Top 100 Tech Trends in May

From 3D-Printed Sand Castle Homes to Clasped USB Cuffs

— May 31, 2014 — Autos
This collection of May 2014 technology trends reflects the increasing momentum of 3D printing. It seems that practically anything can be printed using this technique -- from fashion items to cars and art. Consumers are gravitating more and more to these products as they are indicative of brands catering to the demand for personalized and customized items. Not only can individuals order items to be 3D-printed with specific customized elements, but they can also do it themselves.

Wearable tech is also making waves this spring. Many of the gadgets and devices introduced as this year's CES event are now available for purchase. Much of today's wearable tech is centered around fitness, but there are other gadgets such as the armband that translates sounds into tangible vibrations.

For more insight into the ways tech brands are catering to consumers' changing needs, check out Trend Hunter's Technology Trend Report.
6.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
97
Apple-Sized Bluetooth Speakers
Apple-Sized Bluetooth Speakers
The Nokia MD-12 Bluetooth Mini-Speaker Looks Small But Sounds Big
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96
Chemical Revealing Cosmetic Apps
Chemical Revealing Cosmetic Apps
‘Think Dirty’ is an App that Reveals Chemicals in Beauty Products
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95
Paper-Replacing Tablets
Paper-Replacing Tablets
Sony's Digital Paper is a Tablet Made to Replace Paper in the Office
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94
Glass World Cup Benches
Glass World Cup Benches
World Cup Players Who Don’t Make the Starting XI Will Sit on These Benches
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93
Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs
Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs
The Philips Clear LED Bulb Fuses Modern Technology & Generic Design
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92
Worldly Internet Usage Trackers
Worldly Internet Usage Trackers
Fractl Created a Website That Tracks Internet Usage in Real-Time
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91
Studio-Quality Recording Gadgets
Studio-Quality Recording Gadgets
The iTrack Dock Captures Professional Recordings on iPad
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90
High-Performance Gaming Peripherals
High-Performance Gaming Peripherals
The High-Tech BLACK Snow Mouse is Made for Serious Gamers
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89
Interactive Dancing Domes
Interactive Dancing Domes
This Unique Lighting Art Installation for Burning Man Reflects Emotions
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88
Polished Pop Queen Editorials
Polished Pop Queen Editorials
Lady Gaga is the Cover Star for Porter Magazine Summer 2014
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87
Smartphone Golf Training Systems
Smartphone Golf Training Systems
Zepp Unveiled its 3D Golf Training System for Golf Enthusiasts
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86
Aerial Evolutionary Landscapes
Aerial Evolutionary Landscapes
Klaus Leidorf Captured These Images of Landscapes From a Plane
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85
Trash-Converting Bike Printers
Trash-Converting Bike Printers
This Mobile 3D Printer Uses Plastic Cups as Printer Ink
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84
Projector-Enabled Smartphones
Projector-Enabled Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy Beam 2 Has a Built-In Projector
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83
Rugged Leather Device Cases
Rugged Leather Device Cases
The DODOcase LeatherCraft Collection is Handsome and Classic
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82
Sideways Ice-Breaking Ships
Sideways Ice-Breaking Ships
The Baltika Icebreaker Can Move Sideways While Clearing Ice
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81
Workout Sharing Social Bikes
Workout Sharing Social Bikes
Social Bicycles Combines Cycling with Social Media
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80
Puzzle Platform Game Apparel
Puzzle Platform Game Apparel
The LittleBigPlanet Clothing Line by Insert Coin is Cute
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79
Robotic Arm-Extending Handles
Robotic Arm-Extending Handles
The Robohandle Gives Users More Strength and Control
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78
Starry Bioluminescent Billboards
Starry Bioluminescent Billboards
O2's Starry Billboard Celebrates the Samsung Galaxy S5 Launch
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77
Two-in-One Desktops
Two-in-One Desktops
The iPro Apple Computer by Kurt Merki Jr. Boasts a Curved Base
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76
Illuminating WiFi Manicures
Illuminating WiFi Manicures
Takara Tomy Arts Has Created Nails for the Internet-Lover
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75
Secure Motorcycle Alarm Apps
Secure Motorcycle Alarm Apps
The Scorpio Ride is a Safety-Enhancing Motorcycle Alarm
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74
Office Program Character Pranks
Office Program Character Pranks
Clippy Makes a Return to Microsoft Office on April Fools
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73
Clasped USB Cuffs
Clasped USB Cuffs
These MoH Bands Turn Electronic Devices into Accessories
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72
Perpetually Powered Phones
Perpetually Powered Phones
The TAG Heuer Infinite Holds an Infinite Amount of Power
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71
Home-Brewing Guidance Devices
Home-Brewing Guidance Devices
The BrewNanny Lets You Spend Less Time Brewing & More Time Drinking
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70
Sightless Transit Guides
Sightless Transit Guides
The Station Reported Device Directs the Blind to Their Desired Buses
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69
Ultra-Rugged Laptops
Ultra-Rugged Laptops
The Dell Latitude Rugged Laptops Can Withstand Harsh Physical Conditions
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68
Penny-Sized Fitness Trackers
Penny-Sized Fitness Trackers
Goccia by G-Wearables is the Smallest and Simplest in the World
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67
Calorie Photography Apps
Calorie Photography Apps
The Ceres App Lets Users Count Their Calories by Sending in Photos
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66
Imposter Wooden Laptops
Imposter Wooden Laptops
The Apple Wood Cutting Board Flaunts the Design of the MacBook Pro
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65
Macro Snail Photography
Macro Snail Photography
Vyacheslav Mishchenko Loves to Capture Sluggish Creatures
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64
Outlandish Food Portraits
Outlandish Food Portraits
Urs Fischer’s Contemporary Photography Series Will Crack You Up
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63
Painterly Drones
Painterly Drones
KATSU's Robot Art Projects Have Drones Create Abstract Paintings
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62
App-Powered Airline Services
App-Powered Airline Services
These Customizable Seats Let Business Class Flyers Get the Best
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61
Touch-Sensitive Writing Tools
Touch-Sensitive Writing Tools
Pen by Wenhao Wang is a Subtly Hi-Tech Piece of Stationery
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60
3D-Printed Travel Necessities
3D-Printed Travel Necessities
Lost Luggage by Janne Kyttanen Moves Away from Suitcase-Schlepping
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59
Cube-Shaped Digital Sundials
Cube-Shaped Digital Sundials
The Sun Cube Tells the Time Using Sunlight and Shadows
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58
3D-Printed Sand Castle Homes
3D-Printed Sand Castle Homes
The 3M futureLab 2014 Project Creates Compact Living Spaces
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57
Portable Water Bottle Lamps
Portable Water Bottle Lamps
The Bottlelight Combines Two Essentials to Make Something Powerful
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56
Duo-Sided Tablet Blocks
Duo-Sided Tablet Blocks
This Butcher Block Design Has Slots on Both Sides for Tablet Use
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55
Homeless Boxer Photography
Homeless Boxer Photography
This Photo Series Shows a Homeless Boxer Building Himself a Huge Shack
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54
Amusing Gaming Toothbrushes
Amusing Gaming Toothbrushes
The 'Grush' Kids' Toothbrush Turns Brushing into a Video Game
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53
Atrociously Addictive Game Hybrids
Atrociously Addictive Game Hybrids
The Flappy Bird Spinoff Combines the Discontinued App with 2408
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52
Deceptively Digitalized Portraits
Deceptively Digitalized Portraits
These Self-Portaits are Created Via Computer by Kemi Mai
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51
Handcrafted Tech Accessories
Handcrafted Tech Accessories
This Leather Phone Case is Made Using Quality Materials
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50
Existential Computer Error Messages
Existential Computer Error Messages
Human Error by Victoria Siemer Techifies Intimate Moments
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49
Villainous Pop Culture Toasters
Villainous Pop Culture Toasters
This Darth Vader Toaster Shows the Dark Side of Your Toast
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48
Shielded Fire Extinguishers
Shielded Fire Extinguishers
This Fire Extinguisher Keeps Users Safe in More Ways Than One
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47
Radical Wearable Smartphone Gloves
Radical Wearable Smartphone Gloves
Samsung Unveils Its Inventive Wearable Smartphone Gloves
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46
Indoor Personal Farm Apps
Indoor Personal Farm Apps
Grove Labs Will Help Commercial Farmers Do Their Work Inside
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45
Rotating Traffic Lights
Rotating Traffic Lights
These Traffic Lights Make Keeping Your Road Sense Simple and Easy
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44
Futuristic Galactic Clocks
Futuristic Galactic Clocks
The 'Starfleet Machine' Desk Clock Has an Incredibly Intricate Design
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43
Fart-Capturing Cow Backpacks
Fart-Capturing Cow Backpacks
The INTA Project Provides Away to Collect Natural Methane-Filled Gas
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42
Aerial Packing Photography
Aerial Packing Photography
Daniel Eckler Snaps 100 Global Creatives' Packing Essentials
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41
Self-Sterilizing Keyboards
Self-Sterilizing Keyboards
The UVLightBoard Zaps Bacteria From Its Surface as You Type Away
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40
Portable Solar Panels
Portable Solar Panels
These Solar Sockets Can Stick to Any Window for Power On-the-Go
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39
Chemistry-Focused Jewelry
Chemistry-Focused Jewelry
Fe Hardware Looks to the Periodic Table for Inspiration
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38
Record-Breaking Tech Cases
Record-Breaking Tech Cases
Buccellati Has Made the Most Expensive Cases for iPhones and iPads
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37
Cutting-Edge Economy Seating
Cutting-Edge Economy Seating
COS Cabin Space Concept Provides Comfort and Connection to Passengers
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36
Armband Hearing Aids
Armband Hearing Aids
The Close Wristband Translates Sounds into Tangible Vibrations
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35
Grainy Underwater Portraits
Grainy Underwater Portraits
Photographer Maria Stromvik Captures Daunting Submerged Portraits
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34
Portable Cable Compartments
Portable Cable Compartments
The Pop-Up Cord Wrap Neatly Stores Three Wiry Accessories
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33
Psychedelic Surrealist Collages
Psychedelic Surrealist Collages
This Flower Collage Art is Now Available in an Exclusive Zine
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32
Paper-Replacing Whiteboard Notebooks
Paper-Replacing Whiteboard Notebooks
The Nuboard Ditches Paper for a More Reusable Material
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31
Supremely Slim Smartphone Covers
Supremely Slim Smartphone Covers
The Galaxy S4 Switch Case is Sleekly Designed
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30
App-Connected Drinking Glasses
App-Connected Drinking Glasses
The BU Personal Hydration System Makes Sure You Drink Enough Water
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29
Multi-Layered Packaging Design
Multi-Layered Packaging Design
Greg McNamara Kept with a Minimalist Design for Relays Headphones
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28
Pixelated Selfie Apps
Pixelated Selfie Apps
The LEBLOX App Lets You Turn Your Selfies into Pixelated 3D-Printed Avatars
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27
Versatile Leather Phone Stands
Versatile Leather Phone Stands
Carry Your Phone and Prop it Up with the Draw iPhone Case and Stand
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26
3D Printed Self-Portraits
3D Printed Self-Portraits
Artist Joshua Harker Uses a 3D Printer to Create an Elegant Portrait
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25
Surprisingly Demure Starlet Snaps
Surprisingly Demure Starlet Snaps
Lindsay Lohan and Terry Richardson Teamed Up for a Photo Series
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24
Video Game-Inspired Photography
Video Game-Inspired Photography
This Grand Theft Auto Photo Series Mixes the Virtual with Reality
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23
Origami-Inspired Barbecues
Origami-Inspired Barbecues
The 'Grillo' Folding Grill Has a Wire Mesh Hammock to Hold Solid Fuels
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22
Surveillance-Equipped Scooters
Surveillance-Equipped Scooters
The 1966 Honda P25 Scooter is Mounted with Cameras
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21
Astonishing Aerial Photography
Astonishing Aerial Photography
Photographer Alex MacLean Took These Lovely Photos from the Air
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20
Flat-Packed 3D-Printed Lampshades
Flat-Packed 3D-Printed Lampshades
The ZooM Lampshade by Michiel Cornelissen Ontwerp is Chic
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19
Ultrasound-Healing Medical Casts
Ultrasound-Healing Medical Casts
Osteoid by Deniz Karasahin is a Stylish and Practical Alternative
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18
Flapping Wing Energy Generators
Flapping Wing Energy Generators
This Wind Turbine Uses Flapping Wing Motions to Create Electricity
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17
Unusual Hi-Tech Beds
Unusual Hi-Tech Beds
Balluga's Smart Bed Has an Unconventional Shape & Lots of Tech Capabilities
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16
Unsettling Abandoned Building Photos
Unsettling Abandoned Building Photos
Max Boschini Uses Run-Down Places for His Shabby Photography
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15
Convertible Computer Desks
Convertible Computer Desks
The Flexus Transformable Table Features a Touchscreen Surface and Stand
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14
Organically Perforated Dishwares
Organically Perforated Dishwares
The Dunes Bowl by Alessandro Isola is a 3D Printed Design
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13
Minimalist Tablet Wall Docks
Minimalist Tablet Wall Docks
The Juice On-Wall Dock Safely and Stylishly Holds Your iPad
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12
Luxury Designer Headphone Collabs
Luxury Designer Headphone Collabs
The Chanel x Monster Headphones Boasts Iconic Quilted Leather
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11
Manipulated Stuntman Photography
Manipulated Stuntman Photography
Robert Jahns’ Alters Pictures to Look Like Stuntman Photography
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10
Hi-Tech Stress Balls
Hi-Tech Stress Balls
Bossy is a Unique Stress Ball with a Ton of Tech Capabilities
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9
Minimalist Ergonomic Laptop Stands
Minimalist Ergonomic Laptop Stands
The Just Mobile Xtand Pro Raises Your Laptop to Eye Level
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8
Pop-Up Photo Studios
Pop-Up Photo Studios
'Lightcase' is a Portable Photo Studio that Eliminates the Need for Lighting
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7
Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Pyle Audio Introduces the Street Blaster Bluetooth/NFC Sp
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6
Posture-Adjusting Bikes
Posture-Adjusting Bikes
The Flexi-Bike Uses an Adjustable Frame to Make Cycling Easier
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5
Pet Makeout Photography
Pet Makeout Photography
Chris Sembrot Snaps Owners Getting Some Sloppy Dog Kisses
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4
Cycle-Spun Laundry
Cycle-Spun Laundry
The Bike Washing Machine Encourages Activity and Eco-Consciousness
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3
Folding Fusion Bikes
Folding Fusion Bikes
Experience the YikeBike Fusion for a Foldable Electric Journey
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2
Fashionably Smart Furniture
Fashionably Smart Furniture
The Clique Editions Mixes Household Materials with Electronics
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1
Designer Mirror Phone Cases
Designer Mirror Phone Cases
These Marc Jacobs iPhone 5 Cases Look Great and Function as a Mirror
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