Archive for March, 2007
PC Gadgets, USB Gadgets
A washable keyboard, mouse, and Smartcard reader
There’s this one keyboard in my house that is just nasty. I mean, the years of food, drink, greasy fingers, and not being cleaned didn’t do anything to helps its cause. It’s pretty much beyond cleaning at this point, unless you were to take out each key, individually clean it, then reassemble it. At that point, I think we can all agree it’s time for a new one. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll pick up the Washable Keyboard from Unotron. It won’t quite clean itself, but it makes it easier for you to do it yourself.
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Drinking Gadgets
Temperature controlled wine dispensing unit
Ever fancied having your own wine on tap, well now you can with the vin au verre wine dispenser.
You load up the vin au verre with 8 of your favourite tipples, plug in tubes and what not and though and behold you can now pour your wine out of a tap that wouldn’t look out of place in McDonalds. The dispensing unit is also fully temperature controlled and offers protection from UV. So if you’re more of a wine drinker than collector this is more suitable solution than the single bottle cellar we reported on earlier.
More info over at EuroCave, found via Gizmo Central, thanks Mike.
Conceptual Gadgets
Droid could enter healthcare workforce in future
A human-sized android was paraded in a public demonstration in the middle of last week in Tokyo, and it was proudly showing off its weightlifting skills to everybody by picking up a 30kg package from a desk as well as lifting a 66kg humanoid doll out of bed. I suppose this droid would definitely be a boon to nurses and healthcare providers worldwide, since plenty of patients these days are from the obese and overweight categories, leaving nurses no choice but to call for help when transporting these patients out of bed.
Electronic Gadgets
A plethora of cardiac monitoring devices
When you talk about cardiac monitoring devices, most of the time the image that comes into mind is some bulky piece of electronics. The CardioPocket aims to change that image by offering a leather wallet that can be used to carry bills, credit cards, ID, and other wallet-y items, doubling up as a 1-lead ECG transmitter which can be used to diagnose heart rhythm disturbances. The ECG transmitter within will be able to encourage the subscriber to pick up the phone and contact the Monitor Center pronto whenever any discomfort arises. All the user needs to do is place the wallet against the chest while using a cellphone or standard telephone to transmit a real-time ECG strip within seconds for an immediate consultation.
Conceptual Gadgets, Kitchen Gadgets
Cool Conceptual Toaster
Designed by Atil Kizilbayir this is one of the coolest toasters I’ve ever seen. The toaster is designed to work like a heated tunnel, you put plain bread into the toasting carriage at one end, the ‘x’ seconds later the carriage pops out the other end with nicely tanned toast.
If this conceptual toaster ever becomes a reality I’ll be buying one though I’m not getting my hopes up.
via RGS, thanks Juegen.
Audio/Video Gadgets, iPod gadgets
Dragon I, Is That an iPod Dock, an Octopus or a Vase of Flowers?
Take a look at this picture. Is that a modern art sculpture, an octopus, or maybe even a vase of flowers? No, that’s the Dragon I, a new sound system with an integrated iPod dock and a design that’s clever and original. Each of the “tentacles” is actually an independent speaker with 5 watts in a total power of 20 watts.
Audio/Video Gadgets
Rembrants Sing Thundercats Theme
Remember a band called The Rembrants? If not, don’t feel bad. The Rembrants were pretty much just a one hit wonder from the 1990’s. Their only hit song was “I’ll Be There For You” (aka the Friends TV show theme song).
Well, if you happen to be a fan of the classic cartoon Thundercats (1985), you might suffer a slight Rembrants flashback. Part of the DVD extras for Thundercats - Season Two, Vol. 1 is music video of the Thundercats theme song sung by The Rembrants. In case you are curious, here’s a behind the scenes promotional video of the music video I found on Vmix.
Where’s Mumm-Ra when you need him?
BeSocial: linkcritics | methodshop
Tech News
The newest theories on building the great pyramid (in 3d!)
What?! Pyramids?! On a gadget blog?!
Yes, here’s why. A French archaeologist Jean-Pierre Houdin teamed up with Dassault Systems (they make Solidworks, my favorite 3d modelling software) to showcase Houdin’s newest theories about how the pyramids were made. It tips a lot of the older theories of construction on their heads.
Houdin’s theories are rather impressive, simple, and direct at demonstrating how the great pyramid could actually have been completed. A combination with clever pulleys, counterweights, sledges, lifts, and internal ramps that protected workers from both the sun and loose debris from outside. Check out the 3d presentation over at Dassault Systems. Read the rest of this entry »
