Computer-controlled artificial leg offers a more natural gait
By Ben Coxworth
October 16, 2013
Although computer-controlled artificial legs
have been around for a few years now, they generally still feature an
ankle joint that only allows the foot to tilt along a toe-up/toe-down
axis. That's fine for walking in a straight line, but what happens when
users want to turn a corner, or walk over uneven terrain? Well, in some
cases, they end up falling down. That's why researchers at Michigan
Technological University are now developing a microprocessor-controlled
leg with an ankle that also lets the foot roll from side to side. Read More
Italian architectural firm LEAPfactory
has constructed a new energy-efficient hotel on the southern glacier of
Mount Elbrus, in Russia's Caucasus mountain range. Generally considered
the highest peak in Europe, Mount Elbrus has a summit of 5,642 m
(18,510 ft). The hotel in question is located 3,912 m (12,834 ft) above
sea level, hence its name: LEAPrus 3912. Read More
It's something most of us take for granted, but
our sense of touch is every bit as useful to us as our sight and
hearing. Though it seems simple, picking up and holding an object
requires nearly instantaneous sensation in the parts of our hands and
fingers in contact with the desired object, as well as a sense of the
pressure we're applying. Many experimental efforts to simulate a sense
of touch in amputees fitted with prosthetics require the subject to
learn new associations between touching an object and some abstract
sensation. But new research at the University of Chicago suggests that
it is possible to map the individual finger pads of a prosthetic hand to
the corresponding parts of the brain. In other words, prosthetic hands
which offer a realistic sense of touch may theoretically be possible.
Read More
Rescue off-roader floats over water and snow to save lives
By C.C. Weiss
October 16, 2013
For rescue outfits that think the ARGO 8x8 XTI
is a little too small and weak, the massive, Earth-roaming Rescue from
Romanian off-road manufacturer Ghe-O Motors should provide an attractive
alternative. This fearless vessel carries up to 11 people through mud,
snow, water and anything that's in their way. Read More
Ferruccio Lamborghini’s Riva Aquarama restored
By David Szondy
October 16, 2013
When you hear the word “Lamborghini,” you tend to
think of land, not water, yet the car maker has a page in one of the
most famous chapters of boat design. After a three-year effort, Dutch
Riva has announced the successful restoration of a piece of maritime
history: Ferrucio Lamborghini's Riva Aquarama speedboat. Read More
It seems like everyone is making a phablet these days. HTC is the latest to get in on the super-sizing action, with its humongous version of the HTC One, the One max. How does it compare to the current phablet prototype, the Galaxy Note 3? Read on, as Gizmag compares the latest giant-sized phones from HTC and Samsung. Read More
Cadillac prices the 2014 ELR plug-in hybrid from $76,000
By C.C. Weiss
October 15, 2013
A journey that began in 2009 with the Converj concept
will reach its peak this upcoming January. That's when Cadillac plans
to launch the ELR plug-in hybrid in major cities around the US. The
luxury Volt will cost well more than expected, with a base price just
under US$76,000. Read More
In many parts of the world, electric
bikes are limited to a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) – any higher, and
they'd no longer be legally classified as bicycles. While that may keep
the speed down on commercially-produced e-bikes, such is not the case
with one-offs. A case in point is Russian blogger Ivan Tulupov's
twin-motored Desperado. Read More 
The painful and crippling muscle spasms caused by
brain injuries or neurological disorders are typically controlled using
medication or even surgery. Soon, however, it may be possible for
sufferers to get their muscles under control just by wearing what looks
like a high-tech union suit. Known as the Mollii garment, it reportedly
produces no side effects, and doesn't have to be worn all the time. Read More
Hours after introducing its first-ever hybrid model back in August,
Land Rover set out on a 10,472-mile (16,853-km) expedition across
Europe and Asia. Fifty-three days later, the company is pleased to
report that its world-first hybrid journey along the Silk Trail was
successful. Read More
The latest odd-ball timepiece from
Tokyoflash, the Kisai Quasar, features a pulsing display that hides the
time behind a geometric pattern, at least for those who don't know what
to look for and where to look for it. Read More
Last operating ICT 1301 mainframe computer set to run again
By David Szondy
October 17, 2013
What weighs 5 tons and has less computing power
than your watch? A pioneering piece of computing history call "Flossie,"
the last operating ICT 1301 mainframe. The National Museum of Computing
recently took delivery of the dismantled computer, which needed three
moving vans to bring it to the museum’s storage facility in Milton
Keynes, UK. Read More
Joining forces with engineering firm Deka
R&D, Coca-Cola has launched a project which will see the
transformation of approximately 2,000 shipping containers into water
purifying stations. Dubbed Ekocenter, the shipping container module has
been designed to provide isolated and developing communities with
facilities to produce safe drinking water, as well as access to wireless
internet technology and solar powered charging. Read More
Surfboard manufacturer Hydroflex is turning its
expertise to the creation of boards intended for surfing the streets.
What started out as using the leftover materials from the surfboard
building process to create composite skateboards for the Hydroflex team
is now expanding with the company aiming to bring its honeycomb
skateboard to the market. Read More
The latest odd-ball timepiece from
Tokyoflash, the Kisai Quasar, features a pulsing display that hides the
time behind a geometric pattern, at least for those who don't know what
to look for and where to look for it. Read More
In addition to a new off-road model,
German trike manufacturer HP Velotechnik plans to launch a new
dual-battery option on its entire e-trike line next month. Double the
battery will mean double the range. Read More
It looks like the early smartwatches have been split into two camps. On one hand, we have watches like the Galaxy Gear and Pebble
that aim, with varying degrees of success, to put basic smartphone
features on your wrist. Then we have wearable fitness trackers that are
gradually sprouting screens
and becoming more like those straightforward smartwatches. Today Adidas
added to that list with one of the smartest fitness watches to date,
the miCoach Smart Run. Read More
BitLock offers keyless, multi-user bike-locking
By Ben Coxworth
October 16, 2013
Consumers now have their choice of several smartphone-controlled door locks,
which allow users to grant access to select people, and that
automatically cause the door to unlock when a user approaches. San
Francisco-based startup Mesh Motion has taken those same ideas, and
applied them to a bicycle security device known as the BitLock. Read More
A new product called Neurio has been designed to
help people better control their domestic energy usage by monitoring
home appliances. The product also allows users to be reminded of
domestic tasks involving appliances. In cases of smart appliances,
Neurio can detect behavior patterns and program appliances to meet
specific requirements. Read More
Antarctica inspires us with its stark, serene
landscapes. But unfortunately, it's an ecosystem that's under threat.
Air New Zealand and Antarctica New Zealand have endeavored to sponsor
research on Antarctica, and now they want to shine a spotlight on the
incredible work the scientists are doing there. In Antarctica: No
Ordinary Place, No Ordinary Assignment, Air New Zealand will select one
spokesperson to tag along with National Geographic photographer Jason
Edwards to document the fascinating and crucial research happening in
one of the world's most fragile and unique environments. Read More
New software could allow cyborg insects to map buildings
By Ben Coxworth
October 16, 2013
Living remote-control cockroaches
are now a thing. They actually exist. Besides wowing people and
sparking ethics debates, however, the cyborg insects may ultimately have
some very worthwhile applications. A team led by North Carolina State
University's Dr. Edgar Lobaton has brought one of those applications a
step closer to reality, by developing software that would allow "swarms"
of the cockroaches to map hazardous environments such as collapsed
buildings. Read More
AMAZE project aims to put first 3D metal printer on the ISS
By Darren Quick
October 17, 2013
3D printers have already migrated from factories
to the home and are now set to journey into space, where the cost of
delivering replacement tools, components and structures can cost in the
millions. The AMAZE (Additive Manufacturing Aiming Towards Zero Waste
& Efficient Production of High-Tech Metal Products) from the ESA and
the European Commission aims to deliver the first 3D metal printer to
the International Space Station (ISS) to allow astronauts to print
custom objects on demand. Read More
It's hard to believe that it's been been almost two years since the PlayStation Vita launched. When we reviewed Sony's next-gen portable
in 2012, we found it to be just about the ideal portable gaming
console. But how does it hold up today? Has competition from smartphones
and tablets stuck a knife in the Vita, or does its recent price drop
warrant a second look? Read on, as Gizmag revisits an old favorite, the
PS Vita. Read More
If you think being stuck in a strange town late
at night after the last bus has gone is lonely, then give a thought for
the exoplanet PSO J318.5-22. Discovered this year by astronomers at the
University of Hawaii, this planet was found floating through
interstellar space without a parent star and is one of the smallest
free-floating objects seen outside of the Solar System. Read More
See-Through System turns view-blocking vehicles transparent
By Ben Coxworth
October 17, 2013
Nobody likes being stuck behind a large,
slow-moving vehicle on the highway. Not only does it hold you up, but
it's also difficult to see around, in order to check whether or not it's
safe to pass. Prof. Michel Ferreira and his team from Portugal's
University of Porto, however, have come up with what could someday be a
solution to that problem. It's an augmented reality system that lets
drivers see right through the vehicle that they're following. Read More
KneeFlyer brings snowboarders and skaters to their knees
By C.C. Weiss
October 17, 2013
Texas-based start-up KneeFlyer has put a new spin
on board sports by designing a sort of board booster seat. The add-on
allows snowboarders and skaters to kneel or sit on their boards,
lowering their centers of gravity and making it easier to balance and
turn. Read More
Ordinarily, a pacemaker is surgically implanted
below the collarbone, where it sits in a sizable pocket under the skin.
Electrical leads run from it to the heart, allowing it to monitor the
rhythm of the heartbeat, and deliver electrical pulses to adjust that
rhythm as needed. Now, however, Minnesota-based St. Jude Medical has
announced upcoming availability of "the world’s first and only
commercially available leadless pacemaker." Known as the Nanostim, it's
reportedly less than 10 percent the size of a regular pacemaker, and is
inserted directly into the heart via a minimally-invasive procedure.
Read More
Sonos releases the Play:1 compact wireless speaker
By Paul Ridden
October 17, 2013
I think it's fair to say that not all wireless
music systems are created equal. One of the best streaming speakers I've
heard is the Play:5 from Sonos (formerly the Zoneplayer S5),
but at US$400 a pop, a multi-room setup can get very expensive, very
quickly. Sonos is now offering a cheaper way to enter its world of Hi-Fi
audio streaming with the introduction of the Play:1 compact wireless
speaker. Read More
Bluetooth fitness headset plays tunes and tracks your stats
By Ben Coxworth
October 17, 2013
A lot of people like to monitor personal stats
such as their heart rate while exercising, plus they also like listening
to music at the same time. Usually, doing both involves wearing at
least a couple of devices at once. iRiver's new On audio headset,
however, plays back music and gathers biometric data ... in both cases, through the user's ear. Read More
Superyacht concepts get the Zaha Hadid treatment
October 17, 2013
Her work may have its critics, but you can't
fault the consistency of her design language. Even those with the most
fleeting of interests in architecture and design cannot fail to
recognize that this yacht design for Blohm+Voss has Zaha Hadid written
all over it. Read More
Do you like visiting with that cute barista at
the local coffee shop? Well, she/he may be on their way to being
replaced by a machine ... maybe. This July, Texas-based company Briggo
announced the installation of its first "intelligent" Coffee Haus on the
University of Texas at Austin campus. The machine grinds and brews
espressos, mochas and other specialty coffees on the spot, to the exact
specifications of the customer. Read More
Whether you're growing wine grapes or mixing
cement, there are some situations in which it's vitally important to
monitor moisture content. Normally water sensors are used, although
these can be both large and expensive. Now, however, a team from Cornell
University has created a water-sensing silicon chip that's not only
tiny, but is also reportedly "a hundred times more sensitive than
current devices." What's more, the chips might be possible to
mass-produce for just $5 a pop. Read More
Lampociclo hand-builds e-bikes inspired by 1920s motorcycles
By C.C. Weiss
October 18, 2013
Back in their earliest days, motorcycles were
little more than bicycles with engines. Italian manufacturer Lampociclo
is trying to bring that simple, timeless style back for the modern day
e-bike market. Its bikes combine the latest technology with styling cues
from a time gone by. Read More
Australian startups plan on using UAVs to deliver textbooks
By Ben Coxworth
October 18, 2013
University textbooks can be quite expensive to
purchase, so Australian startup Zookal now offers an increasingly
popular option – textbook rentals. The problem is, some of the money
that students save by renting just goes into shipping charges for the
rented books. That's why Zookal has joined with another Ozzie startup,
Flirtey, to offer free textbook delivery by drone. Read More
Home air-conditioning offers near-instant relief
from hot weather but is both expensive and resource-heavy to run. Gizmag
picks five of our current favorite passively-cooled homes that are
environmentally responsible to keep comfortably cool, and – perhaps just
as importantly – very desirable to live in. Read More
Fabricated shells lend hermit crabs a sense of identity
October 18, 2013
About this time two years ago, we looked at the efforts of Miles Lightwood
and the Thingiverse community to 3D print shells for hermit crabs, but
Tokyo-born artist Aki Inomata has been creating artificial shells for
hermit crabs since 2009. Her most recent efforts are intricate and
ornate, incorporating ideas on the theme of national identity through
depictions of city skylines and vernacular architecture. The hermit
crabs seem to like them too. Read More
Conceptual footbridge puts the O into iconic
October 18, 2013
Three guess how this novel design for a
footbridge to be built in Salford, UK got its name: the O. Its
distinctive ring provides support for the walkway it surrounds. In a
sense this is two bridges in one. Two thirds of the bridge is suspended
in order to span the entire width of the River Irwell, while the final
third is supported by columns. Read More
For automobile manufacturers, the electric
elephant in the room continues to be bulky and weighty battery packs.
This week, Volvo unveiled an innovative potential solution to the
problem that it has been working on for the past three and a half years
with other European partners; replace steel body panels with carbon
fiber composite panels infused with nano-batteries and super capacitors.
Read More
There is a saying in flying: “If it looks good,
it will fly well.” Stefan Klein, a designer from the Slovak Republic,
has announced the first flight of his Aeromobil Version 2.5, a flying
car prototype he has been developing over the last 20 years. This
vehicle is a strikingly beautiful design with folding wings and a
propeller in the tail. But will its flight capabilities match its looks?
Read More
Conventional yoga classes with an instructor up
front demonstrating positions to the class aren't generally a viable
option for the visually impaired, but a team of computer scientists from
the University of Washington (UW) is set to open this healthy activity
up to such users with the help of a Microsoft's Kinect. Read More
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