Photos: ISDA awards honour design innovation

By Holly Jackson on 23 July 2008, 11:14am

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What do a MacBook Air and a submersible rolling pin have in common? Both are winners in this year's International Design Excellence Awards. The competition, run by the Industrial Designers Society of America and sponsored by BusinessWeek magazine, invites businesses and students the world over to submit their best inventions or design concepts.

Out of 205 IDEA awards this year, some -- like the iPhone -- are no-brainers, while many conceptual designs do much to stretch the imagination. Though the list is brimming with interesting gadgets, a few caught our eye.

Samsung's Design Touch concept, which won a gold medal, is a digital camera for the visually impaired. The operator takes a picture and sound is recorded for 3 seconds after the shutter clicks. But audio isn't what makes this a concept camera. The Design Touch user would then be able to touch a lightweight, flexible Braille display sheet that displays the picture in 3D on an embossed surface. The 3D pictures with sound can be uploaded, reviewed and shared.

Other products for visually impaired consumers include student concepts like a voice stick that scans text and turns it into audio, and a Braille cover for touchscreen debit card machines.

Click 'Next photo' to see more design innovations in green living and the future of front doors. -Holly Jackson