Problem: birds land on your stuff and leave their droppings behind, creating a big mess that you need to clean up. Sometimes they even build nests where you don't want them (causing a fire hazard, for instance). Solution: put some pointy things where the birds like to land. As gadgets go, it doesn't get any lower tech, inexpensive and effective as this.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that we were producing a video about the remarkable resurrection of the volunteer-run Mossom Creek fish hatchery after a devastating fire. Thanks to Lafarge, other supporters and numerous volunteers, the hatchery is now back and better than ever.
Okay, so let's say you have a problem with people urinating on the walls in your neighbourhood. No, really... it happens. I've witnessed it myself across the street while I was enjoying New Years Eve dinner at a nice restaurant in London. I could share the photos, but you probably don't need to see that.
These folks in Germany have a solution to the pollution.
These people in Denmark are working on a solar powered electric bike where the solar panels are actually embedded into the wheels. The wheels charge the battery when parked, which in turn powers the bike when in motion. But don't expect this invention to directly power the wheels without charging the battery first. At least not yet.
These people are working on a technology that would help visually impaired people find their way around the London transit system using bluetooth beacons and their smart phones.
A European company called nanoFlowcell is developing their Quant electric cars without traditional batteries. Instead, they have two fluid reservoirs – one for a negatively charged electrolyte and one for a positively charged electrolyte. A membrane between the two electrolytes generates a current, powering the electric motors.
This would seem to solve the three big issues with battery electric vehicles – recharge time, range and infrastructure. The electrolyte fluids can be filled-up in about the same amount of time as petrol. The first two Quant prototypes have a range of 800 kms (for the large car) and 1,000 kms (for the small car). And you would think that existing gasoline stations could be easily retrofitted to dispense the fluids since they're already in that business.
It will be interesting to see how this technology develops.
In New York, this company picks up used cooking oil from restaurants and converts it into biodiesel, a fuel with a low carbon footprint. Can all the spent cooking oil in the world replace petro-diesel? Probably not. But turning waste into something useful is generally a good idea.
Here's a clever bit of architecture at the Fairmont Pan Pacific hotel in Vancouver. Those words on the window sills are actually a poem visible from the street.
Many of us tea drinkers know that our tea leaves and bags are compostable. Problem is, most tea shops don't provide a way to compost them. Kudos to David's Tea on Bleeker Street in NYC for solving this problem.
Here's an excellent example of art and practicality. Will this tactic on Davie Street in Vancouver help prevent pedestrian collisions by drawing better attention to the crosswalks?
Here's a video we produced for the City of Edmonton about their neon sign outdoor museum (the only one in Canada). This is a great way to preserve what many people believe is an important 20th century art form.
No fire hydrant for tethering Rover while you zip in for a coffee at Cafe Gitane on Mott Street in NYC? No problem. However, I'd recommend removing the tether before riding away.
When you're doing business in a city with one of the densest populations in the world, it's good to keep in mind that potential customers are everywhere. Even above you.
The SOHO area of NYC is a cool mix of grunge and upscale style. This door to a residential loft along Greene Street illustrates the point. I suspect the security is pretty good too.
Want to discourage unauthorized parking? Here's a clever idea at a residential property in NYC. I'm guessing the vehicle in this picture is "authorized."
Given the traffic insanity in NYC, it's understandable why this obstacle was put in place to protect this Citi Bike rack on Mercer Street. But notice that it was placed on top of a drainage grate. Did NYC's Drainage Department approve of this? I'm guessing, not.
Green roofs are becoming all the rage in urban areas. They add biodiversity while keeping buildings cooler. This roof in the Greenwich Village area of Manhattan ads some seasonal flair with sunflowers.
