty water.

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Teenagers both internationally and domestically are discovering the rewards of expanding their knowledge and imagining up tools and devices the world has yet to discover. Programs like like InvenTeams by MIT help to give them a shot at innovator stardom, and also provide them the opportunity to make the world a better place to be. read more »

The landmark 1956 film "Forbidden Planet" stood head and shoulders above the swamp of sci-fi schlock that oozed out from the paranoid 1950s, and its most memorable star wasn't even human! Now "Robby the Robot" has returned, talking fast, telling the time and taking your spare change! read more »

Unfortunately, Seth will not be able to do his live blog posting this week. We will try to have a recap summary of the show for later this evening but will not be able to provide a live blog. We apologize for any inconvenience.

In the meantime, please share your comments on the show.
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With affordable housing in Tokyo nearly nonexistent, both the desperate and the destitute have discovered a viable alternative to cramped apartments and capsule hotels: full featured Internet cafés! read more »

A California Fitness Center in Hong Kong, a subsidiary of 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, is using manpower to generate electricity in its gym. In other words, energy burned off by exercisers is diverted and converted to power lighting fixtures, while excess energy is stored in a battery. The program is called Powered By You. read more »

 

 

 

 

 

A man from Columbus, Ohio spent more than 20 years tinkering with an idea scorned by professionals: a car that uses water for fuel. After making progress, and declining billion-dollar offers for giving up, the eccentric inventor died after a celebratory sip of cranberry juice with two investors who haven't been heard from since. Here's his story... read more »

Lasers microwave you
Electrolysis is scary
Waxing enslaves you
Doing nothing leaves you hairy
If teasing won't coax it to behave...
Buy a MANGROOMER™
And give it a shave!

(With apologies to Dorothy Parker) read more »

"Paro", a cute & cuddly artificial baby harp seal certified by Guinness as "The World's Most Therapeutic Robot" is slowly but surely changing the way we think (and feel) about robots. read more »

 

What better way to market yourself than your business card.

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It is getting easier, cheaper (sort of) and more interesting to buy solar powered lights lately. They are in every gardening catalog, on every gardening website, and slowly popping up around homes. As Amazon.com rapidly turns green you can even find them here. Here is a quick list of solar lights that will help bring your electric bill down and light up your home in very colorful and interesting ways. read more »

Helmet GunScott Seegert has written a highly entertaining book called, "It's a Guy Thing: Awesome Real Innovations From the Underdeveloped Male Mind". In it, he writes about the real inventions patented by guys. What makes the book and amusing read is that the illustrations are the inventors' actual drawings, taken directly from the official paperwork filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office. read more »