Got an idea? Kickstarter may help!
Sometimes it seems like technology is advancing at an exponential rate – a little bit faster every day. The internet has allowed us to exchange information at a rapidly increasing pace (for better or worse), and it’s allowed your average Joe to have a platform that, fifty years ago, he wouldn’t have had without a newspaper, television station, or large corporation backing him.
One of the best examples of this is:
Kickstarter: a website that allows people to create or invent new things without having to convince some corporate bigwig that it’s a good idea… as long as the creator can convince enough people that it’s a good and workable idea. Successful projects have included such futuristic ideas as 3D printers priced for home use, smart watches, pens that can “write” working circuits, and video game consoles. It can be hard to keep up with the thousands of proposed projects, so we’ve collected a few of the more interesting and relevant current proposals here.
Rhino Laces: designed by and for public safety professionals and 100% designed and manufactured in the USA, these boot laces are designed to be unbreakable, cutproof, and fireproof. You can get plain laces, reflective laces, or even laces compatible with military uniforms. (The designers also claim they are resistant to hipsters and zombies, and we all know how pesky they can be.)
JUMP: The smartphone charger that charges itself. JUMP is basically a charging cable and a battery pack for your smartphone all in one small, smart, pocketable package – at less than two inches square, it’s designed to fit into the little coin pocket of a pair of jeans. It automatically charges its own battery when you plug your phone in to charge, so you don’t have to remember to charge an extra device to have a backup battery ready to go.
Silic: A shirt that cleans itself. Too good to be true? It’s hard to argue with videos of a white shirt repelling coffee and juice being poured all over it. Washable up to 80 times, the fabric is imbued with a hydrophobic substance that repels liquids, stains, and sweat. Unlike some water repellents, however, the one they use is safe and non-carcinogenic (so don’t be tempted to spray your clothes with the stuff you spray on your car…).
TEO: a keyless padlock that you can open via Bluetooth. Sound like a strange idea? Think about it: you can use your smartphone to send someone a virtual “key” to any lock, anytime. And you can revoke their access to that key just as easily. Applications might include: letting someone borrow your bike which is locked up at a bike rack; letting the neighbor open your shed to borrow your lawnmower; or allowing only certain employees access to a supply cabinet or file cabinet.
meMINI: a small, wearable camera that lets you retroactively record up to five minutes in the past. So you won’t have a privacy-invading video of everything you ever did, but if something just happened that you need a record of, you can save it at the press of a button. Capture anything from your baby’s first words to the face of the guy that just assaulted you.