Our friend Alan Kay is fond of saying “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” No where is this more true than the CES show, held each January in Las Vegas. Here are five cool inventions we spotted that help us better understand what lies ahead.
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1. A flying electric school bus. Well sort of. Thanks to advances in drone-like multi-rotor technologies, not to mention stronger batteries and GPS navigation, we’re only a few years away from flying shuttles that can take off and land in a driveway or parking lot. Learn more about the Bell Nexis, at http://www.bellflight.com/company/innovation/nexus
2. Airbag for riding your bike. Everyone knows — it’s no fun to fall off a bike. What there were a special jacket with sensors that could tell if you were falling, and fill up with air right before impact? Learn more about this technology, at http://bitly.com/2DbOECP.
3. Language translator earpiece Waverly Labs displayed an earpiece for pilots that allows them to understand an interpret up to 15 languages in real time — using speech recognition. The cool thing is that we spotted several models. Soon we’ll all be able to afford them. Learn more at http://bitly.com/2DfcCwG
4. A bluetooth solar beehive. The CoCoon behife https://www.beelife.fr uses solar power and heat or cool a beehive as sensors monitor the conditions inside. You can get an alert on your phone if something is needed. Sweet!
5. Wave-powered Emergency Signal Device. Developed by Hanyang University, this floating signal device produces it’s own electricity using the movement of the waves, so that it’s LED light will never go out. Learn more about the Korean inventor, at http://bitly.com/2DeGHwE
APPLICATION: Design your own Tesla
Few cars have more futuristic than the all-electric, mostly self driving Tesla. Visit http://bitly.com/2SxQmIa where you can design your car using a series of options that include engine power, color, wheels and electronics. As you select each option, the price changes automatically, and you can see how much your monthly payments would be. Just don’t click “buy.” Your parents might get mad.
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