19 2023 October
How the Liquid Tree Might Be a Game-Changer for Urban Air Pollution
“We are not trying to replace trees. We are trying to replace benches.” That’s the clever pitch of a project imagined and created by Serbian...
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17 2023 October
The Las Vegas Sphere Could “Change Live Entertainment Forever”
I don’t often buy into the cringe-worthy hyperbole you often get from press releases, but the opening of The Sphere in Las Vegas might not be exaggerating...
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14 2023 October
SXSW Sydney and a Sneak Peek at the Non-Obvious Podcast
Next week I'll be back in Australia speaking at the international edition of SXSW in Sydney. In addition to doing a Featured Session, I'll be recording two episodes LIVE from the stage for my upcoming Non-Obvious Show podcast (launching later this year).
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26 2023 September
Necrobotics, Electrified Chopsticks and Other Winners of the 2023 Annual Ig Nobel Awards
You might be tempted to lump the Ig Nobel Awards in with the Darwin Awards as simply a celebration of human stupidity – but it’s...
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19 2023 September
The Creator of the Greatest Software Ever Invented Just Died
Dennis Austin just died and I feel like he deserves a bit of a tribute. Maybe even a parade. He’s the co-inventor, along with Michael Gaskins,...
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14 2023 September
7-Eleven Japan Tests Palm Scanner to Check If You Are Eating Veggies
Radar speed scanners slow down drivers by showing them how fast they are going. The awareness creates the behavior change. Could the same idea shift how...
Read Now28 2023 August
How Accessibility Is Getting More Tactile, Innovative … and Normal
Technology was supposed to make the entire world more accessible. It still can, but sometimes it seems that progress has stalled. This past month, the MIT...
Read Now21 2023 August
Will Photoshop’s New Expand Feature Lead to False Memories or Realities?
Maybe you’ve already heard of Photoshop’s new “Generative Expand” feature that allows users to “expand images in any direction and generate an additional scene for the space...
Read Now09 2023 August
Korean Pop Star Releases Latest Song in Six Languages Using AI
What if AI could serve as a linguistics coach for a talented musician? That’s essentially what K-pop music label HYBE created using technology from AI...
Read Now17 2023 July
How Coldplay Is Redefining What Sustainability Means for Music Concerts
What if a music concert was created with sustainability as a priority? Coldplay is showcasing just how significant a difference this could make in their...
Read Now04 2023 January
CES 2023: The 25 Non-Obvious Inventions, Technologies and Ideas To Watch
Reporting from the trade show floor at CES 2023, here are some of my picks for the most non-obvious inventions to watch and why they are so interesting.
Read Now30 2022 December
The Most Popular Non-Obvious Stories of 2022 (Based On Reader Feedback)
Based on this combination of quantitative and qualitative data, here is a partial list of some of the most popular stories of the year, based on what my readers shared.
Read Now30 2022 June
Magazines Create Empathy That Can Change the World. Here’s How To Save Them.
Unlike a lot of online content, the stories and images in magazines are usually professionally produced by real talented editors and creators. The long take they regularly offer is unique and their ability to select and publish stories that are timely without feeling outdated is a constant inspiration for me to try and do the same.
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