Best of 2007

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I love Time magazine. Each week they have very compelling articles, but what I am beginning to realize is that it’s the visual rhetoric that snags my attention. Every cover is done is such a clever way, that it’s hard not to become intrigued with what the actual articles are about. This week, they use the i-phone and spell out the topic; best inventions of 2007. This is especially clever because the i-phone was chosen as the best invention of 2007. Whatever they are paying the creator of these covers is worth every penny. But isn’t it interesting that we seldom think about who is behind the visual rhetoric, or the hours it must take to come up with those ideas? But I digress…

The best inventions seem to center around saving our world, and in fact many of the inventions ( the most interesting ones to me, anyway) deal with fuel, and different ways to get around. They have cars and buses that look like nothing we’ve ever seen and run on bio-ethanol, and MIT has come up with a City Car that they claim is the cross between private and public transportation, and it’s electric. There’s even a new plane called the 787 Dreamliner that promises to use 20% less fuel than other planes its size (it seats 250 passengers). We won’t see this until 2008, though, so don’t call your travel agent just yet. The most promising for my money is the car that runs on compressed air. Made by Tata Motors in India, and according to Time, the cars run on cold air, and the only thing that comes out of them is colder air! That’s what I call progress-and that’s not all.

The inventions span a few more categories; space, robots, entertainment,law and order, living environment, architecture, fashion, computers, and health. I have taken the liberty of choosing 1 favorite from each category.

Space-Spandex Space Suit ( no more looking wierd while cruising the cosmos)

Robots-the Weed ‘Em and Reap (not just a catchy name, but a useful tool for farmers)

Entertainment- Digital 3-D. Does this mean we don’t have to wear those strange glasses anymore?

Law & Order- StarChase Pursuit Management System. This will allow officers to flag vehicles with a laser gps device, eliminating the dangers of a high speed chase for the cops. I know-we can have all kinds of conversations about how this can go wrong, but I have to believe that there are some good cops out there!

Living-Espresso Book Machine!!! YES! this little machine can churn out a 300 page paperback on demand, for $3 a book, and is currently available. My sense is that they are only sold to libraries, but who cares? Maybe more kids will take an interest in spending their time at the library, even if it is just to check out the new tech toy.

Environnent-Erasbale Paper. Yes, E-R-A-S-A-B-L-E! Any text printed on this paper (and with the appropriate printer, of course) disappears after 24 hours. Tree huggers of the world-get happy!

Architecture-San Francisco Federal Building-not aesthetically appealing, but makes sure that 85% of the work space receives fresh air and natural sun, while maintaining a comfortable temperature with minimal air conditioning.

Fashion-Transformers! High heels that can be transformed from stilettos to flats!

Computers-WildCharger- a cordless cellphone charging pad that goes everywhere with you, and can charge your phone in the same amount of time as a wall plug can.

Health-Blood Simple-a machine that can take your blood and convert it into “O” type blood (universal donor), so that your blood can be used for anyone that might need it…impressive indeed.

Those are my choices, but check out this issue and see for yourself; it’s time well spent.

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