And now, here are TIME magazine's 200 best inventions of 2024
I’m not going to go through all 200 of them, but here are 10 of the most striking/useful/unique ones from my perspective. Let’s dive in:
- DJI Neo A drone smaller than your palm, fully functional and with a decent camera. The best part? It costs only $200! (https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2024/09/06/tiny-dji-neo-could-be-the-biggest-drone-ever/). A serious contender to disrupt the mass-market drone segment.
- De-Ice A Boston-based startup tackling airplane de-icing with a special tape that works like an induction cooker. The tape attaches to the fuselage, and pilots can control it. It reportedly (https://time.com/7094856/de-ice/) de-ices planes faster than traditional chemical sprays, saving airlines precious time. This year, Canada Air tested De-Ice tapes on their first commercial plane.
- Triple-fold phones Huawei was the first to release (https://time.com/7094584/huawei-mate-xt-ultimate-design/) a triple-fold smartphone, and other companies quickly followed. These devices introduce a slew of new use cases and take us closer to smartphones replacing all other gadgets. The main concern? Screen durability over time—perhaps intentionally limited for profit?
- Bimotal Electrifies regular bicycles (https://time.com/7094576/bimotal-elevate/) with a smartphone-sized motor system. Attach it to the rear wheel, and your bike becomes an e-bike capable of speeds up to 32 km/h. It’s not cheap—around €2000—but it’s compatible with any regular bike.
- Chamelo Lenses Sunglasses with adaptive tinting and color lenses. You can adjust the tint level or color (depending on the model) using a slider on the frame or set it to automatic mode.
- SandboxAQ A project from a former Google employee creating a GPS alternative for precise geolocation. This tech (https://time.com/7094639/sandboxaq-aqnav/) uses waves reflected off the Earth’s crust and matches them to maps. The company claims this system is tamper-proof compared to GPS. Initially targeted for aviation, but its applications are broader.
- Whispp A Dutch AI app for stutterers. It recognizes attempts to speak and converts them into clear phrases and sentences. The goal is to help those with severe stuttering communicate effectively.
- Transparent screens Two noteworthy examples: an LG TV (https://time.com/7094590/lg-signature-oled-t/) and a Lenovo laptop (https://time.com/7094635/lenovo-thinkbook-transparent-display-laptop-concept/). These are still concepts and experimental models, but they hint at a future where devices with screens integrate seamlessly into our spaces. On a related note, LG’s stretchy screen (https://t.me/fichism/550) is also worth mentioning.
- Smart toilet seat by Toi Labs The "TrueLoo" seat (https://time.com/7094694/toi-labs-trueloo/) monitors your health by analyzing your, well, output. It tracks changes and alerts you if something’s wrong. The startup is developing a user app and a system to connect with specialists.
- A No-Emissions Flight: ZeroAvia's ZA600 is a hydrogen-electric powertrain designed to propel 19-seat aircraft without emitting carbon, producing only water vapor as a byproduct. The system utilizes a fuel cell that converts green hydrogen into electricity. In 2024, ZeroAvia received approval from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority for further experimental flights and secured a $150 million funding round. The company aims to eventually power larger aircraft, including those manufactured by Airbus, one of its lead investors. ZeroAvia contends that, unlike battery-powered alternatives, their hydrogen-electric powertrain can meet the unique energy and weight requirements of aviation.
