MoreInspiration Newsletter August 2007

Dear CREAX newsreader,

It's that time again. Time for the CREAX newsletter, with the best innovations of this month. The highlights of this issue are:

JetPack	Sun Jar
Wind to light	Mushrooms insulation
Caffeinated soap	Company news

Innovation Highlights

	JetPack
	All those promises of a future with jetpacks getting you from here to there have finally come true. Before you start planning your trip to Miami, the amazing JetPack will only give you a 3 min thrill ride. That 3 min ride does not come cheap at $250,000 but it does include free training. Before you start to cry, a new and improved version is already in the works and should get you about 19 minutes of flight time for a reduced price of $200,000. http://www.jetpackinternational.com/ filed under: Property spectrum: Market evolution This trend is focused on the recipients of the products and processes we design. Customer expectations increase with time. In order to remain competitive, the jump to the next step needs to be taken. The JetPack is a personal experience of flying alone?
	Sun Jar
	Made with a traditional Mason jar and high tech energy efficient lighting! Captured inside the jar are a highly efficient solar cell, rechargeable battery and low energy LED lamps. When the jar is placed in sunlight the solar cell creates an electrical current that charges the battery over a few hours. This energy is then used at night to power the three LED lamps inside the jar. The light is diffused by the frosted jar and give the appearance of sunlight emitting from the (warm coloured LED lights are used to give a more natural and warm light). You may have noticed that there is no switch on the sun jar - in fact there are no visible controls at all - there is a clever light sensor inside that automatically activates the lights when it gets dark or lights are turned out!* Mason Jars are not only beautiful but by their very nature they are completely water tight - so the Sun Jar can happily be left outside in any weather conditions. A perfect garden light or night light for a kids bedroom. There is an override switch inside the lid to turn off the light at night and conserve battery life. http://www.suck.uk.com/ filed under: Property spectrum: Rhythm coordination Rhythmic action evolves so that continuous action of a system or subsystem evolves towards periodic action. The pulsating action here is that of the solar energy which is stored and displayed at night.
	Wind to light
	A simple toy which shows how wind energy can be converted to electrical energy. You blow on the rotor to light up the blue and green LEDs. It's more fun and educational than a comparable battery power toy. http://www.nigelsecostore.com/ filed under: Property spectrum: Information Systems and subsystems tend to evolve from requiring external input to becoming self-controlling through the use of feedback mechanisms. This toy shows simple feedback of how wind can be transformed to light.
	Mushrooms insulation
	Gavin McIntyre and Eben Bayer, two students from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have found a more noble purpose for the functional fungi- building insulation made from oyster mushrooms. Greensulate is a fire-retardant board made out of water, flour, perlite, and mushroom spores. The idea came from an assignment which asked that they produce a form of sustainable insulation. The insulation material is grown by pouring the ingredients into 7 by 7 inch molds with hydrogen peroxide. When this mixture is placed in a dark environment, the mushroom oyster cells start to grow into a 1 inch thick panel, which is then dried to prevent fungus from growing. The pair have a working prototype, which in true college fashion, was grown under their beds. http://www.physorg.com/ filed under: Property spectrum: Increasing differences Increasing the number of dissimilar elements in a system can bring additional functionality, improved operability, and convenience.
	Caffeinated soap
	This month we selected the submission of Johan DHaeseleer from Leveraged. Tired of waking up and having to wait for your morning java to brew? Are you one of those groggy early morning types that just needs that extra kick? Introducing Shower Shock, the original and world's first caffeinated soap. Shower Shock is an all vegetable based glycerine soap which does *not* contain any harsh ingredients like ethanol, diethanolamine, polyethylene glycol or cocyl isethionate. So it's a gently invigorating soap.Scented with peppermint oil and infused with caffeine anhydrous, each bar of Shower shock contains approximately 12 servings/showers per 4 ounce bar with 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving. No, we're not kidding and no you don't eat it. The caffeine is absorbed through the skin... http://www.thinkgeek.com/ filed under: Property spectrum:Number of functions This property describes integrating different functions in your product to increase the user convenience. Some of the benefits of adding additional functions are: reducing number of systems required, improved operability and in this soap adding caffeine to help wake you up.

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 26th & 27th of September 2007 and the following course for the 24th & 25th of October .

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





CREAX Product Box
A picture tells more than a thousand words. Actually seeing, feeling and tasting recent innovation tells more than even a thousand pictures. On a regular basis, CREAX collects innovations and places these in a CREAX Product Box. The goal of visualizing innovations and innovative products is to stimulate the creative mindset of your company and its employees. By visualizing these cross sector products, employees can actually experience innovation.

These product boxes are available at an introductory price of €495*. The CREAX Product Box can be delivered to your company every month. For more information or to order a Product Box, send us an email.
*(Shipping and tax not included in the price. Actual examples may change due to availability. )

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