Cool Product Expo 2008
Stanford’s annual Cool Product Expo happened April 9 this year. Their stated goal is to “generate interest in and excitement around “cool” products and companies”. While the event could be called an expo and it did indeed have products, we’re not so sure about the cool part.
It seems like for every swell product at the show, like NeuroSky and their brainwave reading & interpreting technology, there’s a Bonobos pushing their better fitting men’s pants. Likewise, the effect of the moderately-cool HYmini wind powered charger, is offset by the irony-inspired 5,527-pound V8 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid SUV. And lastly, it doesn’t help to have Accenture, the consulting arm of disgraced/defunct Arthur Andersen, as an exhibitor - it makes the expo seem too ‘corporate’.
We’re designating the expo as a “nice try”, while awarding the GadgetManiac 1st prize to exhibitor Think Gum and its allegedly brain-boosting concentration-improving rosemary & peppermint flavored chewing gum.
…G-M disclaimer: we’ve no idea if Think Gum will “enhance mental performance” as it claims, and surmise that if indeed it does work, some of it’s efficacy is likely due to the placebo-effect and the 20mg of caffeine in each piece.
