Word: inventors
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Patchwork Inventor: Ellis Developments Ltd. Availability: Now, in England only To Learn More: ellisdev.co.uk It may look like a delicate doily, but the Bioimplantable Device is a rugged internal bandage that helps patients recover swiftly from shoulder-joint-replacement surgery. Made of standard polyester surgical thread, the device has an embroidered pattern that gives it strength and flexibility while imitating human tendons. Once implanted between muscles and bones, the device is never removed; it becomes part of the body as cells grow over it. This technology is also being used to replace slipped disks in the neck...
Walk Man Inventor: Yoshiyuki Sankai, University of Tsukuba Availability: Near future, $14,000-$19,000 To Learn More: sanlab.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp Enter ... Mecha-Grandma! Japanese researchers have developed a robotic exoskeleton to help the elderly and disabled walk and even lift heavy objects like the jug of water above. It's called the Hybrid Assistive Limb, or HAL. (The inventor has obviously never seen 2001: A Space Odyssey.) Its brain is a computer (housed in a backpack) that learns to mimic the wearer's gait and posture; bioelectric sensors pick up signals transmitted from the brain to the muscles...
...Rope That Knows Inventor: Squid Labs Availability: Prototype only To Learn More: squid-labs.com As any fire fighter or rock climber can tell you, a simple rope can save your life-as long as it doesn't fray or break without warning. Because Smart Rope is embedded with electrically conductive metal fibers, it can sense the amount of weight it is bearing and alert users to a load that is too great. A handheld receiver relays any problems to the owner with a warning message. Smart Rope can also be used for mooring boats, securing valuables or in rescue operations. Next...
...Rise and Shine Inventor: Lee Loree Availability: Now, $149 To Learn More: sleeptracker.com Ever wonder why you feel groggier some mornings than others? It may be because your alarm went off when you were in the middle of a deep sleep. The Sleeptracker watch solves this problem by waking you only when you are in a light sleep. Equipped with a built-in motion sensor, the watch can tell whether you are in a deep or a light slumber. (The more restless you are, the lighter your sleep.) To ensure an optimal waking time, allow a window of 20 minutes...
...Power Player Inventor: Sony Computer Entertainment Availability: Now, $250 for PSP; $15 to $50 for games and movies To Learn More: www.us.playstation.com If you thought portable game systems were just for kids, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) will change your mind. This slick black wonder, about the size of an eyeglasses case, has a gorgeous widescreen display, which is great not only for games-including holiday titles like SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals and NeoPets-but movies too. Some 300 films are available for the Universal Media Disc format. Built-in wi-fi makes multiplayer gaming a breeze. What's more...