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Purdue University's Jay Gore has devised a smart fire detector that doesn't have to wait for smoke to set it off. Using fiber optics to scan walls for the reflections of flames, the device can survey multiple rooms from a single location, using a database of flicker patterns and frequency content.

A Fresno, California, company called Directional Robotics has invented the Smart Compass, which not only helps you get where you're going, but also remembers where you've been and can help you find your way back--useful to divers, hikers, and the intoxicated.

Researchers at the MIT Media Lab can't see why, for instance, your coffee maker shouldn't be smart enough to remotely find which coffee cup is yours, sense the amount and temperature of the coffee in it, and, if coached in advance, begin preparing a fresh serving.

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