2011 was a year of magnificent technological progress. Humans seem to be on an endless quest for knowledge. Here is a list of the top ten most interesting inventions of 2011, in no particular order.

1) The BodyGuard
Essentially a high-tech gauntlet, this armored sleeve comes packed with a laser pointer, video camera and a taser for all of your crime-fighting needs. It’s painted all black too, for maximum stealth. 

2) The Terrafugia Transition
The flying car is finally here! While not produced commercially yet, the Transition has had numerous successful flight missions and is looking like an excellent entrant into this brand new industry. Whether or not the flying car catches on remains a mystery, as a drastic overhaul of all major travel mediums would have to take place, requiring a significant amount of money.

3) Synthetic Cells
Cells whose genetic information was created by a computer are in the early stages of development, and researchers are extremely excited about the potential. With this discovery, it is likely that scientists in the future will be able to engineer ultra-efficient cells for rapidly delivering vaccines and such throughout the body.

4) The Martin Jetpack
This jetpack, named after Glenn Martin of New Zealand’s Martin Aircraft Company, is touted as being the first jetpack pragmatic enough to deliver emergency supplies and such in dire situations. It’s also large enough for bystanders to mistake you for a small aircraft, so avoid no-fly zones when possible. 

5) The Stark Hand
This synthetic hand is giving disabled people a second chance. With individual knuckles that bend just like their organic counterparts, the Stark Hand is quickly becoming the prosthetic-of-choice for the disabled. Best of all, it’s produced with low-cost materials and is easily affordable by those in need.

6) The Medical Mirror
Developed by MIT student, Ming-Zher Por, this mirror senses information about your heartbeat via a tiny webcam that measures the light bouncing off your face. Por idealizes a future where information about your heart can be instantly transmitted to your doctor, simply by looking into the mirror.

7) The Katal Landing Pad
After a nasty snowboarding accident, engineering student, Aaron Coret, and his friend Stephen Slen set out to design a landing pad that was safe for boarders and skiers alike. Their design is unique in that upon impact, the rider is given enough cushion to comfortably land without being enveloped by the material out of which the pad is made.

The Printbrush
The Printbrush is basically an ultra-portable printer with the ability to print any picture onto almost any surface. Created by Alex Breton, the Printbrush easily fits in a briefcase or purse and weighs less than a pound!

9) Dynamic Eye Sunglasses
During a particularly blinding commute, inventor Chris Mullin decided that a new breed of sunglasses needed crafting. Enter the dynamic eye sunglasses, with liquid crystals embedded in the lens that darken your glasses depending on where the sun is striking them!

10) Kymer Motorized Body Board
Perfect for those who are looking to putt around the lake but don’t want to go through the hassle of lugging a boat out there, this board-boat hybrid can reach speeds of over twenty-five miles per hour!

There are many graduate programs in the U.S. offering PhDs in computer science. With such a degree it is easier to find gainful employment within the walls of academia or within a business environment. Choosing a top academic doctoral program generally means exposure to extensive computer science research and a significant source of funding for research and development. 

The top Ph.D. programs for computer science in the U.S can change in ranking depending on what source is doing the calculating, but the following top five are generally agreed upon: Stanford, M.I.T, Carnegie Mellon, University of California Berkeley and Cornell. Prominent names like Princeton, Harvard, Brown, Yale, University of Maryland, University of Wisconsin, University of Texas at Austin and the California Institute of Technology can also be found ranked within the top 20 programs.

Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science (SCS) is consistently ranked, not only one of the best in the U.S., but in the entire world. The school offers seven academic units of study which are as follows: human-computer interaction, the institute for software research, computer science department, the Lane center for computational biology, language technologies, machine learning and its robotics institute. 

Stanford also adds to its overall distinguished reputation with an outstanding SCS program recognized the world over and annually ranks among the elite in areas such as artificial intelligence, programming language and systems and theory. It’s no surprise that such a prestigious program claims former students like Google founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, as alumni. 

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology combined its electrical engineering department with its newly created computer science department in 1975. Known as EECS, their doctoral program is another world renowned institute of higher education offering a wide range of research topics including theoretical computer science, robotics, computer systems and architecture, graphics, machine learning, large scale systems analysis, power and energy, numerical computing and nanotechnology are just some of the research areas a Ph.D. candidate has available to them. 

The Cornell Ph.D. program in computer science is another top program consistently ranking among the top five in the country. The school distinguishes itself with a long tradition of pioneering research and its overall large-scale scope of its Ph.D. program. Over the past ten years they’ve specialized in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital libraries and computer graphics, while also maintaining top-flight study in areas of theory, scientific computing and programming. The program accepts about 25 new Ph.D. students each year. 

Another outstanding academic program in computer science can be found at UC Berkeley. The Ph.D. program offers top research study in the fields of artificial intelligence, graphics, computer architecture & engineering, human-computer interaction, integrated circuitry, programming systems and scientific computing just to name a few. The school boasts prominent former students like Steve Wozniak, who along with co-founder Steve Jobs, founded Apple Computer.

Inventions are unique ideas, devices, processes, discoveries or conventions. In many instances, inventions have changed humanity for generations. There are many inventions crucial to human history.

1. In ancient China during the 9th century, Chinese alchemists searched for immortality. However, the chemical result was gunpowder. Eventually, gunpowder became a core ingredient in fireworks. From the study of fireworks, gunpowder is the inspiration for rocketry. Gunpowder, which is no longer used in modern military applications, was the source of explosives.
2. Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press is crucial for increasing the literacy rate of European people from the 15th century forward. The main application for the printing press was to print Bibles in native languages. Classic authors, such as H.G. Wells, owe their fame to the printing press. Literature could not survive without printing technology. Today, computerized printing presses manufacture various documents, but Gutenberg’s printing press is the inspiration.
3. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for the telephone. Including Bell, there are others involved in the development of the telephone. Since 1876, the telephone was revolutionary due to sound transmission over wires. Written letters were downgraded to delayed messages since the telephone provided the medium for instant communication. Today’s cellular phones draw their origin from the landline telephone.
4. The original inventor of the light bulb is Englishman Joseph Swan. However, American inventor, Thomas Edison, improved the electric light bulb and was granted a patent in 1879. With light bulbs and electricity, people no longer needed to use gas lamps at night. Today, the incandescent light bulb is the inspiration for energy-efficient bulbs.
5. Television was revolutionary in visually displaying information broadcasting over the air in the first half of the twentieth century. Philo Farnsworth invented the first publicly demonstrated television in 1927. Due to television, the home entertainment industry developed since the 1970′s initially with video cassettes, then laserdiscs, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs. The video game industry owes its existence to television.
6. Jets date back to the early 20th century. There are various inventors and innovators in the development of jets. With jets, the aviation industry expanded due to achieving faster speeds and longer flight times. Thus, flight destinations increased over time. In air forces, jet technology developed quick strike forces with fighter jets capable of traveling faster than the speed of sound, or Mach 1.
7. Personal computers date back to the 1970′s. Several companies improved the personal computer since the then. Because of personal computers, people can complete tasks efficiently. In combination with software, hardware and the internet, the personal computer is the access point to information. Hence, the personal computer is the symbol of the Information Age.
8. Sir Tim Berners-Lee first proposed the World Wide Web in 1990. While the internet was revolutionary as a delivery of communication, the World Wide Web is the visual symbol of the internet. The World Wide Web is the reason for the existence of various websites.

Creative play when combined with new technology can provide educational experiences far beyond a child’s years. Motivating a child to learn has now been enhanced by using new inventions that include fascinating technology. The implementation of computer interaction has created a sort of phenomenon that allows the child to learn and experience creative play.

1. The Apple iPad is a world-class invention that encourages interaction through learning, playing, reading, watching and listening on the highest levels. The iPad creates interaction and excitement for educational purposes. There are amazing apps readily available for easy download to create intant fun. Games that incorporate math, reading, information, and writing make the most out of time spent with the iPad. It’s beautiful exterior design and sleek, classy and high quality construction makes it a number one technology must-have.
2. The LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet takes learning to a higher level by including touch-screen technology, a camera, fun, interchangeable game cartridges, and exciting downloadable educational apps. The tablet features high-quality construction to last throughout childhood learning.
3. Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 makes learning electronics fun by following the colorful pictures in the easy-to-follow manual to build creative projects like doorbells, AM radios and burglar alarms. The snap-together technology and design allows hours of fun while learning.
4. Robotikits manufactured by OWI, lets kids build cars, windmills, solar-powered boats, puppies and airplanes without tools. After creating one model, the pieces can be reassembled to build any of the other models included in the six-in-one kit as well.
5. The Talking Electron Microscope, manufactured by Educational Insights, is for the aspiring young scientist. An exciting educational invention, this microscope takes a newer approach to science with it’s extreme close-up view of 180 different images, including human body parts, viruses and animals.
6. FirstBIKE, created by FirstBIKE, USA, is a training bicycle that helps children with developing motor skills by teaching them how to balance on two wheels and turn corners, creating confidence as a rider. The bike features a safety stop handbrake system, steering limiter and a comfortable, ergonomic seat.
7. PlasmaCar is an innovative ride-on toy with a streamlined and sleek design. Durable and rugged, it requires no batteries, fuel or power-cells. This classy, little vehicle is easy to operate and fun to drive with it’s turn-on-a-dime technology. It’s even sturdy enough to hold an adult! The PlasmaCar is made with high-quality ABS plastics and state-of-the-art materials. PlasmaCar is made by PLASMART, INC.

To most people, the word “invention” triggers thoughts of Albert Einstein, Alexandar Graham Bell and those men who lived their lives in the worlds of science and research. Professionals in their workplaces, whether they are lawyers, technicians or doctors tap the knowledge from books and journals mostly written by men. Female sexuality has always been linked to appearance, and women were merely seen as objects of beauty.

Today, business minds have finally realized the foolishnes of ignoring women, and as a result, are now giving prominence to what they have and want to contribute to society. For millions of women, chosing the lifestyle they always wanted is no longer their overriding concern. Things are changing for the better in a culture that was once so obsessed with keeping women behind closed doors. Below is a brief look at some of things that women have invented.

Compiler for the First Computer

Admiral Grace Murray Hopper’s compiler, called the Flow-Matic, was extensively used in the first computer made available commercially in the 1950s. The manual of operation that she wrote while she worked with IBM’s Harvard Mark I computer, became the resource for other programmers looking for an easy way to create codes that were error free.

Square-bottomed Paper Bag

Earlier version bags resembled an envelope and lacked the needed rigidity and usefulness. This is when Margaret Knight furnished the public with her innovative item,  paper bags with a square bottom, that can hold more things without it giving way. Paper bags, now found in many retail and grocery stores, are worthy of a study in themselves.

Dishwasher

Many times the inventions in the kitchen are a consequence of being disgruntled, exhausted or over worked.
Josephine Cochrane didn’t spend her time washing dishes, hating the way things were. Her habit of not focusing on her kitchen only seemed to be getting worse, and she took the invention more seriously when her maids broke her favorite dinnerware from China.

Windshield Wiper

During the early 20th century, it appeared that the drivers of vehicles went through too much trouble cleaning their front window, having to actually stop the vehicle every time. Mary Anderson, a New York visitor, speculated that the presence of a squeegee on a spindle would do the job easier for them. That thought had a role in her invention in 1903, the windshield wiper, which is now the most basic element of any vehicle. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ruth Wakefield, a dietitian and food lecturer, had bought an old toll house and converted it into an inn with a restaurant, in Boston. The dietitian had an important but potentially difficult role of baking cookies for hundreds of guests who came to dine. Unfortunately, at some point, she ran out of baker’s chocolate meant for preparing Butter Drop cookies and ended up using pieces of Nestle chocolate bar. The chocolate pieces did not melt as expected, but held their shape, and that was later named as “Chocolate chip cookies” by her guests.

We will hold the AcademicFest in conjunction with the 6.0 Games, Learning, and Society Conference June 9-11, 2010.  The first AcademicFest was a huge success when held in conjunction with the GLS event last year and we look forward to an even better combined event in June 2010!

Please see this Press Release for more information

Welcome to Academc Fest 2009!

September 15th & 16th, 2009 in Madison, WI

Academic Fest brings together educational technology specialists, inventors, and researchers from all over the globe. The goal is to provide a platform for presentation and discussion on formal and informal learning technologies.

The conference itself will be a “mashup” of traditional conference sessions and less formal “unconference” sessions. While you will see the formal sessions listed here soon, the informal sessions will be determined by…YOU (and the other attendees at the conference). We will have open slots to discuss core technologies, SCORM, repositories, open source, or whatever is driving your decision-making… Conference topics include:

• The current state of SCORM and related technologies
• Use of mobile technologies in learning
• The impact of virtual K-12 schools
• Informal learning tools and changes in higher education
• Repositories, registries, and course management systems
• Future directions for content delivery models
• How to plan for Academic IT in a constantly changing delivery environment

Sponsored by ADL Advanced Distributed Learning