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Latest Gear Live Videos
Exoskeleton Aids the Burden for Soldiers
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
MIT has found a way to lighten the burden for those in the military, at least physically. The Exoskeleton Leg Rack can take 80% of an 80 lb. load off its wearer although it will affect his/her normal walking pattern. Hugh Herr, principal investigator of the Biomechatronics Group, hopes that the device will allow soldiers to hustle without running out of breath and to carry heavier packs. He believes that about 20 years from now people will be buying leg racks instead of bike racks. We love when scientists do research for the military, knowing that eventually it will trickle down to those of us in the civilian sector, even if it takes another 20 years.
Read More 
| MIT
Gallery: Exoskeleton Aids the Burden for Soldiers
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Ahoy There, Li’l Buccanneers!
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet, Misc. Tech, Transportation, Videos,
A-a-a-r, me mateys! Gather ye round afore the night be through as we be honorin’ a grand, beauteous day of piratin’. Today be Talk Like a Pirate Day and by the powers we be flyin’ the Jolly Roger, grabbin’ some grog ‘til we be loaded to the Gunwales, an’ tossin’ some greasy, lily-livered landlubbers an’ sprogs offen’ the plank. Join us an’ send yer wenches an’ mates greets to be carryin’ on the tradition. Sure ‘nuf ye be earnin’ yer place in Fiddlers Green, ye will!
(Thanky Malchy, me hearty!)
Read More | Yarr
Gallery: Ahoy There, Li’l Buccanneers!
Free Directions by Cell Phone
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Misc. Tech, Transportation,
No need to invest in costly GPS if you are traveling to a major city. Dial Directions is a new free service that allows anyone to get anywhere with the use of voice commands. You simply dial “DIR-ECT-IONS” (347-328-4667) from your cell phone, giving your location and destination by address, building, intersection, or event. You then receive directions in text. If you are having your own party, you can post that on the service, too. Available in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Sacramento, San Diego and Washington, D.C. now, more will become available very soon. We would love it if the service could help us find a parking spot on our next jaunt to a Big City.
Read More | Dial Directions
Gallery: Free Directions by Cell Phone
Toyota Unveils Green iQ
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, Transportation,
Toyota’s new iQ concept car was recently introduced at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. The vehicle is only 2.98 meters in length yet has room to seat up to three adults and 1 child with its innovative 3+1 system which allows the fourth seat to be utilized for luggage space. We could not find any information concerning what type of fuel the vehicle will use, leading us to believe that this is not a plug-and-play automobile. All the same, we are hoping we will get a glimpse of it at the NAIAS early next year. The iQ will make its formal debut in Europe probably in 2009.
Read More | AutoblogGreen
Gallery: Toyota Unveils Green iQ
Fergie’s Hummer Auctioned for Charity
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Hot Deals, Internet, Transportation,
You have another chance to own a piece of a celebrity. Fergie was so moved by the sentiment of Live Earth that she decided to sell her Hummer on eBay and donate all of the proceeds to Global Green. The auction is part of eBay’s attempt at helping to save the planet with its Giving Works program, which donates 10 to 100% of sellers’ proceeds to benefit environmental charities. The bidding war will go on until Sept. 14, with the current bid around $64,000. We were just thinking that with all the gas it takes to move a Hummer, perhaps a better idea would be to offer up a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
Read More | eBay
Gallery: Fergie’s Hummer Auctioned for Charity
Proteus Heads For the Water
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
Developed for biological studies, water exploration, rescue, and the military, the Proteus has begun taking a few test drives around the States. The wave adaptive modular vessel can travel up to 5,000 miles on 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Its debut was in New York and it is planning on working its way to San Francisco in January before it moves on to Washington, D.C.
At a size of 100 x 50 feet and a cost of about $1.5 million, the vehicle has metal and fabric pontoons with hinges for skimming up to 30 knots (34.5 mph) while cushioned by shock absorbers. It also can be fitted with different detachable cabins for up to 12 passengers. Named after the Greek sea god who could alter his appearance, we think the Proteus will look a bit strange at first glance and just may scare off the enemy without doing anything but hanging out.
Read More | Live Science
Gallery: Proteus Heads For the Water
Wheelchair Moves by Thoughts
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
Ambient has created a wheelchair that runs on its passenger’s thoughts. It does this with the help of Audeo, a system that catches signals in the larynx from the brain on their way to the voice box. They are then sent to a computer which decodes them and matches them up to pre-recorded words that moves the chair in the specified direction. The company feels that the technology could also work to help those who cannot speak by relaying the messages to a synthesizer. Kudos to Ambient for believing that “everyone should be able to express their thought and ideas.”
Read More | Gearfuse
Gallery: Wheelchair Moves by Thoughts
Last month we told you about NY cabbies who were disgruntled about the new requirement that all taxis have GPS and touchscreen monitors that allow customers to pay by credit card. Yesterday began a two day strike that showed that the drivers were serious in their threats about suffering a lack of privacy with the new rule. Backed by The New York Taxi Workers Alliance, it wasn’t apparent how many took part in the strike and the ramifications of the opposition remain to be seen since other groups opposed the strike.
Read More | ABC
Gallery: NYC Cabbies Stage Strike
Make Tracks With This USB Car
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Toys, Transportation, USB,
Our pick for USB toy of the week is this RC car. You control its six directions from your computer with software for up to a distance of 4 feet (cable included.) The minute vehicle’s size is 8.5 x 4.5 x 3.3 cm, weighs 44 g, and is compatible with Windows 2000/XP. After only a few minutes in its garage for a charge, add decals, honk the horn, and off you go for only $29.99. Check out the demo on brando to watch it go through its paces.
(Thanks, Fanny)
Read More | usb.brando
Gallery: Make Tracks With This USB Car
Isn’t That a Giant Banana Over Walmart?
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
Argentinian César Sáez, now based in Montreal, creates socially interactive sculptures and is now working on a Geostationary Banana. Designed with a propeller for the lower atmosphere, it will control itself with the help of two gyroscopes when it reaches up to 50km high. At a size of almost 300 meters in length, it has a semi-rigid bamboo structure, a skin of synthetic paper, and will ultimately cost over 1 million dollars. Sáez and his team are planning to launch the vehicle next August from Sonoma or Baja, Mexico destined for Texas.
We couldn’t really find any explanation for the launching of the giant banana blimp, although his site mentions possible reasons such as a tribute to the advertising industry and Andy Warhol. Why Texas? There are lots of “Walmarts, Exxons and Haliburtons there,” or perhaps because “there are no banana plantations in Texas.” We just wondered if it will have to be quarantined before entering the states.
Read More | Flasher
