MoreInspiration Newsletter April 2007

Dear CREAX newsreader,

Our MoreInspiration.com database has seen a successful first month with over 1000 registered users. Thank you for your input and interest in MoreInspiration.com. We're convinced we can keep surprising you with the newest innovations each week.

The number of innovative examples at MoreInspiration.com grows each day. Here is our top selection for the month:

P.S. If you do not yet have a MoreInspiration account, click here to create one for free.

SolaTube - light your interior with outdoor sunshine	3D Textile - explores the potential of pattern, materials and 3D
SuperBot - modular robot(s) plug into each other	Light curtain - projects and captures daylight
Outdoor LED - light that doesn't attract insects	Company news

Innovation Highlights

	SolaTube - light your interior with outdoor sunshine
	Solatube improves on the idea of using solar power for lighting, but unlike often outdated and ineffectual skylights, Solatube has the ability to light interiors not directly connected to the outdoors. That means that your dark closets, dimly lit bathrooms, windowless room, or basement apartments are capable of receiving natural light. This is accomplished by sunlight being transported through a highly reflective tube into interiors with minimal energy loss. Not only is the device eco-friendly, the dome-shaped lens is able to take in light at any time of day. http://www.solatube.com/ filed under: energy, lighting, household Property spectrum: Porosity Solid bodies and shapes trend towards increased porosity. Porosity is achieved through the incorporation of hollow spaces or pores. Porosity allows for reduced weight, improved surface area, and the inclusion of active elements. Here, the holes allow sunlight to be directed inside a building.
	3D Textile - explores the potential of pattern, materials and 3D
	Lauren Moriarty designs and manufactures products which explore the potential of pattern, materials and 3-dimensional textiles. Femine interiors are about more than pretty pastels and traditional floral prints, while patterns and colour is important. The simple sophistication of white is also appealing, with textures like lace and pleats adding interest. Sensuality is the key so choose tactile and intriguing materials that cast beautiful shadows. Her Noodle Block range of lighting, cushions and interior cubes came from a fascination for the effects that can be created when a pattern is put into repeat. Each structure can be squashed and bounces back to its original form. These are products with great visual and tactile appeal. http://www.laurenmoriarty.co.uk/ filed under: textile & clothing, household, materials Property spectrum: Shape We live in a three dimensional world, but many of the products we make are limited to one or two dimensions. This trend shows the evolution to a 3D shape. 3D textiles have a higher visual and tactile appeal.
	SuperBot - modular robot(s) plug into each other
	"SuperBot," identical modular units that plug into each other to create robots that can stand, crawl, wiggle and even roll. "Superbot" consists of Lego-like but autonomous robotic modules that can reconfigure into different systems for different tasks. Examples of configurable systems include rolling tracks or wheels (for efficient travel), spiders centipedes (for climbing), snakes (for burrowing in ground), long arms (for inspection and repair in space), and devices that can fly in micro-gravity environment. "Each module is a complete robotic system and has a power supply, micro-controllers, sensors, communication, three degrees of freedom, and six connecting faces (front, back, left, right, and down) to dynamically connect to other modules. http://www.isi.edu/ filed under: building & construction, machines & engines Property spectrum: Multiplication This property highlights the benefits associated with increasing the number of similar elements within a system. Two eyes give a focus, two bins allow you to separate waste types. Many small robots can be combined to form different systems.
	Light curtain - projects and captures daylight
	An autonomous object, the project by Clémentine Chambon is a curtain that protects against daylight at the same time as it captures it to restore it at night. Made of optical fibres woven with cotton threads, it propagates light from LEDs arranged on the top of the curtain. The supply is provided via the rail, used as an electric rail whose box contains a transformer. The curtain is switched on by a light intensity sensor located on the rail so that it only comes on when daylight fades. In a second phase of the development of the project, the energy will be provided by sun captors, a valuable initiative in terms of energy savings. With the light curtain, Clémentine Chambon gives us the possibility of moving from night to day in a magic translation of lights http://www.architonic.com/ filed under: office, architecture, energy, textile & clothing, furniture, lighting Property spectrum: Resources Systems often use the available resources. This curtain uses the available sunlight to light the interior at night.
	Outdoor LED - light that doesn't attract insects
	Wasaki Electric will be unveiling the LED light that is meant for outdoor use sometime this July, featuring a trio of built-in 5W medium and wide LED unit lenses or 15W with the same degree of luminescence efficiency when compared to its predecessors that used 40W units. As most of us with outdoor lights can attest, the unseen UV rays emitted often attract insects by the droves, but these new LED lights does otherwise, ensuring your garden patio doesn't get littered with squashed bugs the morning after. Of course, it would be better if they integrated some form of mosquito repellent inside, but that would be asking for too much. The upcoming LED lights will have a longevity of an amazing 40,000 hours before requiring a replacement. http://www.ubergizmo.com/ filed under: electronics, household Property spectrum: Increasing differences Increasing the number of dissimilar elements in a system can bring additional functionality, improved operability, and convenience. Dissimilarity of elements may be with respect to features, functionality or aesthetics. Here the attraction element in a light bulb has been removed.

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 25th & 26th of April 2007 and the following course for the 20th & 21st of June .

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)


Over the last years, over 500 people subscribed and participated with enthusiasm to the Systematic Innovation Methodology seminars. CREAX trains people both during company-specific in-house seminars, and open training seminars:


Upcoming events
CREAX will be present at the following upcoming events:

15-16/03 - 3rd TRIZ Symposium in Japan
Topic: Directed Variation
Yokohama - Japan

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