Editor’s note: This article was first published in December 2016, as a preview of 2017. The prices and launch dates, such as the Waverly Labs earpiece at 199 dollars shipping in May 2017, FoldiMate at about 600 euros and underground homes for 39,000-49,000 dollars, are from that time, and most of these products may never have shipped as described.
The business world never stops changing. Just when it seems that everything has already been invented, the most creative entrepreneurs surprise us again. It is said that in the next 10 or 20 years we will see more progress than in the last 200.
While we prepare an article on the most profitable businesses for the coming year, here is a mixed bag of original ideas we have seen in 2016, most of which will be up and running in 2017.
1. Instant translator
Learning languages could soon stop being a necessity for talking to someone who speaks a different language, because thanks to this invention we can get an instant translation during a conversation. The company Waverly Labs is already selling this instant-translation earpiece for 199 dollars, although buyers will have to wait until May 2017 to receive it. To begin with, it is available for five languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian and French. It works simply: you put the earpiece in and it translates the other person’s words in real time.
2. A marker that picks up the colour of whatever it touches
This marker recognises and accurately reproduces the colour of the object it touches. There are different versions, both for drawing on paper and for drawing on electronic devices.
3. An automatic, precise food peeler
This peeler will save a lot of time in the kitchen. Using a fine sensor, it recognises the outline and imperfections of a potato, a cucumber and so on.
4. The treehouse, upgraded
Kazakh architect Aibek Almassov has designed these houses, which are meant to live alongside nature. The design is a four-storey, completely transparent and energy-responsible house: light would be captured by solar panels, and rainwater would be collected for the bathroom. It would be powered by Tesla Powerwall batteries, which would store solar energy to meet the home’s energy needs. From June 2017 we could start to see several buildings of this kind.
Source: Insider
5. A robot that irons your clothes
The company FoldiMate has invented a robot that takes 10 seconds to iron each garment, and you can load between 15 and 20 items at once. The machine will cost around 600 euros and will no doubt save a great deal of work.
6. A double garage
To make the most of space, this garage system lets you fit two cars in the same spot, with one of them kept safe in the lower level.
7. Turn your smartphone into a 3D printer
Probably the first 3D printer for smartphones. The entrepreneurs behind it have presented their business idea on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, and their fundraising is going well. This mini printer would cost around 99 dollars.
8. Underground houses
An interesting idea, to say the least, although I imagine it is not for people with claustrophobia.
The house is spacious inside. The entrance may not be very glamorous, but you get all the comforts of a traditional flat at a lower construction cost.
Prices would start at around 39,000 to 49,000 dollars.
Source: Tinyhousetown.net
See also: 4 healthy fast-food business ideas to compete with McDonald’s
Featured image: Archi0780, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
