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Let's face it, technology is amazing. It seems that almost every other week some team of geniuses comes up with something new that will change the way we live in ways never-before imagined. While many of those new technologies serve no other purpose than making our lives a little easier, more fun, or safer, some inventors pour all of their creative power into making our world a better place. We put together a small sample of the incredible ideas that came to fruition in 2016.
1. AN EDIBLE DRONE THAT DELIVERS AID TO REMOTE AREAS
Drones are everywhere nowadays and have become so commonplace that even a small child can recognize them. The Pouncer however, is no ordinary drone. It's frame is made of plywood that can be used as firewood, its wings are packed with food and protective covers that can double as shelter, and it can even carry a payload of essential items for relief. Windhorse Aerospace, the company behind the Pouncer, designed the drone to revolutionize aid in the aftermath of natural disasters and hopes the concept will become a reality in 2017.
2. THE ALL-TERRAIN WHEELCHAIR FOR PEOPLE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Wheelchairs can be an absolute necessity for people with limited mobility. In the Western World it's a given fact that someone depending on a wheelchair or mobility scooter can navigate their surroundings, but for people in developing regions, traditional wheelchairs are often unusable on the rough, rural terrain. SafariSeat hopes to solve that problem with its all-terrain and low-cost wheelchair. The sturdy wheelchair is operated by hand levers and its extra-large wheels make driving in rough terrain a breeze.
3. A LAWYER-BOT HELPING LOW INCOME FAMILIES
Low-income families are hit disproportionally hard by legal problems, as they usually don't have the financial means to consult with a lawyer. Stanford undergrad Joshua Browder wrote a chat bot called DoNotPay, which can help those unable to afford legal aid. A person facing legal trouble will have a simple instant message-like conversation with the bot, which will decide how to best help the user based on the conversation. The program can even craft a claims letter based on the information provided during the chat, potentially helping low-income users save hundreds of dollars in legal fees.
4. A LOW-COST, SUPER-FAST ZIKA TEST
The Zika epidemic had the world on edge as the virus spread across South America in 2015 and 2016. What made the virus especially difficult to fight was the long time it took to diagnose a sick person. What once took several days can now be done in only three hours thanks to the ingenious researchers at the MIT. The paper-based test features a series of purple dots that turn yellow when exposed to blood samples containing the virus - it's that simple. The best part? The test costs only $1.
5. A NO-ELECTRICITY AIR CONDITIONER
There are few things that feel better than turning on the air conditioner on a hot summer day and feeling that cool breeze on your hot skin. The Eco-cooler was invented with the specific goal of bringin the luxury of air conditioning to developing nations - and it couldn't be simpler. The device is made from halved plastic bottles that are arranged on a grid-like board, which is then installed in a hut like a window pane. When a hot breeze hits the panel, each bottle's neck directs and compresses the hot stream, cooling it down dramatically. This simple invention can drop temperatures inside a hut as much as 5 degrees Celsius. A number of rural communities in Bangladesh have already installed the system, which is an amazing eco-friendly solution for communities lacking electrical access.
