This is a transportation system for the Yakult delivery person, who delivers Yakult probiotic yogurt drinks door-to-door every morning throughout South Korea. Although Yakult beverages can be purchased in stores, many South Koreans prefer home delivery, in the same way that milk was delivered to American front doors during much of the 20th century.

This innovative fold-up utility trailer has an easy-to-operate crank that compacts the trailer into a mere 29 inches wide—approximately 50 percent of its flatbed size—in less than 90 seconds. The trailer is an ideal hauler for homeowners with limited storage space, the perfect size to stow in the back corner of the garage while still leaving plenty of space for cars. Available in three different sizes, the trailer holds up to 1,000–1,500 lbs. and includes removable front and rear gates that double as ramps for easy loading and unloading.

The Can-AM™ SPYDER™ roadster combines the open-air benefits of a motorcycle with many of the convenience features of a traditional roadster to define a new paradigm for an on-road power sport vehicle. The unique Y-architecture with three wheels (two in the front, one in the rear) provides stability at rest and in motion, balancing performance needs with safety concerns. The Vehicle Stability System, which includes ABS, traction control and stability control, comes as standard on each vehicle.

The Guardian Safety Seat was designed to solve the problem of safely restraining children and infants who must accompany a parent or caregiver in an ambulance. Current devices in use in ambulances are cumbersome to stow, hard to install and time consuming to use, especially in emergency situations. The design of the Guardian Safety Seat will not allow for incorrect installation; the carrier is already attached to the main seat frame and simply lifts and locks into the recommended 45-degree angle in seconds. It can accommodate both infants (5-22 lbs.) and children (23-85 lbs.).

The Muwi innovation lawn mower takes the seemingly useless byproduct of grass cuttings and turns it into something fun. But first, Muwi calculates the size of the lawn and automatically cuts the grass. As the grass cuttings accumulate inside the machine, Muwi constructs and compresses them into cylindrical blocks. The blocks can become balls for children to play with or be combined to make a chair or anything else you can think of. After the blocks are used, they can be left to return to nature.

Laptop mice are generally smaller than desktop devices, which can cause the user’s hand to tire easily. Jelly Click is a mouse for laptops that offers enhanced usability and portability. Users simply inflate it to the size that best suits their hand. Its soft texture provides a comfortable surface on which the hand can rest, and its delicate color produces a different experience from an ordinary desktop mouse. When not in use, just deflate Jelly Click for ultimate portability.

Adaptable to different spaces, terrains and architectural styles, the Interactive Lounge was designed to provide relaxation and interactivity with the surrounding environment. The furniture is composed of plastic balls with an undulating fabric lining and a surface that can be arranged in various configurations. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and was inspired by the lounge and “chill out” concept. This single piece of furniture can take on different shapes for different activities, such as listening to music, reading, chatting or simply resting.

The Eject Powerstrip is a universal power strip that makes it easy for the elderly and the disabled to unplug electric devices, by stepping on a small foot paddle to release the plug. This eliminates the need for bending and the unsafe practice of pulling on the cord. Although those with limited mobility will especially benefit from this device, its design will attract the average consumer, too.

Credits: Mansour Ourasanah of University of Notre Dame
Contact: Mansour Ourasanah: mourasan1@gmail.com

VIDEO is a two-part system designed to overcome the hurdles of the video-making process, making it more accessible and appealing to a wide user group. The dynamic user interface allows people to select the level appropriate to their ability. To prevent confusion, it only displays relevant, user-specific information. Advanced users are given the option of using various manual functions. The rotating lens encourages users to operate the camcorder with two hands, which increases stability and leads to better recordings. In addition, filming from various angles becomes much easier.

Now users can enjoy all the advantages of digital photography without the need for a computer. The system consists of a digital camera and a photo viewer that enables people to take, view, edit and archive photos. The operational structure of the digital camera and the picture viewer is identical, making both easy to understand and operate. The camera and the picture viewer both allow for a flip function that protects the displays and the lens. To transfer data the camera has to be inserted into the picture viewer, which also serves as a transport solution.