If you're hoping to attract investors to get yet
another iPhone case to an already crowded market, it had better do more
than just protect a phone from bumps and scrapes. Snow Lizard Products
is giving itself the best possible chance of raising funds for its new
AQUA TEK S case for iPhone 4 and 4S
with an offering that not only boasts ruggedized protection, but also
includes a solar panel, built in battery, and is waterproof up to 20 ft
(6 m). Read More
Planning a trip to the desert? While
there’s not much that you can do to increase the humidity while you’re
out and about, there is a device that’s designed to improve the comfort
level in your hotel room – the Air-O-Swiss AOS 7146 Travel Ultrasonic
humidifier. Read More
Develop a problem solving invention. That's the straight-to-the-point brief for the 2012 James Dyson Award
which is now calling on entries from design students around the world.
Entries close on August 2, with the international winner to be announced
on November 8. Read More
Swiss satellite being sent to clean up the mess in outer space
By Ben Coxworth
February 15, 2012
NASA currently monitors approximately 17,000 pieces of space junk
that are orbiting the earth at extremely high speeds. These odds and
ends consist of things like dead satellites, spent rocket stages and
parts that have broken off of spacecraft. As the amount of junk
increases, it becomes increasingly difficult for functioning satellites
to avoid colliding with it. When collisions do occur, the satellite is
often destroyed, with the resulting debris further adding to the
problem. Scientists from Swiss research institute EPFL, however, have
decided that enough is enough – they’re currently developing a small
satellite known as CleanSpace One, which will be tasked with grappling
expired satellites and pulling them back to Earth. Read More
There's no doubt about it, we live in a
touch-enabled world. Everywhere you look there's a smartphone, tablet,
laptop or computer obeying the fingertip commands of users. Separate
input peripherals like keyboards and mice have also had their keys and
buttons replaced by a smooth, touch-enabled surface. Although somewhat
late to the party (Apple introduced its Magic Mouse as far back as 2009), Logitech is about to release its own Windows 7 mouse called the M600. Read More
While “cloaking” technology may have once been
limited exclusively to the realm of science fiction, regular Gizmag
readers will know that it is now finding its way into real life – just
within the past few years, scientists have demonstrated various
experimental cloaking systems that prevent small objects from being seen, and in one case, from being heard. Such invisibility systems involve the use of metamaterials,
which are man-made materials that exhibit optical qualities not found
in nature. These are able to effectively bend light around an object,
instead of allowing it to strike the object directly. Now,
mathematicians from the University of Manchester are proposing
technology based on the same principles, that would allow buildings to
become “invisible” to earthquakes. Read More
Nikon reveals new 36.3-megapixel beast - the D800 HD-SLR
By Paul Ridden
February 15, 2012
Has it really been over three years since Nikon released the 12-megapixel D700
digital camera? At long last, its replacement - which effectively
triples the pixel count of its predecessor - is due to arrive next
month. The new D800 is about half the price of the D4
announced in early January, with which it shares a number of features,
plus it's smaller and lighter, and features a new 36.3 megapixel
FX-format (35.9 x 24mm) CMOS sensor. It's also the first digital camera
to achieve USB 3.0 certification. Read More
Even if you think you're pretty handy with a
chisel, often all it takes is one wrong angle or strike of the hammer to
ruin an entire sculpting project. MIT's media lab has a solution - the
FreeD is a handheld smart milling device that gives the artist creative
control, but won't let you totally screw up your project with one wrong
move. Read More
Smartphone app helps people with a disability access the city
February 15, 2012
How do you figure out how to pilot a wheelchair
around your city? Around 10 percent or more of the population live with a
disability, so chances are that you, or someone you know, has this
problem. You can't be certain if wheelchair access is available unless
you laboriously phone ahead to inquire for every route and every
destination. Some web information is available, but knowing where to
find it and what search strings to use can be a real challenge. Enter
the Ldn Access smartphone app, that helps people with disabilities
easily find where there are step-free access ramps, usable toilet
facilities, and other services for the disabled. Read More
Loftcube arrives in grounds of a Belgian Castle
February 15, 2012
A luxurious Belgian castle dating back to the
1880s might seem an unlikely setting for a futuristic and modern weekend
away. Situated one hour outside Brussels, Chateau De La Poste is home
to a fully renovated castle with 42 guest rooms amidst 42 acres of
parkland, but guests can now opt for a quiet escape with the benefits of
a pint-sized penthouse that lies hidden on this historical property -
the Loftcube. Read More
Grace Digital's flagship Mondo Wi-Fi Media Player released
By Paul Ridden
February 16, 2012
San Diego's Grace Digital has finally announced the release of its flagship Mondo Wi-Fi Music Player, first seen at CES 2011.
The first of three new devices to swell the company's family of audio
products, Mondo features a large high contrast color TFT display with
adjustable brightness, can access thousands of online radio stations
over a Wi-Fi connection, and is also capable of streaming music stored
on a PC, Mac or network attached storage device. Read More
Wahoo Bike Pack turns your iPhone into a bike computer
By Paul Ridden
February 16, 2012
Many people now carry a powerful computer around
with them wherever they go that can feed them the latest dose of gossip,
keep them in constant touch with loved ones and can even guide a user
from one place to another using GPS technology. Smartphones like the
iPhone can also be used as cycling computers, offering the same kind of
workout information produced by dedicated devices (like the Garmin Edge 500),
but with all that useful multimedia and communications technology
thrown into the pot too. The Bike Pack for iPhone from Wahoo includes a
weatherproof case to protect the device, a proprietary fitness app, and a
wireless speed and cadence sensor - all for a fraction of the cost of
the Garmin device. Read More
Microsoft robotics developer builds remote dog-sitting bot
February 16, 2012
When Jordan Correa and his wife both started
working full time, they found themselves away from their home much more
often, leaving their dog, Darwin, alone all day. Most people would have
just had to leave the problem as is, or maybe get a part time pet
sitter. But Correa, being a test developer for the Microsoft Robotics
Team, came up with a solution right in line with his talents and built a
dog-sitting robot, so he could play and speak with his pet over the
internet while he's at work. Read More
It's been a busy week on the iPad 3 rumor mill, and things have progressed considerably since our last iPad 3 update with the iMore
blog citing "reliable sources" who suggest an official iPad 3
announcement is likely on March 7. Further, the same sources indicate
that the next iteration of Apple's tablet could be powered by a
quad-core processor and include - as we already suspected - a Retina
display. There's some suggestion that the device could feature LTE
connectivity - though this latter point seems shrouded in uncertainty.
Time to take the cautious stick to the iPad 3 rumor cauldron ... Read More
House Arc modular home assembled “like an IKEA house”
February 16, 2012
House Arc, by Bellomo Architects, is a
prefabricated off-the-grid housing solution that facilitates compact
living. The project was originally designed as an environmentally
sensitive and affordable method of housing that is not only functional
but also attractive to the eye. Furthermore, it is designed to be easily
packed and shipped to any location, where it can then be erected by the
user or community. "We designed it to be a kit of parts that can be
assembled quickly-like an IKEA house," says House Arc architect Joseph
Bellomo. Read More
Feature: Small modular nuclear reactors - the future of energy?
By David Szondy
February 16, 2012
This year is an historic one for nuclear power,
with the first reactors winning U.S. government approval for
construction since 1978. Some have seen the green lighting of two
Westinghouse AP1000 reactors to be built in Georgia as the start of a
revival of nuclear power in the West, but this may be a false dawn
because of the problems besetting conventional reactors. It may be that
when a new boom in nuclear power comes, it won't be led by giant
gigawatt installations, but by batteries of small modular reactors
(SMRs) with very different principles from those of previous
generations. But though a technology of great diversity and potential,
many obstacles stand in its path. Gizmag takes an in-depth look at the
many forms of SMRs, their advantages, and the challenges they must
overcome. Read More
Inspired by origami and children's pop-up books,
Harvard engineers have pioneered a means of mass-producing bee-sized
flying microrobots. The breakthrough mechanizes the already state-of-the
art process of making Harvard's Mobee robots by hand, by mass producing
flat assemblies by the sheet which can be folded and assembled in a
single movement. The technique, which cunningly exploits existing
machinery for making printed circuit boards, can theoretically be
applied to a multitude of electromechanical machines. Read More
World Economic Forum lists top 10 emerging technologies for 2012
By Darren Quick
February 15, 2012
Our goal here at Gizmag is to cover innovation
and emerging technologies in all fields of human endeavor, and while
almost all of the ideas that grace our pages have the potential to
enhance some of our lives in one way or another, at the core are those
technologies that will have profound implications for everyone on the
planet. For those looking to shape political, business, and academic
agendas, predicting how and when these types of technologies will effect
us all is critical. Recognizing this, the World Economic Forum's
(WEF's) Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies has compiled a
list of the top 10 emerging technologies it believes will have the
greatest impact on the state of the world in 2012. Read More
Lockheed Martin unveils latest version of F-16 Fighting Falcon
By Darren Quick
February 15, 2012
Since its introduction in 1978, over 4,450 F-16
Fighting Falcon’s have been built, making it one of the most successful
military aircraft of all time. Although it is no longer purchased by the
U.S. Air Force (where it is scheduled to remain in service until 2025),
improved versions are still being built by Lockheed Martin for 26
nations around the world. The latest version, unveiled this week at the
Singapore Airshow, is the F-16V, which features a number of enhancements
designed to enable the 4th generation fighter to better interoperate
with the 5th generation F-35 and F-22 fighters. Read More
Admit it. No matter what age you were when you first saw the hover board in Back to the Future 2,
odds are that you wanted one. Too bad we're a scant three years away
from the time when the movie takes place and the hover industry hasn't
exactly taken off. Mattel is planning the next best thing though: a
full-sized replica of the famous pink hover board. Read More
While cop shows have shown us that it’s easy for
service providers to track a person’s location via their mobile phone,
researchers at the University of Minnesota have revealed it’s also an
easy task for hackers. Using a cheap phone and open source software, the
researchers were able to track the location of mobile phone users
without their knowledge on the GSM network, which is estimated to serve
80 percent of the global mobile market. Read More
Tegris: Thermoplastic composite takes on carbon fiber
By Martin Hone
February 16, 2012
Spartanburg, South Carolina, is home to one of
the largest privately owned chemical and textile research
establishments in the world, Milliken & Company. The firm's
innovative research that combines textiles and chemistry has now
produced a thermoplastic composite called Tegris that is cheap,
recyclable and tough. These properties make Tegris an attractive
alternative to (or composite partner for) carbon fiber, and it's already
proving to have wide ranging applications in the automotive, military
and sporting industries. Read More
Porsche first announced development of a compact crossover SUV based on the Audi Q5
in late 2010. The model has been going by its project name "Cajun"
since it was but a rumor but has now been upgraded with its official
name - the Macan. Porsche teased us with a sketch, video and website for
the Macan crossover this week. Read More
Light planes are a great way to get
from A to B, but with the majority of small airports not boasting ground
transportation services, getting from B to C can pose more of a
problem. That's where the MotoLOAD system from Illinois-based MotoPOD
comes in. Designed to slot into a small aircraft, the system makes
unloading and unloading of some additional two-wheeled transport a
simple job for just one person and their trusty cordless drill. Read More
Genius Swedish computer program has IQ of 150
By Brian Dodson
February 16, 2012
Researchers at the Department of Philosophy,
Linguistics, and Theory of Science at the University of Gothenburg in
Sweden have developed a psychological model of patterns as seen and
selected by humans, and incorporated it in their IQ test solving
programs. By doing so they have created a computer program that can
score 150 on standard non-verbal IQ test questions. Read More
Robotic universal jamming gripper gets “shooting” capabilities
By Darren Quick
February 16, 2012
Last year we looked at a universal robotic gripper,
which was made by filling an elastic membrane with coffee grounds. The
versatile gripper, which is attached to a robotic arm, was able to pick
up a wide variety of objects, including a coin or raw egg, which are
notoriously difficult for robotic grippers modeled after the human hand
to deal with. Now the universal jamming gripper's developers have given
it the ability to "shoot" objects some distance, which could enable it
to sort objects into different bins, dispose of trash, or maybe even try
out for the NBA. Read More
In order to determine how a patient
is recovering from orthopedic surgery, doctors must presently rely on
technologies such as X-rays or MRIs. Before too long, however, they may
instead simply be able to read the output from tiny sensors, implanted
in the patient's body. A team of scientists from New York's Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute have already created prototypes of just such a
device, that measure a mere four millimeters across and are 500 microns
thick. Read More
From heart monitors to cooking thermometers,
almost any piece of tech seems to be equipped with Bluetooth and an
accompanying smartphone app these days. Now it looks like even the
simplest of items can get their own high-tech upgrade, as evidenced by
Beam Technologies' upcoming Bluetooth-enabled toothbrush. The Beam Brush
will monitor a person's dental hygiene using sensors that sync with an
app, which will then track that data and offer incentives to improve
their brushing habits. Read More
Electronic system remotely monitors fishing boat catches
By Ben Coxworth
February 16, 2012
In an effort to save the world's oceans from
overfishing, many countries now require commercial fishing vessels to
bring along an observer, who checks that the crew aren't exceeding their
catch limits. That observer takes up cabin space on the boat, however,
plus they require a salary, and probably aren't made to feel
particularly welcome by the crew members. This month, however, a Spanish
purse seiner became the world's first tropical tuna-fishing vessel to
try out something different - an electronic monitoring system. Designed
by Archipelago Marine Research, the EM Observe system is already in
regular use in the company's home province of British Columbia, Canada.
Read More
Despite the continuous advances being made in
lithium-ion battery technology, many cyclists still prefer to use
dynamo-powered lights on their bikes – there’s no having to remember to
recharge the batteries, no subsequent forgetting to put the light back
on the bike, and no worrying about the batteries unexpectedly giving out
mid-ride. Dynamos, however, have their own drawbacks. Friction-powered
sidewall units slow the bike down and wear out the tire, while dynamo
hubs must be built into the wheel, and add to the bike’s revolving
weight. Now, however, German inventor Dirk Strothmann has created what
he claims is a better alternative – a small, no-contact, self-contained
dynamo bike light. Read More
Whether you're in the mood for a film with a
happy ending or feeling more like a Machiavellian finale, the MyndPlay
media player delivers what you want ... by reading your mind. The system
consists of an electroencephalograph (EEG) headset and accompanying
software dreamed up by London-based former The Apprentice star Tre Azam. Read More
Peugeot 208 GTi - the return of the supermini
By Mike Hanlon
February 18, 2012
One of the cars which originally popularized the
now-burgeoning hot hatchback category, the Peugeot 205 GTi, looks set to
be reprized with an all-new 208 GTi concept to be shown in Geneva next
month and production seemingly inevitable. The six-speed manual 208 GTi
runs a 203 bhp turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, guaranteeing performance
well beyond the original 205 GTi which launched in 1984 with an
at-the-time amazing 104 bhp. Read More
The Nightman cometh: LED suit makes for ethereal snowboarding
By C.C. Weiss
February 17, 2012
Night snowboarding usually equates to grueling
pre-dawn slogs up backcountry routes or short, icy turns under
stadium-like lights at small resorts. Nowness.com has put a new spin on
those traditional forms of night riding. In this stunning piece of film,
a unique LED suit is employed to turn the subject into a
powder-slashing apparition. Read More
Bean bag helmets: Vaco12 promises significantly better impact absorption
By C.C. Weiss
February 17, 2012
Originally designed for orthopedic
rehabilitation, Vaco12 technology uses vacuum cushions filled with
millions of small, round beads to provide better fitting, more
protective sports gear. The beads simultaneously provide a snugger, more
comfortable fit on your head and are said to absorb impact up to four
times more efficiently than traditional foam - just what's needed in
sports like skiing and snowboarding in which professional and
recreational athletes are constantly pushing the boundaries of what's
possible. Read More
Researchers from Australia's
Swinburne University of Technology have announced the development of the
world's most efficient broadband nanoplasmonic solar cells. The
scientists improved the performance of existing thin-film cells by
incorporating nucleated or "bumpy" gold and silver nanoparticles. By
doing so, they were able to boost the cells' absolute efficiency up to
8.1 percent. Read More
Nevada is now officially the first state in the
USA where the operation of self-driving vehicles on public roads is
regulated by law. The regulations approved by the Legislative Commission
of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles set out guidelines for
companies who want to test autonomous vehicles on public roadways. They
also include a set of requirements for people who'd like to "drive" such
vehicles. Read More
Scientists report success in first human tests of drug-delivery chip
By Ben Coxworth
February 17, 2012
Much as anyone with a medical condition wants to
get better, it can often be difficult to get patients to stick to their
medication regimens. This is particularly true for patients who are
required to give themselves injections – a time-consuming and unpleasant
procedure that it’s easy to “forget” to do. Scientists from MIT and
Massachusetts-based company MicroCHIPS Inc., however, have come up with
what could be a solution. Yesterday, they announced success in the first
clinical trial of an implantable chip-based device, that automatically
delivered regular doses of medication to osteoporosis sufferers. Read More
With the assistance of signage
suppliers JCDecaux, McCain - makers of a variety of oven-cooked potato
products - have come up with a novel advertising campaign to promote
their ready-baked baked potatoes. Bus shelters in cities across the UK
are to be fitted with smell-emitting advertisements designed to mimic
the aroma of a slow-baked potato. Read More
Everyone knows geckos have extraordinary powers
of adhesion, able to clamber up vertical windows with remarkable ease.
With the "Geckskin", a team of scientists have replicated the effect to
produce a flat, index-card sized piece of material capable of carrying a
700-pound (318-kg) load - easily enough for a flatscreen television. It
can be removed with ease and leaves no unpleasant oomska. And
interestingly, it doesn't work as you might think. Read More
Just seven months after Lion
hit servers, Apple has released OS X Mountain Lion (version 10.8) to
developers. This tight development cycle is in support of integrating
the best features of Apple's iOS mobile operating system into OS X. As
Steve Jobs put it in 2010, Apple intends to "hook up" the user
environments of the iPad and the MacBook. The result is a substantial
step forward for Apple interconnectivity. Read More
U.S. Marine Corps takes delivery of latest V-22 Osprey
By Martin Hone
February 19, 2012
The tilt-rotor Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
program received a boost last week when the U.S. Marine Corps took
delivery of the latest variant. The Osprey, which began development some
30 years ago, combines the helicopter's ability to take off and land
vertically, with the speed of a regular aircraft. The recently delivered
Block C variant includes an improved weather radar system, an upgraded
crew and passenger aircon system, improvements to the cockpit Electronic
Flight Instrument displays and upgrades to the Electronic Warfare
Systems. Read More
Resale value is one of the many
factors to consider when buying a car. But for some serious return on
automotive investment it's hard to beat the Ferrari 250 GTO.
In what is believed to be the largest single car transaction in the
U.K., one of these rare beauties has sold for over GBP20 million
(approx. US$31.7 million). Read More
OdMEx concept: the billboard house that generates an income
By Darren Quick
February 19, 2012
Last year we looked at Adzookie
(now Brainiacs From Mars), which will turn a house into a
(house-shaped) billboard and pay the mortgage for a three-month period.
As part of the "House Prototype" Design Competition for Baanlaesaun Fair
2011, Bangkok, Thailand-based design firm Apostrophy S (or 'S) has come
up with a similar - yet different - advertising-centered housing
option. Instead of turning a house into a billboard, this proposal turns
a billboard into a house. Read More
Innovative "lucky coin" building under way in China
February 19, 2012
By this time next year, a walk along the Pearl
River in Guangzhou, China, will come with an unusual bonus: a view of
the completed Guangdong Plastics Exchange research center/warehouse. Far
from being just another boxy building, this unique, 1 billion yuan
(US$159 million) edifice is patterned after objects the Cantonese
traditionally associate with luck and good fortune. One thing's for
certain - at 138 meters (453 feet) in height, with a 47 meter (154 foot)
diameter hole in the center, this is one landmark that will be
difficult to miss. Read More
Structural batteries to lighten load for frontline soldiers
By Enid Burns
February 19, 2012
Battery life is a crucial issue on any portable
device drawing power - from cell phones to something as big as a car. Of
course, the larger the battery, the more it weighs. Structural
batteries which store power in the parts that make up the device are
seen as a solution to this issue and BAE systems is working on such
systems with the aim of lightening the load for frontline soldiers. Read More
MinION - $900 usb-powered DNA sequencer on sale this year
By Brian Dodson
February 19, 2012
At the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology
2012 conference (AGBT), Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd. announced it
is entering the gene-sequencing battle
with a disposable DNA sequencer that will sell for under $900 in the
second half of 2012. The USB-size sequencer is called the MinION
(min-ion), and has already demonstrated the potential to bring genome
sequencing and personalized medicine out of the lab and into physicians’
offices. Read More
The 180 Stove is a simple, portable backpacking
stove that relies on wood as its sole fuel. Unlike gas canisters and
liquid propane, wood is a natural fuel that's available in all types of
wilderness areas, making it a renewable, clean source of fuel for
backwoods cooking. And since there are no canisters to buy, carry and
dispose of, you save weight and space in your pack. Read More
While there are still some who, at the mention of
the alarm clock, might think of a small, spring-driven, mechanical
device topped by a couple of bells with a hammer between them, my
generation would probably envision a digital clock radio. Recently,
designers have come up with more and more ingenious (read evil) ways to get us out of bed - such as a clock with wheels that runs away at the appointed hour with buzzer sounding, or a 113dB sonic boom skull
that also shakes the bed until you switch it off. The Ramos Alarm Clock
from Paul Sammut is another design aimed at the dedicated snoozer who
can usually find a way to prolong the warmth and comfort under the
covers. The clock is wirelessly linked to a separate Defuse Panel
located in another room, such as the bathroom, and a code will need to
be correctly entered to silence the buzzer. Read More
Signal Snowboards creates a hybrid surf-snowboard
By C.C. Weiss
February 19, 2012
California-based Signal Snowboards recently
fulfilled the dreams of board sports enthusiasts everywhere in its
"Every Third Thursday" Web series by building a hybrid board capable of
surfing both waves and powder stashes. If you think that the board can't
possibly shred on both water and snow proficiently, Signal took it to
the beach and mountains to prove it. Read More
Ferrari F40 mass gathering will be a world record
By Gizmag Team
February 18, 2012
Ferrari F40 fans might wish to put the date July
22 in the calendar now, maybe even if you live somewhere a long way from
Silverstone. The annual three-day Silverstone Classic is claimed to be
the world's biggest classic motor racing festival. Held at the
Silverstone F1 circuit in mid-July, the central focus of the massive
festival is the historic racing which features the cream of motor racing
drivers and cars from every era of motor sport. Whenever there's a
significant automotive anniversary, such as the 50th anniversary of the
E-type Jaguar, there's also a mass gathering of vehicles. This year the
festival is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Ferrari F40 -
already more than 50 of the original 1315 F40s produced have RSVP'd for
the event, guaranteeing a world record. Read More
0 comments:
Post a Comment