Friday, October 19, 2007

New Innovations - The Best of the Best

It's an exciting time to be alive. The world is changing at break-neck speed while we struggle to keep up new developments. Here are a few fun and interesting concepts and products hitting the market. I've included links when they were available. If you know of any to enhance the list, send a comment and share your discovery.

Biodegradable Plastic - Now that makes me smile. Plantic offers an earth-friendly alternative to the petrochemical plastic of old. Plantic looks and feels like the kind overrunning our landfills, only Plantic is made from starch. You can toss it into the compost bin or bury it in the garden. Want to see something cool? Pour water on it and watch it dissolve. Hmm, don't know what that means if you get caught in the rain while bringing in your groceries! Maybe http://www.plantic.com.au/ answers that question.

Safer CPR - Most of us think, if called upon in an emergency, we could successfully perform CPR. It's trickier than it looks and performing it correctly could mean the difference between life and death. The CPRGlove will help you. The device was invented by two engineering students from Ontario, Canada. It will soon undergo clinical trials. The glove is packed with circuits and sensors that guide you on the depth and pace of compressions, and signals you when it's time to do mouth-to-mouth. This invention will improve the willingness and confidence levels of individuals faced with emergency situations and I'm certain it will save lives.

Love songs designed by you for the love of your life - This won't change the world but it could change the climate in your bedroom. TailoredMusic.com offers customized love songs performed and recorded by professional artists. You can pick a song and artist, and change the lyrics to fit your love story. I listened to several of the selections. The music is beautifully performed and the singers make the most of the lyrics, albeit the corniness of some of the selections. A personalized song could certainly be the gift you've been looking for to express just how you feel.

Air Powered Car - Here's a breakthrough, a zero-emissions car that runs up to 65 miles per hour on compressed air!MDI of France has announced that its Air Car will debut in India and France next year. They will range in price from $4,800 to $12,900. The first model fits up to 5 passengers and can go as far as 500 miles on one fill-up.

Get money back for riding a bicycle - One company in Rosemont, Illinois is paying 48.5 cents per mile to employees who bike to work. They also offer incentives like passes to a nearby gym to shower before work. Burke Group, a civil engineering firm believes that getting to the office under your own power reduces your carbon footprint and promotes good health, which makes their employees more productive in the workplace. Way to go Burke Group! Hopefully, other forward thinking companies will follow their example.

Cleaner Streets, really - A new cement coating developed by Italcementi take smog and pollutants right out of the air. The material, called TX Active, contains titanium dioxide, which neutralizes nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide when exposed to light. The pollution eater can be painted on buildings, bridges and streets. It also helps to keep surfaces bright and white.

Do something good while you search - Now you can raise money for your favorite charity while surfing the Net. Every time you search the Web using GoodSearch.com, a penny goes to the nonprofit of your choice. It really works. So far GoodSearch has given $3,635 to the Save Darfur Coalition and more than $6,000 to the ASPCA. Set GoodSearch as your homepage and a cause you care about will reap the benefit of your escapades on the Web.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy the fall weather and spend time with people you love! That's what I'm going to do.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

I plan to enjoy the people I love too this weekend and the much anticipated cooler weather!!! I LOVE fall!

Tina

Lisa McGlaun said...

Tina,

I think I know who those people are! Wish I could be there too.

Love you,
Lisa

myonlyphoto said...

Lisa this is great post. I kind of laugh about the melting in the rain plastic, but I think if we can use in something else and prevent from rain or just use for dry stuff, I think it is great idea. I also like the idea for encouraging riding a bicycle. This is more for health, but I worked in the company or corporations, where $50 k a year was spend on herbal teas that were free in the cafeteria, normal tea and coffee was charged. Great post and great resources as always, I will have to check some of the out in more detail. Anna :)

RubyShooZ said...

Interesting ideas indeed. The company paying employess to ride their bikes to work sounds like a great company. Good for them and good for the world. I wonder how many employees take them up on this offer.

The air powered car sounds extremely interesting. I'm gonna check that one out. Imagine if we all drove one!

I hope you're having a beautiful day. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm glad I stopped by today. Peace and love.
~ RS ~

Lisa McGlaun said...

Anna,

I worked for a Danish company a few years ago and they were more open to ideas like the herbal teas. They bought lunch for us once a week. During the summer, the managers house on the lake was always open to us if we wanted to go to swim. We got longer vacations and when I needed time off they were always willing to work with me.

Those are not strictly health related but they certainly did alot to raise the moral in our office and make it a great place to work.

Have an awesome weekend,
Lisa

Lisa McGlaun said...

Ruby,

I love the idea of the Air Car, too. Hope they show up in the US soon. Thanks for dropping by. Come back again. Your comments are always welcome.

Peace,
Lisa

mikster said...

Here's hoping your weekend is going along well. I'm especially impressed at the incentive the Burke Group is using for there employees.

Anonymous said...

CPR Glove
Now why didn't I think of that.
Great post, great site.
~JD

Lisa McGlaun said...

Mike,

Thanks for the well wishes. My weekend is going great! Took two of my children to a food/music festival yesterday. Today my hubby and I are going to see "Into the Wild". I can't wait. I read the book and am anxious to see what Sean Penn did with this tragic hero's tale.

Good to see you again,
Lisa

Lisa McGlaun said...

JD,

How many great inventions have you had rolling around in your brain but thought, "No way..too much trouble or that will never work."? I've had a few. I know my husband has.

We'd be rich if we'd followed our instincts about a few of them..lol.

The CPR glove will save lives. I hope that eventually they will be in the glass emergency lockers in public places along with defibulators and CPR kits. How great would that be?

Peace,
Lisa

Lisa McGlaun said...
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Anonymous said...

Great post! Despite CNN's headlines, there are good things happening in the world...

Peter said...

In Sydney there is a huge push to ban plastic bags being used to take away your shopping. Some shops are charging customers per bag or replacing the plastic with green cloth carry bags, which are free or cost very little to purchase.

Lisa McGlaun said...

Andrew,

Thanks for the comment. I'm happy I found your blog..I love your stories!

Yes, CNN should not be the "be all end all" of news.

Peace,
Lisa

Lisa McGlaun said...

Peter,

In Nevada many of the grocery stores offer cloth bags to purchase and one store in particular only has paper bags. They encourage customers to bring them back and give them cash back incentives to do so.

Thanks for the comment! Good to see you.

Peace,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Hey Lisa. Great site. Thanks for the support over on my site. Looks like we have similar interests. I'll be checking your site daily. Keep up the great work.

Lisa Rose
www.positivesisters.blogspot.com

Lisa McGlaun said...

Hey Lisa!

I hoped you'd stop by. I love your blog and all that you are trying to do with it.

Yes, please come back again and join in the conversations. I'd love to hear your opinions.

Peace,
Lisa

myonlyphoto said...

Thanks Lisa, now I feel like I am trying to compete who worked for better company, lol. I didn't really mention the complete picture, the company had all cafeteria food was based on the health food, we had honor system when no body on the cash register we paid and took change ourselves, non-smoker and who exercised regularly - got free extra day on top of vacation. We had full work out facilities free, and nature all around the facilities. Excellent working conditions. I left about seven years ago because I was developing comfort zone, and I know how hard it was for others to go who were let go. I didn't wanted to get in this situation and I also had other career objectives. Lisa, I cannot compete with you on morals in the office, because as people grew healthy they also grew big chip on their shoulders - disappointing but its true. However, all other aspects were great. Recently the founder who owned most of the shares sold them for about 900 million and announced all that will be going to a good cause. God bless him for that. Got to run, but you have yourself a good week. Anna :)

Lisa McGlaun said...

Anna,

LOL..no competition. It's good to know that there are companies out there like the ones we worked for. What do you do now that you changed jobs?

Peace,
Lisa

Michael J. Kannengieser said...

Hi Lisa,
It's great to see that there are dedicated and intelligent folks out there looking for ways to better the Earth with inventions which make our lives better, and cleaner, as opposed to yet another way method of cramming potato chips into a bag or tube. Excellent and informative post. Thanks.
Mike~ (Mr. Grudge)

Lisa McGlaun said...

Mr. Grudge,

Don't you know it!..lol. Who needs another creative chip container. Give me an Air Car..lol.

Peace,
Lisa

La delirante said...

Thanks for sharing those great links and for coming up with those great ideas. The one of the company paying the employees to ride the bikes is very interesting. Wish more companies were like that. Love love songs :)

Lisa McGlaun said...

Wen,

Did you go to the love songs sight? I had fun listening to the different choices and thinking about how I would change the words to fit for my husband. Kind of brought out the poet in me..I didn't say good poet..just poet..lol

Hugs,
Lisa

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myonlyphoto said...

Lisa, I work for myself on contract bases, meaning I have my own business (engineering consulting), that gives me more freedom too, but then when you get jobs you are responsible for them, that means working long hours, but the most important is that it is mine, and I am in control and I know that I will provide the best. And I have Friday's off, like today, and now that I became a blogger, I spend blogging all day sometimes, lol. Anna :)

Lisa McGlaun said...

Anna,

Thanks for answering. It's nice to be able to plan your own time. Owning your own business is the way to go. I'm glad you have Fridays off and spend them blogging..:)

Hugs,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Hello all!

Lisa McGlaun said...

Hello to you, too.