Best Inventions of 2006
It's been an interesting year in technology. Nintendo invented a video game you control with a magic wand. A new kind of car traveled 3,145 miles on a single gallon of gas. A robot learned to ride a bike and somebody came up with a nanofabric umbrella that doesn't stay wet
After two New York City firefighters jumped to their deaths from a burning building in January 2005, the FDNY set out to design a safety device to keep that from ever happening again. Result: a compact, lightweight (6 lbs. including harness) personal safety system that's easy to carry and made for a quick escape. The unit's forged-steel hook can penetrate brick, if necessary, to allow a firefighter to anchor himself before heading out the window. The 50-ft. rope is fire resistant up to 1100°F, but the real innovation is the patented lever mechanism that allows the user to control the speed of descent.
Inventor: FDNY
Availability: Now
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