Kevin Kelly - Cool Tools: For anyone requiring reading glasses intermittently, these specs are heaven sent! The frame breaks in the front and clicks together once resting on your nose by way of two magnets. When not in use, they stay out of the way -- the glasses have a hard frame 'loop' that slips around your neck. As soon as you need them, you reach down and pull them up into place. I've tried lanyards -- they get caught on your seat belt strap and tangeled around your collar. I've tried my pocket -- they fall out. Nothing seemed to work, so I ended up buying eight or ten pair of cheap glasses and leaving them all over: habitat, car, at work, etc. CliCs are a wonderful way to avoid all that clutter.
-Dennis Brittain
CliC Readers (manufactured by CliC) costs $29 and are available from Amazon.
Sick of wearing a pair of earrings as part of an accessories? Well, a new eye jewellery project is up for those seeking unique decorations and stand out from the crowd. Tongue piercing may look as dangerous as wearing the eye jewellery!
LikeCool:The Eye Jewellery contact lens project by ericklarenbee. It looks dangerous when you wearing it. The Eye Jewellery likes your tears.
The Cool Hunter: Over the last few years we’ve seen an influx of creative new minds enter the field who are redefining the concept and making their own rules. The latest inspiring example of innovative interior commercial design is the new Maedaya Grill & Sake bar in Melbourne, created by local design studio Architects Eat. The sushi restaurant’s interior, mostly “bound” by ropes, demonstrates the possibility of using ordinary recyclable material for hospitality projects without compromising sophistication.
The rope idea originated from the classic design of sake bottles, which are traditionally secured with ropes. The principal materials for this project are Manila ropes, timber and concrete, all reflecting natural elements such as vegetation and earth.
This dominancy detector table is a well designed, sound-sensitive tool which can be implemented into businesses, organizations, sales departments and work environments that require strong communication skills and interactions. The tool, called the 'Reflect Table', is used to detect which employee talks the most and dominates company meetings by monitoring the conversation and visually displaying the input on the table's color LEDs. The microphones in the table 'listen' to the conversation, display which member is currently speaking and of course, which member speaks the most. A smart way to cultivate business meetings and companies-making them more efficient and helping employers look out for the chatterboxes in their midst. Not to mention bringing awareness to blabbing employees that say a lot without making any point. Makes you wonder-Do actions really speak louder than words?
TrendsSpotting.com is a trends agency focused on developing exciting tools for Trend Spotting. We follow current trends and are constantly looking for new ones. We specialize in trends research and the social media. Dr. Taly Weiss, TrendsSpotting CEO, is a Social Psychologist, with extensive experience in branding strategy and marketing research. Feel free to explore our trend spotting tools on www.trendoScope.com.
Inhabitat: The Ecoist MTA clutch is a colorful and cute way to navigate city streets in sleek sustainable style. Made from 100% repurposed NYC subway maps, this wristlet clutch is perfect for urban jaunts and lightweight toting. A trash-to-treasure accessory such as this is not only an eco-friendly way to repurpose materials, but also serves as a streamline, incognito way to stash personal belongings!
Strong, sturdy, and water resistant – clutch accessories never functioned so practically while looking so chic. Crafted out of hand-folded, recycled NYC subway maps that are coated with cellophane, this zip-close and self-lined bag is perfect for a cell phone, keys, glasses, and an eco-lip balm.
TrendCentral: More people are passing up car trips for bike rides to do errands, but there's only so much a messenger bag can hold. Speaking to this growing eco-conscious lifestyle trend, this stylish bicycle basket doubles as a shopping basket. As bikes have become the must-have accessory of the moment, especially in urban centers, this basket, with a design reminiscent of a vintage Swedish crochet tablecloth, is a particularly fashionable add-on. We expect bike accessories to increasingly show up in high-end design arenas.
Inhabitat: Paper is a marvelous material with a complex character - at times a vessel for banal documents and stale legalese, it is also capable of much more expressive forms with a bit of creativity. Case in point: these gorgeous recycled paper lamps recently released by Jordy Fu. Her cloud-sheathed creations break free from the two dimensional realm with dreamlike textures and elaborately layered wisps.
True to their flexible medium, each lamp flat-packs to ship, and Jordy includes an energy-efficient soft white lightbulb. They come in a variety of sizes ranging from bedside table lamps to floor and pendant lights, run £90-£250 and are currently available through Jordy’ Fu’s website.
Iconoculture:Stardoll has been a big hit with denizens of virtual environments because the game enables users to dress up their avatars in an infinite spectrum of custom duds. Now Stardoll is partnering with Spreadshirt to bring some of those user-created designs into the real world.
The partnership is in an experimental stage, but it could potentially allow any user to generate a physical version of any virtual designs they like, find or design themselves.
Speaking Roses invented a process that has revolutionized the floral and greeting card industries forever. They have created a method of transferring images and messages onto fresh-cut flowers without harming or shortening the life of the flowers. This refreshing twist on both flowers and greeting cards enhances the emotional response in both the giver and the receiver, and has garnished international attention and phenomenal success.
With two patents in the United States and many others, pending or already received, in countries all over the world, Speaking Roses from Salt Lake City, Utah, is the first and the only business legally allowed to produce and sell personalized, fresh-cut flowers with images or messages right on the petals.
Now they have decided to start offering this opportunity for others to be part of this revolutionary product. For this reason, they have created a new concept that is call the 'Business in a Box' program, where you can now be a Speaking Roses licensed business owner in your own market. They will provide you with not only the equipment and supplies necessary to start running your business, but you also get years of experience in business development, marketing strategies and public relations, which makes opening your own Speaking Roses business a great experience. They offer proven technology and equipment for both high and low volume production, as well as marketing materials, great methods and techniques, and personalized training. All this allows you have what truly is a 'business in a box.'
With the option of starting your Speaking Roses business on a part-time or full-time basis, you can begin working from home or in your own retail Speaking Roses store. With the floral, gifts, advertisement, corporate, and greeting card markets making up a $80 billion dollar industry, they provide you with all of the tools to help you tap into that potential market. Speaking Roses offers you the ability to place anything from a corporate logo to a marriage proposal on fresh-cut flowers, which has opened the door to an advertising world that is only just beginning to tap into its real potential.
The chance to get in on the ground floor of this amazing opportunity is now being offered to regular people that are looking to be the first in this new market to capture the hearts of consumers in a way that has already caught the attention of everyone from Hollywood to the guests that have experienced the product at a wedding reception.
CoolBuzz: They say after you have had your fill of booze, you might just end up seeing stars. But here's an innovative idea that lets you see stars before the liquor has even touched you tongue. These Lava Lamp Shot Glasses come mounted atop a funky lamp with flashing LEDs that add sparkle to any drink. Just add you choice of beverage and watch your drink brimming with a whole lot of glittering little stars without you having to consume LSD or any other banned substance for the heavenly experience. The lights stop blinking once the glass is empty so you know when its time to fill the thing up again. Available in a range of assorted colors, we highly recommend the $8.98-a piece Lava Lamp Shot Glasses to college sophomores out to live la vida loca.
TrendHunter: The famous blue Linksys machines are now synonymous with wireless routers. Like the rest of electronics, the blue boxes have upgraded their look. Linksys has redesigned their routers - making them black and sleek.
Iconoculture: Forget refrigerators. Fashionistas can hang their kids' finger-painting masterpieces on their arm, with a custom bag from Scribble Couture, which displays the artwork on stylish purses.
'Rents (or doting grands) submit an original doodle or digital scan to Los Angeles-based bag designer True Cross, whose embroidery artists stitch the drawing on an oversize leather tote, canvas bag or cute silk clutch.
Celeb fans of the personalized brag bags ($129 to $329) include proud moms Reese Witherspoon and Brooke Shields.
Permanent online archives. Photo blowups printed on real canvas. Kid-art tattoos on Dad's shoulder. Add Scribble Couture to the growing list of “publishing” options for parents who want to preserve — and trumpet — their child's creative genius.
Bags that serve as wearable art galleries make great gifts for a youngster's fan club of family and friends.
Engadet: What's better than having a nice leather or cloth iPod sleeve to show off to your friends? If you're thinking one made of imitation meat -- you're dead right! Apparently, a company in Japan is under the impression that you want to wrap your music player in a grade A lookalike, undoubtedly to the thrill of your vegetarian friends and family. Of course, don't just get one for the shock value -- this thing oozes pure, sophisticated style. If you've got ¥6,800 (or about $66) and dignity to spare, it can be all yours.
Fujitsu Ltd. is a natural to adopt the concept of a notebook PC model, which will be held in Milan, Italy Design Exhibition "-JAPAN DESIGN INNOVATION-2008" exhibition. Will be held on April 16 to 20 (local time) for five days.
Engadet: That's Fujitsu's WoodShell concept PC. It joins an increasingly common trend of so called "natural" products already demonstrated by MSI, ASUS, Olympus, LG and others. No specs are provided on this feel-good piece. However, we presume it's powered by the blood and tears wrung from the baby Gore's heartbreak.
Inhabitat: We certainly cannot talk about spring sustainable style and layered dressing for the great outdoors without checking in with Patagonia to see what they have on tap for the season ahead. Whether you are a surfer chick, a seasoned rock climber, or an urban adventurer, Patagonia organic cotton hoodies and hemp separates create eco-chic combos for both travel and at home lounging.
Patagonia Women’s ‘Rhythm Hoody’ is a classic staple for climbing groupies as well as beach combers. Its breathable blend of 90% organic cotton and 10% spandex, provides a non-bulky layer of stretchy warmth for early morning hikes or cool nights dining alfresco. (The ‘Aba Daba’ print is, as usual, part of the Patagonia corporate insiders naming-convention). Also in bloom is the Women’s ‘Valley Sweatshirt’, made of 95% organic cotton and 5% spandex. Its breathable and smooth finish fabric allows for a comfortable fit in all climates and situations. The generous hood and front kangaroo pocket are welcome additions to this eco-accent piece.
The dome structure of umbrellas allows sound to be more concentrated, and a handle of umbrella could be a great part for controlling the music.
Sometimes people spin an umbrella unconsciously. If you spin this umbrella to left or right, the music will move forward (right turn) or reverse (left turn). Unfortunately even though it is not raining, you still can use this umbrella. You can just put it in the corner of your living room with cradle, and then also you can enjoy the music from speakers of cradle.
Firewinder® is a British invention, with worldwide patent pending and designs registered.
Firewinder® is a sculpturally designed outdoor light, which harnesses the wind no matter from which direction it blows creating a beautiful upward spiralling light - every time the wind blows. The simple transformation of wind into light in your garden is enough to blow away your blues, especially in the long dark nights of winter.
Easy to install, you simply hang it up from a tree in your garden, on your roof terrace or mount it to a post or wall and watch it light up and glow every time the wind blows!
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TrendInsights. A blog to inspire, stimulate creativity and trend spotting.
Babygadget: Sippy cups seem like products that should be easy to shop for. In my experience however, they tend to be poorly made, break after only a week or two of heavy use, and it seems impossible to keep them clean for any amount of time. That's why The Safe Sippy caught my eye.
These cups are stainless steel and the plastics involved are certified free of Bisphenol A, phthalates and DEHA. More importantly, the cups look inviting and easy to hold, meaning that you won't be giving up function for safety.
Now, The The Babykeeper Basic is a patent pending infant carrier style seat, that hangs from the stall wall in most public restrooms, and can also be used in many public fitting rooms. 2 large metal hooks encased in safety webbing, each lined with non-slip material for added security.
The Babykeeper Basic also provides you with a safer and more reliable means of restraining your child in a shopping cart.
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TrendInsights. A blog to inspire, stimulate creativity and trend spotting.
Oh my you got to love this! It is simply awesome. Now, you must be wondering how does this works? Here you go: At plain sight it is a standard black mug as they come a dime a dozen and in big white letters it say OFF. Nothing fancy, but once you add the hot beverage of your choice, the mug changes color and is turning white and in big black letters it states: ON
Cool Hunter: For many of us, taking our cars to the garage can be a daunting experience. Feeling anxious and uncertain over the price and duration over jobs, use of technical jargon and the like. This may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to the launch of the major rebranding programme for car care network HiQ, starting with their new concept center opening in Nottingham, UK.
The aim was to revolutionize the way fast fit car care is delivered and to develop a fresh retail concept that would set new standards in this sector. And it looks like they have come up with the goods.
Designed by the London team at Fitch, the brand has been repositioned by using simple language, illustrations, and the center itself has clever features like glass walls that allow customers to see onto the garage floor for themselves.
We have seen this uncomplicated, tell it like it is mentality popping up all over the place, especially as banks try to re-align themselves with their customers. It is now nice and refreshing to see this evolving into other touch points of consumers' lives. I wonder if this approach would make going to the dentist any better?
Popgadget: I don't use an umbrella because 1) I live in Southern California and it generally only rains 3 days a year, 2) I might poke someone's eye out, and 3) Where do you store the thing when it's wet?
Hironao Tsuboi, a creative designer, solved the third problem by creating anumbrella that stands on it's own. That wasn't as easy as it sounds; apparently he had to determine the center of gravity by a complex process by casting aluminum into different clay molds. Further series of tests were carried out to determine the optimal spread of the three legs.
Made of ABS synthetic resin (plastic), the umbrella remains steady but also handy when you need it, say if a spontaneous water pistol fight breaks out or in case you're unlucky enough to live somewhere where it rains all the time.
Don't run out to buy it quite yet; it still remains a concept project.
Crave: With Valentine's Day just two weeks away, ThinkGeek is stepping to the aid of the gift-challenged with a proximity-based T-shirt that lights up when your paramour is near.
Suffering the aching emptiness and despair of being apart from your loved one? The 8-Bit Dynamic Life Shirt will register a meager two and a half pixelated hearts. But snuggle up to the object of your affection (who, incidentally, must be wearing a matching black and red T-shirt for this display of devotion to work), and all five hearts on both garments light up in a blaze of cheeky romance and bad style. "You complete me" MP3 not included.
Here's another geeky design after we have introduce the 8-bit Icon Watch recently. Well, after spotting so many geeky designs, you can be sure to jump on this cool, geeky bandwagon to hit the market!
The Uber-Review: New Era has some rather pricey game inspired caps on the market. The caps, which feature boldly colored Pacman and Space Invaders motifs might not give you street cred, but they ooze geek cred. All but the most hardcore geeks will probably avoid these, but if any of you out there are looking for a game hat that you can wear in the privacy of your own home, this is it.
The price, unfortunately is $55 per hat, which is what most people would pay for semi-stylish head wear and as much as a new game.
Thoughts From The Sideline: You can always be sure that, the moment we come across a wrist watch that offers particularly innovative design, we’ll feature it here on TFTS, and few wrist watches come quite as distinctive as this Icon Wrist Watch that pays homage to the blocky 8-bit graphics from classic retro console games such as Space Invaders and the original Mario series.
Manufactured from ABS, the Icon Watch offers a watch face devoid of numbers which would have otherwise undoubtedly ruined the overall effect and, in keeping with its deliciously retro appearance, you can forget about additional features such as date display and stopwatch functionality as this watch merely tells the time – pure and simple (and we wouldn’t want it any other way).
Productdose: The truly enlightened never stop growing, which makes Shaquille O’Neal truly the Big Aristotle. This mirror won’t measure your spiritual development but will keep track of the slow effects of gravity on your frame.
As you gradually attain the posture of someone’s great-grandparent make note of the many other pleasures your body no longer allows you to do – and dunking a basketball was never one of them.
Lazybone: If you're the type that decides to get dressed for that special occasion before eating and then have to get changed due the food not quite reaching the point of entry and instead creating a nice stain on your best top, then the Puke Pet is your savior.
Just apply a Puke Pet next to the 'spag bol' stain and you now have a sort of purpose made stain. The stain will not look as though it's meant to be part of your shirt. If you're really clumsy and manage to spill the whole plate all over your nice clean top you might want the triple pack or just be better off with a bib or even eating naked.
So if you know someone that has problems with getting their food from the plate to their mouth then maybe this is the answer they have been looking for.
core77: Finding Cheska's ceramic Lung Ashtray is undoubtedly attractive and elegant... Okay, it's straight-up too pretty to be defaced with raunchy ashes and ciggie butts. The Taiwanese tabletop design group's take on the smoke disposal vessel is a clever and direct correlation of what we do to our real lungs when we inhale those nasty cancer sticks. And a clean Lung Ashtray signifies the path to respiratory health, unless, of course, you've decided to just use one of your other motivational ashtrays.
Born Rich: Restroom built into the side of a giant aquarium filled with exotic fish, sounds bewildering, though, great relief for those trees in the wild. Hunting for a restroom to quit that crap at the beachside in the city of Akashi, halt, take a plunge into the waters, coz the Mumin Papa Café offers its customers the luxury of using an underwater restroom built alongside a giant aquarium. So, here is your break to crap in the aquatic surrounding with fish and turtles enjoying your workout. Males stand on the wrong end, as the fascination is only available for the fairer sex that will enjoy the $270,000 sub-aquatic restroom designed with the perspective to recreate the pleasant sensation of relieving yourself while swimming in the ocean. I am not sure how much those fish would enjoy the daily activities of a bathroom.
The Cool Hunter: For the executive who has grown bored with his Blackberry, and sick of his stapler, comes this rather over the top stationary revolution. These elaborately detailed, all metal staplers from Jac Zagoory. Designs come in Gorilla, bear, dragon, Lion and more. These excessive must haves are brilliantly made, and have turned desk accessories into an art form.
The Age: On a narrow Tokyo street, Aya Tsukioka demonstrates clothing designs she hopes will ease Japan's growing fear of crime.
With a deft motion, Ms Tsukioka, a 29-year-old fashion designer, lifts a flap on the front of her skirt to reveal a sheet of cloth printed in bright red, with a soft drink logo partly visible.
By holding the sheet fully open and stepping to the side of the road, she shows how a woman walking alone could elude pursuers — by disguising herself as a vending machine.
The wearer hides behind the sheet, which is printed with an actual-size photo of a vending machine.
"It is just easier for Japanese to hide," Ms Tsukioka said. "Making a scene would be too embarrassing."
She said her idea of the vending machine disguise was inspired by a trick used by Japan's ancient ninja, who cloaked themselves under black blankets at night.
Some of the ideas, including the vending machine disguise, have yet to become commercially viable.
Inhabitat: Upcycling is a 21st century term, coined by Cradle to Cradle authors William McDonough and Michael Braungart, but the idea of turning waste into useful products came to life brilliantly in 1963 with the Heineken WOBO (world bottle). Envisioned by beer brewer Alfred Heineken and designed by Dutch architect John Habraken, the “brick that holds beer” was ahead of its ecodesign time, letting beer lovers and builders alike drink and design all in one sitting.
The final WOBO design came in two sizes - 350 and 500 mm versions that were meant to lay horizontally, interlock and layout in the same manner as ‘brick and mortar’ construction. One production run in 1963 yielded 100,000 bottles some of which were used to build a small shed on Mr. Heineken’s estate in Noordwijk, Netherlands. One of the construction challenges “was to find a way in which corners and openings could be made without cutting bottles,” said Mr. Habraken.
Today, the shed at the Heineken estate and a wall made of WOBO at the Heineken Museum in Amsterdam are the only structures where the ‘beer brick’ was used. As to the remaining WOBO’s it’s not clear how many exist, or where, but the idea, even some four decades later, remains a lasting example in end-use innovation.
TheRecord.com: Debbie New needed to come up with a design for a knitted lace project. She pondered the possibilities until inspiration came in a flash - make a boat. Her lace boat, a water-worthy vessel reinforced with resin, is featured in her aptly titled book Unexpected Knitting.
"I thought it seemed like the obvious thing to make out of lace," explained the Waterloo woman. Obvious maybe to New, who's celebrated in knitting circles for her inventive and often surprising approach to knitting. New is invited all over the world to teach, although she is modest about her international reputation.
Knitting has enjoyed a surge in popularity recently, thanks in part to knitters like New and Waterloo's Sally Melville, who have infused the ancient craft with a playfulness that appeals to a new generation of young knitters.
Even celebrities such as Julia Roberts and Hilary Swank are spotted with yarn and needles on set, making knitting the hip thing to do.
Popgadget: The next time you see a kid slathering mustard and ketchup all over his face at a burger joint, you can continue eating your lunch undisturbed, nodding knowingly as the rest of the patrons look on in horror.
While the others shake their heads and whisper about questionable parenting, you'll sip your diet soda while remembering the Bath Burger Gift Pack ($10 AU). That cute burger sponge. The strawberry shower gel, mango body lotion, and lemon body scrub disguised as ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard. Your inner voice told you to resist, warned you of the potential public humiliation that awaited you inside the paper burger box.
Coolbuzz: In tiny apartments most of the space is taken over by bulky beds, we cannot do without. However, here is a wonderful solution, in the shape of a jigsaw-puzzle bed, which transforms into a bookcase when not in use.
Work of designer Karen Babel, the bed comes in the shape of a mattress that stands straight in four pieces to form the bookcase.
The mattress fits into the wall-mounted frame, containing five shelves. When you retire to bed, all you have to do is place the sections of the mattress on the floor and fix them in, to form your funky bed.
TrendCentral: More people are passing up car trips for bike rides to do errands, but there's only so much a messenger bag can hold. Speaking to this growing eco-conscious lifestyle trend, this 
Iconoculture: 
CoolBuzz: They say after you have had your fill of booze, you might just end up seeing stars. But here's an innovative idea that lets you see stars before the liquor has even touched you tongue. These 
The Cool Hunter: For the executive who has grown bored with his Blackberry, and sick of his stapler, comes this rather over the top stationary revolution. These elaborately detailed, all metal staplers from 
The Age: On a narrow Tokyo street, Aya Tsukioka demonstrates clothing designs she hopes will ease Japan's growing fear of crime.
Inhabitat: Upcycling is a 21st century term, coined by Cradle to Cradle authors William McDonough and Michael Braungart, but the idea of turning waste into useful products came to life brilliantly in 1963 with the Heineken WOBO (world bottle). Envisioned by beer brewer Alfred Heineken and designed by Dutch architect John Habraken, the “brick that holds beer” was ahead of its ecodesign time, letting beer lovers and builders alike drink and design all in one sitting.
