The best of 2011: The top three technology Seeds of the year

By Peter Firth 30 : 12 : 2011 Prius : Seeds Of The Year : PXP

Abu Dhabi, San Francisco, Pittsburgh – Choosing my favourite technology Seeds from this year was tough with so many brave new innovations, as Intuitive Futures flourished and the Personal Information Economy gathered momentum.

The first Seed, I have chosen for its sheer audacity. In April, it was announced that the first phase of the £11bn project to create the first carbon-neutral city had been completed.

Masdar City in Abu Dhabi has streets that are air-conditioned by a giant wind tunnel which also broadcasts the city’s energy consumption. A system dubbed the ‘green policeman’ monitors people’s energy use, and even turns off appliances if they are left on for too long.

The UP wristband is my second choice, as it marked an important stage in the adoption of the Quantified Self. Designers Fuseproject and Jawbone created a device that has a friction-free and holistic approach to quantifying your lifestyle.

My third technology Seed of the year is a bicycle based on the Toyota Prius, the PXP. The PXP uses an EEG array helmet, which allows the rider to shift gears using their mind. Rider data can be collated in a smartphone app, which measures speed, cadence and heart rate.