Practice roads
This is a playground in Copenhagen designed to help children learn how to interact with traffic.
Satellites hunting ocean waste
Scientists have been using satellites to track the oceans to work out where microplastics are most likely to congregate to help clean-up efforts.
Plastic as payment
This is a machine that lets you pay for subway travel with plastic. Encouraging people to recycle and do their bit on their daily commute.
Sea bins
This is a gadget that works as a drain by collecting any rubbish on the water’s surface and stopping it from moving onwards into the sea.
Extra elevator buttons
This lift has extra buttons that you can press with your feet if your hands are full/busy.
Indoor puddles
The clever bods at a preschool in Japan have designed the building in such a way that they get indoor puddles without all the muddy mess of the outside world.
Try before you buy
This is a toilet in a supermarket where all the rolls on display are available to purchase, so you can try them before you buy.
An indoor pooch toilet
This is a dog bathroom that’s located at an airport. It has spots for dogs to do their business indoors. Everyone’s got to go sometime.
Do not disturb shopping baskets
This shop has different baskets, one tells staff that you’d prefer not to be bothered, and one says you might like help.
A touch-free bathroom door
Public washrooms are potentially awash with germs. This door handle encourages you to use your wrist rather than your hands to open it.
Surprise vending machine
Ever had trouble deciding what drink you want from a vending machine? This machine helps get around this issue by only having one option - “surprise”.
A thumb drive with a capacity display
This might be the most first world problem solution you’re going to see. This is a USB drive that has a built-in display on it to show how much space is left.
The coffee chart
If you’re new to coffee then all the different types can be a bit intimidating. This chart helps work out what you might like.
Ceiling puzzles to keep you entertained at the dentist
This dentist knows how intimidated people can feel and has cleverly installed a Where’s Wally (or Where’s Waldo) puzzle in the ceiling to help visitors relax.
A pen that tells you how many pages you can write
A simple ink pen with a window on the side that lets you know how many more pages you can write before it runs out of ink.
A credit card tip jar
Dipjar is a credit card tip jar that lets you use your credit or debit card to leave a tip for staff when you don’t have enough cash on you.
Lockers with chargers
This is a locker with various device chargers inside, so you can be sure your stuff is safe and nicely charged when you return too.
Dial 68 for bedtime stories
This hotel has a special number you can dial on the room’s phone in order to get some bedtime stories. A great perk if you need help to nod off.
A customisable cash machine
This bank’s ATM lets users choose which denomination they want their bills in.
Bathroom privacy tunes
To save user’s modesty, this smart toilet in Japan has a privacy music system that can be used to play music so no one can hear what’s happening.
Petrol pump problems
In Seoul, South Korea, they have a brilliant solution to petrol pump problems where they hang from above so you don’t need to worry about which side you park.
Rental car reflections
A sticker on the dashboard of a rental car reminds foreign drivers what side of the road they should stick to by simply reflecting a sign into their eye line.
Not open
This shop sign has two settings “open” and “nope”. All the owner has to do is slide the N to the other end when they’re open or closed.
A biker’s jacket with safety lights
Safety first! This biker’s jacket has cleverly got some lights built into it that shows when they’re braking or turning.
A dual-purpose water fountain
This is a water fountain that’s designed so the overspilling water can be drunk by man’s best friend. It’s a water fountain for both dogs and people. Genius.
Winter simulation room
This is a cold room that works as a winter simulator. Don the coat or other outwear then step inside to experience freezing conditions and check you’re happy.
Shoe tester
This is a special test ramp that allows you to test out different safety shoes and boots on offer before you buy.
Toilet button
This bathroom has a panel that you can wave your hand at to open the automatic door rather than having to touch a germ-ridden door handle. Hygienic genius.
Photocopier with a browser
This photocopier has a built-in browser so you can surf the web while waiting for your photocopying or printing to finish.
A hockey button
This Canadian TV remote control has a dedicated hockey button so sports fans can get right to the action
Tyre wear indicators
This tyre has a special (yet simple) wear indicator built into it that gives you an idea of how much legal tread is left.
Self-esteem support picture
Instead of a mirror, this bathroom has an encouraging message for you instead.
Short story printer
This is a nifty little machine at an airport allows travellers to print out free short stories to keep them entertained while they wait for their flights.
Noise guide
This school library has a warning system that lets people know when there’s too much noise being made in the library.
Water bottle map
This is a nifty water bottle with a map of the college it’s distributed at as well as water symbols to let users know where it can be refilled on campus.
An elevator capacity gauge
This is an easy-to-understand gauge which lets you know at a glance how many people can safely board an elevator.
Shower beers
Hotel room mini bars are so old hat. This modern hotel room has a shower beer fridge dedicated to drinking and showering, because what’s more relaxing?
Pavement traffic lights
This pavement has traffic lights built into it to let pedestrians know when they can cross the road without having to look up from their phones.
Fire rating
In Australia, they have a system to let people know when there’s danger or particular risk in order to help avoid fire-based disasters.
Parking lines
This car park has made life easier for everyone by continuing the lines onto the nearby wall so drivers can see where the spaces start and end with ease.
Blood bank gauges
At one blood bank, they have clever digital gauges where you can see how much blood of each type the bank has. This is a great way to get people donating.
Socially distanced escalator
In an effort to keep people socially distanced at the mall, this place has painted spacing between each step to give a decent gap and keep people safe.
Saddle protection
At this bike park, users get the bonus of having a little rooftop cover for their seats. Ideal if it rains while you’re away.
Solar powered paddles
This clever bod obviously finds paddling too much effort. To make life easier they’ve constructed solar-powered paddles to paddle automatically. Genius.
Shirt with built in spectacle cloth
This Redditor discovered their shirt had a built-in spectacle cloth sewn into it.
Skateboard storage rack
This University has plenty of people attending who travel by skateboard. Rather than having them scattered about the place, they’ve installed a storage rack.
Kids go free
This is a public restroom where people are expected to pay to use the facilities. But there’s no charge for young children, so if they can fit they can go in.
This business card
This imaginative business card gives the recipient info on various different important bits of information about the owner.
