The new prosthetic eye will be able to send digital information directly to the nerve cells, allowing a blind patient to read Braille patterns without needing to touch the page. The prosthetic eye will feature a small, glasses-mounted camera, a portable processor and a microchip with electrodes implanted on the retina. The processor will translate the images collected by the camera to electrical signals, which will then be used to stimulate patterns on the nerve cells. With...

Singing in the shower will get a bit easier with a shower head featuring an integrated wireless, waterproof speaker. The shower head speaker will communicate with any Wi-Fi enabled music player up to 39 feet away. The speaker will be magnetically attached to the shower head, and will be easily removed for recharging or for use at other, potentially damp places. The shower head will be powered by a lithium-ion battery, which can last up to seven hours and will be recharged by the...

The bag will be able to charge mobile devices and shift between backpack, messenger bag or briefcase forms. It will include a 54 Wh battery and three USB ports able to charge three devices at the same time. It can be tethered to a smartphone with Bluetooth and will also send alerts to the phone when the bag's battery is running low. The bag's unique strap system will allow it to change forms, and the 360 degree expansion zipper can be opened to create 240 cubic inches of extra space.

The new smart wireless thermometer fits under a person's armpit, making it easier to keep a constant eye on feverish patients. The thermometer attaches under the armpit with a double sided sticker. It communicates with a paired iOS device using Bluetooth, transmitting a regular flow of temperature readings. The device can also be set to send an alarm if the patient's temperature reaches a certain point, and it will store the last 72 hours of temperature readings, even if it is not...

A new "smart" insole could help people recovering from hip surgery or broken legs learn to walk without a limp. The insole features two resistors that measure the pressure of the wearer's foot on the ground, an accelerometer that detects leg movement and a gyroscope that monitors the position of the foot. Data from these sensors is sent to a smartphone, which then creates a real-time profile of the patient's gait and sends the feedback in the form of the user's choosing: visual,...

The idea is to create a dive transceiver that will allow scuba divers to communicate underwater without the need for expensive, specialized masks. The pocket-sized transceiver will use bone conduction technologies to pick up the diver's words and ultrasound to transmit those words to transceivers worn by the other divers. The sound waves will be played back as speech via the unit's bone conduction speakers and the "built-in digital speech conversion technology" will help to correct...

A new range of Wi-Fi SD memory cards adds wireless capability to any compatible digital camera, letting photographers review and share images instantly on smartphones or tablets. The Wi-Fi SD cards feature a SDHC class 10 speed rating and are available in either 16 or 32 GB capacities, which is a larger capacity than any other currently available model. The cards include Direct Share Mode, in which the card's own wireless signal communicates with a mobile device, and Internet Mode,...

The headset will be designed to give first responders the ability to share and access patient data more easily, saving time and improving patient care. The head-worn device will feature a camera and microphone. The applications will be voice controlled, so the responder can look up patient records and enter new patient data by voice alone, and the camera will provide direct video communication between the responder and medical staff, allowing the experts to assess the situation and...

In another example of using the body to power implanted devices, I suggest developing a chip powered by the ear. The power source for the chip will be an ion-filled chamber within the cochlea, which will be divided by a membrane with some cells specialized to pump ions. The imbalance of potassium and sodium ions on opposite sides of the membrane will create an electrical voltage, which, though low, will be the highest in the body. Though the technology is still a long way...

The idea is to develop a self-healing concrete, which could cut building costs by reducing the amount of steel needed to add structural support. Under strain, concrete will develop cracks that will eventually spread and weaken the structure. Why not mix the spores of limestone-producing bacteria and some nutrients into the concrete material. The spores will remain dormant until they are activated by rainwater, at which time they will eat the nutrients and produce limestone, filling...