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Ben Preiss

Trend Spotter/Market Researcher
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Kfar Saba, Israel
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Jun 2007
Born in the USA, moved to Israel in my early 20's. I was the kid that had to take everything apart in order to understand how it works. That drive hasn't stopped and I am endlessly curious about almost everything, especially the new and cutting-edge. I have many years of experience as a technical writer here in Israel's Silicon Wadi, having written in a variety of hitech areas.
How do you define cool?
By those who were cool before it was cool to be cool, therefore defining cool in their respective domains. We now can usually identify them by either their first name, last name or initials. Newton/Galileo/Einstein, Buddha/Gandhi/MLK, Beethoven/Mozart/Bach, Archimedes/ Da Vinci/Tesla, Kafka/Sartre/Vonnegut, Moses/Jesus/JFK, Guthrie/Dylan/Cash/Springsteen, Monet/Picasso/Warhol/ Bansky, Marx/Karl,/Groucho/Chico/Harpo/OK, not Zeppo, etc.
What inspires or excites you?
Everything...
Boxed Green Power
Boxed Green Power
Bloom Energy's 'Bloom Box' May Be the Future of Alternative Energy
At first glance, Bloom Energy seems to be yet another hyperbolic Silicon Valley start-up claiming to have produced a miracle in a box, yet succeeding only in disappointing naive optimists. But, Bloom Energy… MORE
Digital Curriculums for Kids
Digital Curriculums for Kids
'Time To Know' Uses Individual Computers for Learning
Major advances in technology have not translated into significant changes in the classroom and many students who are technologically engaged outside the classroom find themselves bored in school. That… MORE
Legalizing Medical Marijuana
Legalizing Medical Marijuana
President Obama Supports Pot-Smoking Patients
In a major move forward in recognizing the medical legitimacy of marijuana, new guidelines that will be issued by the Obama administration today will free pot-smoking patients, in states that allow medical… MORE
iPhone Diss Ads
iPhone Diss Ads
Verizon Droid Phone Mocks Apple Favorite with iDon't Ad
Will the Verizon Droid be a serious challenger for the iPhone’s title of World’s Sexiest Gadget? Motorola, Google and Verizon, who teamed up to deliver the Droid, clearly think so. An aggressive ad… MORE
YouTube Hitler Parodies
YouTube Hitler Parodies
Viral Competition to Spoof "Downfall"
Hitler has often been parodied with varying degrees of success. This spoof video uses footage from Downfall, a recent Oscar-nominated movie about Hitler’s last days in his Berlin Bunker. The idea is… MORE
Exotic Flying Pets
Exotic Flying Pets
UK Goes Sugar Glider Crazy
On the “cute pet” scale, this little gliding possum is off the charts. What can you say about a cuddly, curious, furry little guy with a pink nose, giant brown eyes that flies (OK, glides) around the house?… MORE
Wireless Power Systems
Wireless Power Systems
Intel WiTricity
Wireless power is one the Holy Grails of technology and something that has been searched for since Nikola Tesla fired up his giant coils in the 1890s. Now tech giant Intel has demonstrated WiTricity, a… MORE
Monkeys As Children
Monkeys As Children
Monkids
If you can’t get approval for adoption or are an empty nester and still want a kid, there is another option: Get a monkey, dress it up, and treat it like a kid. "More and more people in Florida and… MORE
$2.72 Million Camels
$2.72 Million Camels
Dubai Prince Splurges on a Dry Hump
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum, crown prince of the United Arab Emirates of Dubai, purchased the female camel for 10 million dirhams (2.72 million dollars) at a camel beauty pageant in… MORE
Strange Surveys
Strange Surveys
Leaders buy more Sneakers
A survey of 7,500 has found that people who buy more than three pairs of sneakers a year are 61 percent more likely to have the qualities of a modern leader. Additionally multi-sneaker buyers were 50 percent… MORE
Mile-High Tower (UPDATE)
Mile-High Tower (UPDATE)
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The big building competition in the Arabian Peninsula is really heating up with a really ginormous tower just announced for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Although we revealed this project would be under construction,… MORE
Ultimate Fighting for Kids
Ultimate Fighting for Kids
Ultimate Fighting or Cage Fighting has become increasing popular in the US with CBS becoming the first of the mainstream networks to broadcast it during prime time. Now kids are facing-off, punching and… MORE
The New Macarena
The New Macarena
Papaya Dance
Good Morning America featured a video of Edu Manzano’s Papaya Dance citing its popularity on several international YouTube postings. The song, which originates in the Philippines, was tipped by Robin… MORE
Free Photo Editing Programs
Free Photo Editing Programs
Adobe Photoshop Express
Photoshop Express was launched in a "beta" test version is said to be easier to learn than the full blown version of Photoshop that is aimed at professionals. They must have realized that if they don't… MORE
Historical Site Sites
Historical Site Sites
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Now Online
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall, located on the Mall in Washington, DC can now be viewed online and specific names can be searched for. It’s not the same as being there but for those who can’t make… MORE
Beads as Pixels
Beads as Pixels
Star Trek Bead Curtains
Bead Me Up, Scotty! Artist Devorah Sperber uses beads as pixels to beam Captain Kirk, Spock and Bones in a fittingly back to the future way. They manage to capture the partially-beamed look, as if they… MORE
Laser Guided Robotic Assistant
Laser Guided Robotic Assistant
The El-E Robot
The one-armed wonder named El-E (pronounced “Ellie”) because in operation it reminds you of an elephant’s trunk, can retrieve objects that have been pointed to with a laser pointer. Developed at… MORE
Fantasy Rooms in Minnesota
Fantasy Rooms in Minnesota
The FantaSuite Hotel
Winters are long and bone chillingly brutal in Minnesota, which is the only reason I can think of that the FantaSuite Hotel ended up in Burnsville, Minnesota. Some of the fantasy room themes include… MORE
HangBoarding
HangBoarding
Trapeze Bolted to a Snowboard
In 2001, a Canadian named Don Arney used his technical skill and his imagination aided, I’m guessing by some dangerous combination of beer, weed, boredom and fearlessness, to invent the HangBoard. Basically… MORE
DNA Drool Detection
DNA Drool Detection
23andMe Personal Genome Service
You probably leave samples on the sidewalk all the time, but send a sample of spit (and $1,000) to 23andMe Personal Genome Service you might get more than you bargained for. Using sophisticated DNA Drool… MORE
Pininfarina Sintesi Fuel Cell Concept
Pininfarina Sintesi Fuel Cell Concept
2008 Geneva Motor Show
Beyond being stunning and environmentally friendly, the Pininfarina Sintesi concept aims to fulfill the ultimate Italian driving dream, getting rid of traffic lights. Technology named the Clancast system… MORE
Autistic Activist on YouTube
Autistic Activist on YouTube
Amanda Baggs
Amanda Baggs is a 27 year old autistic woman who can’t communicate verbally and isn’t fully capable of taking care of herself. A lot of people don't have an understanding of the condition, but she… MORE
Japanese Robot Carries Luggage
Japanese Robot Carries Luggage
RoboPorter at Kita Kyushu Airport
The Japanese are in with another robot first, the RoboPorter is a thus far free service that is being tested at Kita Kyushu airport in southwest Japan. He’s not very cute and doesn’t seem to be much… MORE
Flames That Move & Multiply
Flames That Move & Multiply
Bravit Candle
Bravit Candles, designed by German-born and Eindhoven-trained Christophe van Bömmel, are made of sheets of paraffin. They have trails of wicks that cause the original flame to ignite other flames and… MORE
Safety, GPS Tracker & Cell Phone
Safety, GPS Tracker & Cell Phone
Aerotel GeoSkeeper
The Israeli made Aerotel GeoSkeeper is a GPS enabled device that can be strapped to the wrist of an senior citizen or child and programmed to set off an alarm and send their location if they leave a defined… MORE
Speakers Fold Up into an Egg
Speakers Fold Up into an Egg
DLO Portable iPhone Speakers
If you have an iPhone, chances are you are into good design and these DLO Portable iPhone Speakers are a fine example of aesthetic enhancement options. You’ll love pulling a little black and gray egg… MORE
$30,000 3-Wheeled Electric Car is Faster than A Porsche
$30,000 3-Wheeled Electric Car is Faster than A Porsche
ZAP Alias
The mean green electric two-seater goes from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, its two in-wheel motors produce 320 horsepower. It goes a top speed of 156 mph, and could be yours as soon as next year. ZAP… MORE
Google Adroid OS
Google Adroid OS
Seen at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona
The much anticipated, Google-backed, open Adroid OS has appeared on a number of prototype phones at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. "Texas Instruments had the handset you see above -- from an… MORE
Portable Internet Radio Lets You Create Your Own Station
Portable Internet Radio Lets You Create Your Own Station
Slacker Portable
The problem with Internet radio is, of course, that you can’t listen to it on a radio because it is not broadcast on radio waves, so really its not radio at all. The Slacker Portable solves that problem… MORE
"Real" Perpetual Motion Machine
"Real" Perpetual Motion Machine
Perepiteia
Thane Heins is careful never not to claim that his Perepiteia is a perpetual motion machine, yet it accelerates from exposure to a permanent magnet, and that’s not supposed to happen. Scientists from… MORE
Jet-Like Super Car
Jet-Like Super Car
Acabion GTBO
At only 20% throttle the Acabion GTBO two wheeler (four at low speed) passes the Bugatti Veyron’s top end of 250mph and, helped by its jet-like body, it hits the electronically limited top end of 340mph… MORE
Wrinkle Prevention Exercise
Wrinkle Prevention Exercise
Yoga Face
Celebrity name-dropping New York yoga teacher Annelise Hagen of the prerequisitely snobby New York Health & Racquet Club is promoting Face Yoga. According the Hagen, the bizarre facial exercises prevent… MORE
GPS Touchscreen Phone
GPS Touchscreen Phone
Garmin Nuvifone
The 3.5G, GSM HSDPA smartphone features a 3.5-inch touchscreen with an internet browser, data connectivity, personal messaging, and personal navigation functions. Of course being a Garmin, GPS navigation… MORE
Flashlight Can Set Paper on Fire & Fry Eggs
Flashlight Can Set Paper on Fire & Fry Eggs
"The Torch"
“The Torch,” made by Wicked Lasers, is claimed to be the world’s strongest flashlight. And really now, who would argue with the egg frying, marshmallow toasting, 4100 lumen wonder that can drain… MORE
Teen Designer Makes It Big
Teen Designer Makes It Big
Kira Plastinina Pays Paris $2M To Endorse Brand
A 15 year old fashion designer is making waves globally for her incredible designing capabilities. She did however have a boost when launching her brand. Backed by her millionaire father, Sergei Plastinina,… MORE
Remote Controlled Color
Remote Controlled Color
Multi-Color LED Lightbulb
These remote controlled, dimmable, multi-colored LED lightbulbs use only 5 Watts and have a 10,000 hour lifetime. By using the remote control, you can pick from 16 colors including white, how cool is… MORE

Featured Ideas

Experimental Scramjet Reaches Mach 10
Experimental Scramjet Reaches Mach 10
Imagine traveling halfway around the world in under two hours. That is the promise of scramjet technology that is being tested in Australia. The scramjet is simple in principle with few or no moving parts.… MORE
Environmentally Friendly Freeze Dried Funeral
Environmentally Friendly Freeze Dried Funeral
Go Green When You Go
You may not want to think about this until its too late but, cremation uses fuel and releases green house gasses, caskets use trees, and embalming fluids are just full of all kinds of nasty stuff. And… MORE
Watch TV Anywhere
Watch TV Anywhere
Slingbox Solo & Pro
The Slingbox ($180) connects to your TV and your home wireless network so you can; for example, you could watch the ballgame live on your laptop while you’re in the bathroom. You can also watch the ballgame… MORE
Puke Saber
Puke Saber
Non-Lethal Weapon Induces Vomiting
It looks like another one of the many kinds of LED flashlights on the market, but it’s a new non-lethal weapon that, when flashed in the eyes, causes disorientation, temporary blindness, nausea, and… MORE
YouTube to Begin Advertising
YouTube to Begin Advertising
Google Inc., which bought YouTube last year for $1.76 billion is trying to earn back the purchase price and then some, is using an innovative advertising technique. This week, the video-sharing giant will… MORE
Cheap Retro Thrills
Cheap Retro Thrills
Deluxe TV Etch-A-Sketch
How would you like to play a $13 Etch-A-Sketch on your $3500 52 inch LCD TV? Just about everybody had an Etch-A-Sketch when they were a kid, but if you didn’t it’s not too late. $13 will get you… MORE
Steampunk Animal Vehicles
Steampunk Animal Vehicles
Mechanical Scultures in Nantes, France
Artists François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice are exhibiting their strange mechanical sculptures in Nantes, France. These huge moving, ride-on steampunk mechanical contrivances of an elephant, squid,… MORE
Work of Heart
Work of Heart
Gallery Displays Organs
Jennifer Sutton had a bit of an out-of-body experience when she first saw the defective heart that had caused her so many problems displayed in a glass jar. The heart is being displayed alongside work… MORE
Foot Mouse
Foot Mouse
Got Carpel Tunnel or Better With Your Feet?
Slip your right foot into the sandal/mouse and tap your left foot on the programmable 5 button/scroll wheel board and clap your hands, just cause you can. Why not get your feet off their asses, your hands… MORE
Folding Bike
Folding Bike
Cannondale ON Rideable Prototype
Cannondale took on the challenge of taking a cutting edge folding bike design and trying to make it a reality. The result, which has been dubbed the ON, is in the rideable prototype stage and is a technological… MORE
Energy's Bright Future
Energy's Bright Future
Solar Power Gets Cheaper
There have been many trends posted involving solar power but in the US it still only accounts for 1% of the electricity generated. Even though it is getting cheaper the main barrier is still the cost.… MORE
Putin On A Show
Putin On A Show
Russia's President Strips For Cameras
Russia's buzzing about Putin’s beefcake photo spread, shot while vacationing in the Siberian mountains last week. Women are cooing, the usually quiet gay community is making Brokeback Mountain comments… MORE
Smell Phones
Smell Phones
Sony's Scented DoCoMo SO703i
Everyone wants a cell phone that’s eye-candy, but what about nose-candy? Sony hasn’t forgotten about your keen olfactory senses and has therefore introduced the new "smell phone." The DoCoMo SO703i… MORE
Mainstream 3D Printers
Mainstream 3D Printers
Desktop Factory's 3D Printer
At $5,000 Desktop Factory’s 3D printer isn’t going to be on everybody’s desktop anytime real soon but until recently 3D printers cost several times that amount. All of us can remember when flat screen… MORE