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Twitter Technology
Jack Dorsey, the co-inventor of Twitter, is promoting his latest invention called the Square.
The square is a small plug-in attachment to your mobile phone that allows you to receive credit card payments.
The idea orginated from Dorsey's friend Jim McKelvey who was unable to sell some glass work to a customer because he couldn't accept a particular card being used.
Accepting credit card payments for something you're selling isn't always easy, especially if you are mobile like a tradesman, delivery service or a vendor at a trade show.
This latest invention uses a small scanner that plugs into the audio input jack on a mobile device.
It reads information on a credit card when it is swiped. The information is not stored on the device but is encrypted and sent over secure channels to banks.
It basically makes any mobile phone a cash register for accepting card payments.
As a payor, you receive a receipt via email that can be instantly accessed securely online. You can also use a text message to authorize payment in real time.
Retailers can create a payor account for their customers which accelerates the payment process. For example, a cardholder can assign a photo to their card so their photo will appear on the phone for visual identity confirmation. Mobile devices with touch screens will also allow you to sign for goods.
There are no contracts, monthly fees, or hidden costs to accept card payments using Square and it is expected the plug-in attachment will also be free of charge.
A penny from every transaction will also be given to a cause of your choice.
As with Twitter, it's anticipated that Dorsey will direct the company based upon feedback from users.
Square Inc. has offices in San Francisco, Saint Louis and New York and is currently beta testing the invention with retailers in the United States and expects a full launch this year.
Source: squareup.com
PajamaJeans
PajamaJeans are the latest invention in clothing. The trend towards clothing that is "snuggie" and "cozy" yet stylish and fashionable continues with this new product.
As the name suggests PajamaJeans are designer jeans that wear and feel like pajamas.
The company's slogan says it best, "the pajamas to live in - the jeans to sleep in".
"We noticed people wearing pajamas on airplanes and in grocery stores. But a lot of people have mixed feelings about it because they think it's inappropriate and sloppy," says Stacey Buonanno of The Pajama Company.
"We thought it would be easy to take a pair of jeans, style them similar to a yoga pant, give them all the jean detailing, but make them stretchy and soft so that you wouldn't mind wearing them to bed," she says.
The secret is a proprietary blend of spandex and cotton called "dormisoft", which gives the feel and wear of pajamas but look like designer jeans including high contrast stitching and brass rivets.
Photo: PajamaGrams
Source: pajamajeans.com
Wind Turbines
The Bahrain World Trade Center is the first skyscraper to have wind turbines integrated into the structure of the building.
Three large wind turbines are suspended between two office towers. The towers are aerodynamically tapered to funnel wind and draw air into the turbines. 
This airfoil tapering allows the wind to enter the turbines at a perpendicular angle and increases air speed as much as 30 percent in each of the 95 ft wide turbine rotors.
The turbines supply about 15 percent of the electricity used by the skyscraper - approximately the same amount of electricity used by 300 homes.
Source: www.norwin.dk
Biomimicry Creates New Tires
Biomimicry is the science that imitates nature to create new products.
Resilient Technologies, a Wisconsin based company, has created a tire that can't go flat.
Instead of using a pressurized air cavity, the tire design relies on a geometric pattern of six-sided cells that are arranged in a matrix like a honeycomb.
It has the same ride, reduced noise levels and heat generation as pressurized tires. The goal was to create an airless tire with uniform flexibility and load transfer that would endure tremendous wear and tear and still perform well.
The best design was found in nature, which was the honeycomb.
Source: www.resilienttech.com
Jay Leno Restores 100-Year-Old Electric Car
Jay Leno, an avid car enthusiast, owns a fully restored Baker Electric car that was orginally built in 1909.
Proving that good ideas can be found by rediscovering past inventions, like the Einstein Refrigerator, the Baker Electric car was an idea ahead of it's time.
The crankless, gas-free, emissions-free, maintenance-free and quiet Baker was invented by Walter C. Baker of Cleveland, Ohio and was powered by alkaline batteries invented by Thomas Edison.
Jay still uses the orginal Edison batteries. The Baker can travel approximately 100 miles before recharging, which is about the same as modern electric cars, although top speed is only 25 mph.
Before Henry Ford began mass producing inexpensive gas cars, electric cars such as the Baker accounted for about 38% of the U.S car market. See the Baker Electric at Jay's website below.
Source: jaylenosgarage.com/cars/Baker_E_shell.shtml
Shark Tank
Television producer Mark Burnett, famous for introducing reality TV hits such as "Survivor" and Donald Trump's "The Apprentice", is creating a new Inventor series with Sony Pictures Television.
The Shark Tank will feature inventors pitching their latest inventions to several multi-millionaire investors.
"We are looking for inventors with amazing ideas or products," says Kris Canning, Casting Producer for the show.
If you're interested in getting a chance to show your invention on television to investors, just send Kris an email at the address below.
Include a brief paragraph about yourself , non-confidential information about your idea or invention, contact info and recent photo.
Mail to: kcanning@markburnettprod.com
Einstein Invention
Scientists at Oxford University have reconstructed an Albert Einstein invention in the hopes of developing an eco-friendly refrigerator.
Einstein invented a green technology refrigerator in 1930 that operated without electricity or any moving parts.
The need for eco-friendly cooling technology is becoming more important given the demand by developing countries for air conditioning and refrigeration. Replacing current technologies with energy efficient, green technology is why scientists are now resurrecting Einstein's invention.
More: Albert Einstein Invention
AirPod - Car Runs On Air
In the past hour, worldwide consumption of petroleum exceeded 100 million gallons.
In the United States, there are 200,000 miles of pipeline, 170,000 gas stations and 243 million vehicles using petroleum fuels.
Guy Nègre, a former aeronautics and formula one engineer is hoping to change all that. He has invented a compressed air technology for cars.
Nègre is the founder and CEO of Motor Development International (MDI SA) based in Luxembourg, with research and development facilities in Nice, France.
The AirPod is a small four-wheel mini-car that uses compressed air to move pistons in a 5.45 hp internal combustion engine.
It has a range of 60 miles on a single tank of air and uses a small motor to compress outside air to keep the tank full.
The compressor can operate on gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, ethanol or vegetable oil, but can also be plugged into an electrical outlet for recharging. With regular gasoline fueling the compressor, the Airpod averages an amazing 106 mpg with a range of 800 miles.
With the demand for inexpensive, user friendly, ultra high mileage vehicles that have zero emissions related to global warming - the Airpod is getting a lot of attention.
Air France and KLM airlines are using AirPods to transport passengers between arrival and departure gates at airports in Paris and Amsterdam.
Automaker, Tata Motors has purchased the manufacturing rights for India. Zero Pollution Motors has purchased the rights for the U.S. market and beginning in 2011 expect to manufacture 8,000 vehicles a year in the United States.
Licensing arrangements for other countries are currently in progress.
Source: mdi.lu/english
Jet Man
Inventor and former Swiss Air Force fighter pilot, Yves Rossy, jumped from a plane over Calais, France and flew 200 mph crossing the English Channel in 13 minutes before landing in Dover, England.
Earlier this year he unfolded the wings on his back and flew 186 mph (300 kilometers) above the Swiss Alps.
Using four small jet engines attached to his carbon wings, he climbed at 200 ft per minute before executing a series of stunts for a crowd of reporters watching from a mountain top.
The spectacular demonstration was the first public revelation of his latest invention, which he spent five years developing.
"It is absolute freedom" says Rossy.
The inventor says his 120 lb Jetman suit will eventually be available to the public but it's still a few years away.
The flight over the English Channel was his second public demonstration. He is planning his next flight through the Grand Canyon.
Source: jet-man.com
Gyro Technology
This wild new motorcycle, invented by 19-year-old Ben J. Poss Gulak, is among the latest inventions to capture attention.
Debuting at the National Motorcycle Show in Toronto, the "Uno" uses gyro technology for balance and acceleration.
It is a battery charged machine that accelerates by leaning forward and slowing down by leaning backwards. It weighs approximately 129 pounds (58 kg.) and has a top speed of 25 mph (40 klms).
Source: the-uno-tomorrows-transportation.com
Spherical Tree Houses
Nestled among the towering tree tops of Canada's west coast rain forest, you will find these innovative homes created by inventor Tom Chudleigh.
Using a combination of sail-rigging, boat construction and biomimicry technology, the pod-shaped spheres are suspended among the trees using strands.
Spiral stairways suspend to the ground providing access to the spheres. Built from cedar or fiber glass, the spheres are insulated and designed to withstand structural impacts.
Source: freespiritspheres.com
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