Since everyone else who publishes anything online is currently engaged in a frenzy of ‘Top ten X of 2008’ articles, I thought I might as well join in. Here is a selection of some of the inventions which I’ve come across recently which I really wish I’d thought up.
Many hover on the border between invention and design and none rely on the recent discovery of anything in the least nano-quantum-ribonucleic.
Suntan tattoo Combining two of the silliest ideas into something rather beautiful.
Pin clock I just like the emergence and there’s a better idea lurking here, which I can’t bring to mind, yet.
Paper bottle Water soaks paper, and yet…
Space mug Can it even be called coffee if it’s translucent?
Bubblewrap calendar Better than squeezing zits.
Secure mug Definitely one for the OCD/retentive types. I’d have made an individually shaped bung for each cup, in order to counter cupjacking. See also this Identifiable cup.
Anti-theft humiliation pen Just the kind of social engineering device which I love.
One-handed watch Confused by two hands on a watchface and burdened by a surfeit of precision? This is a really appropriate design.
Engineering designer who casts flows A satisfying and elegant approach -beats the old Navier Stokes equations any day.
Expandable bookcase All this needs is a motor drive (and I’d personally want the Thunderbirds theme playing as it expands).
Playpump Once again, the power of play comes to the rescue.
Hamster powered shredder Two gadgets in one with a humorous twist. Pity about the requirement for a hamster.
Bottle stool Not as sure about this one as I was when bookmarking it.
Grown chairs Utterly great, if a little slow in production.
Touch shot I thought I had invented this one myself -until I came across this impressive implementation in a real product.
