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Researchers at Osaka University have developed the CB-2 which moves, responds, and even feels like a small child between the ages of 1 and 2. Approximately 130 cm long (~51-inches) and weighing about 33 kg (~ 73 lbs.,), it moves by pneumatics in 56 areas, has 197 tactual sensors, and a skin made of silicone. Eventually they are hoping to teach the bot the ability to walk and talk. We found this demo of it that we must admit slightly creeped us out. Remember The Dancing Baby?
Read More 
| Pink Tentacle
Gallery: CB-2 Almost Too Lifelike
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If you have been to Legoland in California, you already know that almost all everything in the park is made out of the toys, the exceptions being the restaurants and other buildings. Former attorney Nathan Sawaya has given up his legal career to become a full time Lego artist. Surrounded by the colorful bricks since he was a small boy, the designer creates sculptures as well as workable toys, such as this computer covering with its functionally complete innards for PC Magazine. If you want to see the artist in action, he will be showing his work at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, Illinois, from June 15 until September 3.
Read More | Nathan Sawaya
Gallery: Lego Artist Loves His Toys
We generally look for watches that are obscure or outrageous enough to capture our attention. This one simply mystified us. Count the colored LCD blocks for hours in the top row, 10 minute chunks in the middle row, and single minutes on the bottom. The EleeNo EG3 watch’s face is created out of raised glass windows and its three buttons are used to adjust the time.
The water-resistant EleeNo is in now its third generation and the company claims that they are destined to become collector’s items. The watch can fit a wrist size of up to 195 mm (~ 7.6-inches,) weighs less than two ounces, and carries an MSRP of ¥9,800 (~$80.00.) Keep in mind that by the time you count up all the blocks, you may already be too late for that dental appointment. What a clever watch this is.
Read More | Tokyo Flash
Gallery: Count on The EleeNo Watch
Stop The Building, We Want to Get Off
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science,
Several buildings are going to be constructed based on the style of Dynamic Architecture. First created by Florentine architect David Fisher, each one is to be built around a central core, with each rotating floor pre-built with pie-wedged sections which are then hoisted upon it. The first edifice is to be built in Dubai. Wind turbines between floors provide electricity with additional green efficiency coming from solar power on the top of each level. Because of the way the building is constructed, it takes less workers on the site. We are thinking that it’s difficult enough to sit in a rotating restaurant on top of a skyscraper, much less having to spin around for the rest of our workday.
Read More | Live Science
Gallery: Stop The Building, We Want to Get Off
If you have lots of cool new toys to play with on your 2.0 web site but you would prefer to cut back on the text, try using My Cool Button. All you have to do is set up color, icon, and font, then make and download your custom .png . They are also working on another version that will include another font, a gray scale for your icon, and button refraction. Now in beta .6, the best part about the widgets is that they are free. We love it when creative types share the wealth.
Read More | My cool button
Gallery: My Cool Button is Simplified
Bid Quickly on Jackson Memorabilia
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Wearables, Design, Misc. Tech,
Today and tomorrow, you can get that piece of Michael Jackson and his family that we know you wanted. More than 700 items will be auctioned off and are expected to bring in at least 7 figures worth of revenue. Included are such items as LaToya’s Feather Headdress, a set of Ludwig drums that belonged to The Jackson Five early in their career, and an image created by cartoonist Joe Barbera. If you want to be a part of the bidding action or just see what the King of Pop can do without, visit eBay or Live Auctioneers.
Read More | China Daily
Gallery: Bid Quickly on Jackson Memorabilia
Sony Unveils Bendable Screens
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Design, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video, Science,
Sony is once again the forerunner of innovative technology. This time they have come up with a 2.5-inch display for cell phones and other handheld gadgets that is only .01-inch thick and bendable. Still in development, researchers are trying to make it larger. The screen is a combination of the company’s organic thin film transistor, which creates the flexible display, and an organic electroluminescent display. Other companies, such as LG Phillips and Seiko Epson are also working on “electronic Paper” technology.
“In the future, it could get wrapped around a lamppost or a person’s wrist, even worn as clothing,” said Sony spokesperson Chisato Kitsukawa. “Perhaps it can be put up like wallpaper.”
Perhaps, but most of us would rather have our current products work from Sony than worry about wearing a TV screen on our elbow.
Read More | CNN
Gallery: Sony Unveils Bendable Screens
Club Houses Come With Their Own Trees
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Home Entertainment, Toys,
We have shown you many outside entertainment centers for adults, and now brothers John and Ron Daniels have created some for the younger crowd. Instead of creating a house in a tree, they include the tree as part of their design. Exteriors are crafted out of redwood and western red cedar, and the club houses are composed of wood such as oak or pine. Beginning at a size of about 14 feet tall, the company also offers “environments” for businesses and animatronics.
The Daniels’ Wood Land original house was created in 1997. The company now boasts the likes of Clint Eastwood and Vanessa Williams as former clients. This is completely understandable considering prices begin at $5,300.00. Because they can be modified with electricity, we are thinking that with the high cost of housing these days, we just might have them customize one for us.
Read More | Daniel's Wood Land
Gallery: Club Houses Come With Their Own Trees
Tamanoi Vinegar Sports a New Spokesbot
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science,
It’s not all about the Pillsbury Doughboy any longer. Joining the ranks of spokes-mascots is Japan’s Tamanoi Vinegar Robot, with a mouth that is in sync with his words and gestures through 24 points of upper body articulation. At a size of nearly 6 feet and a weight of about 220 lbs., the bot has a plastic outer shell to match Tamanoi’s black vinegar. Created by the company buildup, when he makes his debut at the company’s head office in Osaka in July, guests will also be treated to a 12-minute high-def video about vinegar. You can catch a preview of Vin-bot in action. Here’s hoping that they at least hand out popcorn for the event. How exciting can vinegar be?
Read More | Tamanoi (Japanese) via Pink Tentacle
Gallery: Tamanoi Vinegar Sports a New Spokesbot
iRobot Sponsors Robotics Contest
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, Misc. Tech,
iRobot, keepers of the roomba, has announced that has teamed up with sites Instructables and Tom’s Hardware Guide to create a contest for all you wannabe inventors.
“Robots spark the creative juices of people with a wide variety of interests because we all have dull, dirty or dangerous tasks that we would rather delegate to a robot,” said Helen Greiner, co-founder and chairperson of the company.
If you would like to enter your own bot idea, submit images and description of your creation to iRobot and you might win $5,000. They are also offering a limited amount of scholarship packages if you have a design in mind but cannot afford the $129.00 Create Kit. Winners will be announced August 31. We’re thinking that maybe we can encourage the guy with the Beer-Launching Fridge to adapt his and make it a “brewba.”
Read More | iRobot
