Product Inspiration

While we’re on the topic of energy absorbing materials, here’s a cool hat which saves your noggin from injuries during contact sports such as football and biking, or in my case, getting a drink of water in the middle of the night. The hat contains a semi-rigid foam which is flexible when not under high amounts of stress, but stiffens and absorbs lots of energy when it is hit by a strong impact.

Shear-thickening material like this that stiffens under impact has also been used to make better skiing pants and other sports gear. Perhaps, we will see football and hockey equipment in the future that is much smaller, letting professional sports players run faster without adding extra risk of injuries. For klutzes like me, it would be nice to have an entire wardrobe made of this stuff.

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20071202/shock-absorbant-woolly-hats/

Technorati : absorption, impact, rheology, shear thickening

Here’s a great new fabric that can withstand huge amounts of force without breaking. The linked article has a great explanation of how it works, so I’m not going to try to re-hash their discussion, but it suffices to say that the simple geometric design seems very reliable and relatively cheap to produce.

Over the last few decades, fabric-based structures such as tents and awnings have transitioned from temporary to permanent fixtures. With this new material and other, similar advancements in materials science to improve the strength, weight, etc., there will be even more fabric - based permanent structures in the years to come. While it may feel weird to know that your wall or car roof is made of fabric, at least you can be comforted by the fact that it can withstand the blast of a bomb.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/blast_proof-fabric-defies-belief/zetix-blas t+proof-fabric-resists-multiple-car-bombs-makes-our-heads-explode-3303 43.php

Technorati : bomb proof, fabric, textile

Unlike conventional glow in the dark material, this new stuff doesn’t need any exposure to sunlight or artificial light to give off useable light for over 12 years. It uses microspheres which house some radioactive gas to produce the light. Luckily, the sphere construction prevents rupture, so there’s no worries about getting accidental exposure to unwanted radiation.

A while back, electroluminescent materials were the new ‘big thing’, and while they provided a cool lighting effect for a low price, they still need power to run. If the claims hold true for this material, we could have a very useful and widespread tool for emergency lighting and safety markings in a few years.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/12/new_light_glows.php

Technorati : betavoltaics, glow in the dark

In contrast to traditional neoprene, which uses oil as a base material, this new type of neoprene is made from crushed limestone. This alternative material has much better insulative properties, blocks 95% of water from passing through (as opposed to traditional neoprene’s 70%), and a lower coefficient of friction for easier swimming through the water.

While this will likely not blow the doors off of any one industry, it is a useful alternative material that could displace oil-based neoprene, especially in the coming years of higher oil prices.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/yamamoto_neopre.php

Technorati : neoprene

Electronic paper that has embedded circuitry, speakers, and batteries are poised to make a big impact in the market over the next 7 years or so. Here is one of the first low-cost applications of this technology.

This is a disposable cardboard display which also has the ability to play sounds to potential viewers. It uses conductive inks and a honeycomb structure to hold all of the electronic trappings. Most importantly, this is a great first example of how this new technology’s low expected price will mean that the posters and signs of the near future will not only bug you visually, but audibly as well.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/throwaway_displ.php

A new coating on computer monitors may prevent the smudges and marks that you make whenever you touch the screen. The new technology is based on the same principle as the non-stick frying pan coatings, and would make removing such smudges and stains very easy.

While this will be very useful on TVs and monitors, it could be just as useful on other shiny electronics, such as stereo receivers and speakers, and even further, perhaps the automotive industry could make a car that would seem cleaner using this same technology. Keep an eye on this stuff- it may be the teflon of the next decade.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/korean-firm-claims-smudgefree-co mputer-screen/2007/11/16/1194766928773.html

Technorati : computer monitor, display, self-cleaning
Del.icio.us : computer monitor, self cleaning

The construction and assembly of these shelves are about as easy as it gets. They are cut from a single sheet of steel, and only require a little bending and a couple of screws to install. I really like this design because it:

• reduces shipping cost
• makes assembly and installation very easy
• reduces both material and manufacturing costs
• could eventually be a ‘downloadable product’ (you would download the design and cut/print it yourself on a home CNC or 3d printer)

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/bend_it_like_pi.php

This T-shirt has a graphic that changes depending on how close you are to a wireless network. Here’s what I really like about it

• It is a wearable piece of technology that serves a useful function
• It is another great example of how dynamic displays can be built into clothes
• Its another step in the ongoing trend of geeky stuff becoming mainstream

I hope this type of stuff gets cool before I’m too old to wear T-shirts. The lack of wireless networks in my rural area, and a fleeting grain of pride, will keep be from buying this. For now.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/generic/991e/?cpg=cj via gizmodo

This simple, yet effective design prevents your audio jack or headphone connector from being damaged when you accidentally yank on it in the wrong direction. The flexible nature of this connector allows it to bend and pull out of the earphone port with ease. I like the simplicity yet effectiveness of this idea, and bet there are quite a few other areas where a similar breakaway design could save us countless headaches.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/02/replug-breakaway-cable-protects-you r-3-5mm-jack/

One of the most intriguing aspects of the ongoing price drops in 3d printers is the possibility of ‘downloading products‘. This means that you would download a design for anything from a simple hair comb to a complex radio or cellphone, and then your printer would create the product. While the multiple materials and complex assembly required for electronics mean that that capability is quite a few years away from our living rooms, here’s a great, simple use of 3d printers to make useable goods. This mesh-like fabric is printed on 3d printers, and is available for sale in all kinds of different objects (purses, bags, etc.).

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/09/freedom_of_crea.php

Technorati : 3d printing, downloadable products, portable electronics