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The 2008 Dyson Awards were presented last night by James Dyson himself to an eager crowd in New York City. In conjunction, IDSA and Dyson also presented the 4th annual US-based 'Eye for Why' competition, challenging students to re-envision a product that excels in performance and surpasses competitors by improving on a product's shortcomings.

Ryan Jansen of Southern University at Carbondale won the Eye for Why prize with his clever "Rake n Take" that facilitates the leaf raking and gathering process (pictured at bottom).

First prize for the Dyson Award went to Michael Chen's Reactiv jacket (middle left photo), designed to combat hostile cycling conditions in the city. Second prize went to another cycling-inspired solution, the Single Handed Brake Lever, (pictured at top) designed by a group of Canadian engineering students. The SHBBL facilitates braking using only one hand. Genius solution for everything from handicaps to carrying groceries while pedaling!