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Latest Gear Live Videos
Scientists Create Mini-helicopter With Insect-size Brain
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Wireless / WiFi,
We already know that helicopters were inspired by creatures such as humming birds and dragonflies. Now scientists have designed a miniature version equipped with a simple visual sensor and electronic brain the size of an insect. They feel this may allow it better take-offs, flights, and landings.
“It’s extraordinary to see flies navigate with just their small 10-milligram brains,” said researcher Nicolas Franceschini, a neurophysiologist and engineer at NCSR (France’s National Center for Scientific Research.) We think we will just keep letting them test this one before we trust anything with a brain that small.
Read More 
| LiveScience
Gallery: Scientists Create Mini-helicopter With Insect-size Brain
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Sci-fi writer Robert Heinlein would be thrilled to see his Waldos finally reaching fruition. EleKit Japan has released a fully programmable, workable USB robotic arm. With 5 distinct motors, it has movement in the upper and lower arm, wrist, rotating base, and can grip. A minimal amount of assembly is required. The arm is made of semi-transparent plastic with an internal LED so that you can watch it work as you get the gadget to fetch you a Bud from the fridge. The device runs on 4 D batteries (not included,) comes with its own remote, and will be available from Japan in March in a Limited Edition for $80.00.
Read More | Elekit
Gallery: USB Robotic Arm Plays Fetch
coo.boo Assists Cooks
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,
If you constantly feel the need to create a masterpiece in your kitchen for your spouse/partner and often download recipes, this new gadget will keep you from leaving a paper trail with gooey hands. Designed by IF Concept 2007 award winner Philipp Gilgen, the coo.boo is a digital alternative that syncronizes with a wireless docking station. Choose between a simple recipe display and full audio-visual instruction. Shaped like a spatula and washable, it can be hung with other kitchen utensils or placed on your counter. Not yet available to the general public, contact Mr. Gilgen to be one of the first to purchase this inventive device.
Read More | Philipp Gilgen
Gallery: coo.boo Assists Cooks
Ian Li and a team of other Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science students have created MoodJam, a means of using your computer for self-reflection by multi-colored bands and words. Because more than 2,000 others wanted to play with the program, they realized that it could be utilized in another way.
This “visual diary” keeps a record of your moods as often as your like, for as long as you like. You learn about your personal mood trends, then share them with others. The program can be placed on one’s home page or found on the MoodJam website, which was launched last November.
Read More | Terra Daily
Gallery: Have a Nice Day with MoodJam
Tattooed Fish Are Cruel Gimmick
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,
Steve Lane, owner of a pet shop in Williamsville, New York, has been receiving an inordinate amount of press pre-Valentine’s Day because he is offering tattooed fish for sale. Imported from Singapore, he hopes that they will attract enough attention to get more people into becoming aquariasts. Alan Lee, Chairman of the HK Aquaria Mall in Hong Kong, claims that his cichlids are tattooed with a permanent dye using a low intensity laser.
A local news channel interviewing Lane purchased four of them, and took them to their local SPCA to find if they believed this to be cruel to the fish. Spokesperson Gina Browning commented, “Morally and ethically what we’re looking at is incorrect. Any animal lover would agree, it’s so unnatural.”
We concur with Ms. Browning, and hope that anyone who sees the poor creatures will not only not purchase them, but remember that a number of years ago, humans had enough sense to outlaw the sales of turtles imported from Mexico whose shells had been decorated with toxic paint.
Read More | First Coast News
Gallery: Tattooed Fish Are Cruel Gimmick
Purdue researchers have devised a generator that eats garbage and spits out electricity. Dubbed a “tactical biorefinery,” it was designed for the military to convert waste into multiple fuels to feed into a diesel engine that powers a generator. Not only will it create power, it will dispose of leftovers from troops that are in transit. The University claims that the portable device creates 90% more power than it takes in. Tested last November, it is still in the experimental stage, but we are thinking that when it becomes available to the general public, no one will be able to berate us for not cleaning our plates.
Read More | Purdue University
Gallery: Purdue Converts Garbage Into Fuel
ASI’s Chaos is our latest entry into the area of homeland security bots. His 4 independently controlled tracks can wander up over hills and down into valleys where danger may be lurking. Recently tested at Disaster City, Texas, a search and rescue training ground with a name that just sounds creepy, the robot can be used for surveillance, hauling gear, explosives disposal, reconnaissance, and search and rescue.
At a weight of 120 lbs., Chaos functions with the help of its OCU (Operator Control Unit) which contains Mobious software. Contact ASI if you would like to watch their demo and are thinking of starting your own military coup.
Read More | ASI
Gallery: Chaos Comes Out to Play
Origami Teaches Tots to Use TV Remote
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Design, Home Entertainment, Misc. Tech, Science,
Who didn’t love this paper gadget when they were growing up? Hayeon Yoo’s Origami TV Remote Control was developed during a one week Electronics and Software workshop at London’s recent Work in Progress. The prototype has such functions as channel selection and volume control, and is made up of a wireless sensor board and Max/MSP. Designed to get kids to learn to use the remote, we think we would have just as much fun and may not want to share.
Read More | Work in Progress via we make money not art
Gallery: Origami Teaches Tots to Use TV Remote
Pleo Goes Back to the Drawing Board
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys,
We originally became smitten with Pleo back in November. We have just learned from inventor/owner/CEO Caleb Chung that because of customer feedback, they are further enhancing their charming creature. They are upgrading his speaker quality to boost audio levels and increase his sound library, putting another sensor under his chin (because everyone likes to chuckle him there,) modernizing his eyes, and adding more soft tissue so that he feels more realistic.
In honor of the occasion, which we refer to as Pleo’s rebirth, Ugobe is giving away 10 of them to fans who enter their essay contest going on now through March 3rd, “How Do You Envision Robotic Life Forms Influencing or Touching Your Life in the Next 5 Years?” Pleo and Caleb, we feel the love.
Read More | Ugobe
Gallery: Pleo Goes Back to the Drawing Board
Faster IBM Computer to be Utilized by National Weather Service
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Announcements, Internet, PC / Laptop, Science,
The National Weather Service’s parent agency NOAA has announced that it is implementing a new set of IBM computers that will increase the power used for our current weather forecasting by 360%. It can process 14 trillion calculations per second and ingest more than 240 million global observations daily. Reported to be the 36th fastest system in the world, it features 16 1.9 gigahertz Power5+ processors and 160 terabytes of storage. Now if it could just make that massive “Manitoba Mauler” storm coming to the Midwest go away.
Read More | Live Science
