Have you heard about the Biome floral terrarium? It is controlled by the iPad, and is another step toward combining the technological world with the slower pace of natural cycles. The Biome capsule is made to simulate a variety of growing environments. The climatic conditions of the terrarium are displayed in real time, while light, water, and nutrients can be controlled by iPad or smartphone.

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...

Why not create a thermostat that will keep track of each time the home owner adjusts the temperature, eventually setting itself to the most favored temperatures. The thermostat's heating and cooling cycles will be set by a single wheel, and it will also be controlled from a distance by smartphone. In addition to learning the owner's preferences, its integrated sensors will also keep track of light, humidity, motion, and light. The thermostat will automatically adjust itself...

The idea is to create a portable laundry machine that will be operated by hand crank much like a salad spinner and use zero energy. Ideal for small spaces, mobile lifestyles, and displaced living, the laundry machine will be simple to use. Clothes, water and detergent will be added to the machine to soak. The user will then agitate and rinse the clothes by spinning the crank and draining or adding water as needed. Clothes will be spun partially dry in the same manner. The...

A self cleaning cloth will be able to destroy bacteria and toxins when exposed to light, which could be used to make safer clothing for farmers and medical workers. The cloth could be developed by incorporating the unusual compound 2-anthraquinone carboxylic acid (2-AQC) into the fabric. The compound will bond to the cotton without changing its properties, and produce hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide when exposed to light, which instantly will kill bacteria and break down...

The idea is to create a USB charging device that will flip open to draw power from electrical outlets already fully occupied. The device will open to extend a flat conductive "power tab", which will work via its two holes. The prongs of one of the plugs that will be occupying the outlet will be run through the holes and then plugged back into the outlet. The power tab will draw enough energy to charge a mobile device, sending 1 amp through the USB cable. A flat "power tab"...

The paper thin, mercury free OLED lights will be the most energy efficient kitchen lights. It is difficult to perfect white lights that are powerful enough to be suitable for kitchen use, but the OLED lights are supposed to be as bright as the typical compact fluorescent. They will also be incredibly thin and have a life span of more than 12,000 hours. The system efficiency of 71 lumens per watt will be greater than the standard requirement for undercabinet lighting, and the lights...

The idea is to develop a water reclamation system that will recycle bathroom sink water to use for flushing the toilet, which could save up to 6000 gallons of water each year. The system will consist of a box under the sink that can hold up to 5.5 gallons of used sink water and a pump which will transfer the grey water to the toilet's water supply. Such a system is supposed to save up to 65% of potable water per flush.

The idea is to create a 'magic mirror' that will allow users to scan the internet through their bathroom mirror. The mirror will be able to read the signals of the person in front of it through its Kinect motion sensor. There will be two versions of the mirror- one that will give fashion information based on the outfit the user is wearing, and another one that will provide prescription information when the RFID tag on the medication bottle is scanned. The mirrors will also...

The solar heated clothes dryer will use solar heated water to heat and dry the clothes. To create the heat, roof top solar-thermal collectors will gather the solar energy and transfer the heat to water in a stratified storage tank. Four pipes will lead from the tank to the dryer, which will move the hot water to a tumbler, which will heat it, and move the cooled water back out. A cold internal surface will cause condensation and extract the moisture from the clothes.