Articles at InventorSpot.com

Next time you pull up to your local gas station, you may be greeted with a pleasant surprise at the pump. No, not a 50% discount on fuel, but a new form of full service straight from the Netherlands. And this one won't complain if you forget to tip. read more »

Many companies around the world are doing all they can to incorporate Valentine's Day into their messaging this time of year. read more »

London designer Linda Florence has stepped the idea of basic wallpaper up several notches by adding a compelling interactive element: scratch off the silvery top layer to reveal the brightly colored pattern beneath. read more »

Looking for great invention advice?

Ever wish you had a seasoned inventor that could walk you through the invention process and be your personal mentor? InventorSpot.com can't offer you that, but we can provide the next best thing. read more »

Boats have come a long way since the simple Native American row-boats. We have seen complicated sailboats, luxurious steamers and the more recent diesel powed cruise-liners. So, what's next for the world of watercraft? How about boats that fly, or boats that sink? read more »

Instant Face Lift

Although plastic surgery is America's favorite branch of medicine, many of us are still wary of going under the knife for purely vain reasons. As a result, we tend to turn to less trustworthy methods of maintaining our good looks, such as unregulated herbal supplements. That's why the next three patents are of such interest. All promise to deliver some of the benefits of cosmetic surgery without the dangers often associated with surgery. Of course, it's anybody's guess as to whether or not the results are noteworthy, but hey, it's worth a shot. read more »

Dr. Nat L. Petouhoff , our Guest Blogger, is a blonde rocket scientist. She consults with companies like Microsoft and Apple and is often asked to appear on TV talk shows commenting on technology and how it makes our life easier, better and simpler. Dr. Nat also teaches in Pepperdine's business school, coaches inventors and is the author of the upcoming book: Smart Inventors Finish Rich: Ten Steps to Reaching the American Dream.

She wanted to share some important information about the inventing process with the readers of InventorSpot.com. Here's her article:

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The Discovery Channel provides factual variety programming focused primarily on the themes of popular science, history, and general knowledge about the world. Thesre are usually showcased as documentaries globally. read more »

It sounds sort of like alchemy, but scientists from the University of Rochester have used the latest technology to turn any metal just about any color. read more »

The latest from Denver based INV/ALT design is this set of chain link magnetic cups. Perfectly sized for a couple shots of espresso, sake, or a spot of tea, these small ceramic cups come with magnets embedded in either side, so you can hang them off your refrigerator, or link them together to add a fun and functional sculptural element to your kitchen. read more »

Everyone loves a nice juicy burger fresh off the grill. But with today's hectic lifestyle, having the time to get everything set up and being able to enjoy yourself is becoming pretty rare. Thanks to a group of Iranian inventors, you can enjoy your freshly cooked burger, right after you park your car. read more »

If you're looking for a wall clock to give you the precise time at any given moment, and you're not digging the analog varieties, then the Tik Tak wall clock by Dutch designers Mirian Van Der Lubbe and Niels Van Eijk is for you. read more »

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and now is the time to start scrambling to get that unique gift for that special someone. Don't settle for roses and candy this year, check out some of these unique alternative that offer a new "gadget-twist". read more »

The Philadelphia International Auto Show kicks off today bringing both foreign and domestic as well as a few exotics. Here is just a brief overview of what's already there, going to be there and what you can do while you're there. read more »

That time of the year has arrived yet again - time to bust out the chocolates and sentiments of undying emotion, along with the bouquets. I do love me some flowers (you can save the maudlin displays, however). They seem particularly special in winter, when they are so incongruent with the snow and bitter weather outside. These vases will help make your posies all the more special, and may inspire you to keep a fresh supply of flowers coming well past Valentine's Day. read more »

Garmin is one of the top 3 portable GPS manufacturers in the world (TomTom and Magellan are the other two), and they now want to take-on the cell phone market with their new Garmin Nuvifone. Garmin hopes the Nuvifone will help catapult them into the hugely popular smart phone market in 2008. read more »

Mechanical Shower

As many of you already know, conservationists espouse the use of car washes because the facilities recycle the water used to get your vehicle looking its squeaky-clean best. Sounds like a good idea, right? But why should such a practical idea, like recycling water, be limited to cars? After all, we don't generally wash our cars everyday. We do, however, bathe our bods (I hope) everyday. Presumably then, washing ourselves is far more wasteful of a precious natural resource - one that some people argue will be the world's next "oil" - than the occasional washing of our cars. read more »

As most of us can attest, it's still winter and in most parts of the northern hemisphere it's appropriately chilly outside, despite the threat of global warming. If you are hoping to stay toasty this season without compromising your artistic sensibilities, then this wall radiator by Austrian designer Marco Dessi might be right up your alley. read more »