You won't find flashy apps or Angry Birds here. Check out five ambitious companies pursuing big, bold ideas that can change our tomorrow:
1. A Laser Printer for DNA
THE IDEA: San Francisco-based Cambrian Genomics is creating the world's first DNA laser printer. Instead of printing ink, this gadget will spit out genetic code. The traditional process of synthesising DNA is tedious, costly, and error-prone. Cambrian's printer will produce accurate strands much faster and, theoretically, much cheaper once the technology comes to market.
MIND-BLOWING FACTOR: Because the printer may drastically decrease the time and cost required to produce synthetic DNA, researchers will be able to generate larger quantities of DNA. The end result could be more advancements in personalised medical treatments — and even new organisms. "People get upset about extinction of animals, which I think is pretty silly," Cambrian Chief Executive Officer Austen Heinz said in an interview with TWiT Live.
2. Human Brain-Like Software
THE IDEA: If you wanted to teach a computer to mimic the way the human brain works, where would you start? Union City, California-based startup Vicarious is starting with the eyes: It's building software that can "see" and make sense of the world. It is designed to recognise objects, people and places just as the human brain can.
MIND-BLOWING FACTOR: Vicarious combines visual data with pixel recognition to create a mathematical understanding of an object similar to the way neurons in the human brain make the same visual connections. Co-founder Scott Phoenix said in a recent interview that "having a visual perception system that works well would be enormously transformative". How transformative? The system will be able to scan a dinner plate to report how many calories are in the meal or even recognise cancerous tumours.
THE IDEA: When heroine Katniss Everdeen suffers a bee sting in The Hunger Games, a tiny parachute-like drone drops the medication she needs at her feet in the middle of the woods. The idea isn't as far-fetched as it seems: Matternet is developing an unmanned drone that can carry between two and four pounds of medicine, vaccines, and blood samples.
MIND-BLOWING FACTOR: According to the company, nearly 1 billion people are unable to get medical aid because of where they live. Currently, the size of Matternet's drones (the platform is just 3 feet across and carries four rotors) limits what it can deliver, but eventually the company plants to develop pilotless vehicles that can transport heavier supplies and even people.
4. X-Ray Vision
THE IDEA: The typical motion detector with infrared sensors has weaknesses: It must be cleaned, it's sensitive to temperature changes and dust, and it doesn't work if obstructed or deployed in large open spaces. Salt Lake City-based Xandem has developed a new technology that not only solves these problems but also has a superherolike power: It can "see" through walls to sense movement.
MIND-BLOWING FACTOR: Intruders can't beat this system: There is no place to hide from these small, card-size nodes because they can be embedded in walls, beams and furniture. The technology could be used in households and commercial buildings, but the company also claims that it's sensitive enough to protect government buildings that require high security.
5. Digital Pills to Track Health
THE IDEA: How do you know if your medication is really working? One way to know is to look inside the body. Proteus has developed a small, swallowable sensor that lets you do exactly that. There are no wires or batteries — the sensor, which received FDA approval in July, is powered completely by your own stomach fluids. A disposable patch worn on the body captures data from the sensor and relays it to a mobile device.
MIND-BLOWING FACTOR: This is the only sensor of its kind to run solely on body fluids. Co-founder and CEO Andrew Thompson says the bigger idea behind Proteus is that it could help patients seek preventive treatment.