University of Toronto engineering students and alumni have won a $250,000 Sikorsky prize for the world’s first human-powered helicopter. Says the AeroVelo website: We’re very excited for the world to learn about this exciting milestone in aviation history. At AeroVelo we hope to inspire people to take on great challenges and accomplish the impossible. We…
Imagine taking a kitchen appliance and adding an online database to control it from anywhere in your house. I came across this story recently of a man who decided that simply microwaving food was not palatable for him as far as user-friendly and custom control commands, so he took the standard design and made it…
A new smartphone app is allowing inventors and entrepreneurs to meet and network with key influencers in their own geographic locations. The “influencer of the month series” is a free iOS app from HereOnBiz, and features a geo-location service that helps bring together like-minded professionals. Influencers simply select a city in which they want to…
Here are some national health statistics that should frighten you out of your chair: Our western sedentary lifestyle is responsible for an estimated $24 billion in direct medical spending. Physical inactivity is responsible for almost 200,000 or 1 in 10 deaths each year. Diabetes accounts for more than $98 billion in direct and indirect medical…
Check out these “telescopic” contact lenses. Could they be the vision of the future? (Credit: Optics Express) Researchers are developing these contacts that can let you see much farther than the human eye was designed to do: The lens experiment came about through DARPA-funded research into vision enhancement devices for soldiers. What the researchers developed…
Recently, I shared with you some of my thoughts on how the most innovative leaders and companies are learning to shape their business culture and environment to their advantage. As part of that discussion, I want to focus on the leaders and behaviors that help transform organizations into thrive engines of innovation. It’s no coincidence…
I find it very interesting that within the past year, the numbers of new Facebook accounts has exploded in Pakistan. Facebook recently broke the 9 million user mark, and it only reached 8 million users earlier this year. So what’s been happening in Pakistan that would account for this growth, and what can we learn…
Our aging Baby Boomer population is creating both challenges and opportunities for start-up businesses. In the UK, one company was recently featured for its innovative idea to create a sustainable club that helps feed the elderly. It’s a great idea and a wonderful way to care for those in need. Here is the story from…
If you follow packaging innovations like I do, you might enjoy this article from Consumer Goods Technology: In today’s difficult economic climate, consumer goods organizations are challenged to grow their businesses through innovation, but they often lack the capabilities or discipline to do so effectively. Packaging innovation from design to shelf is more important…
Despite being far more tech-savvy than previous generations, Generation Y, the 80-million strong cohort of Americans between the ages of 18 and 35, has not forsaken shopping in stores for online purchasing — as long as retailers keep their offerings “fresh” and interesting, says a new report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI). The report…
