- [Narrator] Cities are great,
but they can be as incredible as they are problematic,
ever zoned out on the subway and missed your stop,
or trying to get down from the top floor of a bus
and nearly broken your neck on the stairs. Luckily, some smart cookies have thought up ingenious solutions to these little problems
like light up subway stops bus slides, heck, even full
height skyscraper slides. So let's take a look at some of the most amazing inventions
that might be coming to a city near you in the
not so distant future. (futuristic music) Basketball bin. If there's one thing, the Netherlands has plenty of it's bikes. The two-wheeled trend began
back in the 1970s making cities safer and more livable,
leading to the country owning some 23 million bikes today. But unlike a car, you
can't just put your trash in the passenger seat,
footwell glove box or trunk. Never look in my car. I beg. So where are all these
cyclists meant to dispose of their rubbish in route? Well, these huge hoops have been installed along cycle paths to encourage
more people to literally throw away their trash. They're designed to be
used at speed thanks to their three foot wide
hoop and conical shape so you don't have to
stop or even slow down to hit the target. Trash hoops or blikvangers as
they're called by the Dutch are incredibly simple, but
make all the difference to the environment in the
cities they're installed in. Could you imagine if New
York adopted a more bike focused transport system
without all the smog, congestion or trash piling up on
the side of the road? It'd even give us a brand new sport game of trash kickball, anybody? From top to bottom. All buildings are built
from the ground up, right? While there's at least one building in Detroit that begged to differ. This is the exchange. A building that's literally
been built from the top down. The core is constructed first. Then each floor is built on the ground before being elevated
and locked into the core. Once it's in position, the strand jacks which lift the floor plates
are lowered back down to lift up the next one. Each floor plate weighs
approximately 500 tons which can be raised at
some 25 feet per hour. I mean, that's very impressive, but why? Well, this method reduces physical labor and the construction site
land mass required as well as preventing equipment
getting wet from rain. If more cities introduced this impressive construction model, it could
save unprecedented amounts of time, space, and ultimately money. Whoa who knew doing things backwards could make things move forwards. The stop and slide, walking
down the steep stairs on a double decker bus is
a death trap, especially when the bus is still moving. There must be a less terrifying way to get down that doesn't involve
some imminent injury. While graphic designer and
photographer Surreal HK might have us covered,
they've created a concept that straps a slide
onto the back of the bus giving passengers a super
quick and fun emergency exit. Plus, it's a one-way system,
so no battling for space between the people getting on and off. That's a nifty concept, though
those open sides might be a little too dangerous to have
at the back of a potentially moving vehicle. Still, it's not a bad
place to start, although Surreal HK hasn't stopped there. They've also imagined
a way to make traveling down Hong Kong's International
Finance Center way more fun and colorful. Just choose one of eight
slides at the top, plummet down and arrive at your
ground floor destination a few seconds later. Okay, arguably this design is
too dangerous to ever be real considering most people
like their bones unbroken but there are skyscrapers that
offer visitors glass slide rides around the exterior
portions of the top floors of their buildings like
LA's Bank Tower slide. Well, it may just be a visitor
attraction for now, but maybe in the future we'll see
people in suits whizzing their way down, slides to
start their evening commute Splash less success. I don't know if you've used
a public urinal recently but a lot of people have terrible aim. If you get my meaning. However, drips and splashes
in public urinals could soon be a thing of the past. Would this wonderfully weird
urinal, you're meant to stick your thing inside
so that your stream is splashback free. Is it the most sanitary option? Most definitely not. You never know what's been
stuck in there beforehand but the idea of no splashback
urinal is pretty genius. Thankfully, such designs do
exist that don't look quite as intimidating. And 2022 mechanical
engineer Dr. Zhao Pan tested multiple urinal shapes
designed specifically to prevent splashback basing
his design on Nautilus shells streams are intersected by the
surface at a 30 degree angle with the long downward V-shape
cutting off any splashes or spills. Just think about how clean
the floors would be if clubs and bars installed them. I bet the cleaners in particular can't wait to
see them lining the walls Metro light. I know that whenever
I'm riding on the subway I put my headphones on
and zone out and more than once I have tragically
missed my stop because of this. Luckily, there are subways in Amsterdam that have solved the issue of losing track of where you are. Because of daydreaming and loud music they have used LEDs to line
up each stop on the map allowing passengers to quickly and easily check where
they are on the route. This is a great addition
that lets you know exactly where you're going without
having to immediately worry that you've missed your stop
or you're on the wrong train. This design feels like it was made for me. Doggy daycare, I don't know
about you, but every time I see a dog tied up outside a
store, well I get a little sad if only there was a safe,
comfortable place to keep your pet when you
need to run an errand. Luckily, dog spot is here
to rescue your furry friend. This Brooklyn based company
has created interactive kennels just for this purpose. With each one able to
accommodate dogs up to 100 pounds for a maximum of 90
minutes, there's no danger of them getting lost or stolen
with its locked door system. And inside the den includes
fans to allow fresh air circulation and
appropriate heat regulation so your canine companion
will never be too cold or too hot to keep each one's sanitary. Dog spots use UV lights after
every visit to kill bacteria and viruses and to make
it even easier, they even have an app. You just reserve a kennel
for the appropriate time. A dog cam is equipped letting you check up on your furry friend whenever
you need to for peace of mind. What's more? There are companies all
over the world offering similar kennel experiences
like Norway's Den for dogs. So no matter where in the
world you go, you don't have to leave your dog at home. Nice, now let your dog relax in a comfy kennel while you go fetch. Excellent eco ducts. Why did the chicken cross the road? Because it didn't know
this eco duct existed. These animal crossings
or eco ducts have been created to allow animal safe
passage over busy highways. There are over 600 of them in the Netherlands alone
and they're spreading all over the globe and with good reason. Highways can divine important habitats for all sorts of creatures such as the mountain line
population in Los Angeles. Since 2002, at least 25 of these gorgeous big
cats have been involved in fatal automobile accidents. Luckily, the US government is reportedly green lighting a 350 million budget for animal friendly
infrastructure like bridges roadside fences, and underpasses. In fact, the world's largest animal crossing
is currently being built near LA stretching 210 feet
long at a price of $90 million. When you think about it,
that's a lot of money but a study in Canada reported
that there was a 90% decrease in wildlife and vehicle collisions since they installed several overpasses. This innovation not only helps the animals it helps clear the roads and keep city highways safer for all. Finally, that chicken can get to the other side without
becoming road kill. House hooks. Have you ever had to get huge pieces of furniture up a set of
stairs ever ended up like that one scene from friends, you know - Pivot! (audience laughing) Pivot. - [Narrator] Well, while we
were busy sawing our couches in half, over in the Netherlands,
they've implemented a much more practical solution. Houses here are often
very narrow, especially if they've been built on the canal side. This is because historically
the wider a home was built the more taxes a homeowner had to pay. So to save money, many
property owners would build long high houses, very
crafty, but when the time came to move house, large and
heavy furniture could hardly fit through the door, let
alone be taken upstairs. So these houses have
hooks built into the tops of their exteriors, which can be used to attach a rope pulley. Furniture can then be hoisted
by hand up into the air and transferred inside
through the windows. If you ever see this
happening in real life and you're suddenly
confronted by a three seater couch floating in mid-air, at
least you'll know you're not going crazy. And it's not just for couches. From boxes to ovens, all can be lifted. Well, I bet that friend's episode is even funnier in Dutch. Underwater doorbell, locks
are pretty impressive pieces of engineering allowing those on canal boats to adjust the water level so that they can gradually climb
or descend steep waterways. But have you ever wondered
how fish navigate these locks? Well, one lock and Utrecht became the home of the world's first fish doorbell. They heard that right? Underwater cameras display
how many fish are waiting in queue to pass through the lock with people online able to
press the doorbell to let them through by accessing a live stream. When this happens, a signal is sent to the lock operator who
can then open the lock if there are enough fish waiting in line. Now, this is the future I was hoping for. The doorbell allows fish to migrate to meet their biological needs. They need to be in deeper
waters to keep warm in the winter and shallower waters in spring so that they
can produce offspring. When the bell is pressed the lock gates open releasing
hundreds of gallons of water. This lowers boats and fish so they can join the next
stretch of the canal. I wish I was that lock
operator then the fish would be letting minnow
when they want it in. Get it. Minnow, minnow, couldn't resist. Yeah, let's move on. Hammock heaven, stressful day at work? Can't cope with school essays,
too much YouTube drama? God knows there's a lot
of it at the moment. Well, in Copenhagen, there's public places in the city you can go if
you need to unwind and sway? called off ground. This series of public hammocks
are available in the summers on the boardwalks of the city center. They're a creative
alternative to benches and though they may look
bizarre in an urban space they do create an easygoing
environment, something that's desperately needed. In fast-paced cities, the
hammocks are repurposed from old fire hoses and steel
piping cleverly upcycled for public enjoyment. Similar hammock designs
have also been installed in Philadelphia and Brooklyn. Perhaps it will catch on
as a popular city trend in the summertime. Heck knows I could do with
a place to relax and unwind in my city fishing for the
most interesting facts all day. It's pretty stressful sometimes Clever casts. Everything's better in 3D,
films, graphics, printers. Well, to add to that 3D printer hype now they can benefit the medical world with special 3D printed casts. Most modern medical casts are made from plaster or
fiberglass, which are stiff and rigid to keep the healing
bone beneath in place. But 3D printed casts, which are made from a high temperature
thermoplastic look much cooler and easier to move in. This is due to their
thin breathable structure and being incredibly
less complex to remove. No more horrifying cast saw. All the best part about this invention is that they're waterproof,
which means there's no fear of showering with your
sponge like plaster cast on or the bannock of excessively
wrapping it in plastic it's spiderweb design let's
air hit the skin easily preventing sweat and bacterial
buildup normally found in traditional casts
and no more using pens or straws to reach down into
them when you have an itch. The dream. You must be wondering
then if these casts are so much better, why aren't
hospitals using them? Well, 3D printed casts can
cost anywhere from between $200 to $500. And plaster cast typically
sit around the $250 margin. Many hospitals don't have
the facilities or budget to accommodate 3D printers,
and currently it takes 90 minutes to print just
one out, which could add to longer hospital waiting
times and no one wants that. However, as technology
advances both the time and cost of these casts could be brought
down to make them a more accessible option for all. Please give me this itch
Free broken bone blessing. I am so very clumsy. I need this Ticket squats, would you exercise
to avoid a transport fare? Well in Moscow, Russia,
a machine offering just that was installed in
Vystavochnaya station as a promotion for the Olympic
winter Games back in 2014. Given a time limit of
two minutes, passengers could complete 30 squads
to ride the metro for free. Not only was this scheme
used to encourage exercise and health, but also to deter fare dodgers from abusing the public transport system. The squats were regulated and judged by the machine,
which printed a ticket worth 92 cents when finished successfully. This might not seem
like a lot, but imagine if this was a daily routine,
those savings could add up nicely and rider would
be healthier for it. There's definitely potential for implementing these machines
across cities, especially if it gives you a discounted
or a complimentary ticket. You might feel a little
embarrassed about popping a squad in public, but if enough people took part it could inspire hundreds
of commuters to get active. It's not the Olympics,
but I wouldn't say no to a free excuse to
build up my dump truck. Green machine, cycling is a
great way to get around town but what if we could make
it even better, not just for ourselves, but for the environment? Don Roosegaarde, a Dutch
designer living in China has designed a bicycle,
which inhales city air filled with smog and pollutants
from cars and factories and releases fresh air
back into the atmosphere like a manta ray which
filters water for food. The bike draws in particulate
matter and cleans it using its own attached device. As you ride around the city,
you won't just be taking in the sites, you'll be
cleaning the streets too. The goal is for cities
like Beijing to have two and a half million smog free
bikes in the near future which will reduce pollution
between five and 15% in just two years. And what would happen to all
that filthy matter collected by the filters? They can be turned into all
manner of things like jewelry smog rings contain
compressed air pollution inside a transparent cube. They've even been used as wedding rings. Who knew a bicycle could do more than just get you from A to B smog Free The rainbow road. Have you ever wished you could drive down Mario Karts Rainbow
Road in real life? Well, these solar paneled
roads are the closest thing to fulfilling your Nintendo
dreams, called solar roadways. They possess intelligent LED lights which illuminate the night but they're not just glorified
Christmas decorations. They're used for clear
visibility and signage but this isn't all it can do. The panels themselves are
able to generate clean renewable energy through solar power which can be sent to the grid. In fact, there's potential for these roads to
replace the national grid. A cable corridor that runs alongside the road can
store utility lines is safe from power outages and is easier to access than cables run between
the tops of 100 foot poles. Asphalt and concrete roads may be a thing of the past soon enough because the maintenance of solar
roadways is incredibly low. No more annoying potholes to
contend with or repainting. faded lane lines even ice and snow can't stick to the surface because it's state-of-the-art
heating system maintains the panels at a
temperature above freezing, tanks beneath frost lines
can collect rainwater from the paneled roads
ready to be recycled or transferred to water treatment plants. Oh, I can't wait to pretend to be Mario. Canning it down one of these bad boys Two seaters swing. What if I told you there was
a swing that was designed for children and parents? Honestly, I don't know why
more parks don't have them. Adults can feel the absolute
joy of being a child again while swinging with their own little one. If more parks had these swings you best believe the
adults would be fighting over who got there first. But it would also encourage more parent and child interaction. Since both seats are
facing forward, it was designed this way to enhance
children's sensory skills and promote the experience
of having them recognize and watch their parents'
facial expressions. It's also far superior to having to stand there
and push all the time. It makes the playground just
as much fun for parents. I think it would be harder
to tear the parents away from this genius invention. The safety net, pollution
in our waterways is one of the saddest things
to witness firsthand. Not only does it eventually
come back to hurt us but it also harms the
wildlife that has to deal with discarded single-use plastic and general trash thrown into
it without a second thought. Fortunately, a city in the land down under has found a way
to reduce the rubbish in its waterways with a
single nifty invention. The Australian city of Kunana has been finding
water pollution with drain socks which are fitted over drainage pipes. They act like a giant sieve
preventing waste and garbage from entering the water, keeping
the reserve clean and safe. In just six months, it collected over 800 pounds of rubbish
from two installed nets. During these months they're cleaned three
times to keep the waves from overflowing, and when
enough has been collected the garbage is separated. Some of this debris can then
be taken to a recycling center which turns it into fertilizer. These nets aren't immediately
harming the wildlife either as there have been no
reports of animals getting stuck inside, and one of
the best things about them they only cost $20,000 to implement. In the grand scheme of
things, these nets are a very cost effective way of
cleaning up waterways and stopping contamination from happening in the first place. Compare that to the cost of
cleaning up an entire ocean of plastic, which at this
point will cost somewhere in the region of $90 billion. Wow, when you put it like that, it really
is a small price to pay Load of trash. Handling your own trash is nasty let alone other people's trash which is why I respect the
heck out of my local Trashman. Hauling everyone's trash
around all day can't be easy or fun. But luckily, there's a new
electric truck in the city of Rotterdam designed to
reduce their smelly load and keep the environment clean. The DAF electric garbage truck
uses a mechanical claw to grab hold of trash cans on the ground lift them up and dump
their contents end to them. How handy is that? It's more efficient than
a regular garbage truck and can recharge to 80% battery
capacity in only 30 minutes. With 170 kilowatt hours of energy it can cover regular collection
rounds with no problems. It has a steered trailing axle which allows for sufficient
maneuverability, meaning that it can navigate busy
urban areas with ease. It's also capable of
taking on a 30 ton payload then further proves it's worth with its eco-friendly emissions compared to a normal garbage truck. It uses 30% less energy,
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, and is also 20% less expensive. Now that is how you trash
talk the competition. Bright light designs. Have you ever been stuck
at a junction, unable to see the teeny tiny traffic
lights in the distance? So frustrating right, well over in Ukraine several main streets
don't have this problem. Thanks to these LED lights. They're applied to the
entire traffic light pole and used to increase visibility
for those in the back. In adverse weather
conditions like storms or fog they make it much clearer to
see whether it's time to stop or go, which in adverse weather
conditions can save lives equally as clever. These lights in the
Netherlands and South Korea are designed specifically
for smartphone users. Not too often the roads are
being crossed by people glued to their screens, which
can cause accidents. So to combat this, these
lights have been fitted into the ground. Now you can notice the color change. Without looking up, I'm
ashamed to say I would benefit greatly from this design. Over in Odisha India, lights
have been installed to prevent inpatient drivers from dangerously running red lights. They count down the
second you have to wait until you can go, which
is a genius little trick that has probably put a
number of drivers at ease. Ah, world without road
rage and rude beeping. I think we can all agree that's one thing our cities could
definitely do without Forest phone. Sometimes you need to escape
from the chaos of city life and return to nature. But even in the forest, you
can find amazing inventions that enhance your experience
of the outside world. This odd looking contraption,
for example, is basically a giant reverse megaphone. It amplifies the noises heard
in the forest like the animals and insects and weather and
channels it into the ears of the person laying in it. It achieves this using those
large wing like enhancers which direct all of the
sound waves to its center so listeners can pick them up easily. They're primarily constructed from wood. As wood absorbs sound
waves naturally and cranks up the volume in turn. These inventions are
currently found in Estonia but they'd be perfect in plenty
of other parts of the world perhaps in national parks
or designated beauty spots. That way you could listen
to as many soothing sounds as possible before returning to the inevitable honking
and hollering of the city Bus live. Tired of delayed public transport tired of sitting in traffic, tired of sitting in traffic
on delayed public transport? Well, China might just have the solution to all three of those problems
with its state of the art. Highly anticipated transit
elevated bus, first unveiled back in 2016 models demonstrated
how it would allow cars to drive underneath its elevated compartment while its wheels would run on tracks laid in the unused
space between the lane. This would mean passengers
could skip over highway cues without adding to them
tested in a trial in 2016 its 25 foot width was more than enough space for two lanes
of traffic to pass beneath and with a length of 72 feet
and space for 300 passengers this mechanical beast was
set to be the biggest thing on the road. It was even projected
to reduce congestion by up to 30% and could replace
up to 40 standard buses. I mean, in theory, this is amazing. And then sadly, that's all
that it is at the moment a theory because after the
inaugural 980 foot test of the elevated bus in the
city of Qinhuangdao Hebei the project was promptly shelved. Questions regarding its safety arose with 32 individuals arrested
regarding the legality of how it was funded. Since then, the TEB has sat abandoned and gathering dust in the middle of Qinhuangdao ironically,
creating congestion. Well, A for imagination, F for execution. Maybe this might be viable in the future once they iron out the safety
kinks, because honestly I imagine riding in this
thing would be busing. Which of these inventions do
you wish was in your city? Let me know down in the comments below and thanks for watching. (cinematic outro music)
