New York SBDC Research Network

Based on how often I talk about it, you would think that I really enjoyed the movie, “Minority Report.” Well, I didn’t hate it, but there’s one part that made me really excited. You remember in the beginning, where Tom Cruise is pushing around holographic images with his hands? I want that. I’m almost there, now that I have two computer screens and can drag open windows from one screen to the other, but it's still not quite as much fun. If those holographic screens are the vision of the future for projecting images, what do you think the communication devices of the future will look like? Designers at Motorola had a go, and the results look like they’d fit nicely in almost any futuristic flick. Which one do you want? I like the bracelet…. Design World: What will communication devices look like in 2033?

Looking to make and/or sell your own designs? Here are a few resources you might want to know about. Etsy.com , “your place to buy and sell all things handmade,” has been in the news quite a bit lately. It’s an online marketplace, where artisans can set up their own shop, post an item for 20 cents, and pay a 3.5% commission when it sells. Just about everything you can think to make (and some things you’d never think of) are for sale here, and you can search in some creative ways (like by color.) Ponoko , “is the world’s first platform for anyone to share, buy and sell product plans to make individualized goods.” Ponoko works in several ways. Designers can create and upload product designs, choose materials, and Ponoko will manufacture and deliver the final product. Or you can design it, and then display it in the Ponoko showroom, and someone else can buy it from you. Ready to take the plunge to buy only handmade gifts? Check out the Buy Handmade Pledge . You can sign up and say

It sounds like a band but they are two slide shows available at www.businessweek.com The first is a look at knock-offs of first class designs. It is interesting that in some cases it looks as though the copiers are trying to maintain the slightest difference in the design. Some things like the quality of materials/finshes etc were not duplicated but some things that would seem to be easily copied - size and shape - were not and I wonder if it is to differentiate from the original. Plagiarius Award 2008 Award Winning Fakes At the world's largest annual consumer goods fair, organization Aktion Plagiarius shames makers of knockoffs by singling them out By Jessie Scanlon The second slideshow is the originals: designers who have developed green-er products - often very pretty ones. Green Design Hot Green Products Apple's new MacBook Air makes an impressive eco-conscious statement—as does an array of other recent items ranging from flashlights to diapers By Paula Lehman