(http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36443920)
The first product that really caught my eye when I set out on the search for innovative inventions originated in South Korea, where one engineer noticed a growing problem with today’s public transportation. People have become increasingly engrossed in their smart phones, which only perpetuates the issue of pregnant women not being able to find a seat. Now, instead of just rude riders refusing to give up their seats, there is a new group, the group that is simply too oblivious to see that there might be someone in need of a seat. Of course, there is always a certain stress about offering up a seat; asking a woman who isn’t pregnant if she needs a seat might be construed as offensive. This technology, named the “Pink Light Campaign” involves a tag for pregnant women to pick up, for free, and attach to their clothing or bag. When a woman with this tag steps on the train, it connects via bluetooth to a pink light, which then uses beeps and flashes to notify those sitting that someone may need their seat more. In South Korea, there is a declining birthrate, so these pushes for a more “pregnancy friendly” country are popping up more and more.
(http://enchroma.com/)
These may look like a typical pair of sunglasses, but for colorblind individuals, it is an unthinkable invention. Color blindness is a condition which causes those affected to not see differences in certain colors, or in shades of each color. Recently, technology has been developed to correct this condition. With two lenses, an entirely new spectrum of color can be exposed to a color blind person. EnChroma seems to be the leading brand. On their website, they explain the technology behind the glasses. The glasses serve as a filter to remove sharp wavelengths, emphasizing certain pigments. By cutting out those specific colors, the overlapping of visible colors, which is what color blindness causes, is reduced. One can purchase these glasses in a variety of styles, allowing them to be feel less like a burden and more like an accessory (but a very useful one).
(http://phys.org/news/2014-09-rowing-wheelchair.html)
This invention may not directly involve rowing on the water, but it takes the same motion and applies it to everyday life for those in need of a wheelchair. Independence is a key value for many people, but not everyone’s bodies make independence feasible. Students at Rice University are working to reverse that problem. This wheelchair, rather than requiring long, flexible, strong arms, is operated simply by pushing paddles, a much smaller range of motion. For those who may have trouble moving their arms in a certain direction, the paddles can be spring loaded to do that particular motion for the user. Perhaps this could be used as a training method for rowers who may not be able to use the classic erg design, as well. For now, it allows for a much larger group of people who are able to use a wheelchair, and enjoy the freedom that accompanies it.