On Wednesday afternoon, CPX2010 (Stanford Cool Project Expo) showcased forty early-stage projects and startup's from around the Bay Area. A good mix of "cool projects", ranging in scope from neat technology to global third-world-country-helpful, exhibited their work in a large meeting room of the Stanford Arrillaga Alumni Center.
Manufactured neural interfaces took up the biggest tables at the far ends of the room. OCZ demonstrated their nia, "Neural Impulse Actuator," which converts a combination of facial-muscle movement and brain-wave detection via EEG into interface signals, useful for mainstream applications such as games and 2d/3d navigating. Neurosky demonstrated various projects, such as their MindKit and Mattel MindFlex, which converts brainwaves into 1d navigation in game applications. Visitors sat in various stations and tried manipulating objects and onscreen items, through their minds, connected to these neural interfaces.
More down to earth, CPX also exhibited a variety of practical, everyday products. PlantSense showed a wireless meter "stick" that can monitor sunlight exposure and other statistics into a neat software. Art of Flame, LLC., exhibited a fumeless controlled fire that burns in a layer of oil on water, with applications in massage in green day spa's, as well as exquisite wedding bouquets. Miniwiz demonstrated various green-charging devices--portable wind-powered and solar-powered battery chargers and USB/AC-device chargers.
Several specialist projects also displayed their goods. Joby, as shown in the caption photo, creates flexible tripods and mobile stands, that can be bent in all directions, and even torn apart, and re-assembled. Blackbird creates guitars of synthetic material so strong, that they can be played underneath ice water in Antarctica. While most exhibitors are local companies, Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) via Psyleron again showed their true random number generator, which gained notoriety for being used as a machine for testing psychic abilities.
In the realm of oddball projects: Psyleron, a company dedicated to trying to give the company the tools to scientifically measure psychic phenomena, exhibited several Mind-Lamps, whose changing colors are supposedly controlled by someone's mind. Wearatronics demonstrated how to instantly program USB-outfited circuits sewn into clothing. Tieks displayed fold-able designer ballet-like shoes that fit well in a purse.
Among these tangible tech projects, there were also a few software and iPhone based projects, such as MusicShake, a generator that lets anyone create music, partially through random selection; yourversion, pandora for web browsing; and iScope, an iPhone connector that lets you easily zoom, and take photos of slides.
There were also various projects created for global concerns, such as "Embrace" -- based on a material that quickly heats up to body-temperature, to keep babies warm in developing countries and driptech, a drop-water irrigation system that could help increase efficiency for third-world farmers.
Another local company, VideoGenie, a service that automatically creates compilation videos, offered candy for anyone giving a 10 second testimonial about what they liked best about CPX2010.
In the next few days, I will be writing more about a number of the companies mentioned above, and also a few that aren't mentioned. Below is a full list of exhibitors with URL's:
- AbsolutelyNew, Inc.
- Angaza Design
- Art Of Flame, LLC
- BCInet, Inc.
- BHS Technology, LLC
- BioLite Stove
- Blackbird Guitars
- Coincident.TV
- Cooliris
- Cube and Corner Design
- Driptech
- ElliptiGO
- Embrace
- Evernote
- Green Vehicles Inc
- Guava Family
- Joby Gorillapod
- iScope
- Lunar Design
- MagnoGrip Inc.
- Method Products
- Miniwiz S.E.D. Co. Ltd.
- Mobilizy
- Musicshake, Inc.
- NeuroSky
- nyoombl, Inc.
- Phonevite
- PlantSense
- Plug In Solutions
- Psyleron
- Product Realization Group
- Re:Motion Designs
- Shopkick Causeworld
- Sifteo
- Stanford Solar Car Project
- Think Gum LLC
- Tieks
- Trimbly
- VideoGenie
- YourVersion
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