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https://www.springwise.com Our team of over 18,000 Springspotters sources the latest innovation, startup, and new business ideas from around the world. View today’s best innovations Mon, 06 Aug 2018 11:49:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 https://www.springwise.com/smart-mirror-can-detect-early-signs-of-disease/ https://www.springwise.com/smart-mirror-can-detect-early-signs-of-disease/#respond Mon, 06 Aug 2018 05:20:54 +0000
Student researchers have developed a smart mirror that monitors malignant moles using machine learning algorithms.
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Technology is becoming integrated into our world in more ways than we realize. We have seen our homes transform into spaces rife with innovations to improve our daily lives, such as wallpaper that can detect fire and an eco-friendly smart shower. But technology is not only there to improve the comfort of our homes; student researchers at Cornell Tech have incorporated health diagnostics seamlessly into everyday home décor.
The diagnostic smart mirror scans your skin for any changes that could suggest cancer. Skin cancer can often be diagnosed and evaluated from visual inspection. Such technology speeds up diagnosis time, leaving more room for treatment and therefore saving lives.
Additionally, Reflective Health functions like a two-way mirror, with a display behind it, allowing the user to see themselves alongside a screen behind the glass. Everyday it will take a photo of the users face and upper body, learning their profile through algorithms. Potential anomalies can be referenced through a database of over 3000 photos of moles saved within the system. The system will work without an internet connection and will not save photos to protect user data.
Graduate researcher Evan Kesten and his team have built their second hardware prototype and are still working to finetune their algorithms. As they approach graduation, they hope their work will act as a foundation for future students to continue research. They hope it also highlights collaboration that brings fresh life into so many student projects.
“We think it’ll be a great way to keep combining the best parts of two programs. We have teams of students building out on both sides – the user experience and the medical component,” Kesten says. “I think it has a lot of potential to grow as an internal project within Cornell Tech, until it reaches a point where it’s ready to be explored as a viable product.”
The team believe that one day the mirror will be able to work as a dashboard for doctors to reference in conjunction with patient examinations. This could be a big step in streamlining the diagnosis and treatment process for cancer patients. How else could student innovations revolutionize traditional practices?
Website: www.research.cornell.edu
Contact: www.research.cornell.edu/contact-us
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https://www.springwise.com/smart-mirror-can-detect-early-signs-of-disease/feed/ 0 https://www.springwise.com/floating-park-is-made-entirely-from-recycled-plastic/ https://www.springwise.com/floating-park-is-made-entirely-from-recycled-plastic/#respond Mon, 06 Aug 2018 05:15:51 +0000
A new public space uses repurposed plastic to build a floating park in Rotterdam while its design also prevents more plastic waste from entering the ocean.
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The fight against plastic pollution has never been bigger, with awareness spreading via social media and news outlets. In the past many people were unaware of the impact their single-use plastic consumption was having on the environment and, most notably, oceans and rivers. Now the public is more conscious than ever before. There is an increased demand for systems and innovations to be put in place to reuse plastic and reduce the need for it altogether. One innovation has reimagined plastic carrier bags into sports apparel that can actually be worn. Elsewhere, plastic was used as building blocks in the Philippines for a unique take on repurposing waste.
Now Recycled Park has come up with a new way to reuse plastic by opening a floating park at Rotterdam’s harbour. The landscape demonstrates the potential for much bigger floating landscapes made with recycled plastics in future. Additionally, the organization uses huge litter traps in Rotterdam’s river to retrieve abandoned plastics. The park is constructed in a variation of hexagonal building blocks thought up by students at Rotterdam University. These blocks are hexagonal and are connected with a pen. The building blocks are adorned with greenery for both an aesthetic and nature-driven impact. As a result, fish, birds and other organisms can nest and breed along the green shore.
The floating park contributes to greening the city and improving the ecosystem in the Rotterdam harbour. Recycled Park hopes that with the development of the building blocks, plastic pollution will decrease. The organization is already exploring alternative building materials that can help the cause even further. How could your company’s actions have a positive effect on reducing single-use plastic pollution?
Website: www.recycledpark.com
Contact: www.recycledpark.com/contact
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https://www.springwise.com/floating-park-is-made-entirely-from-recycled-plastic/feed/ 0 https://www.springwise.com/new-spy-drone-boosts-government-surveillance/ https://www.springwise.com/new-spy-drone-boosts-government-surveillance/#respond Mon, 06 Aug 2018 05:10:04 +0000
A new Chinese drone can mimic the flight of birds to perform undetectable surveillance from the sky.
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Researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University in the Shaanxi province of China have developed flocks of robotic birds equipped with high-tech surveillance technology. The ‘spy bird’ programme was first reported by the South China Morning Post. Around 30 military and government agencies are said to already be using the drones for surveillance. The spy birds programme, code-named ‘Dove’ is said to currently be small in scale, but could see wider use in the future in both military and civilian areas.
Unlike conventional drones, the bird drones mimic the flapping action of bird wings. They produce little noise and are realistic enough to be able to fly alongside real birds. This makes them hard to detect from the ground. The Dove drones weigh around 200 grams, have a wingspan of about 50 centimetres, and can fly at speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour for around 30 minutes. They are fitted with a high-definition camera, GPS, and satellite communications links. The wings are driven by an electric motor, and deform slightly when moving up and down. This helps to generate lift, as well as thrust to drive the drone forward. On-board software helps to counter any jerky movements to allow the cameras to take sharp images.
At present, the drones are not able to maintain course in strong winds or heavy weather. They also lack anti-collision capability, which limits their use at low altitudes or near airports. Researchers stress that the bird drones are still in the early stages, although they believe the technology has the potential for large-scale use. Aside from military surveillance, potential uses could include emergency response, disaster relief, environmental protection and urban planning. The bird drones are the most recent robot to be inspired by biological organisms. At Springwise, we have reported on a number of others, including robotic insects and a robot snake that can crawl though pipes. What uses might there be for drones that can mimic animals?
Website: www.en.nwpu.edu.cn
Contact: www.en.nwpu.edu.cn/contactus
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https://www.springwise.com/new-spy-drone-boosts-government-surveillance/feed/ 0 https://www.springwise.com/handheld-location-tracker-works-in-real-time/ https://www.springwise.com/handheld-location-tracker-works-in-real-time/#respond Fri, 03 Aug 2018 05:20:11 +0000
A startup has successfully funded a new technology that provides peer-to-peer, real-time, location tracking without needing phones or internet connection.
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GPS technology has been used time and time again by companies to track users’ locations for various purposes, such as for a travel insurance app. The emergency services have also been seen to use it to speed up rescue times. Now LynQ has developed a new integrated technology using an algorithm that blends GPS, long range and low power radio communication for friends to connect anywhere.
The portable tracker is small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. Ideal for on-the-go use, it clearly points you in the direction of the person you want to find. Once the device detects the person it will also tell you how far away they are. Even if the user has no internet or phone connection, the device will compress the GPS signal to link the pairs together.
Users can link the GPS system to up to 12 devices and function up to three miles from each other. It is the perfect device for friends in large groups as you can set a ‘home’ location or ‘safe zone’. Users are alerted if a member of the group leaves the safe zone. With up to three days of battery from a single charge and military-tested durability, LynQ is ideal for any outdoor activity. The closed, exclusive network means that the users are also protected from external tracking.
Besides being a great way for friends to stay in contact, the implications for safety are huge. It could help parents keep track of their children, locate individuals with special needs or Alzheimer’s or help rescue services. The US Pacific Command have also tested the technology and found it highly useful when operating under radio silence.
LynQ is already in production and available to pre-order on Indiegogo. How else could location tracking further safeguard us in the future?
Website: www.indiegogo.com/projects/lynq
Contact: www.facebook.com/lynqme
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https://www.springwise.com/handheld-location-tracker-works-in-real-time/feed/ 0 https://www.springwise.com/electric-company-creates-individual-carbon-calculator/ https://www.springwise.com/electric-company-creates-individual-carbon-calculator/#respond Fri, 03 Aug 2018 05:15:32 +0000
An electric company has created an app to send live updates on carbon and electricity usages while also altering users when to switch things on and off.
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New Zealand’s Flick Electric Co introduced its personalized carbon calculator for individual customers. Now, people who use the company’s electricity decide on the spot if the carbon emissions are worth the power. The team at Flick wants to help customers understand the impact of everyday usage. Despite many people understanding the importance of sustainable power, few know how much carbon each home appliance actually creates. The company calculates usage every half hour, every day. Customers pay weekly, which is partially how the wholesale prices are made available. There is no need to estimate a month’s worth of electricity usage and pay for an approximation.
Flick customers must have a smart meter already installed in their home. The company offers electricity without long-term contracts and publishes its fees on its website. Transparency is important to the business, and customers can sign up for standard or low user rates. Part of the live tracking of the price of electricity includes a price dial showing the current rate. With the new individual carbon calculator, customers can decide how much they are willing to spend before using any appliances. Additionally, for some daily humor, the app expresses the amount of carbon each action produces in equivalent goat emissions.
From beer brewing to hospitality, industries, businesses and individuals are all trying to reduce carbon emissions. The world’s largest brewer recently introduced its patent for brewing beer just below boiling temperature. That allows the company to reduce water consumption and carbon dioxide waste. The technology is available free of charge to small craft brewers. Large international companies that are direct competitors must pay for the technology. A dramatic new hotel under construction in Norway will combine high design and high sustainability. The hotel opens in 2021 and will be entirely sustainable and energy efficient. How else does increased transparency help citizens make more sustainable choices?
Website: www.flickelectric.co.nz
Contact: hello@flickelectric.co.nz
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https://www.springwise.com/electric-company-creates-individual-carbon-calculator/feed/ 0 https://www.springwise.com/chinese-airport-will-showcase-latest-facial-recognition-technology/ https://www.springwise.com/chinese-airport-will-showcase-latest-facial-recognition-technology/#respond Fri, 03 Aug 2018 05:10:05 +0000
Chinese airport will showcase latest facial recognition technology
New facial recognition software pioneered by two startups will be used for security screenings in a new airport in Beijing.
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Introducing technology such as cameras, sensors and alarms to security processes can improve efficiency in identifying threats and enable faster responses. A new Beijing airport will feature surveillance that uses the latest recognition technology.
With the existing airport in Beijing at capacity, the new international airport designed by architects studio Zaha Hadid will become the fastest growing aviation sector accommodating up to 100 million passengers a year. Introducing the new facial recognition technology will enable a more secure system for security and immigration screenings. Two Chinese artificial intelligence companies are competing in a bid for the contract. The first is Yitu, a Shanghai-based startup that integrates its artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into industrial applications in sectors including security finance, healthcare and transportation. Competing with Yitu is SenseTime, an established AI technology company with 6 branches across China and Japan, including Beijing, Honk Kong and Tokyo. SenseTime’s main focus is computer vision and deep learning technologies.
The airport AI system is likely to work using cameras and access to a national ID database. Through this, the AI will be able to scan and track the appearance of a person and confirm their identity. Furthermore, computer vision will allow airport authorities to track the belongings of passengers. Therefore, if a bag is left unattended, the airport authorities can easily identify whose it is.
Here at Springwise, we have previously published many innovations in technology-enabled security systems. For example in the United Arab Emirates, the Dubai International airport is introducing a biometric security system. The system will use electronic fish with built in cameras in a tunnel-shaped aquarium to scan passengers for facial recognition. Another example is a biometric system from the US that uses finger bone vibrations to authenticate a user and allow secure access. What other technologies can improve safety and create more efficient security processes?
Website: www.zaha-hadid.com
Contact: press@zaha-hadid.com
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https://www.springwise.com/chinese-airport-will-showcase-latest-facial-recognition-technology/feed/ 0 https://www.springwise.com/sensory-enhanced-bracelet-acts-as-indicator-for-sexual-consent/ https://www.springwise.com/sensory-enhanced-bracelet-acts-as-indicator-for-sexual-consent/#respond Thu, 02 Aug 2018 05:20:01 +0000
Sensory-enhanced bracelet acts as indicator for sexual consent
A sensor-enabled bracelet alerts users and designated friends if the intoxicated wearer is unlikely to be able to give fair consent.
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Wearable technology has excelled in popularity over the past five years, with fitness offerings proving the most popular. From the FitBit to the Apple Watch, mainstream options are so popular that if someone doesn’t have one, they definitely know someone who does. Taking fitness wearables to a whole new level, there is even a vest that acts as a smart coach platform for aspiring football players. In addition, some wearables have taken the form of a headset that identifies text and people for the visually impaired using artificial intelligence.
Now, US-based New Deal Design has partnered with startup Buzz to take another practical approach with the launch of its namesake product. Buzz is a sensor-enabled bracelet that operates with an accompanying app to monitor a person’s capacity to give sexual consent. The wearable uses sensors to capture biological markers and provide real-time feedback to help people acknowledge their capacity states. It also sends alerts to the user and their designated friends when reaching levels of intoxication where the capacity to consent becomes questionable. The system provides feedback in the form of subtle lighting cues, vibrations and notifications. Buzz enables users to employ familiar gestures and social cues to operate the product.
Buzz creators hope the physical device will allow people to be present, keeping the focus on having fun and connecting with others, instead of needing to open an app. The app supports this goal with notifications, planning, and remote monitoring. The company hopes college students and young adults, who are likely to consume alcohol on a regular basis and have the opportunity for sexual encounters, will take advantage of the product. It is also hoped the device will act as a catalyst for conversation about sexual consent. How could you utilize wearable technology to optimize your business operation?
Website: www.newdealdesign.com
Contact: www.newdealdesign.com/peek-inside
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https://www.springwise.com/sensory-enhanced-bracelet-acts-as-indicator-for-sexual-consent/feed/ 0 https://www.springwise.com/belgian-supermarket-reduces-food-mile-for-fresh-produce/ https://www.springwise.com/belgian-supermarket-reduces-food-mile-for-fresh-produce/#respond Thu, 02 Aug 2018 05:15:00 +0000
A Belgian supermarket is creating the shortest supply chain possible by growing produce on its roof and selling it in-store an hour later.
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One way to reduce the environmental impact of farming is to reduce food miles. This is the distance that food has to travel as it moves from farm to table. Transportation as a whole represents 11 percent of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. However, delivery from producer to retail contributes to 4 percent of the total transportation emissions.
At Springwise, we have covered a number of innovations aimed at reducing food miles. For example, an in-store garden that lets shoppers pick their own herbs and a shelving unit that allows people to grow vegetables indoors. Now, a supermarket in Brussels is trying to create the shortest food supply chain possible – from its own roof to its shelves. The Boondael branch of the Delhaize supermarket launched the urban farm project in response to growing customer concern about where food is sourced.
The farm produces tomatoes, lettuces and strawberries, and operates year-round using a greenhouse. The products are harvested in the morning and reach store shelves around an hour later. The garden takes up around 320 square meters of rooftop space (3,444 square feet). The produce is technically organic, but won’t receive the organic label as it is not cultivated directly in natural soil. The garden also generates its energy sustainably using solar panels and recovering heat generated by the store below.
The farm does face some challenges. A lack of biodiversity leaves the produce vulnerable to attack from insects. Additionally, weight constraints limit the amount that can be grown. The farm currently produces only a tiny proportion of the supply it needs, but Delhaize hopes that it will serve as a model for expanding the rooftop-to-table project to other stores. In 2016, Brussels launched the Good Food plan, which sets a target of achieving 30 percent of fruit and vegetable production from urban agriculture by 2035. If more supermarkets and other businesses adopted rooftop gardening, that would go a long way towards meeting this goal. What other ways are there to decrease food miles through innovation?
Website: www.delhaize.be
Contact: ww.twitter.com/delhaizebelgium
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https://www.springwise.com/belgian-supermarket-reduces-food-mile-for-fresh-produce/feed/ 0 https://www.springwise.com/startup-offers-loans-to-first-time-buyers-based-on-ai-pricing-prediction/ https://www.springwise.com/startup-offers-loans-to-first-time-buyers-based-on-ai-pricing-prediction/#respond Thu, 02 Aug 2018 05:10:52 +0000
Startup offers loans to first-time buyers based on AI pricing prediction
A startup is using machine lear
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London is notorious for its unaffordable property prices. With the average London home priced at around 475,000 GBP, first-time buyers are finding it all but impossible to get on the housing ladder. This is because most lenders require a deposit of at least 10 percent of the purchase price. Now startup Proportunity would like to offer help. The company claims that its machine learning platform can accurately forecast future house prices in different areas of London. Based on this modelling, the company offers equity loans to boost the deposit for first-time home buyers in areas that will see the greatest growth.
Proportunity will offer equity loans of up to 15 percent of a property’s price. Additionally, buyers can use this loan to increase their deposit to qualify for mortgages with a lower loan-to-value ratio. These mortgages tend to command lower interest rates. The Proportunity loan is interest-only for its five-year duration. After five years, buyers must either sell the house or remortgage it, and repay the Proportunity loan at 15 percent of the current market price. This means that if the value of the house goes up, the amount buyers will need to pay back will also go up. If the price goes down, Proportunity loses money on the deal.
The Proportunity loan is interest-only. This combined with monthly repayments equates to much less than if buyers took out a 95 percent mortgage at a higher rate. The company has raised 2.7 million GBP in funding. They have also secured 5 million GBP in credit to begin making equity loans and further develop its forecasting technology. We have previously seen machine learning used to make predictions and optimize prices. Now it is being used to help determine the best price for home equity loans. Can Proportunity’s model be expanded to help first-time buyers in areas outside London?
Website: www.proportunity.co
Email: hello@proportunity.co
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https://www.springwise.com/startup-offers-loans-to-first-time-buyers-based-on-ai-pricing-prediction/feed/ 0 https://www.springwise.com/tech-explained-3d-printing/ https://www.springwise.com/tech-explained-3d-printing/#respond Wed, 01 Aug 2018 05:25:19 +0000
This instalment of Tech Explained explores the technology behind 3D printing.
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Three-dimensional printing was first invented in the 1980s by engineer and physicist Chuck Hull. He sought to create a way to allow engineers to rapidly create and change prototypes of their designs. Today, 3D printing has exploded from a niche technology to mainstream innovation. The printers come in all sizes – including many designed for use by home hobbyists, and can print in a variety of materials.
Engineers or hobbyists begin by designing the 3D object using specialised software. Once the design is finalised, it is sent for printing. The printer creates the object by building it up from the bottom, layer-by-layer.
There are several different types of printing methods in use. The most common, at least for hobbyists, is filament deposition modelling (FDM). In FDM printing, a solid material, often in the form of thermoplastic pellets, is pushed through a hot nozzle, melts, and is deposited in thin layers to build up the final object. Each time a layer is completed, the nozzle moves up a little bit (or the printer bed moves down) and the next layer is printed on top of it.
In Polyjet printing, tiny droplets of photo-reactive resin are squirted onto the printer bed from several nozzles, in the desired pattern, and then ultraviolet light is shone on the surface to harden it. This process is then repeated hundreds or thousands of times. The big advantage of polyjet printing is that objects can be created in a wide range of colours and patterns. Some polyjet machines can also print with multiple materials simultaneously.
Stereolithography (SLA) and digital laser projection (DLP) printing work in a similar fashion. First, a transparent printer bed is lowered into a pool of liquid resin. Light is then shone up through the bottom of the bed in the desired pattern. As the liquid resin is struck by the light, it solidifies, and forms the first layer of the object. The bed then moves up a few microns and the process is repeated. The only real difference between SLA and DLP is that in SLA a narrow beam traces out the pattern, while in DLP the light is projected onto the resin, creating the entire layer at once.
In selective laser sinstering (SLS), a laser is flashed over a bed of superfine powder in the pattern of the object. When this happens, the powder fuses together to form a layer. More powder is then swept over the top of the layer, and the process repeats. Most SLS printers are very expensive, compared to other 3D printers, but they can produce parts that have almost the same quality as that created by injection molding or other traditional manufacturing processes.
But don’t expect 3D printing to replace mass production anytime soon. Buying a 3D printer is much cheaper than setting up a factory, but the cost to produce each item is much higher. Most 3D printing also cannot match the high-quality finishes of machined goods. Yet, for some uses, 3D printing is already ahead of traditional manufacturing, streamlining a variety of industries such as robotics. At Springwise we have seen 3D printing used for innovations as diverse as creating new bones, popsicles and bridges. In the future, 3D printing may allow people to create almost anything at home, made-to-measure, while saving on shipping, packaging and pollution.
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