MoreInspiration Newsletter July 2007

Dear CREAX newsreader,

It's that time again. Time for the CREAX newsletter, with the best innovations of this month. The highlights of this issue are:

Sony "odo" project	Stairway = storage
Folding helmet	Red toothpaste
Giant liquid telescope on the moon	Company news

Innovation Highlights

	Sony "odo" project
	Sony has unveiled a brave collection of concept devices that never need recharging. The 'Odo' concepts are as good-looking as they are exciting, which is important if they are to ever be produced, and sell well. Although we have seen wind-up torches and radios before, there have not been any aesthetically pleasing, practical concepts for more advanced devices. That's what makes this announcement so ambitious. The Spin 'N' Snap camera, is particularly interesting. You put a finger through each hole, and spin the whole device around its centre. This turns a dynamo and creates the power to take the next photo. Another device in the range is the Push POWER Play device, which is either an image or movie viewer (I can't be sure because the Google-translated site is almost unreadable). What is clear is that there is a roller on the bottom, which generates power as you drag it across the table. There is also a solar panel in the range, which could presumably power the devices if there is ample sunlight. http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/ filed under: energy, computers & accessories Property spectrum: Information Systems and subsystems tend to evolve from requiring external input to becoming self-controlling through the use of feedback mechanisms. The camera is powered by a dynamo which you manually operate.
	Stairway = storage
	It's one of those designs that make you think - why has no one thought of that before? An even simpler version would be to change the drawers with Lids. http://swissmiss.typepad.com/ filed under: architecture, furniture Property spectrum: Porosity Solid bodies and shapes trend towards increased porosity. Porosity is achieved through the incorporation of hollow spaces or pores. Porosity allows for reduced weight, improved surface area, and the inclusion of active elements. Here, the holes under the stairs can be used as an extra storage space.
	Folding helmet
	You've seen the ultimate fold-up bike, now witness the ultimate fold-up helmet. Yes indeed, this amazing little lid miraculously folds into itself when not in use, so you can bung it in your rucksack, your laptop case or even your handbag. More importantly the Stash Helmet will protect your beloved bonce as you whizz along on your A-bike. The Stash utilises injection-moulded ABS, ultra-strong, lightweight exo-shells and shock-absorbing EPS foam liners to absorb impact. http://www.firebox.com/ filed under: sports, leisure Property spectrum: Flexibility Increasing flexibility is one of the most applied properties. Many products evolve from rigid to completely flexible. The main benefits that can be gained from making a similar evolution are better damage protection, more compact folding and the ability to make variations in size. This helmet benefits from the flexibility property by becoming more compact.
	Red toothpaste
	Not exactly new, but in the picture this month is a red toothpaste from Email Diamant that will make your teeth look whiter. Unlike regular toothpaste this one is a bright red colour that will increase the contrast between your gums and teeth. Adjusting the colour of your product can help to emphasise another colour. The red toothpaste colours the gums and in-turn makes the teeth appear white. http://www.santebeaute.fr/ filed under: personal care Property spectrum: Use of colour Why wouldn't you increasing the use of colours of your product. It has many advantages. For example: the ability to make a simple measurement, it can be a warning indicator or it can simply improve the overall aesthetic appearance of your product. Using a different color toothpaste to colour the gums, helps emphasis the white teeth
	Giant liquid telescope on the moon
	This month we selected the submission of Mansour Ashtiani from Delphi. Angel, a leading astronomer at the University of Arizona, is proposing an enormous liquid-mirror telescope on the moon that could be hundreds of times more sensitive than the Hubble Space Telescope. Using a rotating dish of reflective liquid as its primary mirror, Angel's telescope would the largest ever built, and would permit astronomers to study the oldest and most distant objects in the universe, including the very first stars. The task fell to Ermanno Borra, a physicist and liquid-mirror pioneer at Laval University in Quebec who first made the case for a lunar LMT in 1991. Recently, Borra has been experimenting with metal liquid-like films, or MELFFs, that reflect light as effectively as aluminum. http://www.wired.com/ filed under: aerospace Property spectrum: State Changing the state of a product is one of the most prominent properties in Directed Variation. It describes an evolution of products and processes starting with solid matter and then moving to liquids, gases, sprays and finally fields. A liquid mirror can be larger than normal solid mirrors.

Please do not hesitate to send us a great innovation you have spotted. We might include it in our next month issue.

CREAX company news

CREAX seminar
If you enjoy CREAX newsletters, you will enjoy our hands-on Systematic Innovation seminar. Our next 2day seminar is scheduled for the 26th & 27th of September 2007 and the following course for the 24th & 25th of October .

CREAX also offers exclusive company specific seminars. Participants learn how to apply the Systematic Innovation Methodology in their day-to-day job.(more info)


Over the last years, over 500 people subscribed and participated with enthusiasm to the Systematic Innovation Methodology seminars. CREAX trains people both during company-specific in-house seminars, and open training seminars




CREAX Product Box
A picture tells more than a thousand words. Actually seeing, feeling and tasting recent innovation tells more than even a thousand pictures. On a regular basis, CREAX collects innovations and places these in a product box. The goal of visualizing innovations and innovative products is to stimulate the creative mindset of the company and its employees. By visualizing these cross sector products, employees can actually experience innovation.

Each example has a printed label with an explanation of the property and trends following the CREAX methodology. These product boxes are available at an introductory price of €495*. If required, a product box can be delivered to your company every month. For more information or to order a product box, send us an email. The introductory product box contains the following innovative examples:

This months product box contains the following innovative examples:

• Crayola Colour wonder pens only work on special paper
• Spices in sheets for seasoning
• Miniature R/C helicopter
• Liquor bottle with a thermal insulation coat
• Liquid snow chain
• Spray on silk stockings
• Swim wear inspired by shark skin
• Party drink in a metal tube
• Shot glass with 2 different liqueurs
• Medicine dispenser inside a pacifier

(Shipping and tax not included in the price. The actual examples may change due to availability. )

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