How many times do we hear nano-tech and origami used in the same sentence? If your answer was never, you would be wrong. According to Science Daily, George Barbastathis, associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, is developing the basic principles of "nano-origami," a new technique that allows engineers to fold nanoscale materials into simple 3-D structures. Why is this important? Well, traditional nano-tech used in microprocessors and MEMS (micro-electrical-mechanical) devices can only be built in 2-D. Now scientists are discovering ways to transform these 2-D structures into 3 -D. This would enable devices to be even smaller and faster. It seems like every time scientists think they are getting close to the limits of Moore's Law they find a new way to perpetuate it.

Now we can't ignore the significance of these discoveries. They show that we are still on the highway to smaller devices, and that inventors will have plenty of opportunities to develop new products with these devices. But sometimes, it is simply nice to kick back and say, "That's just cool!"

In our last discussion, we talked about university inventions that you could profit from. Today, we would like to remind you that university studies can also be a spark for your imagination and a boon to your pocket-book.

With the economy in recession and consumers in depression, it is often hard for inventors and entrepreneurs to be optimistic. It is even harder to convince yourself to spend the few dollars that you may have on a "chance". But we at BeHeron would like to remind you to look deeper for trends in the market that may simply be too good to pass up.

In the past week, we have seen an increase in positive news stories revolving around green tech. Most of the people interviewed in these articles are almost defiant regarding the downturn. This attitud reminds us of other companies and industries that started out under similar conditions and had a similar defiance towards the economic conditions. In 1980, inflation was at 13.5% and unemployment was at 7.5%. Yet, The field of modern biotechnology is thought to have begun on June 16, 1980, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that a genetically-modified microorganism could be patented. A year later, the Microsoft Disk Operating System, MS-DOS, was introduced spurring another technological revolution.

Today, we see similar signs of a burgeoning industry. First, we see a report "New Energy Economy Legislation to Create Opportunities for Cleantech Investors, Producers and Adopters, According to PricewaterhouseCoopers". Second, we see "Silicon Valley green tech jobs on the rise". And finally, "PG&E will invest $1.4B in solar power". In itself, these articles don't tell us much. However, when we see consistent news reports of new legislation, investment dollars, and new jobs in a down economy. Just think of the momentum that will be unleashed when the economy turns around. Just be sure you will be ready to catch the wave with your own products!

In our last discussion, we talked about university inventions that you could profit from. Today, we would like to remind you that university studies can also be a spark for your imagination and a boon to your pocket-book.

The Economist recently reported about a study done by Sarah Hainsworth, a forensic-engineering specialist at the University of Leicester. She revealed insights into the lethality of knives. She was able to determine that the knife characteristic that lead to the most damage in humans was the radius at the tip of the knife. This characteristic outweighed the shape of the tip, the thickness of the blade, and the sharpness of the edge.

Now, this study may be easily overlooked from a product design standpoint. But if we look deeper, we can see several benefits that may provide value to potential customers. First, as the article points out, many knives don't require a pointed tip. But more importantly, it provides insight in just how a result can be marketed in a consumer friendly way. We could easily see marketing slogans such as "Kid Friendly Cookware" or "The Family Safe Kitchen" in the near future. It is from studies like these that many corporate marketing trends are made, and you should take advantage of them as well!

We, at BeHeron, love to keep an eye out for inventions coming straight out of universities. And as we have said before, this is because the technologies developed can have multiple applications. Another example of this can be found in news coming out of The University of Maine's Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center. They have developed what is called a "bridge in a bag". The invention is rather simple. You bring composite bags to a construction site, inflate into structural shapes, and add resin to harden. Once the resin has cured, you add concrete to finish of the structural component. This product will enable bridge builders to design cheaper and easier to build bridges.

However, our point is more than just bridges. How many other applications can this technology serve? Would it's value be even more useful for products that are built in large volumes? These are some of the questions every entrepreneur should ask when hearing about a new university sponsored technology!

In the world of "EcoTech", there are several "holy grails" of technological advancement. No, we are not talking about cold fusion here; but, we are referring to building powerful batteries and finding a way to efficiently reclaim CO2.

Which brings us to our company of the day, Carbon Sciences Inc. They are currently in the process of developing efficient methods of turning CO2 waste into bio-fuels. By combining technologies in chemical engineering and bio-engineering, they have discovered a low energy and highly scalable process to transform large quantities of CO2 into gaseous and liquid fuels using organic biocatalysts. Now we have our doubts, primarily because they have yet to build a working prototype (they plan on developing a full pilot system in late 2010). But we are definitely intrigued.

This simply shows us once again that when a problem exists, someone will try to find a solution. And if successful, it will be a very profitable solution as well!

As solar moves closer and closer to grid parity, we are begining to see more and more applications in which solar energy is being used. And typical of any disruptive technology, the first applications that we see are those that leverage the disatvantages of the grid. One such application is being developed by SKYShades in partnership with Konarka energy. Konarka is a developer of thin-film photovoltaics. Athough thin-film is less efficient than the typical crystalline solar cells, it more than makes up for the difference with much lower manufacturing costs, and we all know cheap is better!

As described by their website, SKYShades' initial focus for photovoltaics will be a simple 'Al Fresco' umbrella that can be used at coffee shops, hotels and resorts throughout the world. The Konarka powered umbrellas will deliver 'clean' 'green' energy for people to recharge their laptops, mobile phones, IPods and other personal appliances. In the future, they plan to utilize their shades for car parks, stadiums, amphitheatres, restaurants etc. around the world through its world-wide franchise partners. We expect that it is products like these that will be the first to be profitable and lead the way for solar to be applied in more typical applications.

If you have ever driven in rush-hour traffic, you know what a challange that can be. Now imagine that you run a fleet and your profitability depended on reducing costs. Well, GreenRoad Technologies may have an answer to some of your problems. As described in the San Fracisco Business Times, GreenRoad has develped a system that analyzes 120 different driving menuevers and provides instant feedback to the driver. The data is then built up over time to provide reports to the driver or management. Now, you may ask how small changes to driving behavior can effect the bottom line of your company? GreenRoad reports that T-Mobile UK reduced their fleet vehicle repair costs by 49% and reduced their fuel costs by 3%, and that is some big chump change!

Again, there are two teaching points that we can take away from this story. First, by solving a high cost problem in your own company, you may have developed a product to sell to others. And finally, don't ignore problems that seem impossible to fix, like safe driving. Somebody out there may have come up with a solution!

Fu·tur·ol·o·gist - noun. A person whose occupation or specialty is the forecasting of future events, conditions, or developments.

Why do major corporations pay serious money for their insights, and why should we listen as well? Well, to understand this better, let's examine a recent article from the Telegraph. It informs us that a futurologist's report (from thefuturelaboratory.com) has stated, rather boldly, that Televisions will be fitted into contact lenses within ten years.

Now, are companies paying for that specific tidbit of foresight? If we read the article more closely, we will notice that his prediction is based upon several recent technological developments. First, we learn that such an LCD lens could be powered by one's body heat. Second, voice commands would be used to change the channels. And finally, a technology called "emotional viewing" will provide users an understanding of what emotion TV characters are feeling. What futurologists do is take technologies that are 2-5 years away and then combine them to predict products 10 years away. Companies pay for the reports to expand their imaginations to what is possible. In the same way, individual inventors can look at these reports to find insights about what technology is available and what are the various possibilities to their implementation!

If you have visited our site before, you probably know that we love it when companies or individuals take an existing product and use it in a completely new application. Another example of this is LoJack's new SafetyNet™ product. They have taken their existing product, primarily for car theft applications, and expanded it for additional uses. In this way, they can utilize their existing fixed cost infrastructure to provide another revenue stream and a needed service at the same time. LoJack describes the product best.

"LoJack® SafetyNet™ is a search and rescue system specifically designed to track and rescue people at risk of wandering, including those with Alzheimer's, autism, Down syndrome, dementia and other cognitive disorders. Once a caregiver, guardian or family member enrolls a loved one in the SafetyNet program, the client is outfitted with a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) on his or her wrist or ankle. Should the client wander or go missing, trained and certified public safety agencies use digital Search and Rescue Receivers."

So the next time you develop a product or service, don't forget to leverage what you have built and don't be afraid to diversify your revenue streams.

We've always talked about market solutions that can fix an immediate problem. But what about a solution that reduces the problem but not necessarily fixes it entirely? Should you still market the product as it is, or should you maybe wait until the problem can be solved in its entirety?

This brings us to Abreva©. You may know Abreva© as the #1 pharmacist recommended non-prescription topical cold sore cream. But did you also know that abreva© doesn't cure cold sore? It only shortens the healing time and duration of the symptoms. In fact, in 2000, it was their precise argument of "shortening the healing time can make a difference at one's prom" that won them the FDA approval. Even today, on their website, they make the same claim.

"If you suffer from cold sores, you know all too well how quickly they can change your outlook on life. You feel that dreaded first tingle and, almost overnight, you no longer look your best or feel your best. It becomes harder to face the world with confidence."

Goes to show you, you don't need to find a solution in order to market a product. All you need is a way to decrease a pre-existing problem and find an unique way to show customer value. After all, regulatory agencies, like FDA, are run by people, governed by human rationale.

As an inventor, it can be depressing to see a multi-million dollar company develop a new product. Especially, when you see something developed that you thought of first, but knew that you would never have the money or expertise to pull it off yourself. However, other times you see a large company develop a product which you know you can do yourself.

This was especially true when we read about iRobot's Looj Gutter-Cleaning Device in Design News. The Looj is a rather simple machine. It drives on tracks and uses a three stage auger to dislodge and break up clogged leaves that end up in your rain gutter every fall. Now the reality is that most of us as childrenn played with little tanks. And that's all the Looj is. So, what does this teach us? It tells us that many times you don't have to be a multi-national corporation, a world famous robot company, or have a Ph.D. in tele-robotics to devlop new products. All you really need is a good imagination, and an eye for everyday problems like clogged rain gutters!

As the economy continues to falter and the price of oil continues to wane, one question we have been asking ourselves is, will the eco-tech boom, bust?

Typically, when we have a question like this, we look up our sources in Silicon Valley for an answer. Sure enough, the Silicon Valley /San Jose Business Journal has an answer. They recently reported the venture capital taley for cleantech in 2008. It was a record $4.7 Billion and, more importantly, $954 Million of that amount was raised in the 4th quarter. We think this is key, because during the first half of 2008, oil was still breaking records and the economy still had a pulse. Even with a double dose of bad news, venture capital firms poured money into new cleantech ventures. This view is also shared by Joseph Muscat, Americas director of cleantech, Ernst & Young LLP.

"Investments made this past quarter suggest that investors are considering industry drivers that will propel cleantech companies long after the current financial crisis recedes," says Joseph Muscat.

The specific driver that he is referring to is the federal stimulus package, which promises to pour several billion more dollars into cleantech products and research. Additionally, governments worldwide are expected to tighten pollution regulations over the next few years. So, if you have a great idea to save the planet as well as your pocketbook, it is still a very favorable environment for you!

How do you get your invention mentioned on BeHeron? Well, let us give you an example. If you take a potato chips bag and turn it into a solar concentrator for solar power, we will be sure to mention you! Just send us a tip! Or simply get yourself published on an industry publication.

Anyway, the company is called Cool Earth Solar, and they are located in Livermore, California. Cool Earth Solar have found a way, using cheap and readily available plastic film, to form an inexpensive solar concentrator. Typically, these concentrators are made by shaping expensive mirrors into a parabolic shape to concentrate light. Cool Earth solar, on the other hand, has kept their design simple. As best described by their website:

"Plastic film, the basis of our patented concentrator design, is the only man-made material produced in enough abundance to meet our scaling needs for a collector material. All in all, 744-billion square feet of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) polyester film—which is the type of plastic we use in our design—is produced worldwide every year for packaging and other uses. This total could create enough Cool Earth concentrators to produce 6,482 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually. Each concentrator uses about two pounds of plastic."

Now, most undergraduate engineers are taught early on the K.I.S.S. method (keep it simple stupid). Sure enough, when companies do this, they make millions. We have high expectations for Cool Earth!

We geeks here at BeHeron have always been in love with Research In Motion's Blackberry, from its conception to the current models. However, even we are quick to point out the lackings in their recent launch of the Blackberry Storm. In a very well written article by WSJ, they describe how the Blackberry Storm has been quite disappointing to their customers, and this was mostly due to a simple business decision. Apparently, Mr. Jim Balsillie, CEO of RIM, declares that the software glitches, are present because the company wanted to release the product just in time for Black Friday.

True, in this weak economy, RIM managed to sell 500,000 units in the first month, quite a substantial sale. However, they also risk losing consumers,such as the one from N.J., who have the urge to throw his Blackberry Storm in the ocean. Now, talking about losing consumer confidence.

This brings us to the lesson of the day. Should RIM have postponed their release date until after all the software glitches were fixed, hence missing the Black Friday deadline? Or perhaps they made the right call in taking advantage of the Black Friday sales, allow the glitches to be repaired later, but risk losing certain loyal followers in the future? This is obviously a complicated business decision, one that can only be figured out at a much later time. We at BeHeron believe that it is probably a good idea to hold off on a product release until all the kinks are repaired, rather than damage ones brand. But, we certainly can understand RIM's decision. After all, cell phones and the rest of the tech world are changing so fast, that to hold off on sales just because of software glitches, is like committing suicide for a tech company, especially if those software glitches are easily fixable by downloadable firmware later on. In the end, it depends on the industry and it depends on the business model. Just remember, nothing is perfect in the world of business. You will never get a perfect solution with no drawbacks. But, at least by learning from others, you know what you are getting yourself into, and any intelligent well thought out decision is much better than a rash one.