The World's Most Innovative Products and Technologies Showcased in the 15th Annual Popular Science `Best of What's New' Issue

Business Wire, Nov 7, 2002

BMW ActiveSteering (Auto Technology)

The inevitable compromise: Responsive cars are twitchy at speed, while stable high-speed cruisers run slalom like a freight train. BMW ActiveSteering, demonstrated in prototype this year, takes a revolutionary approach: A planetary gearbox bisects the steering column, allowing a small electric motor to either increase or reduce the steering inputs from the driver. At low speeds (that means below 75 to the Germans), the wheels turn farther for the same steering-wheel displacement, aiding handling. Above 75 the motor runs in reverse, creating less wheel movement and more stability. Expect to see ActiveSteering on the 2004 5 Series.

SawStop Table Saw (Home Technology)

More than 3,000 Americans lose a finger to their table saws each year--and at least 10 times that many are injured. SawStop promises to ease the carnage. Invented three years ago, the technology charges the blade with a 3-volt signal. Touch it and the saw detects your skin's natural charge, sending a spring-loaded wedge into blade to stop it in 3 milliseconds. Inventor Stephan Gass had hoped to license SawStop to tool makers, but found no takers. Now, he's coming out with his own line of tools, demonstrating a 10-inch model this year. Expect it to cost 15 percent more than comparable table saws.

Buell XB9R Firebolt (Recreation)

Domestic motorcycles have been known to be more show than go, but the Buell XB9R Firebolt gives sport-bike riders a machine that does America proud. Its most innovative feature: To shave weight--it's a featherweight at 385 pounds--the all-aluminum frame doubles as the 3.7-gallon gas tank and its rear swingarm carries the engine oil. Sounds good, but it's even better on the pavement. The 92-horsepower bike, introduced in April, is available at Harley-Davidson dealers for $9,995.

Minolta DiMage Xi (Photo)

Digital cameras have come in two varieties--loaded and small. But with Minolta's DiMage Xi, there's no need to choose between size and sizzle. Barely bigger than a deck of cards, it's the first easily pocketable camera with a full set of out-of-pocket features like 3X optical zoom, built-in flash, 8MB memory card and 3.2-megapixel sensor. The zoom, in fact, never pokes outside the sleek metallic body, thanks to a unique vertical lens system. If that's not enough, the Xi also has the world's fastest startup time for an optical zoom camera: 1.2 seconds. Price: $499.

VKB Virtual Keyboard (Electronics)

Meet the PDA keyboard of the future: VKB Inc.'s nifty Virtual Keyboard beams a QWERTY onto the workspace in front of you. Break the light beam and the device registers your keystroke. Licensee Siemans recently began offering it as a chewing-gum-pack-size PDA accessory, but the technology's greatest promise will come when it's integrated into PDAs and cellphones. That will happen within two to five years.

Honda Element (Cars)

Practical teenagers? An oxymoron to parents the world over, but that's who Honda hopes to entice with its funky Element--arguably the most utilitarian sport-utility ever built. The Element's rubber floors can be hosed down, while suicide doors open wide for easy cargo stuffing. There's also a detachable roof for more sun and fun, and four-wheel drive gets you across the occasional dirt road. And how's this for practical: 25 mpg on the highway and a base price of $16,000.