We can become so completely engrossed in what our business is doing today that we fail to know much about the rest of our industry, much less adjacent or completely unrelated fields. However, I enjoy scouting for new products and services as a means of inspiration. Innovative new products, and those about to come to market, help me stay current and stimulate ideas that might help the businesses in which I am involved. They often get me thinking about how to apply technology or solutions differently, or help me personally in some way. The following are several that have got me thinking recently. Hopefully they will do the same for you.
After being blown away by “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (a must read) some time ago, I’ve been fascinated by technologies that many of us take for granted. Electricity and lighting are things we rarely give pause to, but the absence of these technologies in many countries effects well over a billion people. Twenty-one percent of the world’s population does not have access to reliable electricity. Many still use kerosene for light. That is why I was amazed at the simplicity and execution of the GravityLight. The product is now in production.
Pong Case – A new phone case, so what’s the big deal? This one definitely makes you wonder if they can back up their claims – increased outbound signal by 44%, increased range by 20%, reduced SAR exposure by 82%, built-in antenna that instantly pairs with iPhone 5s when snapped on, and can take six-foot drop. All this with a 60-day, money-back guarantee. Does this product live up to even half its claims? I intend to find out when mine is delivered later this week.
A cardboard bicycle made for only $9? I had been following this story for some time and was amazed at the possibility of a functional cardboard bicycle which could be made for $9-12 and sold for around $60-90. With bicycles providing a major form of green, economical and practical transportation for people worldwide, I was interested to see what would come of this. Check out one of the stories from earlier this year on the cardboard bike. Unfortunately after gaining some early momentum this crowd-funded project hit some potholes especially in light of the much higher than expected price. Regardless of what comes of this, and if or when we ever see a cardboard bike come to market, it’s an amazing demonstration of how powerful crowdsourcing can be from a variety of perspectives.
Another concept that fascinates me are wearables—computer-powered devices that can be worn—as we’re only just beginning to scratch the surface of this space. While many of these technologies need time to be refined, it’s interesting to see how vertical a device might be, such as a watch made for the hard of hearing or deaf. On the other hand, some of these applications have endless uses such as Bluetooth Tracking Stickers. These have mixed reviews but I am definitely intrigued by the idea.
Did any of these products resonate with you? What gets you thinking about new ideas? Where do you look for inspiration? I would love to hear from you if you come across an interesting solution or product that is still out of the mainstream.
