The jury of the 2006 Innovation Awards, selected by Business Week magazine, has reached its conclusions. Let’s explore how the world is innovating…
Transportation: BRP, Sea-Doo, Challenger 180
The inventor BRP Design Team (Canada) aimed to design a yacht that harmonizes two deck standards of 5.4 m and 6 m. It accommodates only 8 passengers, maximizing the remaining space.
The spatial effect is enhanced by concealing the storage compartment, minimizing partitions, and arranging seating in an airy manner. The Challenger has become the best-selling boat currently.
Business Product: ResQTec Rescue Device
Manufacturer: VanBerloStudio’s B.V. Client: Zumro B.V.
This device integrates functions for digging, lifting heavy objects, breaking, and cutting through all materials (except diamonds). It can operate in nearly any emergency situation involving accidents, especially compatible with all types of terrain, screws, and connections to other rescue equipment.
Eco-Friendly Product: Waste Rugs
Manufacturer: Tricycle, Inc
Annually, carpets generate a massive amount of waste in the U.S. Moreover, the cost to produce one carpet is quite high: from $250 to $500. A model of SIM carpets and digital fabrics has been introduced for manufacturers. SIM products mimic the color and texture of real materials. These products use less than 95% of energy and water, and are 100% recyclable into paper. They will be produced on demand and will be available in the market soon.
Strategic Product: SIRIUS S-50
Inventor: ZIBA Design, Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio
This strategic product aims to create a new line of satellite radio reception devices. It combines classic radio equipment with modern digital technology. Consequently, the product is very versatile: it can be portable like a Walkman, installed in cars, or on speakers. After its initial launch, Sirius received a very warm public reception, with revenues increasing by up to 250%.
Packaging: Pluma
Manufacturer: Brandia Central (Portugal). Client: Galp Energia SGPS (Portugal).
Pluma is a very lightweight and portable gas cylinder shell. The term “Pluma” in Latin means feather. It is 50% lighter than conventional gas cylinders because it is made of synthetic polyethylene. The inner shell is wrapped and compressed with steel sheet less than 1mm thick. Pluma has an attractive color and very convenient handles for carrying, perfectly fitting the characteristics of household products.
School Product: Tiny Chair
Inventor: Chul Min Kang. Client: Pratt Institute
This tiny chair is made from plastic in bright colors, perfect for children aged 5-8 years. With its round shape, no legs, and no backrest, as shown in the picture, the tiny chair may not make a strong impression at first glance. However, the delicate ingenuity in its design, allowing usage from both sides, will soon win over anyone who sees it.
Environment: Construction Barriers
Inventor: DUCK IMAGE CO., LTD. Client: Productivity Architect Co. LTD (Taiwan)
In areas with strong winds, construction site safety barriers are often easily destroyed. This design can prevent that by using high-strength transparent polymer panels that can withstand winds up to level 16 while also being beautiful and elegant.
There is a tendency to replace traditional site barriers with this type because it is very durable, foldable for multiple uses, and the accessories are easy to replace.
Interior Design: Multi-functional Chair
Inventor: Glen Oliver Loew Industrial Design (Germany) and Steelcase Inc.
THINK is a multi-functional chair aimed at upscale customers. People are tired of automatic chairs with limited control functions that are cluttered on the chair’s frame.
THINK can think for you. It automatically adjusts and balances according to your body movements. It can help you rest your head and lean back by automatically adjusting the height and tilt of the chair. The armrests can slide back and forth for users to work comfortably as they wish.
Exploratory Product: Phone for the Visually Impaired
Inventor: Samsung.
With this phone, visually impaired individuals can send and receive messages with sighted individuals. The message content is converted from text to voice by an operator. The screen and keyboard of this phone use Braille for the blind. With this invention, the visually impaired can enjoy the advancements in information technology.
Consumer Product: Safety Fire Alarm
Inventor: Bresslergroup and SignalOne Safety f/k/a Kidsmart.
This device uses a recorded voice of parents to wake children during a fire and guide them to evacuate. Another feature of this device is that it can adjust the sound frame throughout the ceiling so that the sound can reach the children’s beds from anywhere in the room. It is easy to install and replace batteries, designed with a gentle, harmonious form suitable for children’s rooms while maintaining professionalism and high reliability.
Medical Device: Cybertech MAT Mechanical Advantage Tourniquet
Inventor: Cybertech Medical and Ewing Design Group
This is a new invention applied in armed forces, enforcement agencies, and emergency situations. In addition to meeting the special requirements of the Department of Defense (rapid bleeding control within 1 minute, applicable in cases of limb severance and compact weight), this tool must also be easy to use for everyone in case of an incident.
This tool has been successfully used in confrontations, in the dark, underwater, and in harsh weather conditions.
Computer Device: Touch Card with Voice
Inventor: Touch Graphics, Inc.
The voice touch card system helps visually impaired individuals recognize graphs or charts, something they could not do before. Instead of using a Braille system, users can listen to detailed descriptions of each image on the chart.
This device operates very simply: it only has a movable part (the positioning frame keeps the touch pages from moving), with no buttons or any other functions.
Although designers have yet to address the common issues faced by visually impaired individuals today, this product carries significant social value. In an era of population explosion and increasing rates of visual impairment, the support provided by this system is a meaningful gift in the high-tech age.
Research: Lenovo Visioneering
Creator: ZIBA Design, Inc. and Lenovo Group Limited (China).
Lenovo is the largest computer manufacturer in China, known for its success with affordable computer products. To strengthen its domestic market and compete with foreign products, Lenovo decided to recycle its offerings.
Lenovo hired ZIBA to redesign its personal computers, laptops, and mobile phones to ensure that its product lines are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. This project also allows Lenovo to tap into Western market trends and design sensibilities.
