Photos from the 2015 Innovation Festival at the National Museum of American History

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Anyone can file a patent

Elizabeth Dougherty from the U.S. Office of Patents and Trademarks walked the audience through the process of filing a patent, and with help from the audience, stressed that anyone can be an inventor.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Inventor talks

The two-day event featured interviews with inventors about their projects and their processes. Pictured are Jeff Brodie (left) deputy director for the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Xavier Carnegie (right), Living History Theatre creative director, interviewing Rory Cooper (middle) about his work on wheelchair design.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Chewing gum that doesn't lose its flavor

File this under noble pursuits: Wrigley's talked about figuring out how to make chewing gum with longer lasting flavor.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Insulated concrete blocks

These blocks have a layer of insulation meant to improve a building's thermal performance.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
More confection

Also on the candy front, Mars Chocolate talked about patenting chocolate flavors and making a white chocolate that's more preferable to even those who aren't big fans.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Explaining hydrogel

Kansas State University used plenty of props to explain it hydrogel, which is made of proteins and can go from liquid to gel in seconds based on pressure applied. It can be used for many purposes including cell therapy, sustained release, vaccine development, 3D cell culture, and more.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Patenting peppers

The USDA developed peppers with very specific traits, like the Lil' Pumpkin which has black leaves, is small, and orange. Asexually reproduced plants can be patented.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Brain power

This lower body exoskeleton from the University of Houston is powered through brain waves.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Innoskate

Inventor Paul Schmitt talked about improvements in skateboard design, and brought a collection of skateboards dating back to the 1950s.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Back it up

The Ford Motor Company demoed technology they've developed to assist in backing up a trailer.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
From Everest to outer space

NASA talked about the tech, like hydration systems, that help not only astronauts in space, but adventurers headed to extreme places like Mount Everest. Here's a suit used for an Everest expedition.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
The baby bot

Virginia Commonwealth University has been working on these devices, which help babies who were born with disabilities learn to crawl.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Try this on for size

Zugara's augmented reality technology lets users try on clothes using gesture recognition, a Microsoft Kinect sensor, and a small camera.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
WiperFill

WiperFill was the 9th millionth patent issued by the US Patent Office. It's a system to use rainwater to replenish a car's wiper fluid reservoir.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Keeping classrooms safe

Students from Benjamin Banneker Academic High School Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam devised a way to keep intruders out by sliding a metal piece over a door's pivot hinge. They were troubled by the frequency of school shootings and decide to tackle the problem of keeping safe themselves.
SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic

Anyone can file a patent

Elizabeth Dougherty from the U.S. Office of Patents and Trademarks walked the audience through the process of filing a patent, and with help from the audience, stressed that anyone can be an inventor.

SEE: Smithsonian Innovation Festival: 10 projects changing humanity's future

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic

By Erin Carson

Erin Carson is a Staff Reporter for CNET and a former Multimedia Editor for TechRepublic.

Anyone can file a patent

Inventor talks

Chewing gum that doesn't lose its flavor

Insulated concrete blocks

More confection

Explaining hydrogel

Patenting peppers

Brain power

Innoskate

Back it up

From Everest to outer space

The baby bot

Try this on for size

WiperFill

Keeping classrooms safe

Anyone can file a patent

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