Frontier technology to practical applications
Eye lenses last 10 times longer than they used to because of NASA.
Scratch-resistant transparent coatings were developed to protect astronaut helmet visors and other equipment from space debris. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating is most commonly used on lenses, but we also see Siloxane-based coatings and hybrids of the two.
Here are some other products that use technology developed by NASA:
Memory foam
Camera phones
CAT scans
LED lights
Cordless power tools
Smoke detectors
Enriched baby food
Water purification systems
Dust busters
Home insulation
The Jaws of Life
Wireless headsets
Artificial limbs
Computer mice
Portable computers
Ear thermometers
Modern dental braces
Modern pacemakers
Modern tire treads
I can think of two major takeaways from this:
1. Unexpected applications emerge from investment in frontier technology.
Sending equipment or people into uncharted territory pushes the boundaries of science and engineering. This underscores the value of investing in fundamental research because it ripples innovation towards practical applications of everyday things.
2. Human-centered design principles are universal.
Many Industrial Designers know about designing for extremes and the famous case study of the OXO vegetable peeler handle designed for people with arthritis, which benefited everyone who peels vegetables. Well, technology that humans need in order to survive and to be as comfortable as possible in extreme conditions will also benefit everyone else. Additionally, it highlights the importance of understanding user needs and the context of interactions.
NASA proves that pushing the boundaries of design, engineering and science to the extreme will often yield solutions for the most common.
I should add that, for accuracy, I referenced webpages by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and NASA to compile the product list, linked below.
