"See" With Your Tongue

In the "sensory augmentation" category, the award for coolest innovation goes to: the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition.

Researchers there are working on ways to route signals from infrared/night-vision goggles, sonar, cameras and other types of sensors directly to the brains of Navy SEALs and Army Rangers - through a "Brain Port" that uses a narrow strip of plastic attached to a person's tongue. They are doing some actual testing now, and the end result could include things like 360 degree "vision" (at night!).

Weird, cool, and fascinating.