X

Photos: Stanford's Cool Product Expo

The Cool Product Expo, which took place Wednesday at Stanford University, was a showcase for start-ups, university research labs, and design studios.

CNET Reviews staff
coolproduct09_(3_of_11).jpg
1 of 11 James Martin/CNET

A nanoscopic phenomena called electron tunneling

The Cool Product Expo, which took place Wednesday at Stanford University, was a showcase for start-ups, university research labs, and design studios.

Psyleron, a research group based out of Princeton University, focuses on connections between the mind and the physical world.

Inside its color-changing Mind-Lamp is a Random Event Generator, which controls the light, though a nanoscopic phenomena called electron tunneling also makes it sensitive to some outside forces. Thus, the human mind is apparently able to have an effect on the lights.

coolproduct09_(10_of_11).jpg
2 of 11 James Martin/CNET

Chris Dyball using Neuro Sky's mind-controlled headset

Chris Dyball concentrates while using Neuro Sky's mind-controlled headset to play a video game at the Cool Product Expo.
coolproduct09_(11_of_11).jpg
3 of 11 James Martin/CNET

AeroPress Coffee Maker

His company, Aerobie, is known for its flying discs, but Alan Adler's newest device is the AeroPress Coffee Maker. The appliance brews coffee and espresso in less than a minute. It is similar to a French press, except that air pressure pushes the grounds through a micro-filter.
coolproduct09_(7_of_11).jpg
4 of 11 James Martin/CNET

Lunar Design touch screens

Lunar Design, based in San Francisco, works on a variety of products and services, including Hewlett-Packard computers. Here, a Cool Product Expo attendee plays with an HP TouchSmart touch-screen display, a product that Lunar Design worked on.
coolproduct09_(1_of_11).jpg
5 of 11 James Martin/CNET

Tool designed by Lunar Design

This tool, also designed by Lunar Design, has two antenna-like modules that are interchangeable. They take environmental readings of wind speed, temperature, sound, and light, for example.
coolproduct09_(2_of_11).jpg
6 of 11 James Martin/CNET

Anybots telepresence robot QA

QA, a telepresence robot from Anybots, roams the floor and chats with attendees. QA allows its operator to control it from a remote location.

Telepresence technologies are designed to make operators feel like they are actually present when they are offsite.

coolproduct09_(4_of_11).jpg
7 of 11 James Martin/CNET

Coolirish browser plug-in

Katie Lampe of Cooliris shows off software that transforms your browser into a full-screen 3D experience for viewing online media. Here, she demonstrates the browser plug-in on a projection touch screen.
coolproduct09_(5_of_11).jpg
8 of 11 James Martin/CNET

Siftables

Originally designed and built by David Merrill and Jeevan Kalanithi at the MIT Media Lab, Siftables are independent devices that combine existing technologies like sensing, graphical display, and wireless communication to form a unique display of interactive information.

Siftables are aware of their surroundings and can interact individually or as a group.

coolproduct09_(6_of_11).jpg
9 of 11 James Martin/CNET

re:motion designs

Re:motion Designs' mission is to offer advanced, affordable prosthetics to amputees. JaipurKnee, seen here, is a polymer prosthetic joint made for above-knee amputees. It costs less than $20.
coolproduct09_(8_of_11).jpg
10 of 11 James Martin/CNET

The Polli-Brick

The Polli-Brick, designed by Miniwiz, uses recycled plastic bottles to create high-performance green architecture. The three solar collectors, placed on the outside of a Polli-Brick wall, light LEDs inside the home.
coolproduct09_(9_of_11).jpg
11 of 11 James Martin/CNET

EasyBloom

EasyBloom is a sensor for plants, which monitors and analyzes the environment in each location and finds the optimal water and sun conditions for that particular plant. If you plug EasyBloom into a USB port, it will connect to AccuWeather and analyze your garden's conditions.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos