"New digital design tech, 3D printing, robotics and the emerging field of 3D scanning, plus exponential leaps in manufacturing -- together, they are putting really powerful tools into the hands of individuals, " he says.

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Other groups are certainly involved in the relief effort, and are mobilising through social media and the web - among them Rockaway Relief, which describes its members as "local New Yorkers working in tech, design, fashion, restaurant, entertainment and hospitality".

BBC: Occupy Sandy: From protest group to storm recovery

In other green tech and design news, Hitachi unveiled an impressive new wireless controlled robot to help with the Fukushima Daiichi cleanup and London-based designers Martin Riddiford and Jim Reeves developed the GravityLight, an amazing low-energy, battery-free light that works by harnessing the power of weight and gravity.

ENGADGET: Inhabitat's Week in Green: madder root batteries, sun-powered plane and the world's first fiber-optic solar cell

We brought the Home page design in line with that of the new Channels and Sections, while the underlying tech remains the same for now.

FORBES: The new Forbes.com: What's in it for you?

The new design not only fully embodies the Metro design principles, it is also the first site from a big tech company to embrace responsive web design.

FORBES: Microsoft's Site Redesign Will Introduce Mainstream Business To The Responsive Web

Trade with China enables our high-tech companies to stay on the cutting edge of innovation by focusing more resources on design and new breakthrough products.

FORBES: Fact and Comment