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Search our database of 462,935 cutting edge ideas.

Innovative Inconvenience

Basic devices redefined in more interesting, less practical ways

Implications - The desire to create something better is resulting in unique, but often gimicky technology. Do these gesture based remotes really work better than a regular remote? Probably not, but the creativity generates interest and buzz.
Trend Themes
1. Gesture-based Remote Controls - Creating gesture-based remote controls generates interest and buzz and disrupts the traditional button-based remote control market.
2. Fashionable and Minimalist Remote Controls - Designing fashionable and sleek universal remote controls with few buttons and intuitive scrolling offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for traditional, clunky remotes.
3. Eco-friendly and Sustainable Remote Controls - Designing sustainable and eco-friendly remote controls that can be charged manually or last an extended period with less power disrupts the leading battery-fueled remote control market.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - Consumer electronics companies can reference these trends to innovate and redesign traditional remote controls to create new markets and generate consumer interest.
2. Home Automation - Home automation companies can use these trends to create the most intuitive and efficient remote control experience for products in the home automation industry.
3. Sustainability - Sustainability-focused companies can reference these trends to reduce environmental waste and design eco-friendly universal remote controls.
3.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
8 Featured
46,249 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Jan 08 — Sep 08
Trending:
Average
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Remote Control via Eye Blinking
Remote Control via Eye Blinking
Kome Kami Switch
Imagine this scenario: closing both eyes for one second starts your iPod, while blinking again stops the playback. A wink with the right eye makes the machine skip to the next tune while with a wink of… MORE
Wearable Universal Remote Controls
Wearable Universal Remote Controls
The Multi-Chalk
Tobi Kim invented the Multi-Chalk which is a universal remote control that can control everything, everywhere! "It’s a soft electronic device designed to slip on anything with a button," notes Yanko… MORE
Remote Control Pillows
Remote Control Pillows
TV Bedding
Since the television has become such an integral part of our household, it was only a matter of time before the remote control ended up tucked in a pillow for an ergonomic TV-watching experience. The organic… MORE
Gesture Activated Remote Controls
Gesture Activated Remote Controls
The Licentia Has No Buttons
Designers are so over buttons. After recently featuring the sleek sPult, Trend Hunter brings you an even more minimalistic gesture-controlled remote that does away with all buttons. Designed by Jason… 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
Eco-Friendly Universal Remote Controls
Eco-Friendly Universal Remote Controls
The Wind-Up Remote
There is nothing more annoying when flipping through TV channels to find the remote has died and there are no batteries in the house. The Wind-Up Remote takes care of that little inconvenience. All you… MORE
Fashionable Remote controls
Fashionable Remote controls
The Minimalist and Sleek 'sPult'
Typically, all-in-one universal remote controls come with too many buttons and lack in the department of style. Designer Yurii Smitana Perfilov tries to overcome these shortcomings with her elegant “sPult”… MORE
Jumbo Remote Controls
Jumbo Remote Controls
You Can't Lose this One
The picture here doesn't do justice to this invention... clearly, SIZE MATTERS! The massively oversize universal television remote measures 5"x11"x3/4", and is near impossible to lose. I saw this invention… MORE