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Kite aerial photograph 风筝航拍

Kite aerial photograph 风筝航拍

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Keyring makes medical records portable and secure

The MedicalKeyring helps anyone to carry their medical records wherever they go, protected by biometric security.

When an accident happens, it’s useful for both witnesses and emergency responders to know if the casualty has any underlying health issues that may need to be taken into account when attempting to help. We’ve already seen France’s Code d’Urgence QR code stickers deliver health data to doctors, and now the MedicalKeyring helps anyone to carry their medical records wherever they go, protected by biometric security.
The keyring takes the form of a 8GB USB stick embedded with what the company calls the world’s smallest fingerprint scanner. When connected to a computer, a simple swipe of the finger enables users to access their entire medical history, including information that may be vital in an emergency situation. Users can access and manage their data – including any conditions or allergies they have, medication they’re taking, and their emergency contact – through the device’s built-in software. Images such as x-rays or MRI scans can also be stored on the harddrive.
At USD 89.95, the MedicalKeyring could be the difference between life and death in the case of an emergency, giving responders immediate access to any information they may need. Are there other ways to make medical data more available, while also keeping it secure?
Website: www.medicalkeyring.com/

Sun-powered parking space will charge electric cars anywhere

The EV ARC is a platform the size of a parking space that can charge electric vehicles using energy from the sun.

Transportation.

The Obama administration aims to have 1 million electric vehicles on the streets of the US by 2015, and this push appears to be driving innovation in the field. While many of those devices will be plugged into mains electricity, the EV ARC is a platform the size of a parking space that can charge vehicles using energy from the sun.
Standing for the Electric Vehicle Autonomous Renewable Charger, the station consists of a 9 x 18-foot base that is sheltered by a roof embedded with solar panels. The device was developed by Envision Solar and uses the company’s EnvisionTrak technology to track the movement of the sun in the sky and move the panels accordingly. This enables the EV ARC to generate around 16kWhrs a day, enough to fully charge one car or partly charge several. Since the station is self-contained and not connected to the mains, it can be installed in any location and can be transported easily on the fly.
As more consumers start to choose electric over non-renewable transport, a device such as the EV ARC could help drivers to top up their battery away from home without relying on the grid. How else can cities and towns prepare for electric transport?
Website: www.envisionsolar.com

Plug-in smartphone device adds a button that can do anything

The Pressy is an attachable button for Android devices that can be assigned to perform any function.

While smartphone manufacturers try to include everything their customers would need from the devices, there are still ways to extend their capabilities. We’ve already seen the ReadyCase add multitools to the iPhone without much extra bulk, and now the Pressy is an attachable button for Android devices that can be assigned to perform any function.
Many smartphone users have that one task they perform regularly on their smartphone, but have to scroll through multiple menus to get it done. Recognizing this, the Pressy is a small device that fits into the headphone jack of any Android handset. Once plugged in, it appears as an extra button and users can then set its function using the free companion app. The button comes with three presets – one click to turn on the flashlight, two clicks to push the shutter button when in camera mode, and held down to initiate silent mode, although these can be modified with the app. The video below explains more about the product:

The Pressy raised nearly USD 700,000 during its Kickstarter campaign, and is now available to pre-order in a range of colors for USD 27. Are there other ways to help consumers modify their electronic devices to better suit their needs?
Website: www.pressybutton.com

Board game sneakily teaches programming to 3-year-olds

Robot Turtles – which has become the most backed board game on Kickstarter ever – is designed to teach pre-schoolers the foundations of coding as they try to win robot jewels.

We’ve already seen board games such as Germany’s climate change-themed MELTDOWN inconspicuously educate kids about real world issues. Seeing as one of the most important skills kids will need in the future is computer programming, it’s no surprise that a new game called Robot Turtles has been designed to teach pre-schoolers the foundations of coding as they try to win robot jewels.
Created by Google Comparison Inc CEO Dan Shapiro, the board game recently raised 25 times its target through its crowdfunding campaign, becoming the best-selling product of its kind on Kickstarter. Aimed at children between 3 and 8 years old, the game involves placing cards in sequence in order to complete the robot turtle’s journey through the maze and towards the jewel. Children decide which cards to place down, while the adult moves the pieces according to which ones they choose – much like a programmer inputs code to tell a computer what to do. The game is engaging for kids be letting them boss around their parents, while also unlocking ‘powerups’ that make the game more challenging as they progress through the puzzle. If they make a mistake, they can ‘debug’ and reprogram their route. The video below demonstrates how the game works:

Given the importance of computer coding as almost all consumer products become ‘smart’ – and the current dearth of web and computer programmers – Robot Turtles instils the basic foundations of those skills at a very young age. Are there other ways for kids to become engaged in computer programming?
Website: www.robotturtles.com

Hotel creates tote bag made from used bedsheets

UK Marriott hotels has created the Bed Linen Tote, a stylish bag that is made out of recycled bed sheets.

 

Guests expect fresh sheets as a minimum from quality hotel accommodation, but this means that those businesses end up getting through a huge amount of linen. Rather than send its used bedsheets to landfill, UK Marriott hotels has created the Bed Linen Tote, a stylish bag that is made out of recycled bedsheets.
Working with designers Lily & Lionel and UK-based eco bag manufacturer SleepingBags, the hotel chain developed a one-of-a-kind accessory that customers could purchase to take away with them. Since the bedlinen fabric was chosen initially to offer comfort to hotel guests, the bags retain a quality feel, complete with a special designer print. The bag retails for GBP 20 and Marriott is donating at least 50 percent from the sale of every bag to The Prince’s Trust, making the accessory even more socially-minded.
Although currently available in a limited edition of 1,000, a similar scheme could be both an environmentally-friendly and money-making opportunity for hospitality companies, or beyond. Could your business reuse the materials it typically throws in the trash?
Website: www.marriott.co.uk

Site helps starving artists with second-hand creative supplies

Creative Resale is a platform that helps anyone to resell their unused art supplies to those that need it.

10th October 2013 in Eco & Sustainability, Entertainment, Retail.

Art materials can be expensive, especially those trying to make creativity their full-time occupation. At the same time, many households often have materials lying around the house without getting used. Creative Resale is a platform that helps anyone to resell their unused art supplies to those that need it.
Based in Michigan, the site enables users with extra materials to list the paint, pencils, pens or larger art equipment that is taking up space in their homes. Artists or educators can then search listings for the items they need and arrange a sale. Alternatively, Creative Resale also has a list of partner organizations that the materials can be donated to. The site charges USD 1.99 per listing, with offers for bulk ads.
While eBay may have become the go-to resource for selling used items, niche sites like Creative Resale could help foster a greater community for selling, swapping and sharing goods related to particular industries, while also reducing waste. Are there other groups that could benefit from a platform such as this?
Website: www.creative-resale.com

Ad campaign enables anyone to spend 3 minutes as a robot in Italy

San Pellegrino US’s Three Minutes in Italy campaign enables fans in North America to take a virtual tour of the European country from the comfort of their home.

 

Platforms such as Skype and FaceTime have brought video communication across continents into the mainstream, but telepresence technologies are beginning to add an extra immersive element to connecting with remote locations. San Pellegrino US has taken this onboard with its Three Minutes in Italy campaign, which enables fans in North America to take a virtual tour of the European country from the comfort of their home.
Created by ad agency Ogilvy NY and experience design studio Deeplocal, fans could log onto the brand’s Facebook page and join a queue to control a telepresence robot situated in Italy for three minutes at a time. Users were able to view a live feed of the location of the robot through its on board webcam and could determine which direction it travelled in. The robot was also equipped with a tablet, which displayed the face of its controller and enabled them to interact with locals. The campaign aimed to give fans of San Pellegrino a taste of the country where it was founded, strengthening its connection to Italian culture. The video below shows an example of the robot in use:

This isn’t the only example of this technology being used for this purpose – Coca-Cola Israel’s Social Robot also recently enabled homebound teens to have a presence at its annual Coca-Cola Summer Love festival in Beit She’an. Could telepresence robots become a more common sight on our streets?
Website: www.ogilvy.com

Q&A app puts an end to awkward and off-topic questions

AskMore intends to improve the quality of event Q&A sessions through its smartphone-based submission and voting system.

 

While the Catchbox – a foam-padded throwable microphone – has gone some way to encouraging participation and turn-taking at event Q&A sessions, there’s still no guarantee that the questions asked will be pertinent or useful. AskMore intends to remedy this through a smartphone-based submission and voting system.
Rather than requiring audience members to put their hands up and speak clearly to ask a question at the end of a conference or talk, the AskMore app enables users to submit their query with their phone. Their question is listed alongside other submissions, which users can upvote or downvote. The questions with the most votes are moved to the top of the list and speakers can easily see which ones should be answered to deliver the most useful responses for the audience. Speakers can decide whether they want to open submissions throughout the presentation, at a designated point at the end, or even before the event.
The app could help increase interaction during Q&A sessions and helps avoid repeated, off-topic or obscure inquiries from taking up the limited time available at events. How else can smartphones be used to get event crowds more involved?
Website: www.askmo.re

Creative Vision：For parents of students, subscription box replaces the traditional care package

For parents of students, subscription box replaces the traditional care package

Pijon is a subscription service that lets parents regularly send products to their college-age kids to keep them healthy.

Sending a regular parcel of essentials is a common way for parents to make sure their college-age kids look after themselves while they’re away studying. Now Pijon wants to help those parents, offering a subscription service with product ideas designed to keep students healthy.
The service comes in two versions – one for boys and one for girls – and each box contains a selection of different products that will help students in their studies and new lifestyle. The startup’s first box – which followed a theme of ‘Back to School’ – contained healthy fruit and nut bars, Dorset Cereals muesli, Dove soap, a Muji notepad and a roll-up chalkboard. The company aims to include the kind of items that are traditionally sent by parents to help their kids away from home, while also selecting high quality brands that are out of the reach of the typical student budget. Boxes can be ordered from USD 25 a month and Pijon has teamed up with various partners to provide different gifts every month.
Pijon hopes to add the facility for parents to add a personal note to each box in the near future, making it easier for them to let their children know they’re thinking of them. How else can the subscription model be used to help connect those living far apart?
Website: www.pijonbox.com

Creative Vision：App turns airport waits into a mini holiday

App turns airport waits into a mini holiday

Smart Layover wants to help passengers with a few hours between flights to make more out of their wait by taking advantage of nearby attractions and facilities.

No-one likes their travel plans to be delayed or stalled, but sometimes a layover is unavoidable, especially for lengthy trips. In the past, the Netherlands’ VertragingsApp has offered reading suggestions based on the length of travelers’ delays, and now Smart Layover wants to help those passengers with a few hours between flights to make more out of their wait by taking advantage of nearby attractions and facilities.
Available for iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices, the app enables users to simply enter in the details of their layover – the airport, date and duration – and offers suggestions of things to do and see in the vicinity. The app’s database features up-to-date information about day-use hotels, nearby attractions and events, food and drink opportunities and even deals and discounts at those venues. Customers who know they’re going to have a layover can use the app to plan how to spend their time before they leave, while those experiencing delays can also get last minute recommendations. Users also get notifications when it’s time to return to the airport to ensure they don’t miss their flight. The video below offers more information about the app:

Smart Layover offers information for travelers in over 140 different cities and is free to download. Are there other ways to connect waiting customers with fun activities to curb their boredom?
Website: www.smartlayover.com

Creative Vision ：Platform turns drawings into apps, no programming necessary

Platform turns drawings into apps, no programming necessary

Having just reached its funding target on Kickstarter, AppSeed is now enabling anyone to turn their hand-drawn designs into working apps in a couple of clicks.

Many businesses could benefit from a custom app that helps customers use their services in more mobile-friendly way, but lack the skills or funds to create their own. Having just reached its funding target on Kickstarter, AppSeed is now enabling anyone to turn their hand-drawn designs into working apps in a couple of clicks.
Developed by Greg Goralski, a professor of Interactive Media at Humber College in Toronto, the system uses templates that mimic a 2D version of a smartphone screen, onto which users can plan out their designs. When they take a photo of their drawing with the AppSeed, the app recognizes the individual elements and enables users to rearrange their sketches using a drag and drop mechanism. Each element can also be prescribed a dynamic function – such as button, drop-down menu, map or text input. The UI and structure can then be tested, shared with others or converted into a layered Adobe Photoshop file for the final design to be added. The video below shows the app in action:

At the time of writing, AppSeed is still available to pre-order on its Kickstarter page for the next 24 hours, with prices starting from USD 8 for the basic app. Helping designers to more quickly prototype their ideas and aiding novices by using out-of-the-box code, AppSeed offers another step towards making app creation more accessible for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Website: www.kickstarter.com/projects/appseed/appseed-turn-sketches-into-functioning-prototypes