How many times have you left your umbrella somewhere, only to discover that it’s missing when you’re ready to leave? It happens. The Lizard Umbrella will take the guesswork out of it – and the hassle of figuring out which black umbrella is yours! Cleverly, the name comes from the fact that a lizard can shed its tail to protect itself. This concept umbrella sheds its handle, which you can take with you after stashing the wet umbrella in a…
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As more of us have on-the-go lifestyles, being able to keep our portable electronics powered up is crucial. A new portable power bank called the Tarot by Powerocks is about to be introduced to the market. This credit card shaped power charger fits neatly into your wallet, pocket, briefcase or backpack and will provide an emergency charge for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices when no electrical outlet is available. Weighing just 1.79 oz., and measuring 3.5” (length) x 2.1”…
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For many of us, spring is finally in full force, though there’s still plenty of snow to go around. If you’re an avid bicyclist, there’s a cool innovation that will make you eager to be outdoors with the wind in your face. The Kinn Cascade Flyer is a new city-friendly and family-friendly bike that has some neat features to it. Designed by novice bike designer Alistair Williamson, this new bike may look and feel like a normal bike, but the…
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A refrigerator that dispenses cold water is nothing new. But one that heats water for tea is amazing. General Electric’s new Café French door refrigerator features a hot water dispenser that delivers 10 ounces of hot filtered water in minutes. Irs four pre-programmed settings include 90 degrees for warm water, 150 degrees for hot cocoa, 170 degrees for hot tea and 185 degrees for soup. While this new feature was a challenge for GE’s design team, they figured out how…
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Moms are always looking for products that are convenient, affordable and good for their kids. Squeez’Ems Reusable Food Pouches are all that and more. These easy-to-use food pouches are free of all the bad stuff – no BPA, phthalates or PVC. And they’re freezer, microwave and top rack dishwasher safe. Best of all, they can be used for kids from toddlers to grade school age. Kids will love their bright colored lids while Moms will be happy with how versatile…
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Let’s face it. There’s not much about ice cube trays to get excited about. They do the job and that’s about it. BUT leave it to an award winning design team to come up with something new – the Polar Bear Ice Cube Tray! Shaped like a polar bear, this fun gadget is easy to use. Just fill it with water and pop it into the freezer. It’s sealed tight so the cubes won’t absorb any food odors. And don’t…
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As convenient at paper plates are, they aren’t the most eco-friendly choice. Once used, they can’t be recycled and wind up dumped in landfills. Designer Sahar Madanat Haddad has come up with a better idea. The Plate-Oh is a biodegradable plate made of 10 pressed-together paper layers. Use the plate and, when done, simply peel back the top layer and toss it. Now you have a “new” plate to use. That gives it a lot of advantages. First, it means…
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Coffee lovers LOVE their cuppa joe. Espresso lovers even more so. But it can be tricky to make. A new crowdfunding project called the Nomad could turn this into child’s play. This small manual espresso machine will let you make espresso anywhere you go. Lightweight and travel friendly, it’s perfect for on the road or back to Nature journeys. And it lets you brew a perfect shot of espresso anytime regardless of your barista skills. Its innovative proprietary True Crema…
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There seem to be a growing number and variety of small city-focused electric cars. Although I wonder about the safety of these lightweight vehicles, you can’t deny them for their fuel efficiency or their compact size. A recent addition to this category is the Casple-Podadera. Designed for two people, this little car lets you fold its rear wheels up and under when parking to let you park in spaces usually reserved for motorcycles. Created by Spanish designer Francisco Podadera and…
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How do you find water in the desert? If you’re in or near Lima, Peru, all you have to do is look for this cool billboard, which grabs moisture from the desert air and converts it into filtered drinking water. Created through a partnership between the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Lima and the advertising agency MAYO-DRAFT FCB, this billboard stands along the Pan-American Highway, the nifty device helps local residents get clean drinking water while also generating…
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Low-flow shower heads have almost become a staple here in the US. With water tables rapidly dropping and a devastating continued drought in the Midwest, conserving water is a must. But the downside of this is that showering is no longer a refuge for water pleasantly beating down on you. That’s something many of us miss. New Zealand company Felton, in collaboration with Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has developed the Oxijet. The “air shower” showerhead uses…
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Making hard boiled eggs has always taken plenty of time, lots of water and uses loads of energy. I’ve always wondered if someone could come up with a better, more efficient way of doing this. Someone has. Eggxactly, a cool little device designed by British inventor James Seddon, features two stretchable silicone heating elements – one on each side of the egg – that are said to transfer heat to the egg very efficiently. The soft elements reportedly conform…
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A new study from St George’s University’s Hotung Molecular Immunology Unit in London has shown that tobacco plants can be genetically modified to produce rabies antibodies. Scientists hope that this research will deliver a safe, inexpensive way of treating rabies in developing countries. These transgenic (read genetically modifed or GMO) plants were shown to neutralise the rabies virus. Definitely encouraging news … until you recognize that by “curing” one dreadful disease you’d be purposefully innoculating yourself with genetic material…
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Climate change is here. Whether or not you believe it, the evidence is plain – on-going severe droughts, steadily rising temps, rising sea levels and more frequent severe weather events like tornadoes, earthquakes and flooding. This last challenge has been addressed one of the 2012 red dot design concept winners. The Defender “sandbag” is designed for flood control. This innovative “bag” doesn’t contain sand like traditional sandbags. Made with absorbent recycled paper fiber, one long edge of its shell of…
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In the U.S. alone, around 9 million fridges are tossed out or end up in landfills each year. And they, along with the hazardous chemicals then contain and the greenhouse gasses they emit, definitely aren’t biodegradable. But a partnership between General Electric the EPA, the Home Depot and the Appliance Recycling Centers of America (ARCA), now provides a green solution – shredding old fridges. Over the past year, ARCA has recycled more than 100,000 refrigerators and freezers, using a massive…
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