Particularly as a major exporting nation, the constant development of innovations and patents is vital for Germany. Airbags, light bulbs and jeans are just a few of the inventions originally developed by Germans. Often, it's everyday problems that lead to new patents. When parquet flooring moves for example, it tends to creak.Most people find that annoying - but for one person it provided the impetus for a brilliant new idea. Manfred Krause from Munich lays parquet floors for a living. He realized that if the floor moves every time someone walks over it, that movement could be used to generate electricity. Together with scientists from the University of Munich, Krause developed Piezo Parquet, a standard floor which generates electricity as it's used. Dan Hirschfeld visited Krause at his Munich workshop and at the Hanover trade fair.