Thanks to an idea that the technology giant, Samsung, is currently testing, we all soon may be a little safer on the roads, whether we’re riding a school bus or driving another vehicle.

Using a wireless camera that is mounted to the front of a truck and four screens that are mounted to the back of a truck, Samsung is testing a way that drivers who are following their fleets may be able to see what traffic lies ahead… even when they’re unable to see around the vehicles. Samsung’s new product idea is called the Safety Truck and it even allows drivers to see night-time traffic.

Though the Safety Truck idea is still in the early phases of testing, Samsung recently piloted the technology in Argentina, a country that has some of the most dangerous roads in the world.

According to Samsung, immediate “pros” to the Safety Truck are that drivers could ensure no traffic lies ahead when they are trying to get around one of their trucks. They also noted that the technology may be able to alert drivers of sudden stops or animals that are trying to cross the road.

In the below video, the company asserts the Safety Truck is “An idea that instead of changing people’s lives… saves them!”

However, prototype testing continues while the company determines whether the camera display may be a distraction for drivers. Samsung is also testing the camera and screens against various weather conditions.

Watch the video below to learn more about Samsung’s Safety Truck:

Whether Samsung’s Safety Truck becomes a reality or not, it certainly makes us take a second look at how safe we are on the roads!

Copyright Inventionland, 2015

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/federicoguerrini/2015/06/22/samsung-safety-truck-makes-it-easier-for-drivers-to-see-the-road-ahead-before-trying-to-pass/

Media:

https://blogs-images.forbes.com/federicoguerrini/files/2015/06/Safety_Truck.jpg

https://youtu.be/ZetSRWchM4w

The post Samsung’s Safety Truck Puts Your Safety in Sight! appeared first on Inventionland.

Microsoft seems to have found a better way to integrate a real keyboard and a touchscreen.

Their solution is to invent a physical keyboard cover that’s equipped with a built in e-ink touchscreen.

As of late, this invention idea is in the prototype stage and is undergoing trials by Microsoft’s Applied Sciences division.

The prototype uses an e-ink display that sits at the front/top of the keyboard and offers quick, one-button access to a person’s applications. Many of these applications will automatically refresh the display, so that it can house a number of context sensitive commands.

The size is a bit small; however, the secondary display can be used for other tasks, such as responding to an email during a conference call.

e-ink won over Microsoft, rather than other traditional full-color displays, due in part to the fact that it uses very little battery power. This means that this e-ink technology could be added to other keyboards without impacting the overall charge.

What’s the drawback of e-ink? For starters, it’s black and white, and it doesn’t quite compare to the high-resolution displays of the latest generations of tablets and laptops.

As it stands, Microsoft’s keyboard cover is still in the prototype stage, so it’s far from finished. Much like other inventions, changes will be made to improve the product.

Right now, this e-ink display cover’s top priority is to make use of small screen sizes to promote maximum productivity.

Here’s a quick look at Microsoft’s prototype keyboard cover in action:

Copyright Inventionland, 2015

Sources:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/microsoft-eink-prototype-cover/ https://www.engadget.com/2015/08/24/microsoft-displaycover-e-ink-keyboard-cover/

Media:

https://images.techtimes.com/data/images/full/127094/microsofts-displaycover.jpg?w=600

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=19&v=OSFlvml0Sso

The post e-Ink Could be Coming to a Tablet Near you! appeared first on Inventionland.

The Airbus prototype that was used recently for the flight across the English Channel was a two-seat E-Fan demonstrator plane that’s powered solely by lithium batteries. The flight took 36 minutes and started from Lydd in southern England and traveled to Calais, France.

What is propelling the idea of electric airplanes? Overall, the aviation industry is being increasingly scrutinized for their impact on the environment. In fact, in June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared the carbon emissions from airlines as a contributor to climate change.

With that announcement, the airline industry is under pressure to make flying more efficient and environmentally friendly in an effort to align with the new regulations that could be ready as early as 2017.

Much of the effort to reduce the carbon emissions is focused on utilizing newer engines and lighter, more aerodynamic materials to build more efficient aircrafts that use biofuel technology, which mix cooking oil or even plant oils with regular jet fuel.

Though Airbus is known for its commercial passenger jets, their E-Fan 2.0 prototype aircraft is an all-electric aircraft that claims to be the first “plug-in plane.”

Airbus’ two-seater prototype plane is capable of speeds of up to 136 miles per hour, has a 31-foot wingspan and can only stay in the air for about an hour. However, during that hour, there are zero carbon emissions and it’s nearly silent.

By 2050, Airbus wants to create a 100-seat electric passenger plane.  Though that seems far-fetched since the technology is not where it needs to be, Airbus forges ahead and is using the E-Fan technology to build electric aircraft training models for flight schools.

As of late, a four-seater E-Fan 4.0 is in the works and is scheduled for production by 2019.

Check out this video for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Airbus E-Fan 2.0 prototype:

Copyright Inventionland, 2015

Sources:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbus-completes-channel-crossing-with-prototype-electric-plane-1436523095

https://www.slashgear.com/airbus-intros-new-all-electric-aircraft-prototype-15388279/

Media:

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTASXa15HZKrSR-LBLmKYIFfXZ4kPoFWFCf2zz4tlcA28lRktcC3Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfBfZJBQH_I

The post Airbus is ‘Channel’ing Innovation with this Prototype appeared first on Inventionland.

This week, Ford presented their latest prototype for their smart e-bike to crowds at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

These bicycles go by the name of MoDe: Me and MoDe: Pro and can connect to a user’s Apple iPhone6 to access an array of smart features via Bluetooth.

The first feature is focused on navigation purposes.  In fact, the handle bars will actually vibrate when you need to turn left or right.

Here’s a picture from Mashable that showcases the handle-bar navigation feature.

The next smart feature is that Ford’s smart bike can alert the rider of any hazards that are near the bike, communicate with other vehicles and even charge your smartphone in a cradle on the handlebar.

So, not only would you be charging ahead with a healthier lifestyle, you’d also be charging your phone too! A two-for-one special of sorts!

Another smart feature about these prototypes is that both are in fact e-bikes, which offer the rider electric pedal assistance. This feature can be used when pedaling becomes too hard, not to mention, the e-bike can reach speeds up to 15 mph.

Additionally, the e-bikes are equipped with two separate horns, a quieter one for pedestrians and the other, louder horn that’s meant to alert drivers.

Let’s get a better look at each model of Ford’s smart bike.

MoDe: Me

This smart bike was designed for more of the urban bicyclist. It’s lighter and smaller design makes it easier to be carried alongside a commuter bus or even in a car’s trunk. The MoDe: Me can only operate electronically when connected to a handset.

The Ford’s Me offers riders a sense of freedom and is less restrictive than public transportation.

MoDe: Pro

This particular Ford e-bike is more industrial and is meant for commercial use, like delivery services. The Pro comes equipped with an optional rear rack that makes transporting goods easier.

But, that’s not the only innovation that Ford has been dreaming up lately. In fact, in addition to their e-bikes, they also released their Info Cycle sensor kit, which is an open-sourced hardware and software sensor kit that can be installed on their e-bikes or a regular bike.

The kit collects data such as miles ridden, where bike lanes are located and the amount of light that’s given off in a certain area.

As of right now, Ford hopes that its newly-released designs for its smart technology, albeit in their early stages, will help improve the commute for everyone on the road, vehicles and bicycles alike in the future.

Copyright Inventionland, 2015

Sources:

https://mashable.com/2015/03/03/ford-mode-me-mode-pro-e-bike/

https://www.cnet.com/news/ford-mode-ebikes-mwc-2015/

Images:

https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54f47c7969beddbe18e84a67-1200-924/ford-smart-bikes-1.jpg

https://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzAzLzAzLzMyL0ZvcmRNb2RlTWUuNDVjYWMuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJOTUweDUzNCMKZQlqcGc/71b046fd/dfb/Ford-Mode-Me.jpg

The post Ford’s Wheels are Turning with this Prototype appeared first on Inventionland.

If you aren’t familiar with what we are talking about, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, referees would use the magic spray to keep the defensive wall 10 yards from the ball during free kicks. However, the inventor of this curious spray was more concerned with enhancing the game than enhancing his bank account.

Inventor Heine Allemagne currently holds an international patent for this invention and gave FIFA the free use of it at the World Cup. You read that correctly, this inventor let FIFA use his invention for free. But, why? Because he was driven by his love of the game and helping referees instill discipline.

The invention at its core is very simple. It allows a referee to spray a line of biodegradable foam that comes from vegetable oil in a line on the field. This line then indicates where the players must stand during a free kick. You might be thinking that by the end of a game the field would be covered in foam lines. However, once the line is sprayed, it disappears within a minute or two.

The idea for Allemagne’s invention originated when he became more and more irritated with the time-wasting that occurred during every free kick as players encroached towards the ball. 

So, he took matters into his own hands, or for the sake of this soccer blog, his own feet, when he developed the first prototype that was used during the minor Copa Belo Horizonte in 2000.

As time went on, this invention slowly but surely made its way into higher levels of soccer and two years later, the Brazilian FA (CBF) gave permission for the spray to be used after it was given a 100 percent approval  rating from the referees who had previously used it.

By 2012, the magic spray had already undergone a slew of technical modifications along the way and was tested in 18,000 professional games. Finally, it was approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

Most inventions come out of necessity or as a solution to an ongoing problem. The problem that the invention of the magic spray solved was keeping defenders behind a certain line during free kicks. With its popularity and ability to keep players in line, literally, we think that this won’t be the last time that we see the magic spray during a soccer match!

Copyright Inventionland 2014

Sources:

https://in.reuters.com/article/2014/07/07/soccer-world-spray-idINKBN0FC2AM20140707

Media:

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTcUMlY0dk4S-XTEu2Z_JsXg14juTSTOTTUanFZrHRR53H_4IST

https://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Vanishing-Spray-Used-at-the-2014-FIFA-World-Cup-to-Prevent-Cheating-446674-2.jpg

The post Learn More About the World Cup’s Magic Spray! appeared first on Inventionland.

In a galaxy far, far away, or, perhaps just in Surrey, England, a prop designer by the name of Andrew Ainsworth from Shepperton Studios invented a 12-inch plastic prop.

However, this wasn’t just any plastic prop. In fact, this super-rare prototype of a Star Wars Stormtrooper helmet from the original Star Wars film will go on sale to the public!

This iconic helmet is only one of six that were made during the 1977 filming of the first of the six film series, Star Wars: A New Hope.

This prototype, however, is slightly different from the ones that were used in the film, due to the fact that the ribbed back section of the helmet was removed from the final design because it would make the helmets difficult to make.

The origins of the stormtrooper helmet stem from Britain and these six prototype helmets are considered to be a “work in progress.” Furthermore, these helmets show the evolution of the stormtrooper helmet.

Ainsworth got a hold of the helmet after a private collector from the United States gifted it to him when filming was complete.

This rare prototype is creating quite a stir among Star Wars collectors. In fact, it was conservatively estimated that this piece of Star Wars history could sell for $20,000 or more.

Only time will tell how much this helmet will be sold for on Thursday, July 31 and although you might not want to pay that kind of money for this rare prototype, fans everywhere can catch a glimpse of the stormtrooper helmets in the upcoming film that’s set to release in December 2015!

Copyright Inventionland 2014

Sources:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2703050/Now-Force-YOU-super-rare-prototype-Stormtrooper-helmet-original-Star-Wars-film-goes-sale.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Media:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Star_Wars_Logo.svg

The post May the Innovation Be With You: Star Wars Prototype appeared first on Inventionland.

Designer Rebecca Stoner was given the task to create a wall feature for York Hospital’s Breast Imaging Department in the Magnolia Centre, which is part of the Cancer Care Centre. She collaborated with the laser cutting and engraving specialists at Cutting Technologies Ltd. to complete this project. Through the usage of a laser-cutter, Stoner created a design of magnolia flower heads, flowers, leaves, butterflies and bird motifs that were cut into the metal. Next, Cutting Technologies Ltd. used their world-class machines to cut out the delicate and intricate designs on mild steel panels. Once the designs were cut, they were then powder-coated in order to give them a cream color. The cream color was used to replicate a lace-like quality that would stand out against the vibrant red hospital walls.

The idea behind this artwork came from the creativity of Stoner, who wanted to create a pattern that was not only bold enough to be seen as people passed by but, when looked at closely, someone could see the great detail of the piece.

Laser cutters can create a variety of objects. Just like a laser cutter allows us to make different prototypes and objects, it also helped an artist turn her creative idea into a beautiful, artistic reality that people enjoy and appreciate on a daily basis.

Copyright Inventionland 2014

Sources:

https://www.industrial-lasers.com/articles/2014/06/laser-cut-artwork-lifts-hospital-patients-spirits.html

Media:

https://rebeccastoner.co.uk/portfolio/magnolia-centre-metal/

The post The Creative Power of Laser Cutters appeared first on Inventionland.