MoreInspiration Newsletter October 2007

Dear CREAX newsreader,

This months newsletter contains innovative examples of vacuum packing, solar awareness, a flying R/C ray, ionizer screen and a breakdown service:

Vacuum packed mattress	SolarSafe
Festo Air_ray R/C Blimp	ESPACE PUR, anti-dust & ionizer "screen"
Free breakdown service with each refuel	Company news

Innovation Highlights

	Vacuum packed mattress
	Ranges include high quality Reflex and Memory Foam mattresses. The mattresses arrive rolled up for ease of delivery to any room, and then once unpacked they expand to full size within minutes. Because they don't contain any springs, these mattresses all carry long manufacturers warranties against the core material failing, giving you complete peace of mind. http://www.thesleepcentre.co.uk/ filed under: household, furniture, packaging Property spectrum: Flexibility Increasing flexibility is one of the most applied properties. Many products evolve from rigid to completely flexible. The main benefits that can be gained from making a similar evolution are better damage protection, and like this mattress more compact folding and the ability to make variations in size.
	SolarSafe
	Finally, we have found a way not to have to nag your spouse/partner/kids about overexposure. The disposable SolarSafe is waterproof and easy to use. Activate the wrist strap by holding it out to the sun and it will turn purple. Coat it with the same sunscreen you use on your family and when it changes colour's it means it is time to reapply or find some shade. Just make sure that the lotion that you use is also waterproof. http://solarsafe.com/ filed under: materials , personal care Property spectrum: Information Systems and subsystems tend to evolve from requiring external input to becoming self-controlling through the use of feedback mechanisms. When the colour of this strap changes, you know it is time to reapply sunscreen.
	Festo Air_ray R/C Blimp
	Sometimes it takes products like this to really drive home the fact that the atmosphere is really just a big gas ocean, that displays basically the same physical properties as a liquid ocean. Festo took this concept to heart when they designed the Air_ray, a remote controlled blimp that swims through the air just like a manta ray. The blimp is filled with helium, making it buoyant, and contains servos which flap its wings, propelling it through the air and allowing it to maneuver. It also seems to have a movable tail to control pitch. Overall, it makes for a very organic form of propulsion. http://www.festo.com/ filed under: gadgets, toys Property spectrum: Porosity The Air-ray also uses the porosity property. Instead of being solid, the wings are hollow and filled with helium. The air_ray is exceptionally light and is able to "swim" through the air.
	ESPACE PUR, anti-dust & ionizer "screen"
	Espace Pur is an air ionizer that uses dust as pixels and that displays patterns thanks to it, in a very slow motion way. It cleans and purifies the air in architectural spaces. It increases the level of oxygen’s negative ions contained in the ambient air. Once installed, the air’s oxygenation becomes nearly the same as in the mountains. The more there are negative ions, the more the air is purified. As a matter of fact, excessive dust is dangerous for health. Nevertheless, no dust at all decreases our immunity. That's why the system is regulated by the saturation of dust. Once filled with dust, the display is deactivated, and dust can be cleaned on the floor. The installation of the "anti-dust screen" can take place in flats, hospitals, offices, and everywhere where air needs to be cleaned. The aim of the project is therefore to capture dust and organize it on wall panels in order to build pictures that will gently appear on the wall. The panels are displaying compositions of weed that are on the one hand harmful plants but on the second hand have beneficial aspect on the health. http://sketchblog.ecal.ch/ filed under: healthcare, household 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. An ionized screen can create a piece of art from dust.
	Free breakdown service with each refuel
	This month we selected the submission of Joke V.. Total Belgium is offering a 3 week free breakdown service every time you refuel for a minimum of 25 liters. All you need to do is be a member of the Total Club and be in the ownership of a Total Loyalty card. Once you have tanked, you send an sms with your card number to a number and you are automatically informed 2 days beforehand when your coverage starts for free breakdown service. http://www.total.be/ filed under: automotive, retail, telecom 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. This breakdown service helps encourage driver to always tank at the same station for the free service.

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 24th & 25th of October 2007 and the following course for the 28th & 29th of November.

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 at IntraFood
CREAX was present at the IntraFood expo held in Kortijk on the 19th and 20th of September.

Intrafood is a trade fair for ingredients in the food industry. For more information, see their site.

Job opportunities at CREAX
If you are interested in joining the CREAX team, we are looking for the following profiles:
- .Net Software Developer
- Innovation Engineer
- Funding Engineer
- Business Development Manager

Miscellaneous

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