Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, the instant New York Times bestseller, was recently named the #1 business book of 2012 by Fast Company. Her TED Talk, found HERE, has already garnered over 3.2 million views.

Curt Carlson is the President and CEO of SRI International, and the noted innovation speaker’s company—you know, the ones who invented the iPhone’s Siri—have a few upcoming innovations that will change the way we live. Again.

Here’s four of SRI’s exciting new projects, from Fast Company magazine:

BRIGHT

Helping users focus on focus
Comprised of a touch screen, HD displays, cameras, and sensors, this system monitors user behavior to foster productivity. By tracking your eyes as you work, Bright can assess the time you spend looking at specific files or emails. In time, it will be able to gauge their importance and act as a prioritizing filter. Its eye-tracking tech can already detect when you’re looking at an image but not actually seeing it, making it valuable for, say, air-traffic controllers.
Timetable: Five years for full system.

FAST

Cancer-catching laser tech
A laser and fiber-optic system originally invented by Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center, FAST (fiber-optic array scanning technology) can quickly scan your bloodstream for circulating tumor cells. The system—basically a biopsy, but from drops of blood—is presently tuned for breast and lung cancer, and could obviate debilitating, one-size-fits-all chemotherapy treatments by letting doctors prescribe targeted therapies. If all goes as planned, trials will begin by the end of 2012.
Timetable: At least three years.

LOLA

If Siri balanced your budget
Spanish bank BBVA-Compass worked with SRI for five years to create a Siri-like virtual assistant that carries out banking tasks. The web app can handle chores such as moving cash between accounts or setting up bill payments. Lola will be test-driven until early 2013 by bank staffers and their families before its release to BBVA customers. (From there, the software may be licensed to other banks.) Minor hurdle for a Spanish bank’s utility: Lola speaks only English right now.
Timetable: Within a year.

ROBOTICS

Providing a helping hand
SRI wants to mainstream the use of consumer robots with low-cost (under $1,000) robotic hands that can wield human tools. A robot holding a flashlight or pushing a button may not seem sexy, but some of the value of bots comes from their ability to operate in hazardous environments. A commercial venture called Redwood Robotics is licensing some of the technology from SRI and plans to market robots, albeit in a stripped-down manner: It’ll hawk the hardware; it’s up to consumers to program as needed.
Timetable: Within five years.

Lavin speaker Amber Mac, in her new Fast Company article, “3 Things Professional Women Should Stop Apologizing For.”

Paddy Harrington, of acclaimed studio Bruce Mau Design, in his latest post for Fast Company’s design blog.

Rob Walker’s latest piece for Fast Company profiles MakerBot—a company on the cutting edge of the soon-to-explode 3-D printing industry. Currently, most 3-D printing is done by “tech-oriented artists and superimaginative hackers, engaged in experimental projects, and, really, goof-offs,” says Walker. In the decades to come, however, industry leaders like MakerBot are looking to turn this experimental technology into consumer products that might just change the way we live:

MakerBot Industries is no art project. A young startup in Brooklyn, New York, it has emerged as the leading brand in the nascent consumer-oriented 3-D-printing realm and has recently closed a $10 million round of venture-capital funding. More than 6,000 MakerBot 3-D printers have been sold.That may not sound like a lot, but bear in mind that most sell in the form of a kit—the company’s current flagship model is the $1,300 Thing-O-Matic—that is ordered directly from MakerBot and requires 12 hours or more to assemble. Now that’s customer dedication. In less than three years, MakerBot has gone from three tinkering guys to 50-plus employees and counting. “If I had 20 people outside the door who were perfect candidates, I’d hire them all,” says cofounder and chief executive officer Bre Pettis.

“Some people are natural born speakers,” writes social media speaker Amber Mac, who, four years ago, was definitely not one of them. In this Fast Company article, she recounts how she got over her fear of public speaking, starting when a speakers bureau—that would be us!—approached her to give a talk. One hundred and twenty keynote speeches and a ton of rave reviews later, it’s safe to say she’s gotten over her stomach-twisting fears. She’s now one of our most requested keynotes, and for good reason. Read her top three tips for giving killer presentations, here.

I was approached by an agency in 2007 to give a presentation about strategies for social media success. My initial reaction was no, definitely no. However, I recognized that it was a great opportunity to increase awareness about my new consulting business and, well, the pay wasn’t too shabby. Eventually, I said yes. After signing a speaking contract, I counted down the days until I faced one of my biggest fears. Four years later, with more than 120 keynote speeches under my belt to audiences ranging from 30 to 3,000 people, I truly love delivering a presentation. Here are three things that helped me find my strength on stage.

This week for her Fast Company show, Work Smart, host Amber Mac talks to Trendhunter CEO Jeremy Gutsche about innovation during times of change. When the BBC started a “gambling fund” a few years back, Gutsche says, the network ended up creating one of its biggest shows ever, The Office. (Both Jeremy and Amber are Lavin Agency keynote speakers.)