Winners of the World Changing Ideas Video Contest

Radical wheelchairs and windmills are among the winning concepts in the 2010 World Changing Ideas Video Contest, sponsored by Scientific American and SciVee, the online science video site. In videos running two to five minutes, entrants showcased innovative ways to build a cleaner, healthier or safer world—simple yet powerful visions of a better future.

http://michaelrosen.co.uk/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=94511
http://neftaudit.ru/forum/profile.php?id=117405

Some of the submissions revealed new inventions or processes, others offered ingenious ideas. A panel of five judges determined the winners based on an idea's ability to change the world, its scientific content, and its originality.

http://omsu.ru/forum/upload/profile.php?id=72217
http://onnaturemagazine.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=133181

See for yourself. Note: the pause/play buttom may only function when the video is played in full-screen mode.

http://new.webtemplate.com.au/bridgehead/Aphnac/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=105620

The Leveraged Freedom Chair

Video: Amos Winter and MIT News Office

A wheelchair with a hand-powered, geared drivetrain that travels effectively over sand, dirt and other terrain often confronted in developing countries. The user changes gears and propels the chair simply by moving his hands on a set of levers, allowing him to travel fast on hard ground or to go offroad.

http://opensees.berkeley.edu/community/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=215616
http://static.automatedgenealogy.com/phpBB2/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=185638

"Ingenious, simple, doable now. It could change one person's whole world."

"Nice, simple design."

http://teeme2008.ee/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=209725
http://ubp.com.ua/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=91771

Idea and video: Leonardo Bonanni

A crowdsourced Web site that tracks the environmental footprint of product supply chains. Visualizations and calculators allow consumers to estimate the impact of products, foods and events.

Judges' comments:

http://webserv.kmitl.ac.th/%7Erobot/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=95801
http://www.boulesis.com/foros/profile.php?id=68465

"A powerful meme; this kind of information inspires people to change behavior."

"Great educational tool."

http://www.brama.com/forums/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=123414
http://www.classicalfencing.com/forum/profile.php?id=108493

A low-cost wind turbine for suburban backyards and city rooftops that operates in slow and fast winds. Electricity is generated using uncommon aerodynamic principles.

"Good compatibility with the built environment."

http://www.conhecer.org.br/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=129467
http://www.dentalproductsreport.com/forums/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=82318

"Figured it out by experimenting in his backyard."

Judges

http://www.fusor.net/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=102829
http://www.fusor.net/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=102829&sid=91eb53e6bf1edf4cfa54e64cae84ad4a

Davide Castelvecchi, board of editors, Scientific American

Mark Fischetti, board of editors, Scientific American

Stephen Kyle, professor of applied economics, Cornell University

John Pavlus, writer and independent science filmmaker

Michael Webber, professor of mechanical engineering, University

http://www.fussybaby.ca/Forum/index.php?action=profile;u=137743
http://www.gamescore.com/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=121436 of Texas at Austin

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