This transparent drain system makes seeing the problem beneath your sink possible. Made of a transparent ABS, you can view the clog, manually churn the debris with a simple twist of the hand and avoid using unneeded, harsh chemicals.
In the case of lost jewelry, you can retrieve a lost ring or earring by visually locating it and then reversing the paddle with the hand crank to keep it from passing down the drain.
After 42 years of using the famous ketchup packet worldwide, Heinz Ketchup has turned a corner. The condiment giant has re-designed what was once seen as a type form, the ketchup packet, by condensing the contents of 3 ketchup packets into one Dip & Squeeze.
Not to say the ketchup packet is gone forever, but the next time I get food to go, I an expecting to get one of these new ketchup containers. Either rip off the top and squeeze out the ketchup the traditional way, or peel away the thin plastic membrane and dip your food into the wide mouth opening — neat, simple… simply great!
Innovation has found its way into the realm of mobile housing. Designer and painter Kevin Cyr has created a functioning structural piece of art that considers “habitats and housing; recycling and ecology; exploration and mobility” in his design of Camper Bike. A condensed version of a camper built for trucks, this redesign can be pulled with a pedal-powered bike.
Peach pits and corn cobs to scrub your pots clean? That’s right! Goodbye Detergent has designed Spaghetti Scrubs, a line of naturally abrasive, detergent–free coarse scrubbers for cleaning your pots and pans. They can even be used to clean off appliances around the kitchen. Not much water is needed to get scrubbing, and then all you need is a little elbow grease.
The days of structurally weak, dangerously pointed umbrellas are numbered. This new umbrella design, called Blunt, takes a different approach in the redesign of an inclement weather necessity.
With rounded tips and a flexible design that withstands up to 72-mph winds, safety is the first objective, for both you and the people you walk past when holding it.
Blunt’s muscular, lightweight skin appears to look like something that has fallen from the ceiling of a convention center exhibitors booth. The vivid blue helps to visually soften each rounded point, while separating itself from the standard boring, black umbrellas. Simple, smart design wins again.
It can’t be any clearer than this: “no more great ideas down the drain.” Aquanotes cedar pencil and water resistant pad set is an ideal way to keep your new ideas and great thoughts from washing away.
Winter is definitely here and so comes the snow. Shovels come in a variety of styles these days. Here are a few innovative ways to manage snowfall this season.
Introducing the Copenhagen Wheel, an M.I.T. project designed to introduce a smarter, new era of bicycling. Infused with Bluetooth capabilities, this bike lets you know updated status of speed, distance, direction and theft. Yeah, that’s right. Someone tries to tinker with your locked up bike, and you get a text message.
Even better, when you apply your brakes, you are also creating and storing enough energy to give yourself a power boost for later use. The stored kinetic energy is managed by KERS, or the Kinetic Energy Recovery System installed on the rear wheel.
With cold weather all around us, many people who use touch interface devices are going to find that they will have to shed a layer to check email, answer a phone call or navigate their MP3 players. Instead of taking off your gloves, try creating a conductive pad on your finger tips.
These gloves can be purchased, but what is the fun in that? Try making your own gloves with a few simple items. Using your ordinary gloves, you can create an extraordinary interface to communicate between your fingertips and your electronic touch surface device.
You can order a sample bobbin of conductive thread for a small amount of money compared to the cost of a large spindle. Instructables even has an article about creating conductive glue if you choose to go that route. The idea is to create your own active conductive surface with a little creativity and know-how. The possibilities are limitless.
With so many electronic devices showing a progress bar as a visual indicator, why not extend that courtesy to stop lights?
The Eko stoplight, in theory, offers a visual queue to drivers wanting to let off on the gas in advance, or in some cases, punch it at the last second. Regardless, this light is an advancement in traffic signaling, if you ask me. Of course, if you want a real countdown, there is always this option:
