As the leading product development firm that provides product design services for startups, inventors, small manufacturers, and eCommerce brands, we love learning about and incorporating the latest cutting-edge technologies into our clients’ products. Every year, novel invention ideas and innovative designs push the envelope of what we’re capable of.
What is even more amazing is when innovators and entrepreneurs discover ways to implement these technologies in unpredictable ways – often in ways that improve our lives in a manner we never previously thought possible.
Top 10 New Technological Inventions of 2022
- COVID-19 Breathalyzer Test
- Humanoid Robot
- Foldable Tech Devices
- Color Changing Cars
- Digital Twins
- Health Body Scans
- Smart Bathing
- Solar Roof Shingles
- Flying Vehicles
- Robotic Cat
Steve Jobs said it the best, “It’s really hard to design products through focus groups. A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”
We’ve seen how true this is since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. There’s been a heavy emphasis on the development of health and safety products to help protect people from contracting this deadly virus.
Some restaurants that offer indoor dining services have introduced AI robot servers that use 3D spatial mapping and self-driving technologies to safely deliver food to tables.
Other companies are trying to make new technology inventions more customizable or accessible for the end-user.
Take, for instance, LumiLor’s electroluminescent coating system. Their product allows users to apply a liquid coating or pre-applied film to customize and light up any surface with various vibrant neon colors. What a brilliant invention idea!
Other companies like Y-Brush showcased their 10-second toothbrush at CES 2022 this year.
Although these are fascinating inventions, they only represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new technologies.
So, what new technology inventions is MAKO Design + Invent looking forward to the most in 2022?
Keep reading to find out!
1. COVID-19 Breathalyzer Test
As mentioned above, health and safety products lead the new technology invention 2022 trends. The ViraWarn Freedom is an exceptional example of this. It is a medical-grade handheld breath analyzer that detects COVID-19, its variants, and other viruses such as the flu invented by Opteev – a Baltimore-based medical company.
It only takes five seconds for the Freedom to provide an accurate reading as well.
With the ability to get readings on the fly, people have the peace of mind to safely attend events, dine in restaurants and do other activities.
Portable enough to use easily in classrooms, theaters, and other places, the device will help increase safety measures in indoor settings.
The ViraWarn Freedom also boasts 100 percent accuracy on readings of COVID-19.
This has been verified by George Mason University, one of 21 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases certified labs. In fact, GMU is the only lab in the US that can aerosolize COVID-19 and test it.
They tested the Freedom using different viral loads and found that the device was able to detect COVID-19 with perfect accuracy.
2. Humanoid Robot
So, if you think the AI robot servers were cool, wait until you see what new technology invention Engineered Arts has to offer.
Life-like yet uncanny, the design of their robot, Ameca, was partially inspired by the grey, humanoid machines we see in pop culture, such as movies like I, Robot.
Indeed, in an interview with CNET, Ameca’s Director of Operations explained that they purposely designed the robot to look more like a robot than a human.
Pictures don’t really do it justice; you need to see it in action for the full experience.
From the wide, deliberate actions of the arms to the human-like facial expressions and subtle twitches of the eyes, you’ll be blown away by the fluid motions.
But don’t expect them to run and leap like Boston Dynamic’s robots anytime soon.
Currently, Ameca’s primary function is to be used to interact with people organically for customer service, information terminals, or even entertainment.
3. Foldable Tech Devices
Samsung entered this realm recently with their popular Galaxy smartphone line of folding new technology inventions, and it’s an idea that many tech companies have been incorporating into new designs.
At CES 2022, we witnessed ASUS enter the fray with the introduction of the Zenbook 17 Fold. Featuring a huge 17.3-inch screen, the versatile device can function as a laptop, tablet, book, or even a PC.
Indeed, users may attach a Bluetooth keyboard and touchpad to the bottom half, and the Zenbook transforms into a fully functional laptop. Or simply fold it in half to use the virtual on-screen keyboard.
Fold it in half, and the size shrinks down to just 12.5 inches. It’s compact enough to carry easily in your arms, backpack, or messenger bag.
It also comes equipped with all the bells and whistles, including an OLED screen, HDR, Dolby Atmos, and much more.
4. Color Changing Cars
BMW recently showcased a concept car dubbed the iX Flow, and this new technological invention is an absolute game-changer.
For those who can’t stick with just one color for their next car, the iX Flow was made for you.
With a single press of a button, users can switch the color of their car from white to black or vice versa, instantly.
How does it work? On the exterior, you’ll find electrophoretic film all around the body containing tiny microcapsules. Depending on a positive or negative charge, these microcapsules turn white or black. BMW calls this technology E Ink.
For the first time, users have the option to change the color of their car depending on their mood or surroundings for the option to personalize their car effortlessly.
5. Digital Twins
A digital twin is a virtual model that’s a twin of a physical object in the real world.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because MAKO Design + Invent does a very similar thing using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technologies. Before MAKO helps build a physical product, whether it’s via product prototyping or manufacturing, we build a digital replica of the product using CAD to simulate how the product will function in real life.
A digital twin, however, is built for full real-time simulation purposes.
IBM provides a great example. A wind turbine equipped with sensors relays important data about energy output, temperature, weather conditions, and other data to the digital twin. What separates digital twins from other simulations is that users can run multiple simulations with great precision. In addition, the new data and insights from these simulations can be relayed back immediately back to the wind turbine.
As you can imagine, this new technology invention opens up huge opportunities. Using digital twins, we can find improvements for both products and processes alike.
6. Health Body Scans
What if you could learn more about your health simply by stepping on a scale?
A scale that not only provides precise weight readings but also muscle mass, heart health, and vascular age.
Enter the Withings Body Segment.
Although this new technology invention is currently going through clinical and regulatory tests, there’s no doubt this product will be a groundbreaking innovation when it’s finally released publicly.
While the Body Segment looks like a typical scale, it features a retractable handle at the front of the device to provide incredibly accurate body composition information.
Using the handle, users can get accurate measurements of the fat and muscle mass of their torso, arms, and legs. The Body Scan will also tell you if your readings are below or above average.
In addition, users can get insights into their vascular age and cardiovascular health. The scale itself can also provide readings of small nerve activity in the feet.
Users can track all their health metrics and even receive personalized health plans based on the results through the Withings app.
7. Smart Bathing
New technology inventions and convenience often go hand in hand.
Our work is a testament to how true that is. Take our client’s Packhopper, for example. The ROVER Packhopper combines the typically clunky tennis ball hopper and ball mower into a brilliantly simple tennis bag. The convenience and user experience wowed the design community.
As a result, MAKO earned recognition from a number of prestigious design awards, including the Red Dot Design Award, the Indigo Awards, the LICC, and several others.
Kohler aims to leverage IoT and smart home technologies to conveniently provide users with the perfect bathing experience. Their Smart Soak is a smart bath that allows users to control the exact temperature of the water, light, fog, color, how much to fill, and even when to drain.
Control it all with voice commands or a touch of your smartphone – bring the spa experience home.
8. Solar Roof Shingles
If you’ve ever wanted to install solar panels but were put off by the look of the bulky satellite-like panels, this new technology invention is for you.
GAF Energy is coming out with a solar shingle called Timberline Solar that you can install like a normal roof.
Equally beautifully and strong, homeowners will enjoy the benefits of clean energy and the peace of mind of durable and waterproof shingles that withstand harsh weather conditions.
All you need is a nail gun, and the Timberline Solar can be installed like any other shingle.
Typically, installing solar panels is a two-step process. First, the roof must be installed. Then the solar panels are installed. GAF Energy hopes to help cut costs for homeowners by combining these two things in a single product. A cost-effective and optimally efficient invention idea!
9. Flying Vehicles
Before you ask about traffic infrastructure and regulations, just imagine how cool it would be to drive a personal flying vehicle.
Ultra-quiet, safe, emission-free, and compact, SkyDrive’s flying vehicle looks like a new technology invention from the distant future.
Currently in the prototyping phase, the purpose of the SkyDrive is to help transport yourself, others, or goods quickly and efficiently. It can take off, fly, and land without a runway autonomously or with a pilot. With a maximum load of 500 kg, a flying altitude of 500 meters, and a speed of 100 km/h, there are an endless number of use cases for a flying vehicle of this size.
From rapid emergency response to day-to-day deliveries, SkyDrive leverages airspace to get goods and people to their destinations faster than ever before.
Plus, think of the surge in popularity of ride-sharing apps and on-demand car rental services like Zipcar. SkyDrive is the next evolution of convenient and affordable travel.
At CES 2022, SkyDrive showcased a prototype model, the SD-03, and explained how they intend to use the SkyDrive as an air taxi. Their goal is to have the next iteration, the SD-05, ready in time to do just that for the 2025 World Expo.
10. Robotic Cat
One important lesson about innovation is that it doesn’t always need to be serious.
Inventions like the fidget spinner, stress ball, and other small gadgets might seem trivial because they only have one or two features. However, the key to the success of many of these types of inventions is that they function well and provide value to the user.
The Amagami cat robot was designed with this type of mindset.
There’s nothing technologically groundbreaking about this robot cat. It’s definitely not like our client’s PetBot. It’s not particularly lifelike either.
But what it lacks in tech prowess, it makes up in charm.
This cuddly cat robot has one function and one purpose. To mimic the comforting feeling when our cats or other furry friends nibble on our fingers.
Designed to help relieve stress, the Amagami has over 20 different nibbling patterns.
Final Notes
And those are MAKO’s top picks for 2022!
We wanted to show you a wide variety of new technologies used in unique and novel ways.
As the pioneering end-to-end product design firm for startups, home inventors, eCommerce brands, and small manufacturers, we have the pleasure of working on a plethora of different projects.
Thus, we understand that innovation can come in different forms, whether it’s leveraging the latest technology or using that technology in whimsical and creative ways.
So if you have a new invention idea, big or small, let us help you bring it to life. Contact us today!
About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!
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Wilna Myburgh
June 10, 2022 at 9:24 amI have some ideas on reclycing old lids for pots and pans.
But do not know where to start or who to show.
I am from South Africa and need some quidance.
Adaora Asidianya
August 10, 2022 at 5:07 pmHey Wilna, thank you for your comment! You should absolutely reach out to us! We would love to hear from you. Please send us an email at info@makodesign.com or call us at 1-888-806-6256 for more information!
yeet
October 24, 2022 at 9:03 pmOmg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These are so coolllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mrs Rakhi De
November 1, 2022 at 10:37 amThis is a main invention
Mike Rowle
November 14, 2022 at 6:34 pmI doubt SkyDrive will be a success. Their prototypes are not progressing very quickly and they lack the support from the global community to succeed.
Great article.
Deborah Stevens
December 30, 2022 at 9:16 pm“Buying blind” still haunts me from the days of catalog purchasing. With everything heading towards online buying, I feel the need for a place to physically inspect the item you are intending to purchase. Existing retailers can convert their space into this resource area. Customer orders can be made onsite. Partial funding comes from companies that have items on display at this store.
Is this a good idea?
TJ
January 21, 2023 at 9:28 pmIf a car color may be changed this increases difficulty in locating the perp of a crime. Is there a remedy for this?
aa
February 6, 2023 at 9:47 amoh you are so smart,can i have your number ?
Noah
April 17, 2023 at 9:58 ambet im using this idea
Hubert Desselle
October 30, 2023 at 4:17 pmPlease list some concepts that are in demand; or a problem that needs to be solved by a new invention.