This paper robot folds itself

Hannah Newman, Next Gov, Aug 7, 2014, writes about a spawn of Harvard and MIT--a flat paper robot that folds itself and trots off.

This can be used for search-and-rescue missions, say in a mine. Or how about self-building shelters in disasters (when it can be scaled up)?

The scientists got the inspiration from origami. They took composite paper and Shrinky Dinks (plastic sheets that contract on baking). A microcontroller heats the hinges, which shrink, pulling the other parts into place.

One of the challenges was clearances--a commercial laser system worked to an imprecise enough level that the heat might touch other parts.

Also Shrinky Dinks are small. Now we need a better Shrinky Dink.

I like typing that: Shrinky Dink.

Pretty neat idea--now to perfect it.

And today in creativity, we have....

Jibo, the social robot designed to become a member of your family.

A gizmo used by a Swedish art gallery to measure reaction to each piece of art and sell to the person who reacted the most.

A smart bookmark that tells writers if you have not been reading their book lately so the writer can tweet you and scold you. (I loved this one.)

Jeans made of denim chewed by by lions and tigers in the zoo.

A virtual pet for kids--OK, a keyboard--but if they won't walk and feed it, it dies.

A device to see if each of your cats is healthy based on a face print.

An insurance policy that gives you cash back if you buy health food.

There were more, too. Go to http://springwise.com.

Now, I am thinking combinations...

A Swedish gallery owner chewed by tigers.

A tiger face print to see if the beast is well enough to chew on an art purveyor.

An all purpose video of someone throwing a book out a window  to send to a nagging author.

Let me consult Jibo. I don't know what I would do without that little ...er...guy.  

The dopamine connection?

Parkinson's patients suffer from a shortage of the brain chemical dopamine--and this is stimulated to help with Parkinson's symptoms.

Two years ago, Prof Rivka Inzelberg at Tel Aviv University in Israel discovered that her Parkinson's patients were suddenly more creative. Instead of sending her candy, they sent home-made gifts.

Parkinson's results when nerve cells in the brain die, causing a lack of dopamine, thus interfering with motion and coordination.

In a story by Ellie Zolfagharifard (Daily Mail, July 18, 2014), one patient experienced too much of a good thing. She was not an artist, but after starting a new medication, she painted 2,000 canvases in 18 months.

She could not even hold onto her job--so intense was her desire to paint.

Other patients are seized by gambling or sex addictions.

So is this good or bad? Maybe just interesting...

Name must also be creative

I read about a service in California (thus far) that provides vetted teachers and nannies to offer safe rides home for kids.

The name of it? SHUDDLE.

Pretty close to "shudder" and the white van, if you ask me. I know it's supposed to be a spelling of SHUTTLE, but that isn't what it "says."

I also read about a questionably advised device you wear on your wrist and it zaps you when you miss your fitness or other goals.

The name? PAVLOK. Pavlov's dog--get it? I liked that one.

I used to "name" for a big NY agency--drop me a line if you are fretting over a name.

No reason--just creative...or is that crazy?

From a site called Barnorama, come these coffee mugs--if you like them, that says a lot about you.

Me, I am freak Velcro.

For more, go to: 

http://www.barnorama.com/let-your-creativity-soar-by-using-these-24-incredible-coffee-mugs-is-my-favorite/

Wow--now THIS is a pen!

I can't decide. Is this a solution looking for a problem? Whatever it is, it is smokin' hot!

It's called Scribble--and it's a pen with a scanner on one end. You move the scanner over an object and the pen mixes hues from the five printing colors--cyan, yellow, magenta, black and white--to match the color of the scanned object perfectly.

Sixteen million shades!

You can also attach the result to a Bluetooth or micro USB and the color can be used digitally. It store 100,000 shades.

The pen is about $150 and the stylus $80. A Kickstarter campaign will be started soon. Investors get the low prices.

Go to www.getscribblepen.com.

I could see a paint brush instead of a penpoint--no more palettes! And maybe that is too mundane--what uses and adaptations come to YOUR mind?

Please--call it gestating

Vincent Walsh, professor of human brain research at University College London, said people should be allowed to take naps on the job.

We are obsessed, the reasoning goes, with sleeping only at night.

You need to give your brain downtime by having one or two "sleeps" during the day, as the Brits phrase it.

A nap can be between 30 and 90 minutes.

People need to do less to be more creative, the prof says. Hmmmm.

Also--and this might convince you--undersleeping all week and then catching up on weekends, or social jet lag, could be responsible for increased rates of cancer, dementia, and diabetes.

I know it is responsible for lots of yawning--especially when I am speaking. There must be some reason for this. We need to get to the bottom of it.