What would superpower would you pick if you could have any ability imaginable? Flight? Super strength? How about invisibility?

Well according a report published in the New Journal of Physics, “Researchers at the University of Texas in Austin have developed a thin material called a ‘mantle cloak.’ If an object is wrapped in it, it ‘disappears,’ but the effect only applies to a limited range of light waves — specifically microwaves.“

“When the scattered fields from the cloak and the object interfere, they cancel each other out and the overall effect is transparency and invisibility at all angles of observation,” study co-author Andrea Alu, a physicist at the University of Texas at Austin, said in a statement.

In lab tests, Alu and his colleagues successfully hid a 7-inch-long cylindrical rod from view in microwave light. They said the same technology should be able to cloak oddly shaped and asymmetrical objects, too.

While Alu admits that the practical application of this research won’t be available for some time, Dr. Susumu Tachi, the leader of the research team at the University of Tokyo’s Tachi Lab, has come up with technology for those clamoring for invisibility right now.

According to the Tokyo Times:

“[Susumu] developed a hi-tech cloak which, worn by a person, makes him or her look “transparent”, much like the famous Harry Potter used to do when cornered by enemies.”

The transparent cloak is made using so-called retro-reflective projection technology. A camera fitted on the back of the cloak records what happens behind the wearer and projects the image on the front, creating the illusion that the person is transparent.

“A computer processes the background imagery and relays it to a projector that filters through a half mirror and projects the scene onto the wearer. From a certain angle, the cloaked person looks transparent to onlookers,” explained Dr. Susumu Tachi, the leader of the research team at the University of Tokyo’s Tachi Lab.

We have to ask ourselves whether invisibility technology is an accessory we really want the human race to have. What legal ramifications would arise from citizens having the capability to cloak themselves? There would certainly be more cookies missing from mom’s jar if the technology fell into the wrong 8-year-old’s hands.

Maybe it’s best that practical invisibility technology is still way out of our reach, and only afforded to responsible scientists locked in key-carded labs.

The post Future Friday: Does Our Future Have an Invisible Touch? appeared first on Davison.

Dr. Roel Vertegaal of Queen’s University’s School of Computing in Kingston, Ontario, is on the cutting edge of hologram technology:

“The technology Dr. Vertegaal and researchers at the Queen’s Human Media Lab have developed is called TeleHuman — and while it’s bulky, it works. All you need is a six-foot tall glass tube with a convex mirror inside, and a 3D projector. Two people simply stand in front of their own life-size cylindrical pods and talks to a 3D hologram-like images of each other. Cameras capture and track 3D video and convert it into the life-size image – although for the full effect you need several 3D cameras to capture both back and front of each speaker. Since the 3D video image is visible 360 degrees around the Pod, the person can walk around it to see the other person’s side or back,” according to an article on the Daily Mail Online.

Hologram technology is not as new as you may think — or at least a semblance of this technology. In 1991, Sega released an arcade game called Hologram Time Traveler. The cabinet for the game was about the size of an open MRI, the gameplay was wonky and the object of the main character was unclear to say the least. But, it looked awesome, especially to an 11-year-old forced to go to dinner with his parents. Check out a video of it here.

In 2012, hologram technology (maybe not hologram) brought Tupac back to life for the crowd at the Coachella festival by Digital Domain, which is now bankrupt.

So, is hologram technology even feasible or marketable? According to an article on squidoo, quite possibly. “While in its earliest stages of development, holographic TV is a technology that is being given serious attention from Japanese technology companies, of whom are hoping to have the technology hit the consumer market by the year 2020.

“In 2008, researchers at the University of Arizona were able to develop a breakthrough technology: the creation of an updateable 3D display. While this particular display could only be updated after several minutes, there is now hope that it can be further developed to eventually fulfill the need of updating that image several times per second — a feat that would be required for holographic TV.”

So while we are not quite on the holodeck of the Starship Enterprise, the technology required to give us an excuse to dress up like Obi Wan and communicate with other holograms might not be that far away.

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It’s been said for hundreds of years, “Our home is our castle.” But, it’s probably closer to the truth to say that our home is really our sanctuary. After a long day at work, our home gives us peace and comfort. It restores our spirit from the pressure and grind of daily activity. Every room in our homes has a special function; eating, sleeping, entertainment—and as such, we have supplied each room with special features to fulfill those functions. In just the past few years, we’ve seen many positive changes in our home appliances and entertainment. But what can we expect in the future? What might our homes look like by 2020? Let’s take a look at some of the cooler innovations that will help us function better or more happily in all the rooms of our house (yes, even the bathroom):

• Family room – In most family rooms, the central device is the TV. Just as in past years, we’ve seen tremendous innovation with TVs as they connect to the web and allow streaming shows, interactivity, and gaming. So where can we go from here? Well, TVs will be 3-D and enabled not only for entertainment content, but also for video calls. New interfaces will allow voice control of your TV so that, instead of fumbling with the remote to play back a recorded show, you can just say Homeland and it will list all of the episodes. Motion control like Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect will also give new controllability to your TV. But TV won’t be the only thing in the room that has voice or motion control. In the future, lighting, music, and temperature will all be activated by sound or motion (and you laughed at the Clap-On lady)

• Kitchen – The kitchen has always been the one room in the house where innovation seems to thrive, and that will continue to be so in the future. Sometime soon, we can expect to have stove tops powered by magnetic induction, talking refrigerators, scanning microwave ovens that can automatically set the time and temperature for specific foods, and a cook pot that can actually control its own temperature by sending radio signals to the stove. Probably the best kitchen innovation will be wireless appliances, where your blender, toaster, and food processor would all have transmitters built-in, and be powered from electrical wires snaked under the countertop.

• Bedroom – The typical bedroom is normally pretty boring when it comes to technology; they usually have a bed, a dresser or two, a chair, an alarm clock, and a flat-screen TV. But the bedroom of the future will be a lot cooler than that. First, the beds will all be Smartbeds that will recognize your body and automatically adjust to your desired firmness and temperature. They can also be set to vibrate when your snoring gets too annoying, so your partner can get some sleep. Your alarm clock will all be voice activated so you can tell it to “buzz-off” in the morning. The TV will of course be cutting edge. But what about the windows? What if the windows in your bedroom have “smart glass” and are able to dim, lighten and even create heat (or keep it out)… all with your voice? No need to get up to shut the blinds on Saturday morning.

• Bathroom – Of course, this article wouldn’t be complete until we brought up the bathroom. But what could possibly be cool about a bathroom? A smart toilet, that’s what! Imagine an intelligent toilet that automatically raises and lowers the seat so you won’t get in trouble from your wife ever again. Or toilets that can run health tests on your “waste products” and let you know if you’re pre-diabetic or are in danger of developing some other health hazard. Not to be outdone, the lowly bathroom mirror has some surprises. Imagine a smart mirror that has a computer behind two-way glass and that is voice activated and displays news, traffic reports, reminders, and messages, as you shave. Pretty cool. Showers would have digital controls and personalized shower settings for all family members, maybe even with parental controls to prevent little ones from getting scalded, and hurry those hot water-hogging teenagers out a little quicker.

Everyone says that our homes are our castles, but we’ll take voice activated climate control over big drafty rooms any day. And with innovations like these, in the future, it may be more accurate to say that our homes are our own personal spas.

Sources:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/luxuryhomes/9579235/technology-home-future.html
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2012/09/future-even-your-bathroom-mirror-will-be-computer/57219/
http://www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com/blog/index.php/2012/10/22/is-a-smart-toilet-in-your-bathrooms-future/

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You’ve relied on Google for years. You need to send your friend directions to your party. Google Maps and Gmail. You need to know the full cast of the Nick Nolte vehicle “Blue Chips.” Google search. You need someone to drive your car while you eat leftover P.F. Chang’s. Google drive?

Yes. Google, who has already tested driverless cars in Nevada, has been developing self-driving cars for a while now and has successfully lobbied for legislative support in California. According to Android Authority, “A bill to allow computer-controlled cars on Californian highways passed 37-0 in the Senate and 74-2 in the Assembly and is now awaiting action by Governor Jerry Brown.”

“The bill will allow companies to test out driverless cars on public roads. The DMV still has to draft rules and will apparently designate the person in the driver’s seat or the person who engages the technology as the ‘operator,’ presumably for legal reasons.”

Google cars use a combination of video cameras, radar and lasers to drive in traffic, and Google says it has driven them over 300,000 miles without an accident so far.

“California is almost perfect for the introduction of autonomous cars. It is large and diverse enough to allow testing in almost all environments. There are regions with almost optimal weather conditions such as Southern California (snow being very unlikely except in the mountains). This is where Google could launch their first commercial trials for car-sharing, taxi or truck/logistics services,” reports Driverless car market watch.

Image Source

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The first full week of fall is wrapping up and with it, the first two trade shows of our Licensing Department’s fall travel season!

Our VP of Licensing was on the road with the Hugs Pet Products president, showcasing the latest innovative pet items at “The Pet Industry’s Hot Spot,” SuperZoo 2011, held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from September 13-15.

At SuperZoo, they introduced several new items, like the Grass Twine Bird House, Deluxe Dog Butler and Hugs Care Line. Pugz Tennis Shoes, a new design of the product invented by our client Kay, were also introduced. The client has not made a net profit on this product.

According to our VP of Licensing, the new Davison-designed pet items were well-received at the conference.

“The show was amazing as it allowed Davison to stand with Hugs in their booth and answer questions from buyers, retailers and inventors.  It really adds strong credibility to what we do on a daily basis,” he said.

Also, at SuperZoo, a national show that provides networking and educational opportunities for pet retailers and suppliers, the duo was able to talk with representatives from PetPR, a pet product news distribution resource.

“Pet PR did an interview with [Hugs] and really enjoyed learning more about the Hugs line of products.  Afterwards, we had a good conversation about the product line and everyone stopped for a quick photo [opportunity],” our VP of Licensing said.

Earlier this week, our VP of Licensing made a stop in Louisville, Kentucky, for the ABC Kids Expo 2011 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

From the looks of the trade show schedule, which you can easily find on our website, the Licensing Department’s next stop is back to Las Vegas for AAPEX 2011, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo!

We can’t wait to hear the latest news from the road as Licensing “Tries Longer” to bring our products to store shelves!  Stay tuned!

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.  The Grass Twine Bird House, Deluxe Dog Butler and Hugs Care Line corporate products invented and licensed by Davison for its own benefit.

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To make sure we’re all ready for some football in time for kick-off, we’ve compiled a list of the latest, most innovative tailgating must-haves out – that you can get for under $100!

First up, the Portable X-Grill!  Further proving just how far the charcoal grill has come, this 11-pound fold-up grill is complete with a charcoal grate and convenient carrying-tote!  Even better, this grill won’t break your back or your bank!  It’s only $49 through garden.com.

And, if you need to make some special burgers for this fun grill, then why not bring along the Davison-designed Fill n’ Grill!  The Fill ‘N Grill makes filling burger patties with flavorful ingredients (cheese, bacon, onions, sauce, and so much more) quick and mess-free – not to mention D-licious!  With the help of this grilling favorite, your patties are sure to be the talk of the football tailgate!

If you’d like to knock off two items in one,  the Buccaneer Cooler and Barbecue Set includes a BBQ grill, lid and cooking utensils inside a removable, insulated cooling tote!  The only thing this gear is missing is the food and beverages!  Sliding onto the list at just under $100, this is one tailgating must-have you won’t want to be without!

Hang on to summer a little longer and kick your tailgate party into high gear, with the Waring Tailgater Portable Blender!  With a 15-foot AC adapter that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter, the multi-functional blender will help you serve up pina coladas and daiquiris or just keep your beverages cool with some freshly-crushed ice!  It’s in stores and online for about $75!

For a little protection from the elements, don’t forget a compact, Instant Canopy!  Most of them set up in minutes  – but will provide hours of protection against sun or rain!  They’ll protect 6-10 tailgaters comfortably and are small enough to fold up into most trunks!  They retail for about $80 – but their uses are, well… priceless!

When you’re eating delicious pre-game goodies and drinking tasty, ice-cold beverages, it’s inevitable, Mother Nature WILL come a-calling!  Thus, the Passport Potty saves the day, providing a clean, full-flushing answer to needing to run to the port-a-potty every 10 minutes!  Retailing for around $70 online, the only thing the Passport Potty doesn’t provide?  Privacy!

Now, for those who are truly dedicated to their teams and ready to tailgate through the entire season, this product may be the key for keeping you toasty, even on the coldest of days!  The Temp-a-chair portable, heated chair will warm you up for about four hours and it’s equipped with a car charger for even longer-lasting comfort!  The temp-a-chair includes a convenient cup-holder and weighs only nine pounds… for under $100, it’s a must-have you may even try to take into the game!

Well, we’ve got most of the gear covered… now, we’ll leave the cooking to you!

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This is due to the many new products we’ve designed and brought to market.  One recent example is the innovative Air Rack. This inflatable roof rack is now selling in TimBr Mart, Canada’s largest dealer-owned building materials buying group!

But that’s not all… we are in the process of adding numerous Swingers by Swing Away — the line of super-innovative collapsing kitchen utensils that we created for Xtraordinary Home Products (XHP).  Many more have just hit the market – totally 19 products in all.

Another fresh Davison product that hit the ever evolving marketplace is the Fill N’ Grill, which sold on QVC.  We are ecstatic to report that the Fill N’ Grill sold out of 3,000 units in just three minutes!  The Fill N’ Grill stuffed burger maker is a product that we created for XHP.  It’s a quick and easy way to fill a burger with your favorite ingredients.

Davison and Hugs Pet Products continue to produce exciting, new pet toys for the market.  Hugs recently introduced the Hydro Ball and Hydro Saucer, which joins the Hydro Bone  in an awesome and innovative line of toys for your dog.  You can find all three of these on the Hugs website and at a Sam’s Club or Bed, Bath and Beyond near you!

Major retailers that now carry the Davison “D” include Busy Beaver and Ritz Camera, both of which began selling the fun and convenient Party Traveler; TJ Maxx and Marshalls now sell the Hydro Bone and Costco Canada recently picked up the Aviva Cosmic Slide.  We are very excited to add these well-known retailers to our long list!

We’ve also added many niche-oriented e-commerce retailers selling the line of Hot/Cold Therapy Braces we designed for Health Enterprises, and niche-oriented online kitchen stores selling the Healthy Steps portion control utensils (we just added the Single Serve Water Infusers) and kitchen gadgets that we conceived in collaboration with Jokari.  We even found a few new online shops selling the Twister Caps/Bolts!

Next stop — The BIG 1,000!

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“The numbers are almost overwhelming,” said Davison’s Vice President of Licensing, when counting up all the products we designed at the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show. There were more than 60 finished products and over 40 prototypes with the Davison “D” on display.

“The show was very busy and extremely productive,” said the executive. “It was better this year because we had more of our products on display and more client products selling in the stores.”

As a result of great feedback at the show, Chicago Metallic has picked up the line of Davison-designed silicone bakeware, and the firm is moving into the production of more holiday-themed spin-offs! The pans, which should be on store shelves in time for the 2011 holiday season, came out of the collaboration between Davison and Xtraordinary Home Products; both XHP and Chicago Metallic are divisions of Focus Products Group.

“The evolution of the Silicone Dessert Pans continues to grow positively with both the new Chicago Metallic versions and new holiday silicone pans, all of which are some of the most appealing new bakeware items in the company,” said the president of XHP.
“Across the board, all products that we developed with Davison were received by the retailers extremely well,” he added. “The Bread-It Ultimate Breading Station was a huge success, as was the Fill ‘N Grill. We expect very strong placement on both products.”

Other Davison designs for XHP that were well-received include the Swingers by Swing Away line of folding kitchen utensils — 19 utensils that open and close via a hidden locking mechanism, taking up less storage space. The Swingers are being tested in select Bed, Bath & Beyond stores and likely will appear on a major shopping network this year. It will be the 7th Davison-designed product / line to appear in the past two years!

“Davison has done a great job of collaborating and providing XHP with innovative new products it needs to attract the buyers’ attention,” said the Davison VP.

XHP’s president agreed: “Overall, the (IHA) show has positioned us in a very strong position to further grow our overall product positioning at retail with Davison / XHP created programs.”

CEO George Davison said the Davison / XHP collaboration is “a testament of how great things come from teamwork and strong partnerships.”

We can’t wait to see what new innovations will be next to come from our great collaboration!

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In the Sunday Show Daily edition, a full-page article  on new bakeware options includes the Surprise Filled Dessert Pan, created by our corporate team, and two client products — the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan and the Perfect Portion Petite Dessert Pan. The latter is the newest in the Davison-designed silicone bakeware line and is great for creating perfectly sized treats. All three pans have been picked up by Chicago Metallic, as has the entire silicone line. CM is ”a great brand that’s been around for a long time and that has access to all major retailers and everyone in between,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing.
In addition, the Fill-N-Grill stuffed burger maker that we created for Xtraordinary Home Products is featured in the new Gadgets & Kitchen Tools section of the HomeWorld Business issue covering the IHH show.

The handy Fill-N-Grill, which came out of a brainstorming session by our corporate team, makes creating custom burgers filled with mouthwatering ingredients quick, easy and mess free — no wonder the editors included it in the special issue!

Click on the images to view the great articles!

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“It was a great debut,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing. “The presenters really showed all of the product’s great features.”

Co-host Marie Louise Ludwig said the item is the “perfect” solution to a common problem. “The bowls are longer and deeper so you can bread food correctly,” she said, demonstrating. The hosts also showed multiple great uses for the product and highlighted the “naturally non-stick” silicone material.

The QVC “first look item” will be shown at the International Housewares Show in Chicago, March 6 – 8, where it is sure to garner the attention of buyers looking for innovative new products to add to their store shelves.

This is the sixth product in two years to air on QVC as a result of the collaboration between Davison and XHP. The unique product follows successful QVC launches of many products, including the Meatball Baker, Party Traveler, and Silicone Dessert Bar Pan (all client products), as well as the Surprise Filled Dessert Pan.

“I’m not surprised this one was also snapped up by QVC,” said CEO George Davison. “It’s a testament of how great things come from teamwork and strong partnerships. I’m very proud of the team for turning out another winner! Bread-It is a super multi-use set of collapsible bowls … It’s great for breading as well as for serving snacks and sides … plus when you’re finished it takes virtually zero storage space!”

Another D-lightful product has made its marketplace debut, but it certainly won’t be the last one — more great Davison innovations for XHP are set to launch into the market in the coming months, so stay tuned!

This was a corporate project that Davison developed and licensed for its own benefit.

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