Time’s List of The Best Inventions 2005

Time has a list of some pretty cool stuff here. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Patchwork

“the Bioimplantable Device is a rugged internal bandage that helps patients recover swiftly from shoulder-joint-replacement surgery. Made of standard polyester surgical thread, the device has an embroidered pattern that gives it strength and flexibility while imitating human tendons. Once implanted between muscles and bones, the device is never removed; it becomes part of the body as cells grow over it. This technology is also being used to replace slipped disks in the neck and to aid in clavicle-replacement surgery.”

Walk Man

“Japanese researchers have developed a robotic exoskeleton to help the elderly and disabled walk and even lift heavy objects like the jug of water above. It’s called the Hybrid Assistive Limb, or HAL. Its brain is a computer (housed in a backpack) that learns to mimic the wearer’s gait and posture; bioelectric sensors pick up signals transmitted from the brain to the muscles, so it can anticipate movements the moment the wearer thinks of them.”

Food Shots

“Looking for a way to add taste while cutting calories? Chef David Burke, known for his Willie Wonka–like creations at New York City restaurant davidburke&donatella, has created a line of flavor sprays that mimic the taste of high-cal foods but have no fat, calories or carbs. Available in 18 varieties—such as Memphis BBQ, pesto and chocolate fudge—the sprays are concoctions of natural and artificial flavors. A shot of bacon can make scrambled eggs seem like a full breakfast feast, while root-beer-float or marshmallow spray may make you crave rice cakes.”