Salt Lake City-based Anthony Griesel spent the past winter creating and testing ski poles that would let skiers stay connected on the slopes. His invention would allow skiers to answer their iPhones or Android devices with a finger swipe, read short text messages and view the time, temperature and elevation.  But now Griesel needs help putting his invention into more hands. He’s turning to crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to raise $100,000 to mass produce his “smart ski poles.”  So far, 60 people have invested nearly $9,000 for the “Neva” ski poles project.  If funded, the poles would feature 0.96-inch OLED screen, Bluetooth adapter, rechargeable battery, rubber grips and dual density plastic. The poles would also come with a app to manage settings, calculate slope data and track routes.  For adventurous back-country skiers, the Neva poles’ screen would display slope angle and terrain details.  Creative minds routinely use Kickstarter, which has seen 2 million backers dish out $200 million since 2008.  While not all projects reach their funding goals, some people have found major success on Kickstarter. One project — to produce watches that interact with your smartphone — is sold out, raising more than $10 million with 6 days left for people to invest.  Would you use these poles on a ski slope or lift?  This project uses a box and an old monitor to simulate virtual reality. It is an incredibly cool project, but its Kickstarter backers shouldn't expect anything in return other than a "big happy thank you."  Two lifelong Canadian friends have found a way to resurrect vintage boomboxes from the '80s. The Decentralized Dance Party is a portable, battery-operated "party system" consisting of thousands of people carrying stereos. A DJ carries an FM transmitter in a backpack, and tunes the boomboxes to his master FM broadcast, resulting in a mobile, synchronized sound.  The pair is attempting to bring the dance party to Seattle, and to many others cities in the future.  In place of a traditional wedding cake, this couple opted for a five-foot towering donut pedestal.  Now, with your support, the two are hoping to create a reusable donut tower in multiple sizes and configurations. They plan to market the prototype to donut shops, caterers and anyone else interested in the dessert presentation.  This quirky Kickstarter hopes to introduce "the silliest brand of toilet paper you could ever imagine" to the shelves of major retailers. The founder of this project has been making novelty toilet paper since 1998, but he's excited to launch "the only brand of toilet paper with a sense of humor."  This successfully funded project involves a half-kilometer-long marble chute that's been intricately laser cut out of 3mm, high-density fiberwood. It slightly beats the current record of 210.31 meters. View the world's longest marble chute here.  Leave behind all the heavy instruments. The Imaginary Marching Band gloves allow the wearer to pantomime music using various open-source instruments. The project successfully met its funding goal.  You've heard about people who've seen the Virgin Mary in their coffee cups, or Abe Lincoln on their dinner plates. Now you too can experience a sandwich vision. A young couple successfully funded and created an electronic sandwich press that toasts the face of Jesus onto bread.  High school and college students built this set of robotic pipe organs that anyone can play and watch over the Internet. This project met its funding, and can be viewed here.  Looking to grab attention at a party? Consider adding a little dry ice to your drink - but do it safely. This unique glass allows the drinker to enjoy dry ice "smoke" without worrying about frostbite. It was originally created to improve the martini, but the project is hoping to market a novelty glass that makes any beverage smoke like a cauldron.  Now you can have your cup, drink out of it and eat it too! These biodegradable vegan cups are flavored to pair with the beverage they contain. If you choose not to consume your cup, it will turn to compost. The project was completely funded and will be available for sale soon.  "For men who are going places," this Kickstarter was inspired by one of the top political scandals of 2011 involving Anthony Weiner. The briefs have a QR code printed on the front, and the "sexy message" will be voted on by the fans of Yorkies' Facebook page.  Note: Some of the photos on the Kickstarter and Facebook page may be NSFW.
This Kickstarter project makes interacting with your phone on the slopes easier using something designed to be grabbed with those bulky gloves. Neva bills itself as the first smart ski pole.