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Alien Abduction Lamp to go into production

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,

As you may recall, we introduced you to the Alien Abduction Lamp last year, a prototype designed by Lasse Klein complete with a pulsating beam. Now it turns out that because of the hype, this is one idea that has reached fruition. Although no date has been set for its sale and there is no final word on whether it will be made in plastic or metal and glass, we are pleased that it will be coming to market. New to the lamp will be human and bovine abductees, for it is well known that aliens love people and cows. We’ll keep you posted on when the UFO becomes available.

(Thanks, Lasse)

Wear Your Tunes

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Transportation,

Imagine earning your B.A. degree just by creating a prototype. That is almost what German designer Joonas Saaranen did by combining music with mobility. His Reppo II is a hardshell backpack that would be great on camping trips, bicycling, and even exercising. Inside are speakers and an amplifier. It took him about 8 months to build and his focus group seemed to think he had a dynamic idea. We do, too and hope he moves it along to reality.

ReadyBot Does Dishes

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Videos,

Why settle for a simple Scooba to wash your floors when you can get a ReadyBot to clean your entire kitchen? The prototype loads your dishwasher, cleans up the mess on your counter, and even takes care of leftovers. Created by a group of engineers from Silicon Valley, the team hopes to have them on the market in approximately two years. They also say that being made of commonly available parts, the bot will be affordable for us common folk. We say, “Sign us up.”

Gas Torch Flames in Spirals

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,

If you really want to wow the neighbors, add a Tempest Gas Torch to your porch or patio. The effect is somewhat magical, for the flame inside the ceramic glass spirals around instead of simply flaring up. Recommended for mounting anywhere outside, Travis Industries is hoping that everyone will want their own Tempest. We dig the cleverness of the design and want to know what it will do with/to marshmallows. Contact them for price and availability.

Robotically posessed hunting trophies

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Videos,

For the hunters in your life that still don’t get it that it is not okay to kill animals for sport or clothing, this prototype collection by designer/robotics teacher French Cadet is the gift for them. Walk in a room and the eleven Hunting Trophies will flash their eyes in red, orange, or green, turn their heads and move them up and down, and open and close their mouths. Here’s where the payback comes in. The closer the visitor gets, the more aggressive the bots become and will growl. Walk past them all and a chain reaction of snarling will occur. Created out of I-Cybie robots and individual programming, they each have an infrared sensor that can detect the amount of people in the room and their movements.

Caffeine and Tech Combine in Yuno

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Microsoft, PC / Laptop,

Yuno For those who check their e-mail before their first cuppa java (you know who you are,) the Yuno is the perfect answer to allow you to fulfill your quotas in both areas. While you are getting your caffeine fix you can check your e-mail, see a traffic report, or find out how much Google stock is worth now with its touchscreen. It measures 6.25 x 3.75-inches and has a detachable CPU bottom so that you can pop it in the dishwasher. This is a finalist in Microsoft’s Next-Gen PC Design Competition. We like this prototype over most of the others even though we hope that they also make it insulated. Our e-mail takes forever to wade through sometimes. The contest runs through March 15, in case you want to vote for one of the contestants.

Read More | Next-Gen PC Design Competition Finalists

MoMA Features Online Exhibit

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Internet, Science,

Speaking of MoMA, not only are they exhibiting the likes of AT&T and Nokia at the museum, there is an incredible display online. Combining science with design, there are over 300 concepts in Elastic Mind that are translated into physical objects. The purpose, they say, is to “combine research with attentive consideration of human limitations, habits, and aspirations.”

All we know is that spending a couple of hours on the site may not have the impact of seeing the show itself, but it certainly is worth the time. For example, in Collection for the Lonely Man, it includes the Sheet Thief, which winds up the bed clothes to the other side. Others are Cold Feet, Heavy Breather, Plate Thrower, and Hair Alarm Clock that will run hair across the user to wake him.

Morph: Future of Technology?

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, Mods / Hacks, Science,

Nokia’s researchers and the University of Cambridge have come up with the “Morph.” On display at MoMA this month through mid-May, the concept is meant to display the flexibility of future mobile devices. Morph’s technology is pliable, self-cleaning, and transparent, and can be ergonomically rearranged. For example, a folded design would fit in a pocket or on a wrist, while an unfolded one could become a handset. In addition, Morphing will less expensive, take up less space on the planet, and be eco-friendly. We are all for any idea that we can wear instead of forget when we are in a rush.

Make a Splash With VAIO

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi,

VAIO GS Notebook

For those who want to stand out in the professional realm, Sony has released a set of 1200 limited editions of their VAIO Graphic Splash Expression Collection. The FZ series notebooks come in three designs of Victorian lace, flora, and leaf, and colors of black, pink, and blue with custom engravings available. All of them feature Windows Vista Home Premium OS, 2GB memory, 120GB HDD, and NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT graphics. Each has a 15.4-inch widescreen LCD display, Sony’s trademark XBRITE technology, and are Bluetooth enabled. Prices start at $1,279.99

Runner Hub is Functional, Stylish

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, USB, Design, Misc. Tech,

USB Runner Hub For someone who is always on the go (or on the run,) the Runner Hub may be your answer. The 4 ports hub will work with either 1.1 or 2.0 USB, has a transfer speed of 480 Mbps, and will work with either Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, or Mac OS 8.6 or above. At a size of 100 x 60 x 123mm and a weight of 71g, the device, with its rotating connection, comes with its own USB cable. Find it at Brando for a mere $12.00.

(Thanks, Fanny)

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