NYU’s ITP (Interactive Telecommunications Program) Winter show wrapped up yesterday and, as always, was filled with tons of clever and innovative technology, concepts, not to mention humor and irony. But remote boner activated vibrating panties aside, there were some pretty great applications of tech for good too. Like this solar textile that harnesses electricity from indoor and outdoor lights, the energy from which can be re-purposed to charge any number of things. Laser cut conductive fabric combines fashion with functionality getting a whole 42.7 volts from a close up lamp.

Also featured at the show, a solar powered LED bike helmet (with instructions on how to make your own on instructables), a map that provides a visual representation of deforestation and CO2 emissions, and a balancing board with visual feedback on how you’re leaning to help stroke victims recover their balance (the prototype is going metropolitan hospital in the next few months).

But my all time favorite (if tangential) is a machine that facilitates lucid dreaming. A small ring connected to the machine monitors your sleep pattern and when you hit your REM cycle, the pillow plays a gentle sound to let you know you’re dreaming… in your dream! The sound that works for creator Daniel Liss—distant church bells, setting off a free consciousness that can dream any number of logical and illogical scenarios—flying through the universe, crushing one’s enemies or, conquering recurring nightmares or worse… former relationship problems. So what does Daniel ponder in a dream where anything is possible? “I end up working on this project, which just shows that I’m just thinking about it too much.”

Could we think of ways to do good in our lucid dreams? It’s still in testing , but I’m signing up as the next dreaming guinea pig and will keep you posted.