Inventor Spot - Inventions, Innovations, and Interesting Ideas for the Inventor in All of Us

Fanny Pack Of The 80’s Reinvented In 2009 With CapSack

Fashion Finds — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Fortunately, fanny packs (except for sport purposes), especially in neon colors went out in the 80's; but now there's a new form of hands free pouch that's trying to bring back that old 80's style in a very new way. It's bold, it's convenient, and it's a pouch that doesn't go around your waist!

Pop Star Parties:VIP Birthday Parties For Aspiring Pop Princes and Princesses

Beth Hodgson — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

We've seen business like Celeb 4 a Day or League of Rock that allow adults to live like rock stars and find them in the spotlight that they've been yearning for; but what about the children, don't they deserve to be treated like stars, too? A UK company thinks so, but instead of letting kids live like rock stars, they treat them like the little pop princes and princesses that they deserve to be!

(Get The) Design Bugs Out! 10 Infection Fighting Hospital Designs

Boomer Babe — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:44:05 -0700

... The buzz is that the British Health Services department is being cheered for encouraging the great design talent and manufacturing skills in its own country to solve a growing problem in Britain's hospitals: healthcare associated infections. In addition to manufacturing jobs, this program and those like it will eventually lead to sales jobs, customer service, and transportation jobs so needed in these times.

"Speeches of Barack Obama" Book & CD Helps Japanese Learn English

Steve Levenstein — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:00:00 -0700

"The Speeches of Barack Obama", a book and CD combo released last November in Japan, sold over 400,000 copies in just a couple of months. Students, homemakers, even Buddhist monks have all been polishing up their English skills by listening to the 44th president wax poetic on the political stage.

New Mazda-3 to Put Your Engine On Pause When Stopped

George Delozier — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:08:19 -0700

Driving inside the city can drastically reduce the fuel mileage of even the most efficiently built vehicle. Red lights and traffic congestion mean you're sitting in one place while you engine keeps burning fuel and releasing more pollution into the air. Mazda's new iStop engine system looks to solve this problem by "pausing" your engine when power is no longer needed.

Paint Tube Doorstop Adds Color & Humor To Any Room

Steve Levenstein — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:47:21 -0700

Doorstops... could any home furnishing accessory be more boring? Japan's Tokyu Hands takes the humble doorstop and gives it new life by imitating the natural wedge shape of artist's acrylic paint tubes.

China creates the iPhone Nano [pics]

Rick Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:41:58 -0700

Here's yet another Chinese 'Shanzhai' creation for you viewing pleasure. This time it's the much anticipated iPhone Nano, the device that the world seems to think Apple will inevitably produce. Nevermind that it doesn't exist yet, that's no reason to refrain from copying it. The folks down in Shenzhen are getting into this knock-off market early by trying to envision what an Apple iPhone Nano might look like, and then copying that vision.

New Rubber Compound Uses Self Lubrication to Keep Noise Down

George Delozier — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:00:00 -0700

One of the largest complaints of people living close to highways is the over abundance of noise from vehicles. While some of this can be attributed to engines, much of the noise is generated as a result of friction between your tires and the pavement. However, a newly developed rubber compound has been able to drastically reduce the amount of amount of noise generated between tire and tarmac.

MopShots: Matching Hairdressers With Sought After Hair Styles

Fashion Finds — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Finding a good hairdresser is probably one of the greatest challenges that women (and of course, some men) seem to encounter. We've all had one of those experiences where we've left a hair salon with tears of frustrating, realizing that it will be months until our hair will look half decent ever again. With a new website, those in need of a haircut can find a salon, based on pictures of others who have a style or cut that they're vying for.

Unique Restaurant Serves Peanut Butter and Jelly Exclusively!

Beth Hodgson — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Peanut butter has forever been a staple in sandwiches that appear in lunch bags and snack tables around North America for years. But with increased knowledge about peanut butter allergies, it can be difficult to find somewhere where you can sit down to enjoy a good old PB&J sandwich, that is if you don't where to look. One restaurant franchise brings peanut butter back into the accepted mainstream, by serving nothing but peanut butter.

Solar Powered Blimp Across The English Channel?

Gloria Campos — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:00:00 -0700

If you have ever seen a blimp in the sky the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 may have crossed your mind. It's a terrible and scary story. The kind of story that makes a person never want to ride one of these things, but blimps have come a long way since then. In fact, recently a group of French engineers equipped a helium blimp with solar panels.

Are Digg Ads Reintroducing 'Push' Advertising?

Ron Callari — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:36:11 -0700

Trying to tame the new social media space with an effective advertising model is a daunting task for any platform in the social media space. Add the desirable real-time stream of consciousness component to the mix and you've even got the big boys like Google and Bing salivating all over the digital landscape. Tinker is tinkering around with monetizing Twitter, a feat that even their founders can't figure out. And now you have DIGG, the slightly dated social bookmarking site trying to reinvent itself by posting ads to their news content delivery process. Sounds a little like 'what's old is new again?'

Room Service Plus 9, Because "Dog Is A God®"

Lady Bee — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:29:07 -0700

It's been almost a year since I covered the masterful dog houses created by Italian artist and designer Marco Marisini. I checked back to see if he had designed any more dog houses, and I found that he didn't stop at dog houses... Morosini has designed a whole line of attire and accessories befitting only the dog gods!

Refreshing In More Ways Than One: Pool Pong

Chris Weiss — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:00:00 -0700

Cold beer, cold water and your favorite party game of all time, what else do you need this summer?

Is Beer Power The Next Alternative Energy Solution?

Myra Per-Lee — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:14:00 -0700

Can you imagine filling your car up at a local brewery, pouring beer into your gas tank, and driving around town? No doubt the air would be less toxic in your town, and how nice everything would smell. Every time you filled up you could bring a nice cold glass for yourself, of course....

Aeroyacht 110 to be World's Most Innovative Catamaran

George Delozier — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:54:01 -0700

The world of boating is always about the latest and greatest in sea-going technology. This holds true even as many boat builders are beginning to shift to a more environmentally friendly means of hitting the open water. A perfect example of this mindset is the recently introduced Aeroyacht 110.

Humpback Whale Inspires Best Wind Power Turbines: WhalePower Tubercle Technology

T Goodman — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:14:22 -0700

The average humpback whale weighs about 36 tons, yet it is one of the most graceful swimmers, divers, and jumpers in the sea. WhalePower's new wind turbine technology owes its performance to what it has learned from from studying just what makes the humpback whale so aerodynamic.

Don't Get Rained Out On the 12th Hole: Bushnell FXi Weather Forecaster

Chris Weiss — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:00:00 -0700

The Bushnell FXi is a must-have for any devout golfer. Get updated weather information on your favorite courses so you always know when and where to play.

Retro Tape Dispenser Sticks In Your Memory

Steve Levenstein — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:50:18 -0700

This cool retro tape dispenser from J-ME sticks in your mind like a catchy 80s hit from a misplaced mix tape.

WineSide: Wine Tasting From Test Tube Wine Bottles

Beth Hodgson — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Selling wine by the glass can lead to waste at restaurants or wine that just isn't top quality because the bottle isn't finished within the recommended time after recorking. A company called WineSide has come up with a unique alternative by packaging their finest wines in a unique way.

Summer Wedding Flip Flops: Cool and Casual Summer Style

Fashion Finds — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Summertime is the perfect time for a casual beach wedding or outdoor ceremony at a hot destination, so why dress to the nines with you can stick with a cool and casual summer style? Complement your summer wedding dress with accessories that are comfortable and cool for warm climates.

Back to Basics: The Black and White Clock

Sarah O — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:08:38 -0700

The ultimate minimal 'Black and White Clock' has arrived in what might just be the coolest package ever -- its own perfectly naked, light-sensing digits.

Lap Desk Keeps Your Computer Cool

John P. Barker — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:18:00 -0700

Ever suffer from "Sweaty Thigh Syndrome?" You know, that intense heat generated by your laptop computer that melts through your pants and paints your legs like a sunburn? I know I have. And I applaud the innovation behind this laptop folding table with integrated cooling fans.

Shocking Liar: The Game That Hurts

John P. Barker — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:13:00 -0700

Want to know if your best friend is having a fling with your girlfriend? Or if little Billy has been smoking the wacky weed? If so, the Shocking Liar "game" may be just what you need.

Minnies: Restaurant That Specializes In Portion Control With Miniature Foods

Beth Hodgson — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:11:45 -0700

As we become more health conscious as a society, it's all about portion control and snacking versus consuming large meals. But when you eat out you will often find that you are stuck with large portions, either forgoing your healthy eating lifestyle and overeating, or wasting your food and the money you paid for it. A new restaurant makes all foods in miniature size to accommodate proper good portioning.

Bank Note Handkerchiefs Make You Feel Cooler and Richer

Steve Levenstein — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:34:57 -0700

Wiped out in the market? Wipe up that cold sweat with replica 10,000 yen bank notes!

Twittorati, At The Corner of Blogo & Twitter

Ron Callari — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:50:06 -0700

Do you know any bloggers of authority? Bloggers who are distinguished not only by how popular their sites are, but also how often other sites link to their blogs. Those that know TMZ, Gawker and the Huffington Post know that the top blogs of the world have slowly stolen the spotlight away from newspapers and mainstream media in general. Those that know Twitter know how important real-time updates have become. Now with the unveiling of Technorati's new service, one can traverse the terrain where the blogosphere crosses the Twittersphere, at an intersection called Twittorati.

Wearable Gadget For The World Traveler: Watch For Jetsetters

Fashion Finds — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Those looking for the latest wearable gadget needn't look any further, because the Hamilton ODC X-02 Quartz is the latest gadget available for the world traveler.

Alzheimer's Study: How Smart Were You When You Were 20?

Boomer Babe — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:29:02 -0700

Damage has already occurred in the Alzheimer's patient's brain before signs like memory loss or confusion are observed. But there are some persons whose brains are diseased by dementia that never show signs of memory impairment....

Shaving School For Stupid Men? Industrious or Genius?

Beth Hodgson — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:08:10 -0700

Perhaps this business was inspired by a hate of facial hair, or perhaps it's about self-improvement, but in any case, this is one business that is clearly designed for stupid men. Not only does it teach them a fundamental skill they've probably been using during their entire adult life, it also charges them a ludicrous amount. Yes, it's a shaving school and keep on reading to find out exactly what it does and why.

Walk on Water with Waterwalkerz

Chris Weiss — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:00:00 -0700

Sure to be the next craze at kids birthday parties everywhere, Waterwalkerz get you out of the pool and onto the water. Walk, jog and run your way across the lake, pool or ocean.

New Techique Identifies Nano Changes In Normal Cells Before Cancers Develop

Boomer Babe — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:28:57 -0700

A study by biomedical researchers at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science has verified that normal cells exhibit changes in their nanostructures long before cancers occur in the body, and they have developed a technique to identify these changes. Will these discoveries lead to accessible pre-cancer screening tests?

Top Ten Social Networks Circumnavigating The Globe

Ron Callari — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:55:33 -0700

What does social networking look like by country? Sure, Twitter, Facebook. LinkedIn and MySpace have huge international followings, but indigenous social networks have also grown up within certain countries that are beginning to reach beyond their own borders. So considering Intranets other than the dominant players in the US, take a look at the TOP TEN social networks that are flourishing around the globe.

GE and NASA to Revive Open Rotor Jet Engines

George Delozier — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:37:58 -0700

Back in the mid 1980s, GE and NASA began testing on a new propulsion system that used counter rotating fan assemblies in an attempt to boost efficiency. The testing ultimately led to the design of the GE36 experimental aircraft engine, but was then set aside to explore other options. Now, GE and NASA are planning on revisiting the design and adding some new technology to the mix.

Ideal Engagement Ring For The Geek In All Of Us: Propose With A USB Swarovski Ring

Fashion Finds — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Looking for a way to secure your commitment both to your partner and your inner geek? Then enter into engagement with a unique ring, which is ideal for any geeky couple looking to tie the knot.

Space-Saving Storage: The CD Roll

Sarah O — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:11:06 -0700

Tired of painstakingly sorting and alphabetizing your CD collection into meticulous order,while it also takes up valuable real estate in your living space? The CD Roll might just be your ticket to musical organizational freedom.

Touch Sensitive Bathroom Conserves Water

Gloria Campos — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:32:39 -0700

You could take a 5 minutes shower to reduce your carbon footprint or you can step into an eco-friendly shower that powers on when you step in and conserves water. Several students designed a shower like this for a student project. It is touch sensitive and green.

Sno:La Yogurt: Mouth Watering and Guilt-Free Eco-Friendly Yogurt Company

Beth Hodgson — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:42:40 -0700

Frozen yogurt tends to be a guilt-free desert as it's lighter on the calories and the fat content. But there's another reason to feel a little bit of remorse when satisfying your sweet tooth, because until Sno:La came along, no frozen yogurt shop specialized in a product that has 100% organic and natural desert treat.

Does Your Car Have A Sexy Butt Or A Baby Face?

T Goodman — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:13:55 -0700

Are cars biomimetic, designed to look like people or animals, or have dominant or sweet personalities? The car in this picture was described as having "male lines" and "one of the sexiest butts around."

Radio Goes Wi-Fi And Global: Tivoli Networks Internet Radio

Must Love Gadgets — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:29:16 -0700

Now, this is radio! Live radio from more than 150 countries and in 75 languages, and a huge variety of programming from each country. You can listen to 41 different stations broadcasting from Japan, 345 from Italy, 20 from Bosnia, 7 from Iran, and even 5 from the island of Fiji! Radio anywhere and everywhere.