"These are really like passion projects of the world's leading visionaries, artists, designers and inventors. Some of them will come to market and some won't. But they will influence how the future evolves," said Victor Friedberg, Exec. Dir. of Wired Nextfest.
For instance Xerox is developing erasable paper. The print disappears in a few days and the paper can be reused over and over again. There's a game called brain-ball and the more vacant your brain the better you are.
"The more relaxed you are the better your brain will play," said Magnus Jonsson, Swedish Interactive Institute. "You move the ball by your brain waves."
Cameron Clapp now has microprocessors in his knees. Going down stairs without holding on is something he couldn't do with old technology.
"I can walk down stairs. You can see I can trust my knee to be there for me," said Clapp.
There's also the Hover-It Lounger, which leaves you floating on air.
"It's truly zero gravity. ... It uses the power of opposing magnets to lift the lounger above its base," said Keith Dixon, inventor of the Hover-it Lounger.
The magnet-powered lounger sells for $11,300.
Other noteworthy inventions: a robotic slithering snake that someday will help locate victims in collapsed buildings or mines; and a remote-controlled sheep that chews your grass off. It does not provide fertilizer.
