The idea is to create a sign language translator able to read sign language gestures and translate them into audible words for the hearing. The device will include a microphone, speaker, soundboard, video camera, and monitor. When set upon a stable surface, the device's system will read the hand gestures of the deaf speaker and process them into sounds that the hearing person can understand. It could also translate a spoken message into sign language displayed on the monitor,...

An integrated chemical chip able to regulate the delivery of neurotransmitters could be implanted in the body to help control muscles chemically. The chip will be built upon previously developed ion transistors able to transport both positive and negative ions as well as biomolecules. By combining two transistor types into complementary circuits similar to traditional silicon-based electronics it is possible to create an integrated chip able to work with common signaling substances...

Goggles able to display information about the area with color-coded outlines will make it easier for partial-sighted people to move through their environments. Visually impaired people often struggle with discerning contrast and depth. The new goggles will feature a pair of cameras mounted on a virtual reality headset and connected to a very small computer. The cameras will scan the area ahead of the wearer and convert the information to digital code sent to the computer. Using an...

The idea is to combine a facial recognition system with a hand gesture recognition system, which could allow users to control their devices more naturally. The technology will use a previously recorded image to recognize the shape, motion and position of the user's hand, and will be able to detect vertical and horizontal hand motions as well as a variety of hand and finger shapes. A wave of the hand will access the system, and it can also be automatically triggered by analyzing the...

Let your friends and family experience life through your eyes with the camera glasses. The glasses will feature a tiny camera in the center able to record audio and 720p video, which will be saved to an SD card. The captured video will then be posted on the video sharing site, which will connect with a number of social media platforms. The glasses will also function as electronically powered sunglasses, with the lens tint able to shift from lighter to darker with the press of a...

New software will help disaster victims find the safest areas of shelter after an earthquake. The software will use existing home broadband routers to determine which structures are still standing in a particular area. That information will then converted to data that can be displayed on Google Maps, providing a real time mapping of disaster areas.

Unlike most waterproof cases, this one will be incredibly thin; so thin that it will be possible to use it in conjunction with another case. Made of polyurethane, it will be only 0.25mm thick yet will remain waterproof down to 32 feet. A clear acrylic panel will cover the phone's display, and the touchscreen functions will be unaffected.

The new smartphone will transmit sound through tissue conduction to make it easier to hear a call in noisy areas. The phone will feature the "Smart Sound Receiver", a piezo-electric actuator that will cause the entire display screen to vibrate. Holding the phone to the ear will allow the sound to travel through both connective tissue and the air in the ear canal, and placing the phone to cover the ear will help block out environmental noises. The phone will also include the...

The new device will detect when you're feeling overworked and modify the work load to remove some of the stress. The device will consist of a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) sensor worn strapped to the forehead and able to analyze brain patterns to determine when a person is multitasking. The system could eventually be used to warn people when they appear distracted or aid workers who typically handle several tasks at once.

The idea is to create a device that will attach to existing earbuds to allow the user to hear ambient sounds, such as traffic and car horns, while still listening to their music. The attachments will include an air channel that will allow external sounds to be heard through the music, without distortion. They will fit on 70 percent of earbuds on the market today.