…even if you have to use the bathroom. Oh yes, this is real. A pub in Melbourne installed a rear projector in their urinals. Disturbing, true, but you’ll never miss any of the action, right?
[Via Gizmodo]
Category Archives: Technology
Mug for the blind
Blind people cannot see. Without the sense of sight, it is particularly difficult to pour a glass of water or a mug coffee. It is even more trying to pour an exactamount of liquid into a container. Enter ‘The “Braun” Bell Mug’ concept by Sang-hoon Lee and Yong-bum Lim. This concept mug “has 3 indicative levels on the handle and liquid-level sensors within the mug” that allow blind people (or those with extremely poor vision) to pour precise amounts of liquid into a mug. The mug handle has three rigid buttons on its surface; all a person has to do is select one of the three levels and pour away. Once you have poured the desired amount, the mug emits a bell sound. Neat, huh? This is surely a product worthy to pass as a final, tangible item to be manufactured. Check out the gallery of images below for some concept product shots and directions.
[Via Gizmodo; YankoDesign]
Smart measuring cup concept is picked up
This here is the concept design of The Smart Measure Cup by Ryan Eder & Chris Daniels of Priority Designs. This is a product that I would totally use (if I were ever in the kitchen, measuring stuff). This is no ordinary measuring cup. From one angle it may seem like one with the usual markings and labels; it’s the LCD screen on the handle that makes this the measuring cup of the future. The backlit LCD display reads out the precise measurements of liquid poured into the cup; it is set at an angle, thus removing the difficulties of eye strain and the like; it provides pre-set measurement ingredient amounts for common recipies; and it even does unit conversions for all you math-hates out there. Also, the cup itself slips out of the casing for cleaning.
And here’s the best news: This clearly futuristic product is being transformed from concept to a tangible product thanks to Taylor Kitchenware picking it to be manufactured this fall. Check out more images of the concept design and an image of the final product coming to stores soon. Unfortunately the final design does not match the modern sleekness of its concept counterpart, though, it’ll do.
[Via Gizmodo; YankoDesign]
Phillip’s Roadside Dope Tester
In development since 2001, Phillips is ready to finally unveil it’s Roadside Dope Tester. This “handheld electronic device..uses magnetic nanoparticles to screen for five major recreational drugs.” Those drugs include cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. Obviously this is meant to be used by law enforcement to ensure the safety of drivers on the road. The tech inside this futuristic gizmdo is interesing; it uses a person’s saliva to determine if he or she is under the influence of one of those five drugs.
[It] includes a disposable plastic cartridge and a handheld analyzer. The cartridge has two components: a sample collector for gathering saliva and a measurement chamber containing magnetic nanoparticles. The particles are coated with ligands that bind to one of [the] five different drug groups. Once the device’s sample collector has absorbed enough saliva, it automatically changes color and can then be snapped into the measurement chamber, where the saliva and nanoparticles mix. An electromagnet speeds the nanoparticles to the sensor surface, different portions of which have been pretreated with one of the five target-drug molecules. If traces of any of the five drugs are present in the sample, the nanoparticles will bind to them. If the sample is drug free, the nanoparticles will bind to the drug-coated sensor surface instead.
Watch out, druggies! The law has crazy cool technology on its side.
[Via Gizmodo; Technology Review]
Keyboard of the future?
The above video shows off a pressure sensitive computer keyboard from Microsoft. Basically, the harder you press a key or keys, the more varied the output on the computer screen. For example, say you are working on a paper in a Word document. If you hold a key down with more pressure than usual, you can output a capital letter without the need for a shift key. Microsoft demonstrated changing font size by the amount of force you exert on a key. Also shown was accelerated backspacing, which is where a user can delete words or sentences at a time rather than just letters depending on the amount of pressure applied to the key(s). There’s also a gaming demo; the harder you press down on the key, the faster your character runs in-game. It is exciting to know that this type of technology is being experimented with and that new methods of computer input are being tested.
According to CNET: “Microsoft is also holding a contest for student developers to coincide with the UIST conference. Contestants get a sample keyboard and a month to come up with an entry. $2,000 prizes go to programs deemed the most useful, the best implementation, and the most innovative.” Let the creativeness flow! (Check out a second video of this implementation after the break.)
[Via Gizmodo; CNET] Continue reading Keyboard of the future?
255HP Sea-Doo jetski
You are looking at the world’s most advanced jetski in the world. The 2009 Sea-Doo GTX Limited iS 255 flies, packing 255 horses that features “an “intelligent” suspension…that [makes] the water feel as smooth as road.” It has tilt steering, a multifuction handlebar, and a hinged touring seat. It can seat up to three people. It starts at $16,499. If you are interested about this water speed demon and want to find out more about, check out the official website. Also, see the gallery below for some images of it in action.
[Via Gizmodo; PopularMechanics]
3D Etch-a-Sketch
Sketch-3D is an interactive, integrated software/hardware system that enables users to create their own anaglyphic 3D drawings. By using a ubiquitous interface metaphor (the “Etch-A-Sketch “), Sketch-3D allows anyone to participate in generating stereoscopic imagery in a way that is simple and engaging. In addition to the personal experience, Sketch-3D can be scaled to work with any output device from large scale projection to plasma displays to an integrated LCD. This versatility allows for Sketch-3D to be tailored to fit a wide array of installation environments.
Freakin’ cool, yeah? Check out additional images of this marvel below.
[Via Gizmodo; Thisandagain]
iTunes 9 rumors, Blu-Ray support on the way?
Boy Genius Report has received information from “a pretty reliable source” spilling the beans on some of the upcoming iTunes 9 capabilities. First up is Blu-Ray support. Rumors spreading from Apple Insider are pointing to the next lineup of iMacs packing Blu-Ray disc drives, making this lastest tidbit of news all the more convincing. However, we cannot forget Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ “bag of hurt” comment from the notebook event in 2008: “Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt. It’s great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex, we’re waiting till things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace.”
According to the same source, there were mentions of some sort of Facebook/Twitter/Last.fm integration with iTunes. No details about this were shared. Perhaps “…broadcasting what song you’re playing to your friends” is in the pipes. The last grain of news states that iTunes users will gain the ability to “visually orgainize and arrange” their purchased apps. It is likely we won’t have to wait long to find out if all of this is fact or fiction; Apple’s September iPod+iTunes event is right around the corner.
Zune HD user interface exposed
This video was taken by an attendee at the recent gdgt launch party in San Fransisco. The Zune HD UI is slick, sleek, and sexy. Yeah, it’s got the 3’s.
[Via Engadget]
Microsoft retail store is for realz, see?
On Friday, Microsoft twittered the following tweet (and attached the above image as a twitpic): “Behind these walls in Scottsdale & Mission Viejo, the first Microsoft retail stores.” I wonder if they will be anything like the leaked documents that were uncovered.
“Touchable Holography;” the future is coming
Researchers from the Shinoda Lab at The University of Tokyo have transformed the way holograms will be defined for years to come. Gizmodo explains what’s going on here best in layman’s terms: researchers have essentially combined motion tracking, like you see in the Wii, with holograms, like you see on CNN, with ultrasonic waves.” Just watch the video above as it explains it all visually with the truly amazing technology itself. People, the holodeck concept is moving from fiction to reality, slowly but surely.
[Via Gizmodo]
Tachyon XC brings 3D recording to the masses
The 2010 Tachyon XC camera system by Tachyon packs a ton of tech. It is a shock/waterproof system; it records onto SDHC cards (ranges 4GB-32GB of storage); it has a 90mm lens; and the battery lasts up to 12 hours. The Tachyon camera is meant to be placed on your head (via a bulky mount) and record your surroundings. Here’s the cool part: the user has the option of combining the power of two cameras and the head mount to record 3D video! The entire package (including the two Tachyon cameras, a head mount, 3D glasses, and editing software will cost you $379.99. The single camera package costs 179.99. Not too shabby for an innovative camera package that enables creatives to shoot and edit 3D video, right? Tachyon plans on shipping out the camera system no later than September 16. With YouTube now experimenting with user-created 3D video and film-makers like James Camerson utilizing 3D effects in their movies, this 3D-recording technology might just catch on in the near future.
Check out the video above titled “New York in 3D.” 3D glasses are required for the intended effect, though a trippy, psychadelic adventure can be had as well without the glasses. The creator: Here is a video I did in NY with the new 2010 Tachyon XC cam and its amazing 3D technology. I put it together with Final Cut, and had a blast with all the 3D footage. The camera is actually 2 2010 XC’s out together with the Tachyon XC 3D mounting system. Tachyon has also produced its own 3D editing software to align the files as well as its own 3D glasses. I was amazed with the footage from the Times Square night scenes, the clarity and color was amazing. The 2D footage as well is fantastic, thanks to the new light sensor in the cam. Also, check after the break for a second video captured in 3D by the camera.
[Via Gizmodo, here & here; Businesswire] Continue reading Tachyon XC brings 3D recording to the masses