Innovation

WingLights.

Since last November I have been contemplating getting a bike and using it for quick runs to the grocery store, and other errands at the shopping area just down the road from my house. Since I started working from home in June, I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit more. I live on a street with a dedicated bike lane, and the exercise would do me good. The thing is, every time I drive on that same street I witness all the distracted drivers that gravitate right and hug that thin strip of asphalt given to cyclist. Frankly I’m surprised they haven’t had more accidents.

All of this brings up an important topic. How do we make cyclists more visible and safe, and give them a better way to signal to drivers what they are doing? The folks at CYCL have come up with a pretty solid solution for this. WingLights. The video below shows them in action, and if I get a new bike, this is one of the first things I’m getting for it. The price is right and the function of these is pretty unbeatable.

Knowing that every bike rider needs to see and, be seen by motorists, CYCL’s WingLights are a solid solution. The turn indicator light system mounts at the end of your handlebars, and is activated with a touch of a button that you have on each one of them. They indicator stays on for about 45 seconds, or you can turn them off by simply tapping the activation button. When you get to your destination, simply detach them from the handlebars, click them together and attach them to the included carabiner.

More Than Just Vodka.

Swedish Vodka maker Absolut has tapped into the “Maker” movement with a new mobile innovation lab built from shipping containers and other recycled materials. The Absolut Creative Space was designed by architects Astrid Skog and Charlotte Stuveback for Abslout earlier this year as a venue for creatives and innovators to produce unique with tools they might not have access to, in a collaborative environment. Inspiration was taken from Absolut’s production process and applied to each of the four individual spaces. The goal was to inspire and enable different types of work with limitless variations on the creative process.

Creative Space was first placed outside Färgfabriken in Stockholm Sweden. The containers occupy enough space to hold all four containers and create a common area in between. That space is a “Semi-Official Zone” according to the architects that designed the Creative Space, which is designed to welcome visitors and encourage them to come closer and get involved. In addition the area was softened with landscaping creating an even more relaxed and inviting space for the creatives using the space as well as guests.

I really hope Absolut brings this to the USA for a tour. I think it would be a blast to participate. The first link above takes you to the Absolut site with case studies of projects already completed.

An area of pallets with plants with meeting places surrounds the four containers.

The Current Table Charges Your Toys via Solar Power.

Talk about solid innovative thinking. The video below showcases the “Current Table” designed by Marjan Van Aubell in conjunction with Solaronix. The table uses Dye Sensitized Solar Cells to create electric current for the work surface. Dye Sensitized Solar Cells can work with diffused light and do not need direct sunlight to create electric current. The process is similar to the way plants create energy through photosynthesis. The entire glass table top surface is in essence a large solar panel attached to the frame and legs which contain connectors for all of your electronic devices. This makes Current Table the first piece of furniture that is harvesting energy indoors where utility and aesthetics are combined in everyday objects. The innovative table has a triangular base made of wood, that neatly holds the bold colored tabletop with a simple, natural based. Great aesthetics combined with high-tech functionality. This is right up my alley.

Heads Up for Land Rover’s Discovery Vision Concept.

As automobiles and technology become even more fused together than they already are, engineers, and designers are coming up with some really impressive automotive features. At the upcoming New York Auto Show LandRover will be introducing its new Discovery Vision Concept. Taking advantage of heads-up display technology and augmented reality features, the Discovery Vision Concept allows the driver to see through the hood of the car exposing the terrain and objects that would normally be blocked from view. The video below shows the system in use, and demonstrates one of the better heads-up uses I have seen to date. One thing that I really like in the video is the way the image of the ground simply fades away as the vehicle levels out and it is no longer needed.