Coolest Inventions 2004: Cutting Edge

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A LIFESAVER--FOR DISCS

Tired of scratched CDs and DVDs that don't play anymore? d_skin is a clear plastic coating that you can put over a disc to protect it. You leave the cover on all the time, even when you play the disc. The laser from the player simply passes through the cover to read the data it needs. And because the d_skin is so thin--it measures just twothousandths of an inch--it will work with any player.

INVENTOR d_skin

AVAILABILITY Now, five for $5.99 or 20 for $19.99

TO LEARN MORE d-skin.com

NO MORE FADE TO BLACK

Now that you've got that snazzy LCD TV hanging on your living room wall like a fine work of art, it seems a pity to have it go blank when you turn it off. Philips' MiraVision Mirror TV avoids that by turning into a mirror. A polarized coating on the front of the screen reflects light when the set is off. Available in 17-in. and 23-in. models, the Mirror TV also comes in a split-screen style, left, that's already being used in hotels.

INVENTOR Philips

AVAILABILITY Now, $2,799 to $3,999

TO LEARN MORE mirrortv@philips.com

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

Imagine flanking your home stereo with birds of paradise rather than a pair of speakers. The Ka-on flower speaker, housed in a vase, below, or pot, uses real plant parts--stems to conduct sound waves, leaves and flowers to serve as cones--to fill a 16-ft. radius with music. Its audio quality is closer to that of a vinyl record than a CD, but for some audiophiles, that's a good thing.

INVENTORS Keiji Koga, Hiroshi Shiraki, Let's Corp.

AVAILABILITY Now, only in Japan: $284 for the vase version; $473 for the potted plant

GET THE MESSAGE

When the Swarovski crystal company asked ultramodern furniture designer Ron Arad to create a chandelier last year, he promptly declined, saying, "Crystal is the epitome of kitsch. It is not my planet." This year he changed his mind and created Lolita, the first text-messaging chandelier. Made of 2,100 crystals and 1,050 white LEDs, the 5-ft. spiral displays SMS messages sent by any phone. Of course, you'd need Lolita's number ...

INVENTOR Ron Arad

AVAILABILITY Now, $138,435

TO LEARN MORE swarovskisparkles.com

TIME FOR CHANGE

Before the Swiss watchmaker Jean François Ruchonnet designed the Monaco V4 concept watch, he lifted the hood of his Maserati, gazed at the engine and thought about the belts. Then he decided to create a similar belt system in miniature to replace the interlocking gears in mechanical watches. Each belt replaces five to six gears, thus simplifying construction. Visible on the underside, at right, the belts are also better at absorbing shock, for a more reliable and accurate timepiece.

INVENTOR TAG Heuer

AVAILABILITY Prototype only

TO LEARN MORE tagheuer.com