The application will use algorithms and image based pattern recognition technology to make early melanoma detection instantly available to anyone with an iPhone. The app will be linked to a database licensed from some medical center. The concerned user will simply take a photo of the suspicious mole with the iPhone camera, then upload it to the database where it will be evaluated based on risk. If the mole or freckle seems to present a significant risk the application will recommend...

The self-sanitizing keyboard will use ultraviolet light to kill harmful micro-organisms in seconds. The keyboard will look and feel the same as a standard computer keyboard. To engage the cleaning cycle, the keyboard will protract into a light-tight enclosure which will bath it in the UV light. It can be retracted for use by the wave of hand over the motion sensor.

The smart plug will monitor the energy consumption of individual appliances and allow the user more control over their utility costs. The system will consist of a smart plug with an embedded GSM unit, and sits between the wall outlet and the appliance. The collected power usage information will be transmitted via SMS to a cloud-based data storage site which can be accessed by the consumer. The information will allow the homeowner to choose the best times to run their appliances,...

Why not capture the kinetic energy of subway trains and use it to supplement the power the trains consume during startup. The system would operate through a variation of regenerative braking. A flywheel attached to the rail system would harness the energy of trains as they slow for a station, converting it to electrical power. The harnessed power could then be used to give the train a boost to get moving again.

A new method of manufacturing blue jeans is making them greener while saving energy and materials. The advanced denim process will reduce the amount of water necessary to make a pair of jeans by up to 92 percent while also generating 87 percent less cotton waste, and producing less greenhouse gasses and waste-water. The process will use a single dyeing vat and replace conventional indigo dyes with eco-advanced liquid sulfur dyes that will require only one sugar-based reducing...

Bring your barbeque inside with a smokeless grill that uses lava rocks to create a more authentic, smoky flavor. Lava rocks heat up quickly and evenly distribute heat, and are also already used in some gas grills and commercial grills to heat up the grease and meat drippings to create more flavor. The lava rocks are incorporated into a smaller grill that can be used on a conventional range. The lava rocks disperse the heat from the gas or electric stove, creating a genuine BBQ...

The 'intelligent T-shirt' will make it easier to keep an eye on a patient's status, remotely monitoring a number of positions and processes. The shirt will be designed to monitor temperature, heart rate, and level of activity, as well as position and location. The prototype will be washable, and the incorporated electrodes will be able todeliver an electrocardiogram. Sensor in the shirt will receive data about the wearer's location and position, which will allow unconscious or...

A new helmet technology inspired by the brain's natural cerebrospinal fluid allows the head to 'float' inside the helmet, which reduces the forces of an impact. The technology is designed for falls when the head hits the ground at an angle. The helmet contains a low-friction layer between the inner liner and outer shell, which allows the liner and shell to move in relationship to each other and limit the impact.

Ingestible sensors could make it much easier for patients who take large amounts of medicines to keep track of their doses. The patient swallows the sensor chip which is embedded in a pill. The chip travels to the stomach, where it is activated by the stomach fluids and transmits an ID signal with a time stamp. A patch worn by the patient picks up the ID and time stamp information, as well as data collected by the patch such as activity and heart rate, and sends the information...

A new super gel will replace heavy body armor, providing superior protection while still allowing freedom of movement. The gel will contain freely suspended particles that will 'lock' together when the fluid is disturbed by a substantial force. The substance can be incorporated into existing Kevlar body armor, which could allow the armor to be 45 percent thinner while still remaining equally as effective.