A new smartphone-connected thermometer will make checking a child's temperature less stressful while also keeping track of health trends both in the family and around town. The thermometer will be used like a conventional thermometer. It will connect to a smartphone through the headphone jack and make use of the phone's processing power to record and display temperature, which will streamline the thermometer design. The app will display entertaining animations on the smartphone...

To track the movements of sharks I suggest using solar-powered tags able to beam location information to satellites. The sensor-laden tags will be used to track certain endangered shark species in order to understand their migration patterns. Previous tags relied on battery power to remain operative and the batteries would often die before all the information could be transmitted. Because most sharks do not stay long near the surface of the water (where the sunlight would...

In order to reduce the number of shark attacks, I suggest tagging the sharks with a device that will send a Twitter message as a warning to surfers and swimmers. To create so-called Shark Monitoring Network, it is necessary to attach transmitter tags to sharks to track their location along the coast. The tags will communicate with a network of floating monitoring devices that will pick up the signal of an approaching shark and trigger an alarm that will be sent on a Twitter feed....

The heating knee pad will store the energy generated during exercise and release it as heat to help soothe muscles once the workout is complete. Made of 'electro-thermal isolation yarn', the concept device will absorb the heat generated by the body during exercise. A coil and magnet electricity generator will store the heat, and then release it into the pad after the workout-creating a soothing warmth. The knee pad's energy storing feature can be switched off or on, and the...

The idea is to develop an interface able to convey an impressive sense of touch from an array of locations on a prosthetic hand. The technology will feature a custom interface, which will contain and gently flatten three nerve bundles in the arm to maximize surface area. Three cuffs implanted inside the arm will deliver electrical signals from the prosthetic to nerve fibers to simulate the sense of touch. The interface will be able to convey tactile information from 20 spots on a...

The new lasers technology will involve taking advantage of perovskites, a material made from calcium titanium oxide. Perovskites have the ability to form near-perfect , complex crystalline structures from ready-made solutions and at low temperatures.

The idea is to design smart light switch functioning as a sensor to dial in the optimal light levels in the room. The switch will go beyond color-changing, app-enabled bulbs to provide an intuitive lighting-environment. The device's sensor will detect movements, noise, the time of day and the room's ambient light levels, and then automatically adjust the lighting to suit the needs of the moment. Bedtime will trigger the lights to slowly dim, setting a relaxing mood, while...

The sign language ring concept will track the signing motions made by the user and translate them into audio and written text. The system will consist of a bracelet and six rings, which will be stored on the bracelet when not in use. The ring will detect the hand motions and send the data to the bracelet, where the signs will then be translated into spoken word as well as displayed as text on the bracelet's screen.

A new LED embedded carpet will be able to display information such as directions or logos, and offer an alternative to static signs. The carpet will be programmed to change its information based on the time of day, or used as a temporary sign--lighting up to direct people after an event or during an emergency. The ground-level placement of information will coincide well with our tendency to look at the ground while walking, and the LEDs will take advantage of our inclination to...

New sunglasses will do more than protect your eyes from UV rays - they will also harness power from the sun to top off mobile gadgets. The sunglasses will be made from a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses that have been fitted with photovoltaic cells on the plastic ear pieces. The cells will collect solar rays to charge a battery embedded in the frame, and the ear pieces can be removed to reveal a microUSB or Lightening connector that can be used to charge an iPhone.