Why not create electronic earplugs that can selectively block sound, activating only when the noise level hits a certain threshold. Tiny microphones inside the earplugs will be able to instantly block sounds waves that are over the accepted limit. The earplugs will also be able to amplify sounds by 15 decibels just by flipping the built in switch, but even in the amplification setting they will still block sudden loud impact sounds.

Why not develop an implantable oxygen sensor able to continuously monitor tumor growth, allowing for quicker implementation of treatment plans? The device will monitor the oxygen concentration in the tissues surrounding the tumor and transmit the data to a receiver worn by the patient. The receiver will then send the information to a clinician so that the best treatment strategy could be determined.

The idea is to create a wrist device that will use sonar and haptic feedback to help the visually impaired navigate their surroundings without interfering with the user's hearing. The device will be made up of four range finding sensors that will communicate with a microcontroller in order to calculate distances. Servo motors will translate the distances into force feedback on the user's wrist, with the intensity of the force indicating the nearness of the objects. The user will be...

Training dogs to sniff out lung cancer in the breath of humans could lead to an easy, early detection method that could help save lives. The dogs are able to recognize lung cancer in 71 out of 100 samples and also identify the absence of cancer in 372 samples out of 400. The next steps is to identify the lung cancer marker and develop an electronic nose that could be used to diagnose the disease by smell.

The newly developed mChip can accurately diagnose HIV, costs only $1 to produce, and is the size of a credit card. The plastic mChip can accurately diagnose HIV with only a pinprick of blood. The chip takes advantage of microfluidics and eliminates the need for skilled technicians for analysis. The low cost combined with the size, speed, and accuracy could make the mChip extremely valuable for diagnosis in rural areas.

The idea is to create smart sunglasses that can detect and automatically darken bright spots and glares. The lenses will be LCD screens with a light detecting sensor at the nose which will be able to work with a microprocessor to identify the glare. The pixels could be switched on and off to black out certain areas of the lenses and could identify the movements of the user's head and respond to the new areas of glare. The glasses could have applications for people with light...

A breath test for the swine flu could help to not only identify infected people more quickly, but also prevent unnecessary vaccinations. The test will be able to identify the levels of exhaled nitric oxide and isoprene, which are both associated with the flu and viral infections. The new H1N1 test will be one more step along to the way to preventing pandemics and saving resources.

The wristwatch device will be designed to help reduce the nausea caused by chemotherapy without the use of drugs. The transdermal neuromodulation device will be worn on the wrist much like a typical watch. It will offer an alternative to drugs by modulating neural pathways through electrical pulses.

The idea is to develop a pair of glasses able to decipher facial expressions and transmit the meaning to the wearer. This might help people suffering from Autism to better relate to others. The glasses will be made up of a tiny camera which will interface with a computer the size of a deck of playing cards. The camera will be able to track and transmit information about 24 points on the face, then send the information to the computer for comparison with a set of well-defined...

An 'insomnia cap' is supposed to help insomniacs sleep by lowering the temperature of the brain. Increased metabolism in the frontal cortex of the brain is associated with insomnia; by cooling that area of the brain the metabolism is reduced. The idea is to create a special cap that will cool the cortex with tubes of circulating water. The insomniacs will not only fall asleep faster than the non-insomniac people, they also will stay asleep for 89 percent of the time.