The Top 3 Inventions at Invented Here!

Invented Here

What do the following three things have in common: Light Positioning System Using Digital Pulse Recognition, Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers and Real-Time Terahertz Imaging, and Low-Maintenance Lawn Seed Mixture? Aside from sounding a bit intimidating, they were all invented right here in New England and were the featured honorees at the 2013 Invented Here! event at the Museum of Science.

Invented Here
Robin Young from WBUR was the host for the evening.

The Museum of Science in partnership with the Boston Patent Law Association recognized 16 inventions (full list here) and their inventors at last Thursday’s event (appropriately held on Massachusetts Inventors Day). Each of the 3 featured inventions, along with a fourth museum staff favorite (Robobees), was presented to attendees by the vibrant museum staff. Check out what some of New England’s innovators have been up to!

Invented Here Honorees
All of this year's honorees posed for a group shot.

Light Positioning System Using Digital Pulse Recognition (ByteLight): This system, invented by Aaron Ganick and Daniel Ryan, allows for indoor wayfinding. Essentially, it is accurate and affordable GPS software that utilizes LED lights to pinpoint one’s exact location indoors. While we may not need this in our own homes (I would hope not!), it is groundbreaking software that department stores, museums, and other similar spaces can use to enhance and improve the customer experience (no more aimlessly searching for the rest room!).

Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers and Real-Time Terahertz Imaging (MIT): For those of us who have no idea what this name implies, this invention allows you to see through opaque materials in real time! Invented by Qing Hu and Alan Lee, this technology, for instance, can help doctors differentiate between cancerous and normal skin cells without subjecting patients to invasive biopsies and can also help astronauts detect internal space craft damage.

Low-Maintenance Lawn Seed Mixture (Pearl’s Premium): This one sounds simpler but is, nevertheless, just as useful! Inventor Jackson Madnick spent ten years developing this genius lawn seed mixture that minimizes lawn maintenance while helping the environment at the same time. With this slow growing, deep-rooted seed, you will only have to cut your grass once a month! The resulting grass also requires substantially less water (reduced water bill, anyone?) and no harmful pesticides.

Each of these inventions will be featured at the Museum on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 throughout October, November, and December. They’re definitely worth taking a look at!

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