MoreInspiration
Newsletter April 2008
Dear CREAX newsreader,
The highlights of this issue are: |
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Innovation Highlights
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Italian car designer Leonardo Fioravanti (who worked for Pininfarina for a number of years) has developed a car prototype without windshield wipers. This amazing technological feat is made possible thanks to the use of 4 layers of glass modified using nanotechnology.
The first layer filters the sun and repels the water. The second layer, using 'nano-dust' is able to push dirt to the side. The third layer acts as a sensor that activates the second layer when it detects dirt, while the fourth layer is a conductor of electricity to power this complex mechanism.
http://www.newlaunches.com
filed under:
automotive,
nanotechnology
Property spectrum: Size
Producers of all kinds of products are making their products smaller and smaller. You can notice the differences in the evolution of electronic devices over the years.
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69-year-old Japanese sailor Ken-ichi Horie will attempt
to captain the world's most advanced wave-powered boat 4,350
miles from Hawaii to Japan.
At the heart of the record-setting bid is the Suntory Mermaid II, a three-ton catamaran made of recycled
aluminium alloy that turns wave energy into thrust. Two fins mounted side by side beneath the bow move up and down with the incoming waves and generate dolphin-like kicks that propel the boat forward. "Waves are a negative factor for a ship: they slow it down," says Yutaka Terao, an engineering professor at Tokai University in Japan who designed the boat's propulsion system. "But the Suntory can transform wave energy into propulsive power regardless of where the wave comes from."
http://www.popsci.com
filed under:
energy, travel
Property spectrum: Action coordination
This principle describes the coordination between components, systems, and their environments towards a common goal. Evolution is from a non-coordinated action between subsystem, system, and super-system elements to increasing coordination and synergy between them.
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It's one of the oldest, most common problems in photography: that picture you thought would be the prize shot is out of focus.
Refocus Imaging, a Silicon Valley start-up, thinks its technology can be used to make cameras that can fix that problem--after you take the photo.
By fitting a camera's image sensor with a special lens and then processing the resulting data with new methods, Refocus Imaging's technology will let photographers fix their photos and exercise new creative control after the shutter is released, founder and Chief Executive Ren Ng said.
http://www.news.com
filed under:
electronics,
technologies
Property spectrum: Automation
This property describes a system’s decreasing reliance and
burden on humans as it evolves. Systems tend to become
increasingly automated. This tool allows the photographer to
fine tune his photos after they have been taken, allowing
room for error correction.
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Swedish graduate student Emil Ernerfeldt created the program Phun, a 2D physics playground, and has made it free to download for non-commercial use. He demonstrates it in a zenful YouTube video, where he creates devices like cars and piston engines in seconds using simple shapes.
http://www.acc.umu.se
filed under:
computers & accessories,
physics
Property spectrum: Information
Systems and subsystems tend to evolve from requiring external input to becoming self-controlling through the use of feedback mechanisms.
This tool gives you feedback in how physics work.
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With a little help from NASA, Speedo has managed to come out with the world's fastest swimsuit to help swimmers achieve greater speeds. Speedo's new LZR Racer (pronounced "Laser Racer") features seams "ultrasonically welded" instead of sewn, to reduce drag in the water by up to 10%. It has been designed more like a spacesuit.
The suit is constructed from Speedo's unique LZR Pulse fabric. Ultra lightweight, powerful and water-repellent, LZR Pulse reduces muscle oscillation and skin vibration through powerful compression. This fast drying fabric also offers low skin friction drag.
http://www.speedo80.com
filed under:
sport,
technologies,
textile & clothing
Property spectrum: Activity
Smart materials are able to adapt automatically to their environment or change in response to a stimulus. The trend is for materials to become increasingly "smart" and for systems to increasingly incorporate smart materials. Smart materials are especially useful for eliminating contradictions in systems.
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| 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
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CREAX seminar
 If you enjoy
CREAX newsletters, you will enjoy our hands-on MoreInspiration course
seminar. Our next 2-day seminar is scheduled for the
29th & 30th
of April 2008 and the following course for the 28th & 29th of
May
2008. This first course in French will be given on
21st & 22nd
of May 2008.
CREAX also offers exclusive company specific seminars. Participants
learn how to apply the CREAX Methodology in their day-to-day job.
(more info)
The dates for the 2008
courses can now be found online.
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New and Improved MoreInspiration course
In March we presented our new More Inspiration Course, a two-day
immersion in creativity tools and techniques with emphasis on
systematising inspiration from across domains. This course brings
structure to creative solution generation, and demonstrates how to
transfer benefits across all domains, in an open innovation
environment.
Some participants summary of the session:
- “Informative, structured, enjoyable, balanced theory/activity”
- “good global view”
- “Très dynamique et intéressante”
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IIITS and CREAX collaboration
Mahmoud Karimi, vice president of the Iranian
Institute of Innovation & Technological Studies, visited CREAX with prospects for future
collaboration.
Innovation is a key focus for the Iranian government in 2008. Within this context, CREAX and IIITS and CREAX plan to develop a structural cooperation and to introduce the CREAX methodology and tools on the Iranian market.
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Upcoming events
The following events have been planned for the coming months:
| 9-10
April 2008 |
C&E Days Benelux
(Gent, Belgium)
Tradeshow and congress based on Industrial
and Product Design, Engineering tools, Drive and Management
and Materials and Connection Techniques. |
| 23-24
April 2008 |
4th Strategic Innovation Forum (Barcelona, Spain)
Delivering breakthrough, sustainable and
customer-centric innovation by shifting mindsets and capitalising
on open innovation and entrepreneurial spirit from within to
drive business growth and remain the innovation leader. |
| 5-6
June 2008 |
European Research & Innovation Exhibition (Paris, France)
Exhibition with the top actors of the world
in research and innovation. |
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Miscellaneous
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CREAX
n.v. Mlk.Plumerlaan 113 8900 Ieper Belgium
info@creax.com
www.creax.com
Tel +32 57 229480 Fax +32 57 229481
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