33 Great Ideas From Around The World (page 3 of 6)

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Your Life

Instant EKG
High-risk cardiac patients, take heart: Researchers have developed a personal monitor that can call for help in an emergency. The Wearable Cardiac Telemedicine prototype keeps tabs on your ticker by continuously conducting its own electrocardiogram. It uses Bluetooth, a short-range wireless link, to transmit the data to a cell phone programmed to analyze the information. If the data indicates a problem, the phone sends a text message to a nearby hospital so you can get treated quickly.
-- India

Bombs Away
Zurich garbage-can manufacturer Brüco Swiss is doing its part to combat the global terrorism threat. Should someone decide to drop a bomb into the aptly named Littershark Protectus, its sleek shape and reinforced-steel construction would direct the force of the blast upward, limiting the collateral damage to a 6 1/2-foot radius, according to tests conducted by Swiss defense experts. The bin, in wide use in its home country, is now marketed around the world as a safer receptacle for popular thoroughfares such as the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
-- Switzerland

Lending a Hand
Most people probably think they can do CPR. But the procedure is tricky, and performing it correctly can mean the difference between life and death. The CPRGlove leaves a lot less room for error. The device, which was invented by two engineering students from Ontario and will soon be undergoing clinical trials, is packed with circuits and sensors that guide you on the depth and pace of your compressions, and can signal you when it’s time to do mouth-to-mouth.
-- Canada

Cash or Cell?
The Finns have it all: Lapland, Marimekko—and cell phones that work like debit cards. A new technology developed by Nokia and its partners lets you download virtual cash into your mobile. You can then buy train tickets or pay for parking by swiping the handset past a reader. In the city of Oulu, seniors can even order home-delivered meals by tapping their phones against the menu.
-- Finland

Dress for the Cold
Designer Olivia Ong’s gold dress makes more than a fashion statement: It fights the flu. For her Glitterati line, Ong used cotton coated in silver, a natural antibacterial agent, so it blocks germs that can make you sick. Talk about the high price of fashion: The Cornell researchers who engineered the nanotech fabric say it cost $10,000 per square yard to make. At least you’d save on dry cleaning. The metallic finish also keeps the dress from getting dirty.
-- U.S.