Cool Products Expo: 2008. Stanford University

Accenture Technology Labs
http://www.accenture.com

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world's most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments.

Ahnu
http://www.ahnufootwear.com

The name Ahnu is derived from Celtic mythology, from the goddess of balance and well-being. The deity could accurately be described as an ancient version of our own Mother Earth.
The choice is both deliberate and appropriate, as our social and environmental commitment is incorporated in the foundation of every product and every business decision we make.
From the gold standard of factory certification (we're manufactured in one of only 31 footwear factories in the world with SA8000 accreditation), to the use of certified post-consumer recycled fibers in our catalogs and packaging, our commitment is visible throughout all aspects of our brand.
Our product goal is to achieve uncompromising performance by blending a modern aesthetic with the style, structure, and substance of the outdoor lifestyle. We emphasize intuitive easy on/off technology and feature QuiteLightª construction, a system that enables exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and superior comfort.
Finally, we believe that life should be balanced, responsible and fun. ItÕs the spirit weÕve put into this brand, and the way we hope people will live everyday.

Belkin
www.belkin.com

Belkin offers a diverse product mix that provides people with seamless electronics integration in their homes, cars, and on the go. Belkin, a privately held company founded in California in 1983, is the recognized global leader in connectivity solutions. Since our inception, Belkin has experienced an amazing 20-plus consecutive years of dramatic growth.
Our product mix includes award-winning innovations for easy-to-set-up networking solutions, accessories for iPod¨ players and XM player devices, and the first CableFree USB Hub. Our PureAV¨ brand, a line of cables, power, and digital wireless accessories, extracts the full performance potential from high-end home theater equipment, while offering elegant designs and advanced features.

BMW Hydrogen 7
http://www.bmwusa.com/

The BMW Hydrogen 7. To help protect the environment, we looked to the elements.
Our long-term EfficientDynamics strategy can be summed up with one vehicle: the BMW Hydrogen 7. As the world's first luxury performance sedan with hydrogen drive, it runs on the most plentiful element in the world and emits virtually nothing but water vapor. And because the infrastructure for refueling a hydrogen internal combustion engine is not yet complete, the V-12 engine also runs on gasoline at the push of a button, though emissions will result. But all it takes is the power of the Hydrogen 7's 12-cylinder, 260 horsepower engine to prove the capability of our EfficientDynamics. The BMW Hydrogen 7 is not available for purchase at this time, but is considered to be a milestone in bringing forward hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation.
On a global level, hydrogen technology addresses the growing gaps in the supply of fossil fuels. More specifically, it is the only fuel that can allow for a reduction in the overall emission cycle, while meeting our energy needs in a sustainable way. Besides, not many fuels can be produced from renewable sources such as sun, wind, water and biomass.
Determined to bring the power of hydrogen to the world, our initiative goes far beyond the vehicle itself. We are already collaborating with a wide range of dedicated partners, from global fuel distributors and fuel technology companies to government agencies and environmental groups. Today in Germany, there are five liquid hydrogen refueling stations - and soon there will be two in the US. Developed with Linde AG, they are virtually as easy to use as normal gasoline pumps.
The BMW Hydrogen 7 is just another example of how we allow great ideas to live on to become Ultimate Driving Machines¨.

Bonobos
http://www.bonobos.com

Bonobos exists to solve to two problems we had ourselves. (1) Men's pants do not fit well; they are either baggy, frumpy, and unflattering. Or way too tight. We make pants that fit and look better, on most gents and especially on guys with athletic builds. The second problem (2) is retail. How could we enjoy paying 120% markup to try on clothes in an uncomfortable public environment where sales associatesÑwho are total strangersÑeither scrutinize our figures, or pay no attention to us at all? Meanwhile, pricing games are no fun. We're tired of waiting for sales... but paying full price makes no sense when inevitably everything will go on sale. We got tired of the traditional retail shopping experience. So we are building a different kind of clothing company, one that offers a fantastic customer experience, innovative low-cost distribution, and a stylish product that fits well.

BumpTop
http://www.bumptop.com/

BumpTop is a fresh and engaging new way to interact with your computer desktop. You can pile and toss documents like on a real desk. Break free from the rigid and mechanical style of standard point-and-click desktops. Interact by pushing, pulling and piling documents with elegant, self revealing gestures. BumpTop's stunning interface makes clever use of 3D presentation and smooth physics-based animations for an engaging, vivid user experience.

Chirp
http://www.chirp.com/

Chirp helps you stay connected with your friends.
Our product, chirpscreen, is an interactive screen saver that offers:
* Automatic, effortless display of the latest photos and messages from your friends from Flickr, Facebook & Twitter
* Public Flickr photo displays on the topics of your choice (celebrities, cities, you name it!)
* Interaction (share items, leave comments)
* Customization (choose which friends to see)
* Windows XP/Vista compatible; Mac under development
* ... and much more coming soon!

Cool Heat
http://www.patiopalm.com

Everybody talks about the weather, now COOL HEAT does something about it!
Now you can enjoy outdoor living year round (or most of the year depending upon location.) Thanks to “The Patio Palm” by Cool Heat Inc.
The Patio Palm is the world’s first Outdoor Climate and Comfort Control System. By incorporating the cooling comfort of a misting system with a state of the art 40,000 btu radiant heater, Patio Palm users can enjoy cooking and entertaining outdoors throughout the year.

Cooliris
http://www.cooliris.com/

Cooliris Previews- Browse faster than ever Cooliris Previews is a free browser add-on that lets you preview links and rich-media without clicking or leaving your current page, so you can browse faster than ever. Available for Firefox (Windows, Mac. Linux), Internet Explorer, and Safari.
PicLens- Immersive views across the Web PicLens instantly transforms your browser into a full-screen media experience. With just one click, PicLens makes photos come to life via a cinematic presentation that goes beyond the confines of the traditional browser window. Available for Firefox (Windows and Mac), Internet Explorer, and Safari.

d.light design
http://www.dlightdesign.com

An end to kerosene lighting...
In 10 years, we will partner with other organizations to replace every kerosene lantern in the world with safer, brighter, and more affordable lighting. Like the eradication of small pox and soon polio, we can provide everyone with access to a basic human need: safe and bright light. This will allow children to study more effectively, adults to engage in income generating activities, and it will provide safer and cleaner indoor environments while reducing climate changing CO2 emissions.

Dahon
http://www.dahon.com/

Personal Mobility is about the freedom to move. When you want. Wherever you want. According to your schedule – not limited by traffic snarls or pump prices. And with the confidence that you are minimizing your impact on the environment. For 25 years Dahon has been advancing the technology of personal mobility with its pioneering folding bicycle technology. On a Dahon bike you can start making a change today – for greater personal mobility and for a healthier planet.

Dash
http://www.dash.net/

Introducing Dash Express, the first two-way, Internet-connected GPS navigation system. Dash delivers traffic and destination information in exciting new ways, and offers a wide range of new capabilities available from the car that makes a typical GPS practically obsolete. Dash is the smartest way to get from A to B, and find everything in between.

frog design
http://www.frogdesign.com/

frog design, inc. is one of the world’s leading strategic-creative consulting firms. By identifying emerging market opportunities and transforming ideas into compelling product and service experiences, frog helps Fortune 500 clients to evolve, expand, and envision their businesses.

Founded in Germany in 1969, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with studios in Austin, TX; New York, NY; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Milan, Italy; Shanghai, China; and Stuttgart, Germany. With a cross-disciplinary team of more than 400 employees, frog offers a broad range of industry expertise, in fields such as consumer electronics, software, entertainment, finance, medical, retail, and fashion. Clients include Alltel, Disney, GE, HP, Logitech, Microsoft, MTV, Seagate, Yahoo! and others.

GameTank
http://www.gametank.com/

GameTank, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and established in January 2007, is an independent video game development studio dedicated to bringing unique games and genres to market. GameTank was founded to develop games that enable players to acquire real-world skills while being thoroughly entertained.

Tahoe Hybrid
http://www.chevrolet.com/hybrid/

The 2008 Chevy Tahoe already has best-in-class fuel economy.(1) So why mess with a good thing? To make it better, of course. Seems the Green Car Journal agrees — they've named the 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid(2) the Green Car of the Year®.(3)
America's first full-size hybrid SUV is available in two- or four-wheel drive and provides the power and capability you expect from a utility vehicle while delivering efficiency you never imagined. Its hybrid propulsion system is designed to operate in three ways: electric power, engine power, or any combination of electric and engine power. When you need the extra muscle of Tahoe's Vortec V8, it kicks in seamlessly. When you need to conserve, two small and lightweight 60 kW motors get the job done.
And here's the big finish: When you pair the two-mode technology with our Active Fuel Management™ system, the Tahoe Hybrid offers up to 50% better city fuel economy over the non-hybrid Tahoe.(4) That's one hardworking hybrid.

Intelligo
http://www.intelligo.com

Intelligo, Inc. was founded in 1991 to provide full-service documentation, training, and change management solutions for organizations implementing enterprise business systems. We have helped organizations of all sizes realize the benefits of new business and system processes by ensuring that their employees are effectively trained...and that they have information readily at hand to support them on the job.

Jadoo Power
http://www.jadoopower.com

Jadoo (a Hindi word meaning “magic”) was founded in 2001 by Chief Executive Lee Arikara and Larry Bawden. In 2003, Jadoo secured its first round of institutional financing. After perfecting its Proton Exchange Membrane-based fuel cell, Jadoo developed an integrated power system around this technology, then trademarked and patented the key components.

Initial efforts concentrated on delivering a product to the professional video camera market. Soon thereafter, Jadoo expanded its system architecture for use in a variety of other markets, including emergency response, law enforcement, and the military. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved Jadoo’s N-Stor fuel canister for transport via air cargo—the first approval of its kind.

Today, Jadoo is a leading supplier of portable and mobile fuel cells. Jadoo partners with both government and corporate groups to design and manufacture power systems for specific applications. By identifying promising new applications for both existing products and those in development, Jadoo has cemented its position as an industry leader.

Joby
http://www.gametank.com

Joby develops innovative accessories for the photography and personal communications markets. Based in San Francisco, California, Joby was launched in 2006 as a single-product company with the Gorillapod — a flexible camera tripod — as the initial innovation. Available in three sizes and 40 countries, the Gorillapod features prehensile legs that bend and rotate 360 degrees to secure a digital camera to virtually any surface. It is the ideal accessory for active, on-the-go photographers.

Kombea
http://www.kombea.com/

The performance of even the best call centers in the world is mediocre at best and everyone knows it. Customers are dissatisfied with the level of service they are getting, and the variation in output measures such as compliance, handle time, and call resolution is all over the map.

The current approach to call center improvement (occasional recording, monitoring and coaching) is not only too expensive, it is completely ineffective - you simply can not improve a call center one agent at a time.

Light Sport Airplanes West
http://lightsportairplaneswest.com

Light Sport Airplanes West was founded on a simple premise: that pilots and prospective pilots don’t want to wait for their dreams of flight to become a reality. Our customers want the freedom to choose the model that fits them best, and they want to take delivery of their new airplane immediately. This philosophy has been proven time and time again as we continue to deliver the best airplanes through a unique buyer’s experience.

Livescribe
http://www.livescribe.com

Livescribe Chief Executive Officer Jim Marggraff introduces a new solution to this age-old problem and a long-term vision on how paper-based computing will advance the next chapter in mobile computing. Livescribe’s intelligent writing system includes an innovative smartpen and dot paper that together bring traditional paper to life. By developing a paper-based platform, Livescribe will fundamentally change the way people capture, use and share information with pen and paper, making the possibilities of pen and paper endless. With Livescribe, people will no longer have to settle – they can have the best of both the paper and digital worlds.

Lunar Design
http://www.lunar.com

Our designs don’t just move products, they move markets.

With a passion for making stand out designs, Lunar creates memorable products that lead industries, capture new markets, and sell in the millions.

From introducing Palm to an adjacent market to positioning HP as a leader in PCs for over a decade to helping Oral-B move the industry forward with a five dollar toothbrush – Lunar’s creativity connects companies to their consumers by tapping into what is most meaningful.

The results are beautiful products that people love. It’s what we call creativity that makes a difference™.

MDG Tools
http://www.mdgtools.com

MDG Tools Inc. is a tool manufacturing company based in Menlo Park, California. Innovation Built For The Job!

At MDG Tools our core focus is on developing innovative hand tools and accessories that helps do-it yourselfers and industry trade professionals get the job done.

MDG Tools Inc. was founded by Andre Woolery who invented the magnogrip tool holder to solve the frustration of losing nails and screws when working around the house. From these humble bootstrapped beginnings, MDG Tools has evolved into a company that is focused on developing innovative products for do-it yourselfers and professional tradesmen.

Navigenics
http://www.navigenics.com

At Navigenics, we use the latest genetic science to illuminate the future of your health and arm you with the knowledge to change it for the better.

Thanks to advances in genomic research, medicine and technology, we can now determine your genetic predisposition for certain diseases, perhaps years or decades before they develop. These insights enable you to take action before a disorder strikes to delay or even prevent the illness altogether.

NeuroSky
http://www.neurosky.biz/

NeuroSky is the worldwide leader in providing solutions to effectively interface bio-signal information, including brainwaves, to consumer electronic products. Our innovative clients and partners range from Fortune 100 companies to promising start-ups in both the consumer and industrial markets.

Neurotech
http://www.neurotechusa.com

Neurotech is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development of sight-saving therapeutics for chronic retinal diseases. Retinal diseases represent significant unmet medical needs for which new medical therapies are the largest market opportunity in ophthalmology. Neurotech’s lead product (NT-501) is in clinical development for the treatment of retinal degeneration, including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited disease leading to blindness, and geographic atrophy, a serious condition associated with atrophic (dry) macular degeneration.

Stanford Product Realization Network
http://www.stanford.edu/group/AIM/PRN/

The School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Business at Stanford are proud to announce a new organization, dedicated to enriching the manufacturing and product realization for Stanford students through immersive experiences with the manufacturing and design world . The Product Realization Network is developing a rich network of faculty, staff, industry professionals and community “gurus” to provide a wide array of offerings to students interested in creating products and the organizations that make them possible. http://www.stanford.edu/group/AIM/PRN/

Reputation Defender
http://www.reputationdefender.com

"Founded in 2006, ReputationDefender is the worldwide leader in comprehensive identity management for the web and the pioneer of the online reputation management field. Its product suite, consisting of MyReputation, My Privacy, MyChild and MyEdge, focuses wholly on preserving the personal privacy and reputation of the company's worldwide customer base and their children. ReputationDefender is based in Menlo Park, California."

Review2Buy
http://www.review2buy.com/

Review2Buy provides mobile phone users with product reviews/recommendations and local and online price comparisons when and where they need it most: at the point of purchase. A free service (standard text rates apply), Review2Buy is the first short message service (SMS) application of its kind to address the many ways people like to shop — whether they are looking for the best price, best quality or want to purchase a product online or locally. After signing up, users simply send the product name, ISBN, or UPC code as a text-message to REVIEW (738439) and within seconds, the requested information is sent to them. In addition, users can get product information at www.Review2Buy.com. For more information, visit www.review2buy.com or email at corporateRelations@Review2Buy.com.

Stanford Product Design and Joint Program in Design
http://design.stanford.edu/PD/01-info1.html

Stanford has an undergraduate and graduate program in design. The undergraduate major is called Product Design; the graduate program is called the Joint Program in Design. Both operate on the same founding principles; design is always a human-centered activity and designers work for the benefit of society.

Both the undergraduate and graduate programs are a collaborative offering of the Design Group of the Mechanical Engineering Department in the School of Engineering and the Department of Art and Art History in the School of Humanities and Sciences. At both levels the goal is to graduate designers who can synthesize technology and aesthetics in the service of human need.

Program emphasis is placed on conceptual thinking, creativity, risk-taking, and aesthetics. We are particularly interested in the front end of the design process where we frame the question "What should we create?" Students are taught to use design processes such as need-finding, ethnographic field-work, rapid prototyping, and extensive and iterative user testing to evolve their solutions to the problems given.

Stanford Solar Car Project
http://www.stanford.edu/group/solarcar/

The Stanford Solar Car Project, is a student-run, donation-funded project that has been building and racing solar-powered vehicles since 1986. Stanford Solar provides hands-on experience for students in various fields of study and educates various groups on and off campus.

Think Gum
http://thinkgum.com

Think Gum is a sugar-free, candy-coated chewing gum carefully designed to enhance mental performance. It contains potent herbs and herbal extracts that are scientifically demonstrated to improve concentration, increase alertness, reduce careless errors and enhance information recall. Each serving also contains 20 mg of natural caffeine to give the chewer an always needed energy boost. Chewing a serving of Think Gum is equivalent to drinking half a can of caffeinated soda.

TN Games
http://www.tngames.com

FPS GAMING VEST
Video game characters live in a three-dimensional world, but gamers have only been able to experience two dimensions... until now. The 3rd Space™ Vest from TN Games takes gameplay beyond sight and sound, creating spatial awareness of the world your characters inhabit. Unlike traditional force feedback devices that rumble or buzz, the 3rd Space™ Vest gives you precise impact where it happens, as it happens. Get pounded with body slams, crushed with G-forces, and blasted with bullet fire.

TN Games computer hardware and software revolutionizes the way people play video games and redefines the concept of interactive entertainment.

Twofish
http://www.twofish.com/

Twofish™ is revolutionizing the games industry with Twofish Elements™, the first plug'n'play Economic Engine that seamlessly integrates into any online experience.

* Banking-grade account management
* Multicurrency exchange and administration
* Item-based Asset Lifecycle Management
* Flexible offers/listing service
* Advanced analytics and reporting

Sound complicated? We make it Elemental.

Vocera
http://www.vocera.com

The mission of Vocera Communications is to enhance business productivity, teamwork, and service levels by enabling fluid, instant voice communication among team members, across groups, and throughout an organization of mobile professionals.

Vocera's hands-free, 802.11b/g wireless solution provides a cost-effective, easy-to-use system for instant voice communication in hospitals, retail stores, and other building and campus environments. There's no need to remember phone numbers. Simply say the name, title, or function of the person you need to reach and Vocera connects you instantly to the people and information you need.

Vudu
http://www.vudu.com

VUDU has arrived. The revolutionary VUDU box and service deliver instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows directly through the television, without requiring a computer or cable/satellite TV service.

VUDU CEO and industry leader Mark Jung oversees VUDU's team of consumer electronics and technology veterans from TiVo, WebTV, Openwave, 2Wire, Slim Devices, OpenTV, NeXT, and Danger. First conceptualized in 2004, the company operated in a stealth mode for over two years as it systematically honed every facet of the product to ensure that it delivered upon the consumer dream.

VUDU has struck unprecedented deals with every major studio and more than twenty independent and international distributors to offer approximately five thousand movies, HD films, and TV shows. Via their broadband Internet connection, VUDU users have the ability, on a studio-specific basis, to rent or buy titles and begin viewing them instantly.

Whole Travel
http://www.wholetravel.com

It’s a reality that tourism is altering lives, for better and for worse, around the world. Whole Travel is committed to helping travelers have a positive impact when they travel by choosing destinations and activities that maximize local and global benefits. Learn about sustainability and our Whole Ranking jadoo of evaluating suppliers under the “About Whole Travel” tab, then take a trip and help us preserve the world’s best kept secrets for generations to come.

WildCharge
https://www.wildcharge.com

WildCharge Inc, a privately held Delaware corporation, was founded in 2005 to commercialize a unique, now patented, wire-free electric power technology that has been in development since 2001. The company’s products and solutions address the real problem many of us face daily—the need to manage and carry multiple chargers, AC adapters and messy power cords for our many electronic devices we use everywhere we go. These include cell phones, laptop computers, music and video players, along with many others.

ZapTXT
http://www.zaptxt.com

ZapTXT is a free service that lets you keep track of Web sites in real time. You can use it to do all kinds of things - find a job, get an apartment, track your favorite blogs, or sports teams (see examples) - via email, instant messenger, or mobile device. Technically, this involves RSS and OPML, if you care about such things.

Why should you care? Because ZapTXT is just plain useful. If you're like most Web users, you probably keep up with a handful of Web sites. There are just too many sites out there, and not enough time. ZapTXT can do it for you. Just tell us what you're interested in, which Web sites you'd like to follow, and we'll do the rest. You can get on with your life.

ConXtech
http://www.ConXtech.com

ConXtech manufactures a revolutionary and sustainable building system for the high-density residential, commercial residential, office, parking, industrial and hospital markets. ConXtech combines ConX system components with structural design and construction services enabling the efficient mass customization of buildings.

With the ever growing focus on re-urbanization, multi-story wood-frame buildings are being pushed to their structural and code limits. In addition, cost competitive options for the construction of buildings in the 5 -12 story mid-to-high rise market has been challenging in many geographies. ConXtech delivers a significant systemic change to this 5 to 12 story market, allowing owners and developers to build higher, faster, more cost effectively, with better quality and overall sustainability.

The ConX system reduces time, labor and overall project costs when compared to wood, conventional steel or concrete structures. ConX substantially accelerates the development schedule bringing a more rapid ROI. ConXtech also increases flexibility and feasibility for architects and urban planners enabling accelerated design and the delivery of higher quality urban projects.

How is this achieved? Through an innovative component based building system that enables mass customization; design tools (software), robotics and other state-of-the-art component manufacturing processes, and by drastically streamlining on-site construction processes.

about cool product expo:

The mission of Cool Product Expo is to generate interest in and excitement around "cool" products and companies in the field of manufacturing and design among the GSB, and the Stanford and local communities at large. An attendee walking through the expo will likely encounter budding start-ups, university research lab projects, the latest R&D from global manufacturers, the best from local design studios, and more. We invite exhibitors from a variety of industries that practice innovation by way of design, function, and/or technology.

How do we define "cool"?
We try give a special eye to several factors:

• factor - coolness is readily apparent, requires no explanation
• edge - radically new, not just an improvement on an existing product
• function - the essential combination of design and manufacturing

Who sponsors the Expo?
The Cool Products Expo is sponsored by the Alliance for Innovative Manufacturing and the Product Design Club at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.