When you start to think that there is nothing more to invent, someone will necessarily prove you wrong. People haven’t settled on Mars yet, but they have a plan that sounds pretty real. Artificial Intelligence is not more apprehensive than human’s brain yet, but it has already beaten the world Go champion. The possibility to invent reaches as far as human imagination does.
Time Magazine keeps track on the latest inventions. Here are 25 best inventions of the outgoing year according to the editorial staff.
Jibo
People have been designing robots for a long time, but Jibo is different. He was invented to become the part of daily life, helpful and completely integrated. He knows everything – from the location of the nearest coffee shop to the distance between the Earth and the Sun. He remembers and recognizes faces, listens and distinguishes voices, talks, and dances. Jibo always has a couple of jokes and interesting facts to tell. He always learns and continues to surprise. Unlike Amazon Echo or Google Home, he is more animated – rather a character from Pixar animation movie than a smart speaker. Some consider it genious, while the others will admit that it is too creepy. In any case, Jibo reconsiders and reshapes human-technology relations. And it costs less than Apple laptop – $899.
eSight 3
“Glasses that give sight to the blind” sounds like an efficient fantasy twist. However, this device brings challenging for the legally blind navigation to another level. Unlike a guide dog or a cane, eSight 3 can mimic vision. On practice, it works like the most powerful glasses ever invented, capable of recording imaginary and enhancing it in something legally blind can see. Thus, the wide range of activities, including sports, becomes off-limit. The device is highly priced (around $10,000) and not available for everyone, but more than 1,000 patients are already using it, and it is already considerably cheaper compared to the previous version. Let’s wait for a couple of years, most likely, it will become commonly used with time.
Halo Top’s New Ice-Cream
Six-dollar guilt-free ice cream may sound ast least suspicious, and certainly too good to be true. Corporations like to label their products as “healthy,” leaving people completely shocked if they check out the ingredient. Nevertheless, Halo Top and its CEO have the right to call their newly invented dessert “healthy”: enriched with protein, low-sugar, with only 30 calories per pint, it is still tasty and nutritious.
Fenty Beauty
The new makeup brand attracts attention by the single fact that its creator is Rihanna. The superstar believes that makeup is a secret weapon, and she is ready to share the secret. If you analyze the trends and products, you’ll notice that makeup companies feature a bunch of products for women with light and medium skin tone – different from Rihanna’s and different from the majority of Nigerian women’s. Fenty Beauty, on the contrary, offers makeup shades for EVERY skin tone. 40 shades of foundation were designed and launched this September, and Rihanna was 100% involved in the process. The collection immediately started selling out at Sephora. It inspired women-targeted campaigns in a number of other makeup brands. Currently, Rihanna is focused on launching a new collection and promises something challenging.
Ember Mug
Have you ever made a cup of coffee and then got so busy that you completely forgot about it? Some of us do it quite often. Well, cold coffee doesn’t taste that great in case it was not made purposely. You do not get glacé or frappe; you just get a bad version of what should be an enjoyable cup of coffee. And do not even consider putting it in a microwave and heat it! Ember Technologies CEO has probably experienced this, too, so the company has designed the perfect mug, which keeps the optimal temperature of your drink. It is made of stainless steel and has ceramic coating, but the secret is in a charging saucer: it guarantees temperature control for the unlimited time. The smart mug costs $79.95.
Thyssenkrupp MULTI
Sounds like something from sci-fi film, and actually it works like one. Thyssenkrupp MULTI is the new kind of elevator, which moves not only up and down, but also sideways. Maybe, it was inspired by Charlie and Chocolate Factory movie, or maybe it is the act of care for people with special needs, but MULTI is real now. It reminds a high-speed train, mounted inside the building. The possibility to move in different directions is going to change the approach to architecture greatly. It is only a project so far, but the company is going to debut with real elevators in Berlin by 2021.
Apple iPhone X
The brand new Apple’s device is the smartest smartphone so far, the most sophisticated one, and the most expensive, too. Wide screen stretches from edge to edge, the camera allows unlocking the phone with the face picture, and the processor optimized for augmented reality – a decade ago this was something unreal for an existing gadget. You may argue that iPhone X is not the only device enabled with the functions mentioned above, but it is the only one that features all of them simultaneously. “Looking to the future” forced the designers to some unexpected decisions, for instance, killing the home button – the most popular multi-purpose navigation tool. Apple’s executives admit that have a clear vision for the next generation of iPhones.
Nike Pro Hijab
Living in the society that goes global so fast people often forget paying attention to traditions and culture differences. Instead of trying to start the revolution for the rights of Muslim women, which is very controversial issue, Nike chose the other way to empower Muslim athletes. A hijab is the obligatory accessory for every woman, and athletes are not an exception. The problem with wearing hijab during competition is in the material: too heavy fabric causes discomfort, while too light fabric can fall off. What is even worse, fastened the wrong way, it makes a person feel like she is going to choke. The new Nike’s hijab (priced only $35) is different – made of light fabric, but tight; it is breathable and helps to manage sweat. Symbolically, Nike’s invention is the significant investment in shaping the image of the new Muslim woman.
Forward Clinic
As a rule, people decide to visit a doctor only after they get sick. A group of Americans decided to change this. Paying only $149 a month, a person becomes a member of the clinic that redefines preventive care. Here, doctors aim to pre-empt medical issues, and the clinics looks more like a high-end gym. Every visitor gets unlimited access to all possible screenings and testing, while regular visits help to take care about personal health in the longer perspective.
Adidas Futurecraft 4D
The new shoes are engineered to boost the performance. In other words, this footwear is invented to help you run faster, jump higher, and pivot better. The secret is in the midsole, perfectly tailored to the needs of a wearer in flexibility, cushioning, type of impact etc. These sneakers are produced with the help of 3D printer, so it is possible to make the modifications that would take weeks for traditional shoemaking in a couple of hours. Actually, the midsole printing process takes up to two hours, meaning that Adidas can produce the new sneakers even in stores in the future.
Tesla Model 3
The new Tesla model showed that electric cars have high chances to become the mainstream. How did it happen? The company managed to resolve two major issues: neither it is too expensive, nor with the too limited range. To be more specific, the car is priced $35,000 and can run 200 miles without charges. The number of orders is record-breaking: around 1,800 every day, but the company does everything to keep up with the demand. Very likely, Tesla Model 3 is one of the opportunities to combat climate change, as well as similar vehicles, which use batteries instead of gasoline.
Willow Pump
The new trend in breastfeeding is not a frequent thing. This year, Willow presented a portable wearable breast pumps, which make the breastfeeding much easier, especially for moms on the go. Among the other advantages, it does not use air-horn-shaped collection bottles and does not remind a loud swirling machine. Battery-powered, quiet, and small enough to slip in a bra, it is much more comfortable and makes the procedure less time-consuming. The device is considerably pricier compared to traditional models – $480 and higher – but it is only the first version, and it is certainly going to revolutionize the industry.
Nest Secure
Alphabet company offered a new home security solution. The new system is designed to be much simpler to use. Unlike traditional home security systems, it is focused not on keeping intruders out, but on the convenient and smart managing. For instance, the Secure hub can be disarmed with the help a key fob instead of entering a pass code. These fobs can be programmed within time frames, which is convenient in case you have hired a babysitter. The special app helps to manage the system distantly. The guarding features are also included: an intruder will be greeted with 85-decibel alarm, while monitor sensors alert about opening a door or a window.
NASA Mars InSight
NASA does everything possible to prepare to life on Mars. In 2018, they are planning to launch the craft, which will provide the fullest insight to the interior of the red planet. The trains to Mars depart every two years (yes, this is how excited scientists are about relocating to the other planet), and NASA is going to use the window in the next year to send InSight on the scout. This time, it will act in a different manner than previous space rovers: InSight is going to stay in one place due to its purpose to study the surface, planet’s geology, and thermal history. The craft has 728 days to gather the data – just enough before the 2020 departure. Besides, InSight is going to send 3D panoramic pictures. We hope at least some of them will appear in open access.
Oculus Go
This one was designed by Facebook. The VR headset, priced $199, does not require any extra gadget to work – it operates on its own. The device is a portative wearable computer, maybe with slightly less sophisticated functionality compared to more expensive models. Nevertheless, Facebook focused on creating accessible VR device instead of making it more realistic to experience and less realistic to purchase. And this is very good news.
Tasty One Top
One of the most popular cooking channels, BuzzFeed Tasty, started to turn complicated recipes into short and visually appealing video tutorials. And they did not stop here: the next step was the best cooking companion ever: Tasty One Top. It is the induction cooktop, which syncs with Tasty smartphone app and guides the cooking process. A built-in sensor helps to control the temperature to make sure that you prepare the right medium-rare steak. Suchlike devices are not new on the market, but Tasty One Top is equipped with the arsenal of recipes, ranging from cheeseburgers to home-made ice-cream. There are many people, who gave up on their cooking skills, but this $149 device makes cooking easy and is very empowering.
DJI Spark
You will hardly surprise anyone with a drone taking into account their popularity, which has been growing recently. But what about a drone, which will help you take better photos, videos, and (get ready!) selfies? Well, they are called “dronies” if you use DJI Spark. This device is very easy to operate, as it supports gesture recognition, and complicated to crush thanks to an array of sensors. Besides, it is relatively cheap (only $499), and enough advanced to put any selfie stick to shame.
Molekule
This is the first air cleanser, which uses nano-technology to destroy indoor pollutants. As a rule, air filters “trap” pollutants in a filter, but Molekule is too tough: it destroys them altogether. The special nanofilter reacts to all toxins with light, which prevents the further growing back. All you need to do is to change a filter once a year. The device costs $800, and the users reassure that improved air quality is certainly worth it.
Michelin Vision Concept
The vehicles are getting smarter, so they need smarter details – like airless tires. At least, Michelin is certain they do. The company decided to demonstrate the potential of tire technology, and it was the impressive discovering. Besides, such tires are produced from recycled materials and may be 3D-printed and accommodated to the specific road conditions. But what is more impressive, such tires will last up to 20 years. No wonder that the technology promises to become the mainstream in the nearest years.
Norton Core
Following on from the smart technologies, there is an offer for your Smart Home: with $279, you can buy a Wi-Fi Router, which will safeguard your house. How is it possible? Every day, people acquire more smart devices, which make their lives easier, and almost all of them can work only in online mode. Logically, what works online can be hacked, but not if you use Norton Core. While most of Wi-Fi routers have trouble even with enabling connectivity, this one is aimed to neutralizing any threats. The device tracks abnormal activity and cuts a device from the rest of your home if something suspicious happens. In addition, it constantly updates the software and looks like a Star Track gadget.
Bempu
Bempu is the baby-saving bracelet. The smart wristband was designed to deal with hypothermia, which is one of the most common reasons of baby death in Asia. Sometimes it happens that babies start to lose body fat, which is so significant for their survival in such early age, and it leads to the wide range of health conditions or even death. In the areas with few resources, family do not always have an opportunity to attend professional clinics. Very often, parents do not notice the signs of danger until it becomes too late. Bempu monitors baby’s body temperature and sounds alarm in case it is lower than normal, so mothers can warm them. This devise has already saved 10,000 newborns.
Nintendo Switch
Good news for gamers: there is a console that lets you play anywhere. Nintendo’s president have confessed that he understands, how disappointing is the situation, when you have to stop playing a game due to some reasons you cannot control. With $299 Nintendo Switch, you can just change the form of your console, turning it into a tablet, and play on the go. When you come back home, you can change it back into a docking station and use a joystick to continue playing. Such flexibility is the only thing consoles lacked, but they do not now. The gadget debuted in March, and Nintendo has already sold 7.63 mln of consoles.
VICIS Zero1
Other gamers, rugby players, have got stronger and safer helmets. Sam Browd, a pediatric neurosurgeon, started looking for an alternative approach to head protection for athletes. To replace hard plastic helmets, he decided to experiment with materials and use flexible polymer. As a result, he found out that such helmets will work like car bumpers, reducing the force of collision immediately on impact. 38 professional and college teams already use these innovative helmets and have much lower chances of brain injury.
GreenWave 3D Ocean Farm
Green Wave believes that the future of farming is in growing the ocean food. Land farming faces more challenges every year and becomes very problematic. Besides, we cannot forget about greenhouse-gas emissions. Meanwhile, the oceans go overfished. Doesn’t it sound like an obvious solution? Besides, it is a tasty solution. The industry has a huge potential and is capable of enriching the diet with proteins. The practice is already used in New England, California, and European coastal countries.
Fidget Spinners
Even if you are surprised to find this one in the list of the revolutionary 2017 inventions, do not even try to deny the power of this Ultimate Distracter. They are harmless, and they spin forever. Well, they also distract children from lessons or parents’ talks, but parents can also use fidget spinners as stress relievers. To make a long story short, the spinners have flooded the market and became one of the most popular toys on the market. Some manufacturers even made serious claims about the benefits for children with Autism and ADHD.
2017 has introduced a lot of innovations – useful, revolutionary, unpredictable, and sometimes crazy. Let’s hope 2018 will accept the challenge and keep impressing the world.
