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Maybe it’s the fact that they have to sit still and be somewhat restrained by a seatbelt, but it seems that if kids are going to nap, that the car is typically the easiest place for it to happen. The only problem is that the often end up slumped over in some odd (but also sometimes funny) position that doesn’t look the least bit comfortable to an adult. Pillo-Guard aims to make those road trips more comfy. A string on each side of the plush device is tied behind the headrest for what looks like quick and easy installing although it does appear as if it can interfere with the seat belt. Additional pillows are available if more neck cushioning is needed. The product works for both kids and adults.There are less cumbersome alternatives, at least for smaller kids For $30, backers get the early bird special of one Pillo-Guard with an expected delivery of July 2014.
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Cooking can be a great creative outlet, but on those occasions when you get burned, it takes the fun out of it. Cuffitts blends pot holder, oven mitt and hot pad into one. This cooking tool was designed with safety in mind, protecting hands from burns that come from heat, steam, and oil pops whether in the kitchen or standing at the grill. For $10, a backer gets one Cuffitt, which seems a bit pricy given the fact that there are stores that sell pot holders and oven mitts for less. Expected delivery date isn’t noted.
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iPhone cables often get a lot of abuse, and it can be a pricey hassle when they break. A cord that frays, bubbles or kinks might be able to be fixed with that all-purpose tool known as duck tape or the high-tech touch of Sugru, but what if there were a way to prevent it from happening at all? That would be where Tug comes in. The rubber protector slips onto your iPhone cord and gives added stability and strength. One drawback here is that it is presently only available for Lightning cables befitting the Phone 5s, 5c, iPad mini, and iPad Air, but plans to develop it for Android and previous iPhone models are in the works. For $11, a backer gets one Tug and an estimated delivery of August 2014.
The Premise. Part of what makes losing weight so difficult is that counting calories is an inexact science at best. Even with nutritional information, one has to monitor serving sizes and even cooking methods to know just how much calories are being consumed.
The Product. SmartFork and companion SmartSpoon want to do all the counting, and leave owners to simply do the eating. Pairing with an iPhone or Android via Bluetooth, the SmartFork takes into consideration the weight on the utensil and uses complex algorithms and sensors to determine the protein, fat, and carbohydrate content of the food and track caloric value. These utensils are save to eat with, easy to use and sync with weight loss websites, and are even dishwasher-safe.
The Pitch. Inventor Damir Wallener has been working on this concept for a while now, showing off multiple prototypes that started with more simple foods that only represented one of the three main detection groups (fat, protein, carbohydrates). The campaign video is short but sweet, explaining what the SmartFork or SmartSpoon can do, and why backers should donate. To put SmartForks to work making smart eating easier, $25,000 CAD is required to stabilize the manufacturing process of these smart yet simple tools.
The Perks. Bringing a SmartFork or SmartSpoon to the plate only takes a pledge of $99 CAD. Getting both takes $149 CAD, and at $199 CAD these utensils can be added to the prototype SmartBowl which works on similar principles. All products are expected to be delivered before the end of summer.
The Potential. SmartFork embraces some of the same concepts of the HAPIfork but actually determining the nutritional value of what it’s shoveling into your mouth is a tall order. It’s easy to be skeptical about how well these products work. If the tests show an orange slice, or a bit of chicken and calculate it, what about thick stews with lots of ingredients, or ice cream with toppings surrounded by the base flavor? Damir Wallener is confident in the impact of the SmartFork and SmartSpoon; ultimately, this kind of intelligence will be required to complement the wide range of exercise meters on the market.
Working long hours at a computer can be hard on your back, wrists and sometimes soul. It’s easy to forget that even while not in motion, you may not be taking care of your body. Mousebar is a product designed to be ergonomic and friendly to the human wrist. It is long, comes in several different colors and supports your arm from elbow to wrist on the side that you control your mouse from. While slightly clunky, Mousebar is great for compulsive computer-ites and goes for $19 early or $29 regularly on Kickstarter. Mousebar’s creators hope to raise $11,000 in their 30-day campaign.
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If it seems you’ve run out of horizontal space for all your important items, Wave Hooks lets you take advantage of vertical space. The following items are being presented as bath related: shower beer holder, bath wine glass holder, and small cubby shelf unit with hook…just in case you would like some cheese and crackers for the wine, pretzels for the beer, and a hook on which you can maybe hang a bunch of grapes. The holders are made of plastic with suction cups on the back that stick to your bath tile. Wave Hooks is working on creating other important items of “organization” for your home, and for $10, a backer gets the Kitchen Utensils Hook with an expected delivery of May 2014. Wine and beer holders and cubby available for additional backing.
The Premise. The alarm clock is the one thing that seems to be universally dreaded. It’s always there to go off in the morning, cutting off the most perfect bit of sleep with a harsh, shrill, and frankly alarming sound. Shouldn’t the alarm clock go off to announce the perfect start to a new day?
The Product. Alarming Clock is an unusual alarm clock with some thoughtful design touches. The bottom panel of the clock is like a traditional digital clock, where alarms can be set and the time can be viewed. When it’s time for sleep, the Alarming Clock goes off nine hours before wakeup time, telling owners to wind down for the day and start counting sheep by the end of the next hour. But even the alarm is different – designed to simulate the sounds of the woodpecker, the alarm is a small, wooden-tipped piston that will knock against any surface set next to it whether it’s wood, metal, musical, or any other surface. To turn off the alarm, just touch the top of the oak surface with a hand.
The Pitch. London’s Alarming Industries is behind the Alarming Clock, and shows off how simple this oak obelisk is to use and sleep by. Everything about the presentation of the Alarming Clock screams modern, from the design itself to the campaign videos and pictures. The end result is something charming and curious that will surely interest those looking for a new kind of morning. Alarming Industries needs to raise £15,000 to complete manufacturing.
The Perks. £180 will get backers an Alarming Clock to get them up in the morning. £235 will include three of the Alarming Tumblers that can be filled with liquid to create a custom alarm tone, and for £350, backers can pick their own type of wood to have a custom clock. All rewards are scheduled to be delivered in July 2014, and require additional shipping for orders outside of the UK.
The Potential. While certainly more artisan exercise than mainstream bedside companion, the Alarming Clock shows a serious rethinking of the standard digital display-blinking alarm clock that integrates getting enough rest the night before. However, there are legitimate worries for heavy sleepers whether or not the gentle pecking tone is enough to rouse those who sleep like the dead. It will certainly be picked up for those that want a more alternative morning routine without the jarring sensation of a klaxon.
Home improvement could use some improvement with more universal solutions to everyday problems. U-Hook offers backers the chance to hang up their clotheslines, suits, picture frames, and more with one simple product. With several different mounting options including a peg or hook option, this nifty, albeit slightly unattractive, product comes with dozens of hanging possibilities. One of these German-made household items goes for a steep £49 on Kickstarter with an estimated delivery date of June 2014. U-Hook’s creators hope to raise a very low £1,000 in their 31-day campaign.
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Whether it’s competitive cycling, marathon running, or power walking, staying hydrated is key to a top performance. When you have to tip your head back to drink some water, it can interfere with being able to see where you’re going. REALAJ has redesigned the sports water bottle so that you can keep watching where you’re going. The idea of an ergonomically designed bottle that lets you drink without tipping your head back will likely be valuable to pro cyclists and runners as well as those aspiring to go pro. But even at two for $25, it will be going up against some popular competition. Expected delivery for REALAJ is June 2014.
The Premise. Photo sharing has never been easier with the growth and ease of using social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and even Snapchat. While it’s great to see photos of your family, friends, and favorite activities all around the world, almost all the photos we see are through a screen. Tangible photo albums and pictures are mostly things of the past because printing out high quality photos isn’t really convenient on a traditional home printer, and going to a convenience store just takes too much time.
The Product. The LifePrint is a compact wireless printer built for your smartphone that allows you to send and receive high-quality photo prints to anyone in the world instantly. Just like your typical social networks, you can connect to your family and friends who mean the most to you. But instead of posting it for them to “Like” on a computer screen, you can send them a picture they’ll love with the LifePrint. The sentiment of a hard copy photo is now much more accessible because the LifePrint only requires a cellular connection. A 3G connection is all that you need to open up the LifePrint app and print from anywhere in the world; it’s unclear what the monthly charge would be for the LifePrint’s connectivity.
The Pitch. LifePrint really pays close attention to the small details and the importance of visuals in its crowdfunding video. The video and the page show how the LifePrint is a portable and efficient way to make photos special again by making it clear how easy it is to share and receive photos with your network from anywhere in the world.
The Perks. There are two separate versions for Android and iPhone devices, but each costs the same at $99 for the early bird price. This is actually one of the better deals you can get on a portable photo printer, and especially one that has the capability to print anywhere like the LifePrint. That pledge comes with 10 photo prints, but if you want more, you can get the LifePrint with 100 photo prints for $145.
The Potential. LifePrint looks like a great bridge for sending photos to friends and family, particularly those who want something with a bit more permanence than a SnapChat product. The clunkier and more expensive LG PD233 Pocket Photo Printer and the Polaroid CZA-20011B PoGo Instant Mobile Printer both work over Bluetooth, which means your phone has to be in range in order to print a photo. However, other products that allow remote photo display and printing, such as the Presto printer and The LifePrint’s ability to connect people through photos means a lot more people will be hanging photos of their loved ones on their actual wall—not their Facebook wall.