If you’ve been impressed by built-in filters and GPS functions in your digital camera, be prepared to have your mind blown by these ground-breaking concepts…most of which will never make it past the mock-up stage.

Turns out Lytro isn’t the only one that wants to change the camera industry. There are a veritable slew of concept devices out there that may someday show up on store shelves. While these cameras all have innovative designs and

eye-catching features, the possibility them of ever making it into consumers’ hands varies widely.

Throwable panoramic ball camera

First things first: The team behind this patent-pending technology will need to find a better name for the device. But aside from the lack of a catchy title, this toy-meets-camera is upping the ante when it comes to panorama shots. The camera itself uses 36 fixed-focus 2-megapixel camera phone modules and includes the ability to measure launch acceleration. This is housed in a foam ball so when you throw it in the air, exposure is triggered once it reaches its highest point.

So if you thought sweep-panorama technology was an upgrade, the ability to capture full spherical images will blow your mind. Not to mention the fact that tossing a camera in the air is part of the process. You’ll literally be able to shoot from a place impossible for a human photographer to get to: Mid-air. Check out this video of the device in action.

Nikon’s Multi-ball

The Throwable panoramic ball camera wasn’t the first to encase a camera in a circular object, however. Industry veteran Nikon grazed that territory earlier this year with its Multi-ball concept camera. The idea behind the Multi-ball is the same: Shooting multiple viewpoints at once to more entirely capture the atmosphere of your setting. Of course, this device isn’t quite as pliable as the previous, and just from looking at it we can tell you tossing this thing is out of the question. That automatically makes it less fun.

WVIL

Allow us to introduce you to the WVIL, or the Wireless Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens camera. This concept device from the Artefact collective turned a few heads at last year’s CES, even though (and let us reiterate this once more) it is not a real product.

The WVIL takes cues from the increasingly popular micro-four-thirds and interchang-eable lens lineups and molds them with the efficiency of the smartphone camera. “It is the inevitable solution for photographers who expect the power of modern mobile devices but who also demand uncompromised quality,” the design team explains.

And in a very mobile move, the ICL camera uses multi-touch input and includes Instragram-inspired filters for automatically editing your photos. Fittingly, all of the features you would expect from a smartphone are also available with the WVIL. Really, it’s just the inverse of what we’re growing more and more accustomed to: Phones that three-fourths phone, one-fourth camera. Flip that around, and you’ve got the WVIL.

Rotor digital camera

We could write an ode to the mode dial: It’s one of the view features that has persisted from the beginning of SLR cameras. While it’s been moved and minimized, reimagined and rebuilt, any camera worth its weight includes a model dial (or two). Well the Rotor digital camera has eight. Instead of

a flat backside panel with a clock-face mode dial and button controls, the Rotor features a stack of dials, ridding the camera of buttons and switches altogether (save one tiny power control).

Disorienting? Sure. Interesting? Absolutely. It gives the camera and unified look and feel: Instead of working horizontally on top and vertically on the back panel, it seems like the camera would offer a consistent way to manipulate your settings. Now whether or not the Rotor is practical, we’re not so sure. Muscle memory would make for some pretty difficult habits to break.

The gap between science fiction and science fact is narrowing daily. Here’s a look at five emerging technologies and market and society trends that scientists at IBM’s research lab think have the potential to change the way people work, live and interact during the next five years.

Power from the people

Anything that moves or produces heat has the potential to create energy that can be captured, Big Blue’s scientists said in their sixth annual “IBM 5 in 5″ look at what’s in store for mankind in the near term. Walking, jogging, bicycling. The heat from your computer or the water flowing through plumbing.

Scientists believe that advances in renewable energy technology will allow individuals to collect this kinetic energy, which now goes to waste, and use it to help power homes, offices and cities.

On a personal level, while you’re riding your bicycle to work, devices on the spokes of your wheels could be recharging batteries you could later use to power some of the lights in your home. On a larger scale, IBM researchers in Ireland are looking at ways to understand and minimize the environmental impact of converting ocean wave energy into electricity.

You are your password

Each person has a unique biological identity. Your biometric data—facial definitions, retina scans and voice files—will be composited through software to build an individual’s unique online password, IBM researchers said.

Referred to as multi-factor biometrics, smarter systems will be able to use this information in real-time to safeguard your identity.  You will no longer need to create, track or remember multiple passwords.

In the future, IBM scientists said, you will be able to walk up to an ATM and securely withdraw money by simply speaking your name or looking into a tiny sensor that can recognize the unique patterns in the retina of your eye.

Mind reading gets real

Mind reading may make the leap from science fiction to real life sooner than expected, the researchers in Armonk, N.Y., said. IBM scientists are among those researching how to link your brain to devices such as a computer or smartphone and be able to control inanimate objects by just thinking about it. If you think about calling someone, for example, the smartphone would then dial that number.

Scientists in the field of bioinformatics have designed headsets with advanced sensors to read electrical brain activity that can recognize facial expressions, and the thoughts of a person. IBM researchers believe that within five years we will begin early applications of this technology in the gaming and entertainment industry.

Digital divide closes

In five years, IBM said, the gap between information haves and have-nots will narrow considerably due to advances in mobile technology; by then 80 percent of the current global population will have a mobile device.

This will empower people without a lot of spending power, they believe. In India, IBM used speech technology and mobile devices to enable rural villagers who were illiterate to pass along information through recorded messages on their phones. With access to information that was not there before, villagers could check weather reports to help them decide when to fertilize crops, to know when doctors were coming to town, and to find the best prices for their crops or merchandise.

Junk becomes gems

In five years, unsolicited advertisements may feel so personalized and relevant that you’ll think spam is dead. At the same time, spam filters will be so precise that you’ll never be bothered by unwanted sales pitches again.

IBM said it is developing technology that uses real-time analytics to make sense and integrate data from across all the facets of your life such as your social networks and online preferences to present and recommend information that is useful only to you.  From news to sports to politics, you’ll trust the technology will know what you want, so you can decide what to do with it.

by Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer at InvestorPlace.com

Come 2012, we will be a mere three years and 10 months away from the events of the movie Back to the Future II. Frankly, there’s a lot of ground to cover between now and then. Nike (NYSE:NKE) still needs to make shoes that can actually tie themselves (the Air Mags announced in September certainly don’t count.) Mattel (NASDAQ:MAT) needs to manufacture skateboards that hover. AT&T (NYSE:T) needs to start making phone booths for video calls. Fax machines need to become relevant again. And flying cars need to become common.

Actually, at this point, the only thing from that movie’s future that seems likely is a new Jaws flick with 3D graphics.

So technology isn’t necessarily up to par with Robert Zemeckis’ terrifying commercial vision. That doesn’t mean 2011 hasn’t left us feeling like we live in the future. The technology industry has released some wildly exciting goods this year. Here are four of the top consumer tech innovations of 2011:

Apple’s Siri

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is many things, but innovative is not one of them. Really. Tablet PCs existed before the iPad. Research in Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) enjoyed brisk business with its BlackBerry smartphones before the iPhone. Nintendo did touchscreens years before the iPod Touch. What Apple does excel at is transforming existing technology into desirable cultural commodities.

Its virtual personal assistant in the iPhone 4S, Siri, is likely to do for voice recognition apps what the iPod did for MP3 players. That is to say, expect voice recognition to be a key feature in gadgets of every stripe by the time 2015 rolls around. Expect Siri to be a brand that survives until then, too.

Amazon’s Kindle Fire

It’s still the early days for Amazon‘s (NASDAQ:AMZN) new $200 tablet, but buzz and strong sales during the holiday period indicate that the world’s biggest online retailer has, if not an iPad killer, at least a real iPad competitor on its hands. Why the Amazon Kindle Fire makes our list of innovations, however, is more to do with Amazon’s business model than the device itself.

Whereas Apple’s iPad is a capable computing device that can be used as a work tool in multiple industries, the Kindle Fire is little more than a portal to Amazon’s many retail operations, both physical and digital. It is the machine that puts the Amazon Prime premium subscription business (with its streaming video), its Kindle e-book business, its digital music sales and its by-mail retail business in the palms of users. The entertainment device and catalog are finally a single object — all sold at a low, consumer-friendly price. Genius.

Microsoft’s Xbox TV

Mark this one down as having great potential, but not necessarily the success just yet. Starting this week, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox 360 owners can access live television content from a number of cable providers. This means Comcast Xfinity and Verizon FiOS subscribers can view a number of channels directly through the Xbox rather than through a separate set-top box for their TV.

Microsoft’s service could become the future model of premium television services, putting streaming video options like Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), digital storefronts like Zune and traditional cable television all in one machine. Others have played at this, but Microsoft might have the real deal.

Activision’s Call of Duty Elite

Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) has had a rough time getting the Call of Duty Elite premium subscription service off the ground. COD Elite is a for-pay social network that tracks stats for players of the company’s massively popular Call of Duty video games, as well as gives access to add-on content to those games. Despite access problems since its Nov. 8 opening, more than 1 million people signed up for the $50-per-year service in its first week.

The service makes this list for reasons similar to Amazon’s Kindle Fire — it is an entirely new business model for what originally was a retail-only product. ATVI has successfully melded the revenue stream of subscription-based persistent games like World of Warcraft with a popular annual retail event. Call of Duty is becoming an international pastime rather than a product.

Surprise yourself! Take a look at the top 10 unusual and innovative personal transportation concepts available for the commercial use today. Most of these are aimed for recreational use, although some have found their use and application in various industries. Once concept vehicles, these are now all available for a price. The question is, can you afford it?

1. The Flying Car

The Transition is the vehicle that converts from a street-legal automobile to a Light Sport aircraft in 30 seconds. A 100 horse power, four-cylinder engine powers both the craft’s propeller for a maximum airspeed of 115 mph and rear-wheel drive to above 65 mph when on the road. The Flying Car can use its front-wheel drive on roads at ordinary highway speeds, with wings folded, at a respectable 30 miles per gallon.

Once it has arrived at a suitable take-off spot – an airport, or adequately sized piece of flat private land – it can fold down the wings, engage its rear-facing propeller, and take off. The folding wings are electrically powered. When they are folded, the craft easily stores in a home’s garage. Requires a Sport Pilot Certificate to operate. Price: $350,000

2. The Personal Submarine

Right out of a James Bond movie, this mini submarine is designed for just 2 people, and can descend to a depth of 1,000 feet. Safely and comfortably seated in a complete-ly transparent, climate-controlled acrylic pressure sphere, you can enjoy the view of coral reefs, shipwrecks, and the sea floor, dipping even into the mesopelagic zone, with a chance to see exotic, bioluminescent species such as lanternfish.

With a maximum speed of three knots, The Personal Submarine is powered by a 120- and 24-volt battery bank that provide up to six hours of continuous undersea adventure. A VHF radio provides surfaced communication and its underwater telephone communicates while submerged. It is equipped with a suite of standard instrumentation, including a barometer, thermometer, hygrometer, depth gauges, fluxgate and magnetic compasses, mechanical clinometers, pressure gauges, and a GPS receiver. Price: $2,000,000

3. Martin Jetpack

If you thought that the flying car was the top innovation in personal transporters, think again. The jetpack has been a major goal of the aerospace industry for over fifty years. Now the first jetpack is available for commercial use. The Martin Jetpack is a result of years of input from a team of engineers and developers worldwide. Originally designed with the leisure market in mind, Martin Aircraft Company has seen strong demand from a wide range of markets, including military, civil defence and recreation.

The Martin Jetpack flies for a reasonable amount of time (30 minutes) at a reasonable speed (up to 100 Kph). It consists of a purpose-built gasoline engine driving twin ducted fans which produce sufficient thrust to lift the aircraft and a pilot in vertical takeoff and landing, enabling sustained flight. Extensive safety features include a rapid deploying parachute, roll cage structure and shock absorbing undercarriage. Price:  $100,000

4. WaterCar Phyton

The ultimate big boy’s toy, this amphibious car will never go unnoticed. It’s a monster on the road, with smooth lines, grunty performance and gleaming paint. Once you drive WaterCar Phyton down the boat ramp into the sea, it turns into the jetboat that flies across the water.

The Python has highway-legal and nautical lighting built in. It needs to be registered both as a car and a boat. Price: $170,000.

5. Rinspeed sQuba

Unlike the WaterCar Python, Rinspeed sQuba is the first car that can actually ‘fly’ under water. It is this submerged stabile flight at a depth of 10 meters that sets the “sQuba” apart from military vehicles.

While the latter can go under water, they are limited to driving slowly over the submerged ground.

It is a sure bet that the “sQuba” will steal the show from any ‘Baywatch’ beauty on the beach. And easily, too: You drive the car into the water and the car floats. That is, until you crack the door to let the water in. Immediately the Rinspeed sQuba starts on its way to the underwater world. The occupants’ breathing air comes from an integrated tank of compressed air that divers know from scuba diving.

For safety reasons the vehicle has been built as an open car so that the occupants can get out quickly in an emergency. Created by Frank M. Rinderknecht and his partners, sQuba is a truly unusual vehicle. Base price: $175,000.

6. The First Carbon Chassis Velocipede

This Carbon Chassis Velocipede is the first human powered vehicle made of carbon fiber monocoque chassis, the material used in Formula 1 automobiles, making it ultra light and fast. At a mere 60 lbs. (27kg), this three-wheel vehicle combines the low-impact exercise benefits of a recumbent bicycle with the stability of a three-wheeled cruiser and the aerodynamics of a concept automobile. The cockpit is a slipstream airfoil shape that ensures smooth and consistent speeds.

Inside there is a recum-bent seat with adjustable pedals for a customized fit that maximizes comfort and pedal power efficiency. To give it a real car feeling, it even has some of the real car details such as headlight, tail light and turn signals – these are all rechargeable. Price: $14,000

7. The Two Person 60 MPH Hovercraft

A truly extraordinary vehicle, this Personal Hovercraft is able to reach locations traditional watercraft cannot access, traveling briskly over over smooth surfaces such as ice, water, sand, mud, snow, and short grass, in addition to short distances over asphalt, concrete, or dirt roads. Powered by a 60-horsepower gasoline engine and an efficient 12-volt battery, the craft can go at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. A handlebar-style tiller allows the rider to control the direction and speed, with 60 separate nylon/hypalon coated skirt segments providing a durable base. It is even able to climb small, smooth inclines up to 20%. Requires registration as a boat. Two-person, 400 lb. payload capacity. Price: $17,000

8. Personal Helicopter

Mosquito XE is the One Person Helicopter, typically used for fun, recreational flight, but can have applied use in ranch herding, running a farm, or getting access to far out fishing spots, among other things. Designed by John Uptigrove, a mechanical engineer by trade, who wanted to make an ultralight helicopter that offers the ability to fly without all the cost and hassle of dealing with air regulations. Mosquito XEL are only permitted to carry five gallons of fuel and hence have a range of just 60 miles. The XE can carry 12 gallons of fuel and so has a range of 150 miles.

Uptigrove believes safety is of essential importance in aviation and supports this by giving his customers discount of US$2,000 on providing proof that they have had helicopter training from a certified instructor to at least the “solo” signoff, or a minimum of 10 hours dual instruction. Complete Helicopter Kit sells for $32,000.

9. The Crusoe Craft

This is a high tech, expedition quality, multi-purpose adventure sailing craft made of modern materials, and with ingenious use of space and propulsion methods. The Crusoe Craft is a fully adaptable go anywhere, do anything mobile home and equipment locker.

Powered by a 9.9HP four-stroke motor the hybrid diesel engine charges the batteries and the intelligent battery management system switches the diesel on automatically when the batteries dip below 75% capacity. The practical nature of the lightweight Crusoe 18ft Trimaran, with its multiple sealed stowage hatches and huge deck area is impressive. Its shape is accordingly very efficient in different ways. The combination of fine bow entry, wide beam and flat hull profile enable the boat to travel with little or no wake when under sail or power.

The adaptable design comes to the fore when you see the number of sailing platforms into which The Crusoe Craft readily adapts. If you’re a fisherman, the Crusoe’s large non-slip deck-space is suitable for fly, spinning or sight fishing. Furthermore, it has a spacious 4m wide “walk-on” deck area that spans the mid-ship’s area. Fishing, kite boarding, surfing, diving or other sporting equipment is easily stowed, courtesy of the sturdy racks and numerous sealed hatches. Price: from $45,000

10. The Motorized Monocycle

The first monocycle was invented in Marseilles, France in 1869. It has come a long way since to The Motorized Monocycle of today, made in Netherlands. Powered by a 31cc engine, it propels a single rider up to 25 MPH.

The wheel is steered by the passenger leaning to one side or the other. It operates by using a centrifugal clutch on its inner steel frame to engage the larger outer flywheel that rolls on the ground with a rubber tire. The frame is made of fiberglass with a cushioned seat for riders up to 275 lbs. The motorized monocycle can run for up to two hours on less than a 1/2-gallon of gasoline. Price: $13,000

Who says learning can’t be as fun or as addictive as playing games? Board games for children are incredibly effective learning tools as they promote teamwork and boost self-confidence, while ensuring fast-paced learning inspired by healthy competition. Today there are many games available to educate the young; here we have selected the top ten award winning educational games for children.

1. Blokus Board Game

Fun for both kids and adults, Blokus is a strategy board game that challenges spatial thinking. Bright colors and simple rules make it ideal for ages five and up, but adults will certainly be engrossed by this unique and challenging game. Winner of over 20 prestigious awards.

Blokus encourages creative thinking and has received a Mensa award for promoting healthy brain activity. It is simple to understand, but the game’s complexity is revealed shortly after everyone begins to play. It can be addictive, even for those not normally into abstract games. Blokus is a catalyst for spatial thinking, as players form images in their mind before placing the pieces on the board. Children and adults can play together for hours of competitive family fun.

2. Set Game

SET is a card game of quick recognition and deduction. It is for one or more players, for ages six and above. Winner of many awards and featured on the New York Times bestselling games page. The object of the game is to identify “sets” of three cards. Each card is unique in its four features; color – red, green or purple, symbol – diamond, squiggle or oval, shading – solid, striped or open, and number – 1, 2 or 3. A “set” consists of three cards on which each feature is either the same on all of the cards, or different on all of the cards. This game contains complete instructions for play, 81 cards, and a durable plastic carrying case.

3. Passport to Culture – The World Culture Game

This is a unique, exciting board game where players circle the globe, uncovering the mysteries of our amazing world. A game that’s an international education unto itself, Passport to Culture™ is part quiz, part cultural exchange, and all fun.

Designed for ages 10 and up, with fascinating, fun-filled questions about people and places, food & drink, world treasures, greetings and gestures, or customs and traditions for all of the world’s countries and encounter surprising scenarios while traveling the globe. A Cultural IQ™ score measures each player’s global smarts, and no one ever really loses because everyone always learns something new. Passport To Culture™ is the Winner of Museum Tour

Product of the Year award and Winner of National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.

4. Totally Gross Game
Winner of iParenting Media Award, this unique game engages kids to learn and understand all the major scientific disciplines. From biology to chemistry to zoology, there are over 220 science questions and activities.

A dose of gross helps science make sense! Did you know snot keeps your lungs clean? Or that some bullfrogs are cannibals? Learn this and more as you travel around the game board answering queasy questions. Land on a Gross-Out space, and you may have check another player for toe jam or describe the last time you threw up! Every time you answer a question or complete a Gross-Out, stretch your slime on the score line. Stretch it to 10 and complete a Lab Experiment to win the game! Full of action and information, it’s an educational game they’ll actually enjoy. Designed for ages 8 and up.

5. Mars 2020 Board Game

Learn tons of facts with over 500 multiple-choice questions related to space science and technology. Choose a spaceship and a crew member and try to land on Mars first. Along the orbital path, players must answer questions to fix malfunctions that occur. Kids love the “cool” spaceship playing pieces and becoming a crew member. Mars 2020 captures the excitement, the challenge and the science involved in reaching the red planet. Mars even continues to orbit throughout the game, which provides an added challenge. Unexpected messages from Mission Control add excitement to the play. Ages 8 and Up, 2-6 Players.

6. The Play’s the Thing Board Game

This is a game to play and preform. Kids will learn about Shakespeare in a way that captures the spirit of his work and the pure fun and excitement of the theater. So besides learning the characters, plots and quotations from Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar, players will experience the stage mishaps and the much anticipated reviews! knowledge of Shakespeare is required. Ages 8 and Up, 2 – 6 Players.

7. Where in the World Game

Where in the World was introduced 16 years ago it launched the trend in geography games. Today, this game remains the most comprehensive world geography games that families and classrooms love. The game has been updated to include the latest facts about every country in the world including capitals, major imports and exports, languages and religions. With 6 games in one, it’s possible for players of all abilities to play together providing challenge and a world of fun for everyone. Ages 8 and up, 2 – 6 players.

Six games on six levels of play offer players of all ages a complete up-to-date tour of world geography. Learn the names, locations and vital facts of all 196 countries! Players will learn facts about every country in the world including; country name, continent, flag, capital, population, rank in size, literacy rate, monetary unit, languages, religions, imports, exports and seacoasts. Game includes 6 region maps (Africa, Asia, Europe, North American, South America and Oceania), 196 country cards, 6 wild cards, 1 spinner, 1 bodies of water reference board, 120 playing pieces and instructions.

8. The Whole Brain Game

This fun, fast paced interactive game challenges the mind, creates outbursts of creativity and causes the players to “Think out of the Box”. The concept is simple: It’s not what you think, but how you think it. Players are challenged to take unlike words or situations and create similarities, as one playing example. It causes the players to spontaneously think and shout out responses to the questions rapidly to beat the clock.

A mentally and intellectually stimulating, educational and fun game all at the same time! “Right brain” activity is stimulated as players generate ideas, use their imaginations and work out patterns and relationships. At the same time the “left brain” quickly structures responses using language, logic, sequences and details. Great for families, parties, schools, and anyone that dares to think differently.

9. Level Minded

Level Minded is an exciting, educational, competitive family game designed to promote social and moral development. This balancing contest of principles, values and beliefs is an educational tool, winner of many awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children Products Award, Child Magazine’s Preferred Choice Award, iParenting Media’s Best Products Award. Ages: eight and up. Number of players: 2 to 8. Players score points by navigating a ball on a unique three dimensional labyrinth path and writing the most “level minded” responses to questions about ones personal principles, values and beliefs. The questions asked can be quite challenging, but since the players written responses are submitted anonymously, the answers can be clever, insightful or just plain silly. Level Minded includes the Junior Principles, values and beliefs deck, of questions but maybe played with multiple card decks.

10. Stare!

Winner of the National Parenting Center Seal and the Teacher’s Choice Award for the Family, this is a fun game for kids that develops memory, concentration and imagination. For 2 to 6 players (up to 18 players with teams). Ages 6-12.

Kids can test and train their visual memory skills and have a blast doing it. In Stare! Junior – the game – players have 30 seconds to stare at an image on a card. Images are varied and fun for kids to look at. It might be a movie poster, funny photo, comic, work of art and more. When time is up, an opponent will flip over the card and ask the player a series of questions about the image to see how much they can recall. What was the clown holding in his left hand? What color was the girl’s hat? Guess right and advance on the game board. Kids can play individually or on teams. The revised Second Edition includes larger image cards containing all new images and questions! Includes 960 questions on 160 image cards, game board, sand timer, playing pieces, die, and instruction sheet.

250,000 Americans are living with a spinal cord injury and  53% have lost the use of their legs. The rest, have lost the use of their arms and legs.  Now bionic breakthroughs are changing the game for these people, helping them to move around like never before.

It’s a bionic breakthrough that even left the kids on glee speechless! Robotic legs that allow those who never Although it seems like Sci-Fi, it’s now reality for Jean

Altomari.

“It feels like I’m standing up on my own power,” Jean Altomari told Ivanhoe.

A Cancun dream vacation turned into a nightmare when a jeep accident left her paralyzed from the waist down.  Before a motorized exoskeleton, called ReWalk, Jean had not taken a step in two years.

“It feels like I am leaning forward. I’m deciding I’m going to stand up, and I just stand up,” jean said.

“It has motors that basically move your hips and knees and allows an individual who is paralyzed to walk,” Dr. Alberto Esquenazi, a director of the Moss Rehab Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory in Pennsylvania, and principle investigator for ReWalk trial, said.

Patients wear a backpack with a small computer, and use a remote control on a  wrist device to tell the suit to stand up, it receives feedback from motion sensors at the joints. The result has Jean moving on her own but for some of the 18,000 people in the U.S. who can’t use their arms or legs, even moving their wheelchair can be an insurmountable task.

A diving accident left Jason Disanto paralyzed from the shoulders down.  Now he’s one of the first to test drive new technology that could change his world.

“This is the only technology as far as we know that can help a potential user to access computers, drive wheelchairs control their environment all with one single device,” Maysam Ghovanloo, Ph.D.,an associate professor at Georgia Institute of Technology

It’s called tongue drive, an operating system that works through a tiny magnet, piercing the tongue by touching different teeth the user sends commands through the headset to be processed by a smart phone.

“So to initiate for example, a right command, they would hit their tooth over on the right side, just a simple tap of the tongue,” Erica Sutton, MA, the study coordinator at Shepherd Center, explained.

“It’s a big deal for anybody who’s bound in a wheelchair because it’ll give you more independence,” Jason Disanto said.

And that’s what both of these game changers are all about.

“It’s real exciting,”  Jason said.

The ReWalk is FDA approved for use in rehabilitation centers and is expected to be ready for consumers in 2012. A clinical trial is now underway for patients to test out tongue drive in their homes.

10. Computerized Scoring- Bowling

9. Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)- Auto Racing
Used in Formula One racing, this 35-kilogram car part “recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car’s braking process,” according to Formula One’s website.
In Lehman’s terms, it takes the energy used when a car brakes and uses it later on to boost acceleration.
KERS was first introduced in 2009, then later    dropped in 2010, and is now optional for teams in the 2011 season. The main reason a team would opt not to use a KERS is because of the weight it carries.
The reason why this device makes the list, however, is because it carries two advantages. One is that KERS makes for a more environmentally friendly race, something that F1 is aiming to take seriously in the near future. The second motive is it gives drivers the chance to use their boost to either catch up to the leader down the stretch, or pull away from the pack in the final lap, leading to more exciting finishes.

8. Radar Gun- Baseball
Some may say that homerun review should succeed this, but since baseball is a very traditionalist sport and homerun reviews rarely happen, the radar gun gets the nod for baseball.
Every single pitch speed is documented and analyzed by the pitcher’s team and opposing batters. The radar gun allows pitchers and their organizations to track development and pitch speed can either make or break a pitcher looking to make it into the Majors.
Hitters arguably use the radar gun more than pitchers do, because they can use it to examine the other starting pitcher and even use it to test their bat speed just as religiously as a pitcher would test their pitching speed.

7. Multi-Faced Above the Rim Shot Clock- Basketball
Back then in the days of yore, shot clocks were set on the ground in the corner of the court. This was an obvious problem since it could be a visual obstruction if there are five or six players standing in the way.
Then came the above the rim shot clock, but even that had its downfalls. If someone was setting up for a baseline three-pointer, who knows how much time is left on the clock since it only faces the other basket.
Now the shot clock that you most commonly see is the three or even four-sided shot version, giving players and even fans an all-around view of how much time they have to launch a shot. This 360 view may not be the saving grace for every play, but it has evolved for the better through the years and has made the game a whole lot better.

6. Above the Net Camera- Hockey
Definitely not the most complex device on the list, but definitely one of the most game-changing.
Having a camera above the net is primarily used to see what goals passed the line, if it beat the clock, etc., just very basic events. The camera-evidence has changed the outcome of numerous games, all for the better since it gives an indubitable answer whether or
not the rubber passed the line.

5. Photo Finishes- Olympic and Animal Racing
Photo finishes aren’t only in horseracing, they are also in track and field. Sure electronic timers are helpful, but when two runners are tied up in the same hundredth of a second the officials go to the cameras, which today shoots 3,000 frames per second. That’s why in some races two athletes or horses display the same time, but one gets crowned over the other.  With 3,000 frames a second, there is no way to go wrong, unless you have really poor vision.
This innovation also tackles every type of racing, whether it be swimming, running, and especially horse racing.

4. The Television- Golf
That tube you were watching thirty minutes ago? That has played a major role in the sport that sticks to its traditions the most.
Over time we have all heard a story or two about a viewer that has called in to the tournament and reported an infraction by a golfer (talk about snitching). Controversy and fan-ethics aside, the television by far has made its mark in the sport of golf.
Golf is just about the only sport where this can happen on multiple occasions, because you don’t see   basketball fans call in a traveling call every ten seconds.
Golf is a very slow-paced and rule-oriented game that can be changed by just one long distance phone call by   a very avid golf junkie.

3. The Headset- Football
Whether coaches use it to communicate or slam against the ground is up to them, but either way the headset is the best technology football has to offer.
The uses can be infinite, all of which are helpful. Coaches up in the press box can see aerial view of the game, and with the headset they can relay information to the head honcho who may not be able to get that look at ground-level.
Coaches to players on the sideline is another frequent exchange that occurs with the head
piece, because after all the guy in the box definitely can see formations and tendencies the quarterback can’t see from behind the center. In the pros the quarterback and defensive coordinator can have a speaker in their helmet, which reduces confusion of calls sent by a messenger and also knocks down the barrier of crowd noise.

2. Cyclops and Hawkeye Tracking System- Tennis
Do you think John McEnroe would argue with a machine too?
These two computerized ball trackers have changed the game of professional tennis forever, leading to precise calls and elimination of arguments.
The first computerized system to come to surface was the Cyclops, a system of six infra-red beams that rest just a centimeter above the ground. If the ball was hit inside the court, all other beams outside the court would shut off. If the ball was hit just outside the court, a sound would project and the play would be stopped. Easy as that.
A little more cutting-edge technology that is more commonly used now is the Hawkeye. The logistics of how this system works is a little more difficult, but in a nut shell its multiple cameras from several angles that project ball flight. The cameras then calculate a 3-D image of where the ball lands and is up to the player to challenge after close shots following the umpire’s initial call.

1. Heart Monitor- Training
What a lifesaver, literally.
Heart monitors help out the average jogger and all the way up to the elite athletes of today. These devices play a huge role in progressing in a workout plan if used to target certain heart rate. Without a heart monitor it would be difficult for athletes to track progress and sustainability of their exercise program.
Some heart monitors also can be used to alert athletes of dehydration and malnutrition. A simple wrist or strap-on mechanism that can warn people of an unsafe workout or
be a key factor in every exercise session gets the number one piece of technology in sports to this day. Technology that can enhance the calls of games are cool and helpful,
but anything that promotes safety and progression at the  same time is hard to argue with.

By PopSci.com

In the five years that Popular Science has run the Invention Awards, we’ve seen a lot of remarkable things come out of people’s garages. Some are designed to treat the sick or save the planet. Others are simply fun to play with. But no matter what the purpose, the brilliance of the inventions and the dedication of the individuals behind them are always inspiring.

This year’s 10 honorees carry on the tradition: a pen that can screen for prenatal diseases for less than a penny, a machine that uses a boat’s exhaust to treat onboard waste, and even a jet-propelled body board light enough to carry from your car to the water. Each of this year’s inventions takes on a different challenge—and solves it in its own ingenious way.

The Stark Hand

Created by Mark Stark, The Stark Hand prototype provides an ingenious, comfortable, and very inexpensive alternative to the hook his friend Dave Vogt had worn all his life. With the new hand, Dave can now catch balls and grip wine glasses.

The BodyGuard

David Brown designed The BodyGuard, a crime-fighting armored glove, as built-in self protection. The demo model has a camera, a wrist mounted stunner and lots of room for future improvements. The idea came to David while talking to his friend, Kevin Costner.

The PrintBrush

Weighing in at less than a pound, Alex Breton’s PrintBrush easily fits in a laptop bag and prints on any flat surface, from wood to fabric to plastic. Alex worked on the project for 11 years, but a version with a bonus built-in camera comes out early next year.

The Katal Landing Pad

Aaron Coret and his friend Stephen Slen came up with the Katal Landing Pad after Aaron had a nasty snowboarding accident. The board, which was used during the 2010 Winter Olympics, provides a giant cushioned landing for snowboarders and helps make the sport safer.

Dynamic Eye Sunglasses

Unlike regular sunglasses, Chris Mullin’s glasses block glare instantly with liquid crystal lenses that darken the most where the sun’s light is the brightest. A particularly sunny commute inspired Mullin’s invention.

The Bed Bug Detective

Built to imitate a dog’s nose, the Bed Bug Detective sniffs out bedbugs quickly. Chris Goggin plans to create a model that can detect other pests, too, including mice and cockroaches.

A Prenatal Marker to Screen for Pregnancy Complications

Designed by a college student and his classmates, the Prenatal Screening Kit, or safety pen, helps detect complications in pregnancies at an early stage. The pen will be quite cheap, costing only a third of a cent per use, making it a perfect tool for hospitals in developing nations.

The Zero Liquid Discharge

With a pleasant name for a gross procedure, the Zero Liquid Discharge, or ZLD, completely oxidizes and evaporates sewage from boats, airplanes and RVs. After flash evaporation, the waste leaves as a harmless, odorless aerosol.

Kymera Motorized Body Board

The lightweight Kymera Body Board is Jason Woods’s solution for a timeless problem (for lucky people): how to have  fun at the lake without the hassle of lugging a boat around. The latest version of his motorized body board hits speeds of 25 mph.

The Medical Mirror

While it can’t tell you if you’re the fairest of them all, the Medical Mirror can tell you your heart rate, which is probably more valuable in the long run anyway. A webcam behind the mirror captures variations in reflected light on your face, and an algorithm translates that into heartbeats.

GE’s Kitchen of the Future is chock-full of sensors, interactive controls and is linked to the Internet. It won’t be absurd to one day call your oven or have your refrigerator automatically churn out a shopping list.

“I love the kitchen. It shows how intelligence can invade our lives,” said inventor Ted Selker, who is probably best known for creating the mini joystick found in computer keyboards, including IBM’s ThinkPad, was the director of the MIT’s Counter Intelligence project.

The project, which ended following Selker’s departure in the summer of ’08, challenged students to find technological approaches to functional improvements in the kitchen. These were not the gadgets of late-night infomercials promising a knife that could slice through aluminum cans — in just three easy pay-ments. But devices described in research circles as having ambient intelligence, that is, they have sensors

of all kinds and capitalize on ubiquitous computing.

But it’s not just the research lab where these innovations are being developed. Companies such as Philips and GE have their own versions of futuristic kitchens, too. And if you’re a chef or a wanna-be chef you long for the days when these environments and gadgets will be available at your local Home Depot.

1. Smart Spoon
Hailing from Selker’s own Counter Intelligence project, the Smart Spoon is a gadget that tests for consistency, salinity, temperature and acidity, and sends the information to a computer through a cable connecting the two.

“It teaches you to cook,” Selker says. He points out that it is especially useful for recipes that require a cook to monitor specifics, like the temperature of cooking chocolate.

2. Smart Packaging
Smart packaging encompasses a number of products designed to keep food fresh or properly cooked. Selker calls smart packaging one of the most transformational inventions on our list. For example, salad in a bag lasts several weeks, where in decades past it only lasted a fraction of the time. Replacing oxygen in the bag with nitrogen keeps food even longer, a system known as “modified-atmosphere packaging.” Another packaging improvement comes by way of the frozen TV dinner. Silver cardboard trays are often found in frozen meals, like the microwave pizza dinner. These trays are designed to cook crisp food in the microwave.

3. The Anti-Griddle
The Anti-Griddle is a new spin on the tradition cook top. Instead of heating up sauces and purees, the Anti-Griddle quickly freezes them to achieve a solid outer layer with a creamy inside. The cook top reaches negative 30 degrees Fahrenheit for instantaneous frozen products.

The popularity of the Anti-Griddle came as a surprise to its inventor Philip Preston, owner of Polyscience, in Niles, Illinois. Preston’s company sells constant temperature control equipment to scientists and chefs alike.

“I was just going to build two initially,” he admits. The Anti-Griddle is now one of the products produced and sold through Polyscience. Preston notes the tremendous amount of applications for the product as its key to success, from baristas using the gadget for frozen espresso to bartenders serving frozen shots.

4. Talking Trivet
This oven mitt is another one-of-a-kind gadget created through MIT’s Counter Intelligence project. Through the use of a thermoresistor, the oven mitt can sense the temperature of the food being cooked and the container it’s being cooked in. The Talking Trivet will verbally warn cooks that the food “needs re-warming” or if it is “hot and ready to eat.” The Talking Trivet also sets a timer for when the food will be cooked based on the temperature of the oven.

5. The Pacojet
Pacojet AG has created a gadget that turns any frozen ingredient into a sorbet-like texture in under a minute. After an ingredient is completely frozen, a high-speed blade moving at 2,000 rpm shaves a fine layer off the ingredient with each revolution. The blade shaves layers less than 2 microns thick (Xerox paper is around 100 microns thick). Together, the layers create a creamy moose texture.

6. Gastrovac
Through creating an artificial low pressure, oxygen-free environment, this gadget insures that the foods original texture and nutrient content remains intact. As the atmospheric pressure is restored, the liquid around the piece of food is absorbed in a sponge-like effect.

This gadget can also be used for pickling vegetables by adding brine and your desired foodstuff into the Gastrovac. Before pickling took nearly three weeks, “now it opens up a new realm of virtually instant pickling,” said Preston, whose company makes a similar product.

7.  VV Micro Evaporator
Though similar products are still generally found in labs, Heidolph Group’s small size rotary allows you to bottle up your favorite flavors, literally. Place your desired ingredients in an evaporation flask. A bath of hot water will warm your concoction up with the heating capacity of up to 500 Watts, causing the liquid flavor from your ingredients to evaporate and collect. The result: a clear liquid that mimics the flavors in the evaporation flask.

8. Vacuum Packaging
As simple as vacuum packing sounds, you may be surprised at its uses in the kitchen. Vacuum packaging is part of a method of a cooking known as “sous-vide” in France. The food to be cooked is sealed in a bag and the oxygen is removed. The bag is placed in a thermal immersion circulator (our next gadget) and cooks at a constant temperature for an extended period of time, creating a flavorful and well-cooked end product.

9. Thermal Immersion Circulator
The thermal immersion circulator is the next part of the equation in “sous-vide” cooking. The circulator circulates a warm liquid at a constant temperature, allowing the food to be cooked slowly and evenly throughout. This technique may not be the quickest, but the end dishes prove to be worth the time.

“The circulator is something that has become popular [among chefs],” Selker notes. “You get a really moist end-product.”

10. Augmented Reality Kitchen
Far less a gadget than an entire kitchen revolution, the Augmented Reality Kitchen is a place where “information and function are overlaid,” says Selker.

As part of the Counter Intelligence project, there is only one of these kitchens “and it is at MIT,” he notes.

Through a series of projectors, sensors and other forms of machine intelligence, this kitchen is aimed at re-designing the kitchen and re-defining its components. An image of the shelves of the refrigerator is projected onto the fridge door so cooks can tell what ingredients they have without opening it.