InventorSpot

Frienzoo LCD MonitorBased on my research, these adorable animal LCD monitors have been selling in Japan for two years now. They are supposingly finally making their way to the US.

I wish I had seen them when I was doing my 6/1/06 article on TVs and humidifiers that came in animal shapes. More...

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Univ GamesThe 2006 National Young Game Inventors Contest is here! This contest gives kids (ages 5-12) the opportunity to design a board game (with all its pieces, rules, and a board) and earn the chance to win prizes (a trip, a $10,000 savings bond, a game library, and more!). In addition, the winning game may be produced by University Games for our lineup in 2007. More...
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For all of you trying to figure out how to license your invention, this may be particularly interesting to you.

Licensing International is the premier annual trade event for the licensing industry where owners and agents of intellectual properties showcase their brands to 23,000+ high-profile retailers, licensees, and promotional partners. You'll sign exclusive read more »

I love looking at all the amazing ways people are designing their websites.

One of my favorites this year is Agency Net Interactives website.

They are a company offering web design and multimedia design. They used the power of Flash in a fun and interesting way to highlight their services and I think they did a very good job. read more »

I thought it may be fun to have a place for folks to share their good ideas.

For the inventors out there, it may inspire them to come up with something new and fantastic. Have you thought of anything the world could use, that does not seem to be on the market today that would be great if someone invented?

Have you come across anything recently that you thought was a great idea?

More...
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Well, the idea of polishing your fingernails and making them colorful is something that many different cultures have done for centuries. But with all the leisure time we have, I guess we may now have taken it to the extremes.

The entertainment website Ueba shows quite an interesting collection:

More...

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KidutilityvehicleTwo years ago we were looking for alternatives to a double stroller. We've always loved to go for walks but neither my three year old nor my 1 1/2 year old (at the time) liked being strapped into a stroller.

There weren't that many choices out there at the time since we wanted something that we could easily put in our car.

We came across (and ended up buying) the Step 2 Direct Wagon for Two. It was one of the best purchases we made. But our Wagon for Two had room for a couple of improvements (for example, I wish it had better wheels). More..

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Is anyone else amazed by the toys that are out there? Sometimes I look at the toys and ask myself, is this really for kids?

When I had my first child, I saw the mini motorized cars for kids. I immediately wanted one. To tell the truth, sometimes my children end up with certain toys because I want it so badly (yes, my sons have a mini motorized fire truck). Is this wrong? I don’t think so. What’s the point of having kids if you can’t relive your childhood a little bit (just more responsibly).

Well, here are some toys that I know daddies all over the world would love to play with. More...

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The concept of fine doll making is being reinvigorated and redefined by Siberian born artist Marina Bychkova.

Her dolls have an almost brooding sexuality about them. Evocative of mystical fairy tales and exquisite in their fine detailing, these are definitely not the porcelain dolls of old.

In discussing her dolls, Marina says "There is a doll market in the US, but it’s very conventional. I’m hoping to contribute something new..." More...

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Dreaming about flying to an exotic new place? Thinking about vacations made me think about the difficulties of traveling on airplanes with children.

Ever try to lug the usual baby/toddler stroller along with your suitcases in your travels to say Florida? The Bahamas? Italy? How about across the planet to say Tokyo or Australia? Let's face it, strollers are a travel pain in the you know what.

Here's how I see it. Vacations - they really are a love hate relationship especially when you have kids. You love getting away from your everyday life. Getting to your destination is the true problem.
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Do you ever wish you could add another room to your house, without going through all the hassles of renovation or remodeling? I always fantasize about making my living spaces bigger, but I don't want to go through the hassles of hiring a contractor, gogin through zoning and getting approals and shelling out tens of thousands of dollars. It hardly seems worth the effort for just one room.

An extra room would be great, but the options for adding another living space are pretty limited...but now there is a new option to think about. You can get an extra room that's delivered to you in a flat pack, ready to assemble easily and quickly.

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[acidfree:1239 align=left size=240] Ok, so really. When was the last time you looked forward to taking out your video camera to record something? Or for that matter, looked forward to trying to get what you taped off the tape and onto a format that you could watch over and over? Let’s face it. Video cameras are a huge pain in the you know what to use, especially for all those whip-it-out-and-shoot-before-the-moment’s-gone moments. I don’t know about you, but I can barely remember to keep my video camera charged. And I have no idea where any of the cables are so that I can plug the camera in to my tv and watch stuff. read more »

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Just a quick post to a link I have seen around the web the past few days (like BitsandPieces.blospot.com). Too funny not to share, in case you haven't seen it already. read more »

The idea of carving wood into intricate shapes is an ancietn art. Mizuta Tasogare and Kato Jado, two Japanese artists, had an innovative twist on it with beautiful carvings made with the common pencil.
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[acidfree:1219 align=right size=180]What would life be without your iPod. Everyone has an iPod and there are tons of accessories to go with your iPod. Here's one that is really valuable for all those people tired of having the headphone wires getting tangled, hitting you in the face or getting caught on something. read more »

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(Editor: This article was originally published for Father's Day 2006)

Father's Day is the worst. Every year, it's the same lame presents. Come on, you know what I am talking about! If I never see another tie, cologne, BBQ set, belt, wallet socks, underwear, shirt, sweater or lame ass book, I will die happy. Listen up, guys and let me know if you agree with me. I think I have come up with some really novel gift ideas for dear old dad (other than the obvious stuff he really wants but I can't afford like a Porsche, the model girfriend or the giant flat screen tv). Here's my picks for what to get the old man, depending on what type of Dad you have (together with some choice ad content from their vendors)...
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Check out the latest in fingerprint technology. The smartTOUCH™ garage door opener by bioMETRX Inc. (installed on the side of the garage door) allows a homeowner to open their garage door with a touch of a finger. Its weatherproof, shockproof and tamper-proof. The smartTOUCH™ garage door opener currently comes as a hard wired unit, designed specifically to beat the elements for years of reliable service and dependability.
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Last summer, I wanted to redecorate my son’s room. I just assumed that I would paint the room. Maybe stencil it if I had enough courage. While I was searching for bedroom furniture, I came across wall murals for kids rooms. You put it up just like you would wall paper. What a great alternative to just painting. I thought that was pretty much the coolest thing I had seen. Until I came across self-adhesive wall decals made by Blik.
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For interesting furniture, I am not quite sure if this idea is more whimsical than inventive, but I thought it was cute enough to share here. Portia Wells, the creator of this slipcover seating concept, says: "There is social weight to the commodities which we dress our belongings and ourselves. Through what we acquire, we are able to manipulate what we project to others.
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