The idea is to develop a method of removing all amounts of heavy metal from water. The method will work increasing the heavy metal concentration in water to make it high enough to be removed. The technique will combine two current processes. The first process will cause the heavy metals to form a toxic sludge at the bottom of the tank while the second process, known as electrowinning, will send an electrical current through the sludge to transform the metal ions into a stable...

The idea is to create solar window shade that will harvest the sun during the day and use it to power its OLEDs at night. The shades will be made of a semi-translucent, flexible fabric that will allow the sunlight to gently seep in. The integrated solar cells will block the sun while harnessing its energy, which will power the leaf-shaped OLED's. A central cord will control the blind, allowing it to be opened, and the whole shade can be easily rolled up for storage.

The idea is to develop a new fire-resistant fabric made of renewable materials such as clay and lobster shells. The material will be made up of alternating fibers one-thousandth the width of a human hair, which will allow the polymer liquid to soak in and coat each individual strand. The coating will expand slightly when exposed to a flame, creating a protective bubble that will prevent the fabric from igniting. The coating will not affect the fabric's texture, color, or...

Contemporary light bulbs may soon be replaced with flexible sheets of glowing LEDS. The LED sheets will be produced by slicing a gallium nitride wafer to create millions of tiny LEDs. The LEDs will be mixed with binders and resins to form a sort of 'ink', which will be then deposited over a large surface using a standard screen printer. A layer of silver ink will provide electrical contact and a layer of phosphors will be used to change the color of the LED light. The LED...

The 'intelligent T-shirt' will make it easier to keep an eye on a patient's status, remotely monitoring a number of positions and processes. The shirt will be designed to monitor temperature, heart rate, and level of activity, as well as position and location. The prototype will be washable, and the incorporated electrodes will be able todeliver an electrocardiogram. Sensor in the shirt will receive data about the wearer's location and position, which will allow unconscious or...

The idea is to create a raincoat that will not only protect the wearer from the rain but also purify the water with charcoal and chemical filters. The water filters and storage containers will be hidden in the coat while the tubes will be left visible to enhance the aesthetics. The collar of the raincoat will collect the rainwater, which will then be passed through the filters at the back of the coat and stored in the hip.

Why not capture the kinetic energy of subway trains and use it to supplement the power the trains consume during startup. The system would operate through a variation of regenerative braking. A flywheel attached to the rail system would harness the energy of trains as they slow for a station, converting it to electrical power. The harnessed power could then be used to give the train a boost to get moving again.

The application will use algorithms and image based pattern recognition technology to make early melanoma detection instantly available to anyone with an iPhone. The app will be linked to a database licensed from some medical center. The concerned user will simply take a photo of the suspicious mole with the iPhone camera, then upload it to the database where it will be evaluated based on risk. If the mole or freckle seems to present a significant risk the application will recommend...

The idea is to develop special wristbands to help the users keep track of their lifestyle patterns and develop more healthy habits. The wristband monitor will work with a smartphone application and an open platform that will advise the user on physical activity, nutrition, or sleep patterns. The open platform will allow the app to be fine tuned to individual goals, and the social network link will solicit encouragement from family and friends.

My idea is to have bikes with built in solar powered LED lights. Besides using solar, the lights of the bike could also be charged through a cell phone's micro USB. The bike's frame will be made of super light rust free aluminum, and will include an ABUS X-plus cylinder chain lock integrated into the frame, deterring envious thieves.