7 Little-Known Inventions You Should Know About

Some little known inventions include Blackphone, Hoverboard, Hemingwrite and Batsuit among others.

The thirst of curiosity in humans is one that can never be quenched, no matter how hard one tries. As humans have evolved, so have the things in our lives and the world around us. Every now and then, an invention pops up that makes us stand up and take notice – a new discovery that significantly changes the way we live in one way or another.

Certain inventions in the past, such as the telephone, television, and Internet, have completely transformed our entire world. These are also the innovations about which everyone seems to know.

Now, let’s take a look at the some of the most recent inventions that are still relatively unknown to the world.


In today’s smartphone-plagued world, it comes as no surprise that the privacy of users suffers immensely. Also, since the revelations of Edward Snowden came to light, things have become even worse. In such a scenario, what could possibly be better than an electronic device that fully protects your privacy.


Blackphone is a type of smartphone that does exactly this. It encrypts your calls, texts, emails, browsing history and other data features on your phone. Therefore, it would not be easy to snoop on your personal data. Still, the founders advise users to exercise caution when sharing personal information. The Blackphone began to ship pre-orders of the phone in June 2014.


Back in 1989, when the second installment of Back to the Future was released, few would have thought that hoverboards would ever become a reality in the new millennium. However, while the hoverboards that we have now are not as ‘all-functioning’ as the one from that classic movie, they are still worth envying.

Hendo hoverboard

A California-based tech company, Hendo, has been able to develop a device that they proudly call the Hendo Hoverboard. These hoverboards can levitate about 1 inch above the ground, but they also only work above certain conductive materials, such as copper or aluminum.


This particularly innovation is a special one for writers.

When you sit down at your laptop or smartphone to develop a story from that “brilliant” idea that just popped in your head, there are many digital distractions (texts, calls, Facebook…the list is endless) that could plague your creativity at the moment and leave the age an angry blank.


This new device doesn’t do anything particularly extraordinary, but it does offer a a mechanical keyboard, an e-paper screen, and cloud backup capabilities. Fortunately, the Hemingwrite also has features like WiFi, so that your precious creations get backed up on the cloud. Also, the device itself is super cool to carry around.

Pencil Pusher

If you’re worried about what to do with the waste paper at your place, a solution is finally available. Three Chinese scientists are currently working on this device, which they call P&P Office Waste Paper Processor, aka the Pencil Pusher. All you have to do is put the papers that are no longer of any use (waste, on other words) and a pencil is produced from the other side.

pencil pusher

The machine pulls the papers in, compresses them, and then inserts a small piece of lead inside. Finally, a small amount of glue is added in the end and Poof! You have yourself a pencil!

Mercedes Benz Biome

This is a car that truly stands out from the crowd, namely because it doesn’t depend on conventional fuels (like diesel, petrol) to run.


Mercedes has developed a car named the Biome concept car, and it was launched at the Los Angeles Auto Show held in November 2010. We can expect this car to be running on roads in just a few years. According to the official press release of the officials, “The Mercedes-Benz BIOME grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery. Out on the road, the car emits pure oxygen, and at the end of its lifespan it can be simply composted or used as building material.”

Not only that, the car also looks extremely cool.

Specialized Military Helmets

Over the years, the progression of helmets worn by soldiers during times of war have changed immensely. At first, there were just basic helmets that were not very good at protecting against bullets, and then came steel helmets, which had their hey-day during the Second World War. In the 1980s, we saw helmets emerge that consisted of multiple layers of Kevlar,  making them very strong.


Now, a researcher from Arizona State University has been tasked by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a military helmet equipped with technology to regulate soldiers’ brains. The technology they intend to use is called transcranial pulsed ultrasound.

What this helmet would accomplish is the delivery of very high-frequency sound waves to specific parts of brain of the wearer; these sound waves are intended to accomplish different tasks, such as relieving a patient’s pain following a wound, or even making the patients oblivious to any pain. The helmet could also help soldiers stay highly alert, even when they’re operating on very little sleep.


Yes, you read that right. Imagine the same type of wings that you saw in your favorite Batman movies. In January 2012, a scientist from Connecticut was granted a patent for a device that works just like batsuit. In the words of the inventor, it’s “a completely dynamic human-powered flying suit”.

The Famous Batsuit

This option consists of strap-on wings on both sides, which could be electrified and de-electrified by the wearer, thereby helping the wearer stay airborne. However, for the initial launch, the wearer would have to be towed or ride a bi-cycle (or any other such methods to gain enough speed).

It’s only a matter of time before these things will seem as common as mobile phones today. Until then, there’s nothing to do except wait and see how the future of technology and mankind unfolds.

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