Best Inventions of 2002

Inventor: Sanford Ponder

These stylish shelters were a big hit at the Burning Man festival this summer, but they're not just for fun. Fashioned from a single piece of laminated paperboard (plus a floor and a door), they are sturdy, wind resistant, waterproof, well insulated and require no special skills or tools to assemble — perfect, according to their inventor, for use as temporary housing in a war or a natural disaster. The Shade Pod, an open-air version with legs, is just right for lawn parties.

Availability: Next summer, starting at $745
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