Tiny chiplets the size of a grain of sand could lead to 3D printers able to print the circuitry for devices such as flexible smartphones and smart bandages. In contrast to today's chips, which are made on large wafers cut into individual dies and reassembled on circuit boards, the tiny chips could be printed directly on a surface in precisely the correct location and orientation. The chiplets will be able to function as microprocessors, computer memory and other necessary circuits,...

More secure than eye scans and voice prints, brainwave-based passwords will let users access their data with only a thought. The brainwave password system will be based around a $100 Neurosky Mindset headset that will communicate with the computer via Bluetooth. Volunteers could be asked to wear the headset and imagine a series of specific actions, such as singing a song or kicking a ball, which will allow to recognize the specific brainwave patterns of each volunteer and provid...

A new chip about half the size of a business card will be able to automate all the stages of DNA testing, and could help make personalized treatments more widespread. To being the DNA testing process, a drop of blood will be mixed with a chemical substrate and then dropped onto the chip. The rest of the process will be automatic, as the DNA will be extracted from the solution and the regions containing the SNPs will be cut out and amplified by a technology called PCR. The PCR...

The idea is to create a device to automate the dose and delivery of asthma medication. The device will automatically provide the correctly measured dose of medication when opened by the user. It will monitor the flow rate as the user inhales, delivering a dose of extrafine, dry asthma medication to both the large and small airways. The device mechanism will reset when closed, and the built in dose-counter will let the patient keep track of how many doses remain.

The idea is to develop a navigation system that will guide the visually impaired with auditory cues, creating a sort of map of the area. Visually impaired users will able to quickly acquire information about their location, including path finding through both the virtual building and the actual building, due to the highly immersive nature of the system.

A tablet-based test will be able to detect concussions immediately by analyzing the victim's voice. The software will require that a person first recite a selection of words before the event. Using this baseline, the person will then recite the same words after a potentially concussive episode, which will allow the software to analyze any variations that will indicate a concussion, such as distorted vowels or hyper nasality. The system will also prevent athletes from being...

Firefighters can become easily disoriented in smoke-filled rooms, but a new vibrating helmet will be able to help them navigate nearby obstacles. The idea is to create a helmet by adding an array of ultrasound sensors and vibrational pads to a standard firefighting helmet. As ultrasound pulses are sent out from the helmet, the onboard sensors will analyze the echoes to determine the location and proximity of objects. The information will then be relayed to the firefighter as a...

Drones may become a kinder, more peaceful way for rescuing drowning victims. The robot will carry three life preservers and will be equipped with artificial intelligence, autopilot search and rescue and a wide range of sensors, including a heat-sensing camera to locate victims at night. The victim will be able to call out to the drone once they have been located, triggering it to respond by dropping a life preserver.

The device will increase the odds of recovering a stolen bike by sending location information to a smartphone or computer. Discreetly designed to blend with the water bottle carrier, the device will include a GPS, built-in antenna and on-board accelerometer. Once the device has been activated, it will send an alert to the user if the bike is taken beyond the user-specified boundary, increasing the chances of tracking it down. The device's three-axis accelerometer will also detect a...

The Cooling Cure system will be an inexpensive option for cooling newborns and preventing possible brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) causes death in up to 50 percent of newborns and neurological damage in 25 percent of survivors. The effects of HIE can be mitigated by lowering the newborn's body temperature and maintaining it at a specific range. The Cooling Cure device will be made of a clay pot with a plastic-lined basket and...