CREAX Directed Variation newsletter

Dear CREAX newsreader,

First we wish you all a happy and prosperous 2007. After a short Christmas break, we have found some great examples to share with you.
The highlights of this issue are:

No ink pen - pen writes without ink	Liquid snow chain - polymer liquid that you apply to your tires
Intelligent modelling - generate a multitude of models from one core model	Sounding out landmines - using a sound beam to detect buried landmines
Adaptive material for bicycle helmets	Company news

Innovation Highlights

	No ink pen - pen writes without ink
	The solid metal 'nib' consists of a metal alloy, that leaves a mark on most types of paper. If you use the sort of paper typically used in printers and photocopiers, the pen leaves a mark that looks as if it was made by a pencil. However the line will not smudge, and cannot be rubbed out. Since there is no ink, there is nothing to dry out, so the pen will work just as well in 25 years time as it does today. And of course it never needs sharpening! http://www.grand-illusions.com/ filed under: office, gadgets Property spectrum: Amount of components This property describes how systems can benefit by containing less and less components, while managing to maintain or in some instances actually increase functionality. Removing the ink refill from a pen allows for a single component pen. It also reduces the need for a new refill.
	Liquid snow chain - polymer liquid that you apply to your tires
	Snow Chain is a polymer liquid that you apply to your tires to simulate snow chains. It hardens upon contact with water, and provides additional traction in icy and snowy conditions. Upon hitting dry asphalt again, it will simply erode away. It's allegedly completely biodegradable, so it won't harm the environment. http://www.cbmfast.com/ filed under: safety, automotive Property spectrum: State An objects property can change from being a solid to a liquid to a gas or field. This change can also happen in reverse, from a field or gas to a solid. Each variation in this direction can deliver significant benefits. Changing a solid chain to a liquid makes it easier to apply.
	Intelligent modelling - generate a multitude of models from one core model
	Genometri, a Singapore-based design technology company developing specialized form and colour software. This technology can generate thousands of models from one core model, enabling the designer to browse and choose the most desirable outcome. Genometri can help you out design your competition. The ability to create many designs efficiently and test out their market potential will give your company unprecedented business advantage. Genometri will tailor make design solutions that fit into your current work process, with a training component aimed at letting your staff make the best use of the technology. http://www.genometri.com/ filed under: building & construction, computers & accessories Property spectrum: Automation Automation can vary from human operated to being human aided. Systems tend to become increasingly automated. Intelligent modelling only requires a single input from the user and can then function on itself and generate thousands of ideas.
	Sounding out landmines - using a sound beam to detect buried landmines
	Researchers at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory are developing a highly pinpointed sound beam that can detect buried land mines from a safe distance. The researchers built a prototype detector and tested it at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory Army Corps of Engineers land-mine facility in New Hampshire.They were able to detect metal and plastic mines but said that the system will have to get a major boost in acoustic power before minefield searchers can use it safely. http://www.theengineer.co.uk/ filed under: military & defence, technologies, safety Property spectrum: State Changing the state of a product is one of the most prominent properties in Directed Variation. It describes an evolution of products and processes starting with solid matter and then moving to liquids, gases, sprays and finally fields. Each step in this direction can deliver significant benefits. Detection can be improved by using sound.
	Adaptive material for bicycle helmets
	This month we selected the submission from K.U. Leuven. Researchers from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium have found a new and safer materials for the fabrication of bicycle helmets. By developing the new material, the number of traumatic head injuries could be drastically reduced. The current generation of helmets do not supply protection against the severe head injuries. This new material can change its behaviour according to the impact angle. The scientists say this could be the next international standard for bicycle helmets. http://www.kul.be/ filed under: computers & accessories, nanotechnology, technologies Property spectrum: Activity Materials increasingly evolve from passive to full adaptive materials. E.g. shape memory alloys and thermo chromic materials. This new material can adjust according to the external force applied.

Please do not hesitate to send us a great innovation you have spotted. We might include it in our next month issue.

CREAX company news

CREAX seminar
If you enjoy CREAX newsletters, you will enjoy our hands-on Systematic Innovation seminar. Our next 2day seminar is scheduled for the 21st & 22nd of February 2007.

CREAX also offers exclusive company specific corporate seminars. Participants learn how to apply the Systematic Innovation Methodology in their day-to-day job in an interactive way. (more info)

CREAX official partner for the 5th EB Summit

This year, CREAX is proud to be an official partner to the upcoming European Business Summit, hosted in Brussels. CREAX will also be present as an active exhibitor.

After four editions the EBS has truly become Europe’s most important dialogue between business leaders and policy makers. 2007 is a special year for the EU, as Europe will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. On this occasion we organise an extraordinary European Business Summit on 15 and 16 March 2007 in Tour & Taxis in Brussels.

At its 2006 edition, EBS attracted 2500 participants, among them top-level CEO’s and decision makers. Besides these, 262 journalists attended the event.

For more information, go to ebsummit.org

DIVA session for Katho students
The students of Katho, HIVB, followed a 2 day session on DIVA, our newest generation of innovation tools.
In two days they learnt how to innovate an existing product using the new software tool. Their assignement was to produce a new packaging type for milk, create flexible loudspeakers, design new ice-cream scoops and to find a method for preventing beakers from falling over in the wind.

For more information about DIVA, please visit our website at http://diva.creax.com or mail us at diva@creax.com.

Italian Reseller joins the CREAX network
CREAX recently expanded its international reseller network by welcoming their new Italian partner BD&PM. BD&PM (Business Development and Project Management) supports company owners and managers in bridging the gap between "what we can do and what we would like to do". BD&PM, located in Monza – Lombardy, supports innovation for technological research and increasing value in industrial products.

CREAX will be working closely with BD&PM as they offer CREAX products and services to the Italian market.

Job opportunities at CREAX
This year, CREAX has quite a line up of new projects. This has caused us to start looking for new colleagues. If you are interested in joining the CREAX team, we are looking for the following profiles:

 - Innovation engineer (5 job offers)
 - Business Development Manager
 - .Net Software Developer

Upcoming events
A new year and many new events and seminars have already been planned for CREAX:

13/02 - "You can learn innovation" - Innoveren kan je leren
Kortrijk - Belgium
CREAX will speak from 11:30 - 12:15

15/02 - ILIT comité (VOKA - K.V.K.) at Campbell Foods
The CREAX way of innovating
Puurs - Belgium

21-22/02 - New Product Development in the Chemical Industry
Hilton Amsterdam - the Netherlands
CREAX will speak on the 21/02 at 18:00

15-16/03 - 5th European Business Summit
Topic: Reform to Perform: Europe is our Business
Brussels - Belgium

Miscellaneous

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