Last summer, I went boating with some of my friends on Lake Lanier and one of the biggest problems we faced wasn’t how to get up on the wake board (I failed miserably), it was how to keep our drinks from flying away into the ocean.

I really wish we had some Lil’ Suckers, one of a few of the new products from Naidex 2008.
Naidex 2008 is the UK’s premier exhibition on homecare, disability and rehabilitation, opened this year from April 29, 2008 to May 1, 2008 at the National Exhibition Center (NEC) in Birmingham, England. It features a lot of universally designed products which I always dig.

Below are some of the cool new products that were featured at this years event.

Lil’ Suckers Drink Holders

I’m always a fan of universally-designed products, especially the ones that make me want to kick myself and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Lil’ Suckers are drink holders designed to keep cups where they belong, great for people with dexterity and mobility issues but also awesome for babies, boaters, drivers, and generally klutzy people like myself. I’ve had friends give custom koosies away at their weddings, but I think these are way cooler! They come in a variety of sizes from “paint-can” to “nail polish bottle”.

Just Checking System

Just Checking is a home monitoring system for seniors with dementia and other people who live at home alone that allows an authorized person to check-in on their friend or loved one via the internet or smart phone. The system can tell when a person went to bed, got up, had a meal, etc.

One Touch Jar Opener

Definitely an “as-seen-on-tv” product, but one that is useful too, especially for those who have low hand and wrist strength. This device takes up a lot less space than counter-top models.

StairSteady Handrail

At this years event, Ruth Amos, an 18-year-old student and inventor from Sheffield, England, presented the StairSteady handrail, a device that helps people climb stairs without the use of a chair lift. The device is comprised of a track and a bar that extends in front of the user that can be moved up and down a track but will stop moving when pressure is applied.

Amos won the Young Engineer for Britain Award for her invention and set up StairSteady, LTD. to sell the product when she was only 16.

TomCat Travel Bed

A travel bed for children that is easy to assemble and transport and works with standard mattresses so that you don’t have to bring one along.

In February 2008, the system became a finalist in the UK National eWell-Being Awards.