My favourite inventions

I have two favourite inventions that I'd like to share with you.  They first came to my attention via TED. TED is a free website that is dedicated to spreading ideas worth sharing.  It features short talks by scientists, doctors, everyday people all of whom have innovative, inspiring, interesting things to share.  One particular presenter (can't recall who) shared developments in design that were helping the world.  There were mind boggling amazing developments in medicine, cancer treatment, astrophysics etc and then there were these following two that touched my heart.

This simple concept, known as the Hippo Water Roller helps those - usually women and children - who need to collect water.  The task of water collection often needs to occur more than once per day and often involves walks over long distances.  Usually water is collected in difficult to carry objects such as jerrycans, old bottles etc.  The roller obviously rolls, either pulled behind or pushed in front of the individual. Much easier and kinder on the body than carrying heavy objects on your head of struggling with it in hand.  Such a simple, simple solution that I'm sure has made a remarkable difference in the lives of many.  Oh, one trip with the Hippo roller supply a family with water for one week. Goodbye the daily trek for water.

The above image probably has you scratching your head and thinking I've gone bonkers. It's a plant, not an invention.  Well my dears, it is a very special almost magical kind of plant that would have to be my most favourite invention in the whole entire world.  You see you spread the seeds for this little wonder out over the land and the plant turns a dark purplish colour if it grows over a land mine.  Simple to spread, easy to see and avoid. Just brilliant. It makes me weapy in fact.

It just warms my heart to think that there are people out there developing things like this.  Just so wonderful.  Go and visit TED, you won't be disappointed.  (Brian Cox is worth a look - so amazingly interesting and ahem....totally DREAMY!).

P.S. The above images were photographed from the book "Design Revolution: 100 Products that Are Changing People's Lives"  by Emily Pilloton