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Latest Gear Live Videos
Beer Launching Fridge Forgoes Need to Refill
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Videos,
Robotic Beer Launching Refrigerator
With a spark of creativity, or maybe just out of plain laziness, couch potato John Cornwell has managed to invent a gadget that can aim and toss him a beer from his automated, remote controlled, mini-fridge. Directed by keyless entry, and with a capacity to hold 10 brews and 14 more in reserve, he can keep a case of the brew and not have to get up between football quarters. We’re hoping that John can also create a device that can toss us another can of Pringles.
Read More 
| John Cornwell
Gallery: Beer Launching Fridge Forgoes Need to Refill
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Gamer Builds xBot to Level Up
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Mods / Hacks, Science, Video Games,
Gamer/car mechanic David Harr got a tad frustrated at topping off a remaining 60 points on Perfect Dark Zero, which would enable him to unlock more game matches. Investing $60.00, 10 hours, and a lot of ingenuity, he created the xBot to push the two buttons needed on his Xbox to finish off the final 40 hours of play. While we admire his talent and find this a better alternative to game sweatshops, we would have to concede that we find this just another, albeit kinder, deception.
Read More | BBC News
Gallery: Gamer Builds xBot to Level Up
The Information Sciences Institute at USC has developed a new type of bot, that of the modular kind. This Superbot system pairs cubes to function alone or combine with others. Each pair contains a microprocessor and six sides so that it can connect with others. When attached to its fellow modules, the Superbots can walk, run, creep, climb, and become a vehicle with wheels included, all while adapting to their environments.
ISI is hoping that the robots will be useful to NASA since they can reconfigure and therefore less parts are needed. They are also compatible with NASA’s other robotics. Check out the Superbot’s cool caterpillar, snake, and butterfly actions, and witness the space race’s next wannabe astronauts.
Read More | ISI
Gallery: ISI Creates Modular Bots
Tesla-Coil Protects Cars
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
We have always dug the Plasma Sphere that has become a mainstay at Spencer’s Gifts for as long as we can remember. This Tesla-coil automobile protector makes that phenomenon look like a mere toy. Australian Peter Terren placed a ring of electricity (which has been nicknamed “The Lord of the Rings’” Eye of Sauron) around the car by attaching a 4-inch coil to a boom on the roof of a rented vehicle since he doesn’t own one. We know it’s just a concept, still it is an awesome piece of work.
Read More | Tesla Downunder
Gallery: Tesla-Coil Protects Cars
Spyke Alerts You to Home Intrusion
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2007, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys, Wireless / WiFi,
Meccano’s foot tall, remote controlled Spyke is not exactly the scariest security guard we have seen, but at least he is trying. Unveiled at the CES 2007, he will feed you images via his live webcam feed from a Wi-Fi router. He can also receive and play streamed music through his built in speakers, and is Skype capable.
One of the bot’s best attributes is that when his batteries run low, he will head for his charging station. Sounding like a cross between R2D2 and a toy machine gun, Spyke is being sold under the Erector brand in the U.S. and can be yours for £199.95 (~$391.00) this April.
Read More | Spykeworld via Uber-Review
Gallery: Spyke Alerts You to Home Intrusion
The time has come for non-astronauts to journey into space if they can just afford the ticket. Case in point is Hungarian-born, 58 year-old Charles Simonyi, a former Microsoft engineer who now owns his own company. Simonyi paid more than $20 million to Space Adventure to accompany two cosmonauts to the orbital lab via a ten day journey on Soyuz TMA-10, and becomes the 5th paying visitor to the ISS. He also obtained his own space suit for the journey from the Russian company Sokol and we think he looks pretty dapper in it.
Simonyi’s quest to the final frontier will begin April 9th and you can monitor his progress by visiting his web site, which features blogs, images, links, a timeline, videos, and a “Kids’ Space.”
Read More | Charles in Space
Gallery: Charles In Space
Al Gore Wins Oscar for “Inconvenient Truth”
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Editorial, Home Entertainment, Movies, Science,
Okay, so Al Gore didn’t personally win. But “AIT”’s (as the crew refers to it) director Davis Guggenheim brought the man who proclaims “he used to be the next president of the U.S.” up on the stage with him because he is truly the man behind the movie. Gore has always been interested in the subject of global warming and during his vice-presidential years used his term to draw attention to that and other environmental issues. This leads us to the political question: In the race against Queen Hillary and Prince Obama, can “The Goracle” become our next
President? We hope he will just continue to aid our planet.
Read More | Climate Crisis
Gallery: Al Gore Wins Oscar for “Inconvenient Truth”
The Ultimate Gravitonus Ergonomic Workstation
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Design, Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop, Science,
Toss away your antiquated desk and chair and replace it with a Gravitonus Ergonomic Workstation. The gadget was invented by Russian scientists who are involved in injury research. It features Matrox TripleHead capability with an attachment to align the users best vision, a memory function that moves displays closer or back when necessary, a keyboard attachment for moving in 3D, and a 5.1 sound system with subwoofer integated into the back of its seat. The workstation also has a dynamic exoskeleton for your hands, climate control with air conditioning and zone heating, and is shadow and glare-free inside your workspace. If you don’t get nauseous easily, check out Gravitonus’ demo.
Read More | Live Science
Gallery: The Ultimate Gravitonus Ergonomic Workstation
France and Japan Team for Robotics Study
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Misc. Tech, Science,
France has begun to play with bots, too. The HOAP3 recently arrived at the LIRMM - CNRS (Laboratory for Computer Science, Robotics and Microelectronics of Montpellier) as an upgrade from one created last year that established the JRL (Joint Japanese-French Robotics Laboratory,) based in both Japan and France. The 8.8 kg, 60 cm tall bot has 28 motorized movements, accelerometers, rate gyros, two cams, pressure sensors, and an infra-red range finder. With a RTLinux software platform, LIRMM’s long range plan is to have several humanoids for studying robotic cooperation. We forsee this as a sign that eventually AI will be doing its own reasearch without humans.
Read More | Science Daily
Gallery: France and Japan Team for Robotics Study
If you already own an R2D2 droid, you really should get him a companion wastebasket. He stands 24-inches high and if you step on his center “foot” his head pops up for your trash. Constructed of vinyl, his interior can is removable for cleaning. Only a Limited Edition with a price of $149.00, Think Geek says they have already sold out but are “scrambling to see if we can somehow magically (or by using the force) get more.” Maybe we can breed the droid and projector and get some apartment-sized R2s.
Read More | Think Geek
