Good Thinking
Sometimes there are things that defy easy categorization, but that are simply good ideas. Here is where you'll find them.
Latest News
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Heatbox steam-heats your lunch, wherever you are
While having a hot lunch certainly is nice, it's not always possible if you don't have access to an electrical outlet or a microwave oven. That's where the Dutch-designed Heatbox comes in, as it uses an integrated battery to steam-heat your food. -
LUCI adds collision avoidance and anti-tip tech to powered wheelchairs
If you're the user of a powered wheelchair, it goes without saying that you really don't want that chair to tip over, or to crash into obstacles. The LUCI system – which gets added to existing chairs – is intended to keep those things from happening. -
High-tech armband detects user's hand gestures
There are already computer vision systems and sensor-equipped gloves that can detect a person's hand gestures. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have developed an alternative technology, however, that offers some key advantages. -
Reactive Video slows onscreen instructors to stay in sync with viewers
When trying to learn a skill such as judo or yoga from a video, it can be frustrating if you're not able to keep up with the onscreen action. That's where Reactive Video playback comes in, as its slows videos down to match the speed of their viewers. -
ApisProtect tech offers real-time monitoring of beehive wellbeing
With colony collapse disorder continuing to decimate honeybee populations, it's more important than ever for beekeepers to monitor hive conditions. The ApisProtect system is made to automate the process, potentially catching problems earlier. -
XPrize launches a $15-million competition to develop alternative meats
The future of food security, sustainable agriculture and the environment as a whole calls for a lower reliance on meat products over the coming decades, and a newly announced XPrize contest puts this issue center stage. -
Smart basketball hoop gets smaller and higher as users' skills improve
When training for any sort of physical task, it's important to keep challenging yourself as your skills improve. That's the thinking behind a new adaptive basketball hoop, that gets higher and smaller as users make more shots. -
Bottom of the barrel: Worst crowdfunding campaigns of 2020
The bottom of the crowdfunding barrel never seems to dry up. Once again New Atlas pulls on its thickest gloves and boots and wades into that murky world of ideas and innovations that are somehow both half-baked and completely cooked at the same time. -
Solar-powered autoclave designed for use in Third World clinics
While autoclaves are considered essential for sterilizing medical equipment in First World health care facilities, they're often not available in developing nations where access to electricity is limited. A new solar-powered autoclave may be the answer to that problem. -
Liquid-filled window absorbs solar heat by day, releases it at night
While double-glazed windows do help save energy, scientists have tweaked the concept to make it even more effective. Instead of leaving an air gap between the two panes of glass, the researchers have inserted a heat-absorbing, light-blocking liquid. -
Lego Braille and social housing among 2020 design awards hopefuls
A total of 74 projects have been selected for the 2020 Beazley Designs of the Year shortlist. The variety is genuinely impressive, encompassing everything from Braille Lego to an uncensored library in a Minecraft server and a social housing project. -
New technique promises less expensive, quickly-made optical fibers
Optical fibers are already used in many fields, but they would have even more applications if they could be manufactured faster and cheaper. An experimental new process is claimed to deliver on both counts, and it uses mostly existing technologies.