Tony V's Idea Garage

I'm the founder of Miles Finch Innovation and Makery Coworking. I like to park things that trigger my imagination here in the garage. My main topics of interest are innovation and creative leadership. For original long-read posts, jump over to www.milesfinchinnovation.com/blog/

[vengrove]

A Start Wars Story Recut with “Sabotage”

The first time I heard “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys, I thought, “Boy, that would make a kick-ass music track for an ad.” Watching this, I realize I was right.

[vengrove]

Ideas Are Scary

This video by GE is brilliant and embodies why creative leadership is critical. It is the leader’s job to protect and nurture these ugly and messy ideas.

The transcript:

Ideas are scary.

They come into this world ugly and messy.

Ideas are frightening.

Because they threaten what is known.

They are the natural-born enemy of the way things are.

Yes, ideas are scary and messy and fragile.

But, under the proper care, they become something beautiful

[scifigeneration]

Engineers design a robotic gripper for cleaning up space debris

Right now, about 500,000 pieces of human-made debris are whizzing around space, orbiting our planet at speeds up to 17,500 miles per hour. This debris poses a threat to satellites, space vehicles and astronauts aboard those vehicles.

What makes tidying up especially challenging is that the debris exists in space. Suction cups don’t work in a vacuum. Traditional sticky substances, like tape, are largely useless because the chemicals they rely on can’t withstand the extreme temperature swings. Magnets only work on objects that are magnetic. Most proposed solutions, including debris harpoons, either require or cause forceful interaction with the debris, which could push those objects in unintended, unpredictable directions.

Keep reading

[vengrove]

New Turbine Innovation Lifts Green Energy to New Heights!

via Next Great Designs:

The Altaeros Buoyant Airborne Turbine (BAT) leverages proven aerospace technology to lift a wind turbine into the strong, consistent winds beyond the reach of traditional towers.

The completely automated, rapidly deployable system can safely and effectively bring wind power to remote sites that use expensive fossil fuel electricity today. By harnessing stronger winds, and eliminating the logistical challenges of installing traditional renewables in remote areas, the Altaeros BAT drastically reduces the cost of energy in remote communities and at remote industrial sites.

[vengrove]

NOAQ BoxWall Flood Barricade

Sometimes an innovation comes around that makes you wonder, “Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?” This is one of them.

Learn more about the company behind this system HERE.

[vengrove]

EvoWheel Turns Any Traditional Bicycle Into a Pedal-Assist Bike

Via TrendHunter.com:

The EvoWheel is the first set of e-bike wheels that can transform any manual two-wheeled vehicle into a fully functioning electronic bicycle. The integrated design allows for a tailored riding experience and the easy installation process takes the consumer on the road in less than 30 seconds. The EvoWheel comes in various sizes, making it compatible with just over 95% of consumer bikes. Depending on the model, the e-bike wheels charge within one to three hours and have the capacity to go 54 miles per cycle. The EvoWheel can be simply swapped with the original manual wheel, omitting the worries of any mess due to wires and unnecessary features. In addition, the e-bike wheels boast a five-point model of energy release, including manual, commute, leisure, exercise and climbing, hence, the product fully adjusts itself to the activity and terrain. 

Learn more at EvoWheel.com.

[vengrove]

Good Bones Broth Company

Chef Olivier Crosby creates first bone broth that can be chilled and still pour smooth. Check out the full story at Edible Nutmeg.

[vengrove]

Building Creative Economies

Interesting insights in this panel discussion for all you social innovators and community builders doing important work.

Panelists include: Laura Callanan, Founding Partner, Upstart Co-Lab; Mary Stuart Masterson, Co-Founder, Stockade Works; and Rebecca Rosen, Senior Editor, The Atlantic

[shellmakethefuture-deactivated2]

How Sunlight Helped Transform A Community In Rio de Janeiro 

Perched on a hillside overlooking Rio de Janeiro’s beaches and mountains, Santa Marta is a community with an envious location. But it suffers with an unreliable electricity network that has left much of the population with expensive and erratic power. One entrepreneur is on a mission to change that using one of Santa Marta’s most plentiful natural resources: the sun.

Keep reading

[vengrove]

Norway’s Auto-Dimming Street Lamps

An innovative solution using LED lights and radar sensors dims lights to 20% power when no cars on the road. When the radar senses traffic, the lights return to 100% power.

To learn more, read these articles from Daily Mail and Rand Corporation.

[vengrove]

Come hunt for treasure at the Green Fair and find interesting items like this old photo enlarger!

[vengrove]

The Artificial Leaf by GE.

intriguing technology idea that could make a significant impact on the environment and use of hydrogen as a fuel source.

Techstory article provides more information. 

[vengrove]

Check out how cool car dashboard displays will look in the future.

[emergentfutures]

In Advanced Economies, Two-Thirds of Population Have Seen Incomes Stagnate, Study Shows

Across 25 of the world’s advanced economies, about two-thirds of the population—more than half a billion people—earn the same as or less than their peers did a decade ago.

[vengrove]

Troubling.

[emergentfutures]

Robot monkey designed to transport small packages to dense, remote areas

Roko is a biomimetic robot inspired by monkeys that’s meant to transport small packages like first aid kits in remote, densely forested areas. It uses sensors like sonar to detect its environment and has extendable arms with hook-grip hands to swing from branch to branch. It is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and servomotors move its limbs.

Full Story: Globeandmail

Note - A prototype Concept

[vengrove]

So wonderfully crappy.

[vengrove]

Liam -- Apple’s new robot that deconstructs iPhones in the spirit of recycling.