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Innovation on display at the Stanford Cool Product Expo (photos)

Innovators put their new technology on display at Stanford University's annual Cool Product Expo.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
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Stanford University

The Stanford Cool Product Expo is an annual conference meant to give Bay Area inventors a chance to showcase some of the innovative projects they have been working on. This year's event, held on April 7, featured portable battery chargers, an iPhone adapter for a microscope, and even a few mind-control devices.
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Intel Reader

The Intel Reader is a book scanner intended to assist those with problems reading, such as dyslexia or the blind. Hold it steady enough, within a 15-degree tolerance, and you can read just about anything from street signs to books. Seen here mounted on a sturdy pedestal, the device can also be used to create your own audio books. After being scanned, the device can then read the text out loud and save it for later.
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BioLite Stove

BioLite stoves are wood-burning devices that use technology to maximize energy consumption and minimize emissions and the amount of wood burned.

Using patent-pending thermoelectric fan technology, BioLite achieves 95 percent smoke reduction and is also capable of delivering a small amount of electricity. Intended for use in rural areas, BioLite can affordably provide health benefits, efficiency, and energy to charge devices like cell phones.

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TRIAC freeway commuter

Designed as a freeway commuter, Green Vehicle's TRIAC electric vehicle gets 100 miles per charge and is capable of achieving a top speed of 80 miles per hour.

In addition to using technologies that increased the vehicle's range and power, Green Vehicles says it has also reduced production costs. The TRIAC retails for $25,000.

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Alternative vehicles

These prototype carbon fiber electric vehicles were developed as part of a joint project between Stanford University students and students at the Osaka Sangyo University.
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Solar-powered vehicle

This sleek solar-powered car can reach speeds of 40 mph on solar alone and can go up to 80 when its electric power kicks in.
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NY Mini Biscuit

The NY Mini Biscuit designed by MiniWiz is a dual wind-solar AA battery charger. A small fan on the side captures wind energy, and the device unfolds to also harness solar energy, making it a versatile charging device for rural areas worldwide.
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Carbon fiber guitars

This compact one-piece, carbon-fiber Blackbird guitar has a hollow body, neck, and head, as well as nylon strings, which gives it added resonance and durability.
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iScope

This iScope is an adapter for an iPhone that enables the phone to capture images through a microscope. An accompanying app can label, sort, and easily share the images.
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Brain waves

Video game mind control devices, like the Nia PC Game Controller, map a user's facial expressions and eye movements to control game actions. Here, a developer goes over some of the data before letting a show-goer use the device to play a round of the classic game Pong.
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Mind control

Using this concentration-developing tool made by NeuroSky, players use their mind to control the height of the ball as it moves through the rings. The ball is moved forward with a physical dial controlling air flow.
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TruBalance Golf

LPGA golfer Christie Smith developed this platform for improving one's golf game. The screen by the tee shows the balance of the player's stance. "Start balanced, finish balanced" says Smith.
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Driptech

Using only the assistance of gravity, this cheap, durable irrigation system is intended to be used in developing countries where more expensive technologies are prohibitive to farmers. Using Driptech's system, the water container needs to be only 3 feet off the ground to deliver enough water pressure to effectively irrigate along 100 feet of tube.

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