Interesting article about new technologies and hype!

I found an interesting article about new technologies, hype and phases of success here:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/08/11/1154803088604.html

It's an interesting read, especially with the patterns and lines of evolution of TRIZ in the back of your head. Maybe a comparison would be nice! Well, a future article maybe :-)

Drinks for Dogs

Oh my... trends...

Drinks for Dogs: " K9 Water Co: Vitamin fortified, flavored bottled water specifically formulated for dogs has been introduced under the titles of Puddle Water, Hose Water, Gutter Water and Toilet Water. The Original K9 Vita Water(tm) is fortified with vitamins such as A, B, C and manganese, and conveniently packaged in colorful, 1/2 liter, recyclable bottles, according to Don Magier, CEO, K9 Water Co. Inc. It is available at http://www.k9waterco.com, or check with your local pet store. 'Each variety is specifically formulated to provide your dog with essential vitamins that contribute to overall good health while providing the hydration that dogs need,' says Magier. The Original K9 Vita Water can be enjoyed in four of the flavors dogs enjoy most: chicken, beef, liver and lamb. 'Dogs are raving that it's REBARKABLY REFRESHING!' Magier says. 'As animal lovers and pooch parents ourselves, we're committed to producing the highest quality product we possibly can for dogs to enjoy. We use only purified water, human grade vitamins and no artificial colors. Our formula is the res"

Self Made Tent

Ideality again! A tent that builds itself! A great example that shows that there is a lot of room for improvement in "old" products!

Self Made Tent: " Yanko Design: Who has never dreamt of a tent that could erect itself without any help? – Just throw 2Seconds into the air and it will open up on its own before even reaching the ground. It is the spring hoops that enable this. The idea was to pre-assemble the different elements (room, double roof, hoops) to simplify the hiker's life as much as possible. The tent features coated double roof with waterproof seams for excellent water resistance, anti-condensation breathing room and extra-strong polyester fabric. The tent can accommodate two people and it can be folded in just 15 seconds. Self Made Tent [Yanko Design]"

PH-DVD format claims to bump discs up to 100GB

It's all about overcoming drawbacks! Problem solving, that is :-)

PH-DVD format claims to bump discs up to 100GB: "Filed under: HDTV, Storage Just when you thought the format wars couldn't get any stranger -- and just a day after we brought you the pride of Ukraine, VCDHD -- here comes another next-gen optical disc 'standard,' from Dr. Oron Zachar of Polarizonics Corp. (Yes, you read that right, and, no, this isn't the same character played by Peter Sellers in a 60s sci-fi flick). The good doctor claims that by 'exploiting the polarization element contained in all current DVD formats,' he can triple the capacity of most other optical disc formats, including DVDs, HD DVD, and Blu-ray discs using existing production equipment. We're not sure if any of this actually works, but Polarizonics is attracting at least some investment interest, so it could be worth keeping an eye on -- if only to find out what Polarizonics actually means. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Japan to roll out age-verifying cigarette machines

Ideality on the way: The cigarette machine checks age itself! Great!

Japan to roll out age-verifying cigarette machines: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets In a move that's sure to annoy tobacco-lovers nationwide, especially underage ones, Japan has announced that the country's 620,000 cigarette vending machines will be replaced in 2008 with models that require an RFID-embedded age-verification card to release their delicious-but-deadly wares. This won't have much of an impact for those who buy their smokes by the carton or over-the-counter, but if a tobacco jones hits you while you're jammin' at the karaoke bar, you'd better be sporting your 'smoker's card' (which, conveniently, can also be used to pay for your habit) . We're not really sure how effective this system is going to be, though, as it probably won't be all that difficult for kids to buy one of these exclusive cards from some shady non-smoking adult. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Programmable Liquid Container lets you customize your cola

I think I heard this before, but it's definately a good "TRIZ-conform" idea (dynamization, make an object adapt to it's environment or user):

Programmable Liquid Container lets you customize your cola: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household We used to think it was pretty sweet that we had two flavor options in each package of Nerds candy, so the idea of a customizable soda with an almost infinite combination of fragrances, flavors, and colors has us understandably excited. Massachusetts-based IPIFINI (the bold is part of the branding) has exceeded our wildest dreams with their Programmable Liquid Container, which contains small, flavor additive-filled (or paint-filled, for the home improvement set) 'buttons' around the periphery of the plastic container. Consumers press the appropriate buttons to create different flavors from a common base, such as cherry vanilla cola or raspberry tangerine lemonade, or get even wilder with aroma and food coloring options. IPIFINI claims to already be licensing the technology around various industries, so don't be surprised to see sodas and coffees (and probably some alcopops too) in the near future that let you choose your level of buzz.[Via The Raw Feed] Read Permalink Email this "

ALPS promises record-breaking hard drive densities by year's end

Well, breaking barriers while flashdrives are on the horizon. When will the new technology take over?

ALPS promises record-breaking hard drive densities by year's end: "Filed under: Storage Nothing gets our hearts racing like advancements in storage technology, so we're pretty giddy that the current 80GB-per-platter ceiling on 2.5-inch hard drives may soon get a boost, with 200GB drives possibly available before the end of the year. Japan's ALPS Technologies has claimed that it will present a new type of thin-film recording head at a private trade conference this May -- called TuMR -- that will enable perpendicular hard disc drive recording at an unparalleled 170 GB/in2 , compared to the paltry 132 GB/in2 that Seagate is able to muster today. Hitachi had previously announced a technology capable of 230 GB/in2 , but so far hasn't produced the goods, so ALPS (and also Western Digital, it would seem, for whom they supply parts) has a golden opportunity to step up and take the coveted density crown. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

IBM, Fujifilm developing 8 terabyte magnetic tape cartridges

Reviving old solutuions with new technology!

IBM, Fujifilm developing 8 terabyte magnetic tape cartridges: "Filed under: Storage If you thought that magnetic tape cartridges were headed the way of Zip disks and five-and-a-quarter-inch floppies into the storage medium graveyard, think again, because IBM and Fujifilm are currently working together to make the venerable technology capable of storing a Blu-ray-humbling eight terabytes-per-cartridge. Using barium ferrite crystal film from Fuji and read/write technology from IBM, the two companies are reporting success in creating storage densities of up to 6.67 billion-bits/square-inch, which is something like fifteen times the capacility of current backup tape. Unfortunately there is no word yet if the cartridges, which should be available in about five years, will be able to fit in your old 8-track player for rocking millions and millions of MP3s. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Hybrid hard drives will debut at WinHEC

Flashdrives will replace common harddrives one day? Well, one indicator is here: The new systems becomes integrated with the leading system at the moment. reminds me of combining steam boats and sailships "several years" ago!

Hybrid hard drives will debut at WinHEC: "Samsung will be demonstrating a prototype of the first hybrid hard drive next week at WinHEC. Hybrid hard drives use flash memory to enable boot and resume operations to execute twice as fast, and save on battery life at the same time. Hybrid hard drives eliminate the need for the disk to spin continuously, which would contribute to a longer usable life as well as less risk of data loss from dropping or jarring. This is due to the NAND flash memory acting as a cache. Either a 128MB or 256MB cache would act as the first step in storing data. The hard disk would only need to spin to save data when this cache is filled, roughly once every 10 to 20 minutes. The cache could also assist in allowing a PC to boot quicker. Windows Vista will take full advantage of the hybrid hard drive and I expect we’ll see these drives appear in a lot of Vista-capable mobile computers after Vista ships. (via BetaNews) -jk "

The Infernoptix Digital Pyrotechnic Matrix

Spectacular "3D-Display"!!!

The Infernoptix Digital Pyrotechnic Matrix: "Filed under: Displays Us display-worshipping types are about to get a fire baptism by Infernoptix, makers of the Digital Pyrotechnic Matrix. The diametric opposite of the Bitfall, this display-by-fire uses a pretty low res roughly QQQQQQVGA 12 x 7 'pixel' array to scroll text, track cursor movement, play animations, or even spout off according to percussive key input. We're not sure what Infernoptix is going to ask for one of their custom built Matrices, but ever since that incident with an acetylene torch in '88, we've been dying to get our hands on some professionally made gear that'll spit fire to our wills and not melt our faces like so many a Yngwie solo.[Via information aesthetics] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

SanDisk wants you to say iDon't to iPod

Not that I am against ipods, but I think this is funny:

SanDisk wants you to say iDon't to iPod: "Filed under: Portable Audio In a viral marketing move that's sure to draw the fire of Apple fanboys enthusiasts (probably right here in the comments, if history is any indication), SanDisk has posted a website called 'iDon't' that encourages people to flee the closed iPod universe (the 'iTatorship,' they call it) -- and to pick up a SanDisk Sansa e200 while they're at it. While we certainly won't go into the pros and cons of each company's products here (mainly for fear of getting flamed), we must say that the iDon't site features little compelling content other than a few cheesy wallpaper downloads and some links to anti-iPod sites, and mostly comes across as sour grapes from the runner-up in an industry being dominated by a single player. Still, other manufacturers need to do something in order to gain market share, and R&D is, like, really expensive, so if you can convince a couple of kids to sport t-shirts and buddy icons featuring your propaganda, who knows, maybe a few consumers will bite.[Via iLounge forums]"

Fieldvertising

Transition to the supersystem ;)

Fieldvertising: " Brand Infection: Here’s one for Switzerland’s airline group Swiss Air, created by Artfield (website in german), a company shaping agricultural land into art but also advertising. Using fields between 50.000 and 100.000 square meters the company can create characters of up to 100meters length while only using natural colors and elements. Pretty crazy but hey, this works perfectly next to airports where people already see the advertising from far up. Fieldvertising [Brand Infection]"

Das Keyboard II with blank keys reviewed

Extraction, Trimming, Ideality... A blank keyboard?

Das Keyboard II with blank keys reviewed: "Filed under: Peripherals Those of us who type for a living are perhaps more attuned to keyboard minutiae than the average computer user, so any 'board that promises to improve our WPM without resorting to a frustrating realignment of the keys naturally piques our interest. The Das Keyboard II includes several 'enhancements' that may or may not improve your typing speed by up to 100%, most noticeably the keys themselves, which, while arranged in the traditional QWERTY-configuration, are completely blank. Supposedly the lack of even a single symbol keeps the user from 'cheating' and looking down at his/her hands, but Extreme Tech instead found themselves habitually mistyping and wasting time referring to character maps. Ultimately, since the letter-less keyboard only improved the seasoned typists' speed by about 10%, it's the other features of the Das II that may entice consumers, including high-end,'clicky' keys rated to 50 million keystrokes which are differently-weighted to compensate for variable finger strength. Overall, ET gives the blank 'board a"

The Combimouse

Local quality, taking out, universality... :D

The Combimouse: "Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals We were about to write this off as a harmless gimmick, and a great gift to slow down a couple FPS rivals of ours, but after staring mesmerized at the sheer craziness of it all, we're starting to think these Combimouse peeps are on to something. Their concept is quite simple: reduce the repetitive and arduous task of moving your hand from keyboard to mouse and back again a few thousand times a day. They accomplish that by splitting the keyboard and making the right half into a full fledged mouse. Your merely switch up your grip and the mouse function automatically springs into action. You might look a bit dorky in the act, and it surely won't work for everybody, but it seems to us that a spreadsheet pusher could quickly get used to the setup and learn to rock it. The creators of the Combimouse have recently completed their final prototype and are on the lookout for a manufacturer. We'll keep you posted. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

The Wheel turns your bike into a moped

Nice idea :-)

The Wheel turns your bike into a moped: "Filed under: Transportation Bicycles have always been a great way to get around, but the whole pedaling thing really takes away a lot of the appeal for some people -- we're sure countless dusty bikes with flat tires are hanging in garages nationwide. Well a company called RevoPower wants to put that huge fleet of two-wheeled vehicles back on the road with an innovative new product that easily converts most mountain or hybrid bikes into 20MPH mopeds. The Wheel, as it's known, manages to pack a gasoline- and oil-powered 23cc, two-stroke internal combustion engine into the space between a standard wheel's spokes, giving it a clear advantage over other modification kits which require tinkering with the existing drivetrain. Once the old wheel has been swapped out for the new Wheel, all you need to do is attach the throttle control to your handlebars and slide the fuel container into your water bottle cage (hope you don't get thirsty on your ride), and you're ready to hit the streets at an environmentally-friendly 200+ MPG. A video of The Wheel (and "

One Time Password DisplayCard heightens transaction security

Clever idea:

One Time Password DisplayCard heightens transaction security: "Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets While we were a bit skeptical when Chase sent us one of their questionably-secure RFID-equipped 'Blink' cards last year, we're gonna be all over a new technology from several companies that actually gives credit cards a heigtened level of security by generating a one-time passcode for each transaction, viewable on an embedded e-ink display. The OTP DisplayCard, as it's being called, was developed by InCard Technologies in conjunction with security firm nCryptone using technology from SiPix Imaging and SmartDisplayer, and is being targeted at financial institutions or at other companies as a replacement for the password-generating key fobs used to enable VPN access to their intranets. While the added security feature would come into play for both online and in-person transactions, it will probably be most useful for Internet purchases, making your credit card info almost worthless to identity thieves who can't get their hands on the card itself. Oh, and to answer the inevitable question: no, these cards w"

3D displays coming to Windows Mobile 5?

Transition to a higher dimension:

3D displays coming to Windows Mobile 5?: "No funky glasses required. That's the premise behind the 3D prototype mobile display built by DDD Group. DDD, which stands for Dynamic Digital Depth, build the prototype based on the HTC Faraday running Windows Mobile 5 on a TI OMAP850 chipset. With the appropriate screen, DDD can display 3D images at 15 frames per second by generating two discrete images: one for each eye that the brain perceives as a three-dimensional image. I can hardly wait to see 'Bubble Breaker' in 3-D on a Windows Mobile device. Seriously, this could have some very practical uses in the medical and engineering industries just to name a few. -kct "

3D displays coming to Windows Mobile 5?

Transition to a higher dimension:

3D displays coming to Windows Mobile 5?: "No funky glasses required. That's the premise behind the 3D prototype mobile display built by DDD Group. DDD, which stands for Dynamic Digital Depth, build the prototype based on the HTC Faraday running Windows Mobile 5 on a TI OMAP850 chipset. With the appropriate screen, DDD can display 3D images at 15 frames per second by generating two discrete images: one for each eye that the brain perceives as a three-dimensional image. I can hardly wait to see 'Bubble Breaker' in 3-D on a Windows Mobile device. Seriously, this could have some very practical uses in the medical and engineering industries just to name a few. -kct "

South Korea outfitting elderly, disabled with bioshirts

Intelligent shirts. Good idea for healthcare!

South Korea outfitting elderly, disabled with bioshirts: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables, Wireless Proving that there's more to working in South Korea's Ministry of Information and Communication than just building insect-like robot soldiers for surveillance and killing, the department has initiated a pilot program which was designed to prevent, and not cause, people's deaths. Specifically, the agency is outfitting 100 elderly and disabled folks in Daegu City with so-called bioshirts, which as we've seen before, monitor a patient's vital signs and wirelessly signal for help if anything is awry. Called the 'U-Healthcare Service,' the $1.4 million program is initially targeting senior citizens who live alone, as well as patients with chronic ailments, and also provides options for running self-diagnostics, enabling remote monitoring, and even rudimentary medical consultations. [Via Smart Mobs, image courtesy of Sensatex] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Aerogrow

Standard-Solution: Use "nothing" (or better: air):

Aerogrow: "Treehugger: Here's a little something for burgeoning urban gardeners and those without green thumbs alike. We featured AeroGrow's aeroponics system back in the day, before it was available for sale; we're happy to say that it has finally arrived. With it comes your ability to grow vegetables, greens, herbs and the like in your kitchen (or just about anywhere indoors) by suspending plant roots in the air, rather than soil or water. The suspended plants derive their nutrients from the air; with the help of the 'smart' lighting and nutrient-cycling that comes with the garden, the company claims accelerated growth and increased yields over hydroponics and traditional outdoor gardening. Skeptical? They even guarantee a harvest after 28 days. AeroGrow also offers seed kits to go with the garden, including things like chili peppers, gourmet herbs, cherry tomatoes and strawberries; the garden goes for $149.95 and the seed kits are $19.95, available through their website and selected retailers like Sur La Table. Indoor Gardening with AeroGarden Aeroponics [Treehugger]"

Aerogrow

Standard-Solution: Use "nothing" (or better: air):

Aerogrow: "Treehugger: Here's a little something for burgeoning urban gardeners and those without green thumbs alike. We featured AeroGrow's aeroponics system back in the day, before it was available for sale; we're happy to say that it has finally arrived. With it comes your ability to grow vegetables, greens, herbs and the like in your kitchen (or just about anywhere indoors) by suspending plant roots in the air, rather than soil or water. The suspended plants derive their nutrients from the air; with the help of the 'smart' lighting and nutrient-cycling that comes with the garden, the company claims accelerated growth and increased yields over hydroponics and traditional outdoor gardening. Skeptical? They even guarantee a harvest after 28 days. AeroGrow also offers seed kits to go with the garden, including things like chili peppers, gourmet herbs, cherry tomatoes and strawberries; the garden goes for $149.95 and the seed kits are $19.95, available through their website and selected retailers like Sur La Table. Indoor Gardening with AeroGarden Aeroponics [Treehugger]"

Trend: Consumer Generated Campaigns

Use ressources: Companies use users to advertise via blogs, podcasts, videocasts and other communication channels. Why not?

Trend: Consumer Generated Campaigns: "Consumer Generated Campaigns capitalize on the trend of consumers creating video content and now also advertising. Trend Description Throughout the past months we’ve reported on the trend of consumers creating content such as blogs, podcasts and sharing their self made video files on video portals such as You Tube and Google Video (see Viewer Generated Content) [...]"

Philips patent app would force you to watch commercials, both live and recorded

Ouch. Not allowed to change channel during tv-ads?

Philips patent app would force you to watch commercials, both live and recorded: "Filed under: Home Entertainment In a move that would surely delight advertisers but enrage consumers, Philips is trying to patent a method for flagging digital TV content to not only prevent viewers from changing the channel during commercials in live broadcasts, but to actually lock out fast-forwarding capabilities during ads in recorded programs as well. Even worse, the patent specifically applies to the already widely-deployed Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) middleware system standard, meaning that many Europeans' current TVs would be susceptible to these Orwellian controls. Since the US version of this platform, OCAP, is largely based on the MHP architecture, it's not a stretch to imagine such flagging being applied to American sets as well. Although we're certain that a workaround would be developed if Philips' evil plan ever actually materializes, just the thought of our DVRs going impotent is enough to fill us with fear and trepidation.Update 1: Reader Paul B, who also happened to chair the group that wrote the MHP "

Miller to introduce self-cooling beer cans next year

Ideality at work. Self cooling or self heating, no surprise :)

Miller to introduce self-cooling beer cans next year: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets We're always keen on technology that improves our beer consumption experience, whether it be coasters and pitchers that signal for help when you need a refill, or mugs that let you share a drink with distant friends. Obviously, then, we were understandably excited to learn that Miller will be the first domestic brewer to utilize Tempra's self-cooling cans for dropping your drink's temperature a minimum of 30º F on command. Self-cooling, and self-heating, technology have been around for awhile, but save for the homemade Peltier Beer personal beverage cooler, this is the first method we've seen to cool down your suds long after the ice in your cooler has melted. Tempra's I.C. Can works by drawing heat out of the beverage with a natural desiccant (drying agent), through a water gel coated evaporator, and into an insulated heat-sink container, once an internal vacuum-seal has been broken. Miller's self-cooled offerings should begin showing up in finer distributors nationwide starting sometime next year, and as you"

Miller to introduce self-cooling beer cans next year

Ideality at work. Self cooling or self heating, no surprise :)

Miller to introduce self-cooling beer cans next year: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets We're always keen on technology that improves our beer consumption experience, whether it be coasters and pitchers that signal for help when you need a refill, or mugs that let you share a drink with distant friends. Obviously, then, we were understandably excited to learn that Miller will be the first domestic brewer to utilize Tempra's self-cooling cans for dropping your drink's temperature a minimum of 30º F on command. Self-cooling, and self-heating, technology have been around for awhile, but save for the homemade Peltier Beer personal beverage cooler, this is the first method we've seen to cool down your suds long after the ice in your cooler has melted. Tempra's I.C. Can works by drawing heat out of the beverage with a natural desiccant (drying agent), through a water gel coated evaporator, and into an insulated heat-sink container, once an internal vacuum-seal has been broken. Miller's self-cooled offerings should begin showing up in finer distributors nationwide starting sometime next year, and as you"

Sony files patent for adjustable bathtub

Interesting to see which company files patents in which areas. But besides of that: An adjustable bathtube also represents the dymization trend.

Sony files patent for adjustable bathtub: "Filed under: Household Sony seems to have decided that the traditional one-size-fits-all bathtub is ripe for a rethink, so the company has filed a patent application for a tub that can be reshaped based on an owner's needs. Basically, it works like the detention-level trash compactor; press a button and the walls of the tub close in or slide out, resulting in a wide and shallow tub, or a narrow and deep one. We knew Sony was scrapping some lines of business, and exploring others that might show more potential, but we had no idea they were going in this direction. Maybe Sir Howard just likes to take a good soak, and wants to make sure he can do so in a brand-loyal manner. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Thought-based biometrics system underway?

Yes, the next way to communicate with technology by "thoughts". No SciFi anymore!

Thought-based biometrics system underway?: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables Seems kind of old school if your brain interface doesn't provide extra-sensory enhancement or integration to robotic limbs, but researchers at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada are working on a system for thought-based biometrics by scanning and interpreting each individual's unique brain-wave signatures that occur when they think of a certain thought or can identify patterns uniquely -- kind of like that Peter Pan pixie dust thing, except in this case you get granted access to your box. For a variety of reasons the system isn't without its doubts and detractors, and will probably continue to have them so long as you have to wear an EEG cap on your scalp to get a reading -- though according to UCLA professor and BCI expert Jacques Vidal, rocking that headgear's the least of this system's problems. But if you expect us to shrug off any system that lets us interface with our gear via mind-link, you're sorely mistaken. So keep at it Carleton U, let's see some thought scanners. Read Permalink Email t"

Kodak patent for age-detecting camera system

Use negative side effects to draw benefit from it:

Kodak patent for age-detecting camera system: "Filed under: Digital Cameras Even despite all those face lifts, tummy tucks, fake tans, dye-jobs, and botox injections, Kodak may soon be able to accurately gauge one's age when it comes snapshot time. They apparently filed a patent in 2004 for a system which, as the above images culled from their patent filing so plainly suggest, determines the age of a photographer's subject by putting that red-eye effect to good use and metering the size and distance between those two red dots the rest of us can't seem to reliably get rid of in our photos. Apparently pupil dilation reflex time increases with age (like most other reflexes), you'll be able to find out for sure whether Grandma really is as young as she says. Though frankly we're not really sure we want to know.[Via New Scientist] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Turn your optical mouse into a handheld scanner

Some kind of "use of ressources". Maybe needs some finetuning?

Turn your optical mouse into a handheld scanner: " Sure, it's no Docupen scanner, but that little optical mouse you might have with you could work in a pinch. You'll need some software to make this happen and you won't be wowed by the quality, but this is an interesting approach to re-usability of peripherals to add value. This project isn't really for the faint of heart, but if you've got some free time and a spare mouse in the house, this could be fun. (via Gizmowatch) -kct "

Give Ordinary Products a New Life

Open your eyes, there is always a way to make things better. Just think about Ideality or Value=Function/Cost:

Give Ordinary Products a New Life: "Entrepreneur.com: A stapler that staples up to 60 pages with even the lightest touch of a pinkie finger, a transparent tea tin lid that keeps out damaging UV light, a diaper bag that's runway-ready--they all point to one trend: In even the most seemingly ordinary product categories, there's room for extraordinary design innovation. 'I looked at the stapler market and [saw that] there hadn't been any functional changes in over 100 years,' says Todd Moses, founder of Newtown, Pennsylvania, office products company Accentra Inc. Moses' core product, the PaperPro, packs the power of a staple gun into an otherwise traditional, nonelectric, sleek-looking line of staplers. 'When my wife and I became parents, we entered a parallel universe of really bad brands,' says Steve, co-founder of Fleurville, a maker of high-end diaper totes. 'People having babies now are very different from what [new parents] used to be. But typically, there's an assumption that the kid is buying the products.' In other words, cartoon characters and fuzzy bunnies"

Movie Smells

Adding additional fields like smell...

Movie Smells: "TrendHunter: Movies will now be a treat for the eyes, ears… and nose. A Japanese cinema screening Colin Farrell’s latest film, The New World, will enhance the film by filling the theatre with a variety of fragrances. The smells will waft from machines located at the back of the theatre. For example, floral smells will accompany love scenes. (Woo-hoo! What a turn-on.) This is only the beginning. Other cinemas will soon be able to download programs to control scents for other films. The company producing the theatre machines actually launched a home version last year. Costing approximately US$900, the machine provides aromatherapy for work or relaxation. The machine must be topped up with various liquids to produce the scents. Smell-o-vision in Japanese Cinemas [TrendHunter]"

Japanese researchers invent completely transparent material

Changing optical parameters: Complete transparency.

Japanese researchers invent completely transparent material: "Filed under: Digital Cameras, Misc. Gadgets, Networking In a breakthrough that could benefit fields as diverse as networking, photography, astronomy, and peeping, science-types at Japan's Institute of Physical and Chemical Research have unveiled their prototype of a glass-like material that they claim to be 100% transparent. Unlike normal glass, which reflects some of the incoming light, the new so-called metamaterial --composed of a grid of gold or silver nanocoils embedded in a prism-shaped, glass-like material -- uses its unique structural properties to achieve a negative refractive index, or complete transparency. Although currently just a one-off proof-of-concept (pictured, under an electron microscope), mass-produced versions of the new material could improve fiber optic communications, contribute to better telescopes and cameras, or lead to the development of completely new optical equipment. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Self Steady Bike

Again the Ideality Self-Concept!

Self Steady Bike: "Engadet: Besides learning to use the toilet properly, the ability to ride a bicycle is one of the most important early-childhood accomplishments, but unfortunately, the current use of training wheels for practice does little to prepare kids for life on two wheels. Well a start-up using technology developed at Dartmouth College is aiming to eliminate the rolling crutches that are training wheels, and replace them with a gyroscopic flywheel that attaches to the front wheel and helps a bike steady itself whenever the rider loses his/her balance by using natural physical properties to turn the handlebars towards the direction of an impending fall. Soon be able to buy a model with this technology built-in instead of retrofitting one you already own. GyroBike flywheel helps bicycles self-steady [Engadet]"

Trend: Interactive Kiosks

No surprise: More interaction!

Trend: Interactive Kiosks: "Kiosks are becoming ever more interactive catering to a variety of services and gadgets. Trend Description The possibilities are infinite. Bank machines do not just offer cash anymore, but a huge variety of financial services. A whole array of services such as downloads of computer games, music, and information is just around the corner. Nowadays, [...]"

Self Made Tent

Ideality at work: A tent that erects itself!

Self Made Tent: " Yanko Design: Who has never dreamt of a tent that could erect itself without any help? – Just throw 2Seconds into the air and it will open up on its own before even reaching the ground. It is the spring hoops that enable this. The idea was to pre-assemble the different elements (room, double roof, hoops) to simplify the hiker's life as much as possible. The tent features coated double roof with waterproof seams for excellent water resistance, anti-condensation breathing room and extra-strong polyester fabric. The tent can accommodate two people and it can be folded in just 15 seconds. Self Made Tent [Yanko Design]"

Japan to roll out age-verifying cigarette machines

A good idea!

Japan to roll out age-verifying cigarette machines: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets In a move that's sure to annoy tobacco-lovers nationwide, especially underage ones, Japan has announced that the country's 620,000 cigarette vending machines will be replaced in 2008 with models that require an RFID-embedded age-verification card to release their delicious-but-deadly wares. This won't have much of an impact for those who buy their smokes by the carton or over-the-counter, but if a tobacco jones hits you while you're jammin' at the karaoke bar, you'd better be sporting your 'smoker's card' (which, conveniently, can also be used to pay for your habit) . We're not really sure how effective this system is going to be, though, as it probably won't be all that difficult for kids to buy one of these exclusive cards from some shady non-smoking adult. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Programmable Liquid Container lets you customize your cola

Again, customization! Increasing the degree of adaptability to the user :-) Nice idea, nice gadget.

Programmable Liquid Container lets you customize your cola: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household We used to think it was pretty sweet that we had two flavor options in each package of Nerds candy, so the idea of a customizable soda with an almost infinite combination of fragrances, flavors, and colors has us understandably excited. Massachusetts-based IPIFINI (the bold is part of the branding) has exceeded our wildest dreams with their Programmable Liquid Container, which contains small, flavor additive-filled (or paint-filled, for the home improvement set) 'buttons' around the periphery of the plastic container. Consumers press the appropriate buttons to create different flavors from a common base, such as cherry vanilla cola or raspberry tangerine lemonade, or get even wilder with aroma and food coloring options. IPIFINI claims to already be licensing the technology around various industries, so don't be surprised to see sodas and coffees (and probably some alcopops too) in the near future that let you choose your level of buzz.[Via The Raw Feed] Read Permalink Email this "

Enfucell's SoftBattery gets thin and flexible

Flexible batteries. Dynamization!!!!

Enfucell's SoftBattery gets thin and flexible: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Flexible paper batteries are by no means the newest (or even the most exciting) take on energy storage in the last few years, but we're seeing more stabs at it these days, like Enfucell's or Power Paper's flexible batteries. Besides the usual thin n' flexible selling angle, Enfucell's batteries, while still in development, are apparently anticipated to be particularly cheap and environmentally friendly due to a more off-the-shelf materials and manufacturing process of metals in a paper and laminate sandwich. Sure, it may not produce a huge amount of juice, but when you're talking about very low-energy applications like e-ink, cheap, flexible batteries could be power the digital newspapers of tomorrow before being thrown away with the day's rubbish. And don't even get us started on Power Paper's PowerCosmetics line of products, which use these batteries to rejuvinate wrinkling, sagging skin. What's going to happen to Botox and latte, Tuesdays, hm? Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Cellphones-free Paint

Now this is interesting: Think of specially painted restaurants instead of "no cellphones"-signs!

Cellphones-free Paint: "Gizmodo: NaturalNano has used nanotechnology to develop a type of paint that stops cellphone signals. It’s done by blending particles of copper that are inserted into nanotubes, and then mixing and suspending these tiny particles into a can of paint. NaturalNano’s idea is to completely block cellphone signals with this paint, and then provide a radio filtering device that will allow wireless signals to pass through only when they’re appropriate. Using this system, a theater owner could allow cellphone signals before the show or during an intermission, but completely block them during the movie. At the same time, that theater owner could still allow emergency radio communications to get through. While jamming of cellphone signals has been ruled illegal by the FCC, it’s not a crime to passively prevent signals from passing through, which is exactly what NaturalNano’s paint does. NaturalNano Develops Cellphone-Blocking Paint [Gizmodo]"

Samsung brings SilverCare sterilizing washer to US

Increasing the effectiveness of washing machines: Kill bacteria! Nice :-)

Samsung brings SilverCare sterilizing washer to US: "Filed under: Household If you've been waiting for a chance to use the power of silver to sterilize your laundry in cold water (and we know you have), Samsung has your number. The company will be bringing its SilverCare washer to the US this month, at a price of about $1,399. The washer uses silver ions to sterilize laundry, and Samsung claims that it kills 99.9% of bacteria on clothing. Once this catches on, we suspect Samsung will spring an even more upscale version on us, which will use gold or platinum to wipe out the other 0.1% of bacteria, and impart a metallic sheen to our clothes in the process. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Hit Parking

We were waiting for this a long time: To enhance a system, solutions on the level of the supersystem are sometimes the key!

Hit Parking: "PSFK: As much as 80 percent of traffic on some city streets is estimated to come from motorists driving in search of a parking spot. Mercury news reports on a futuristic system where - the navigation screen in your car's dashboard will display the nearest available street or garage parking. When you find an open space at a meter, you punch in the meter's ID number into your cell phone, a pavement mounted sensor will detect when you leave, and your credit card will be charged for exactly the number of minutes your car was parked. You can also use the same system to reserve a parking spot. Some pieces of this vision from experts are already operational. Smart Idea To Hit Parking [PSFK]"

Vein-reading keyboard raises the security bar

Interesting! If the PC senses you are in danger or in a bad mood, it won't let you "work" :-)

Vein-reading keyboard raises the security bar: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals Now that we've learned not to rely on Microsoft's Fingerprint Reader for our valuable ones and zeros, we're turning towards finger and palm vein reading as the next evolution in data security. This is not the Psychic Hotline type of palm reading that you might be envisioning, but rather refers to devices that use infrared light to scan and algorithms to encode the unique vein pattern on each person's palm or fingers. You can already access your laptop, your bank account, your car, and even your local library with vein identification systems, so it seems natural that your desktop should also get the same level of hardened security- and now it has, in the form of what Akihabara News dubs 'the vampire keyboard.' Eschewing a numberpad for the vein scanner, this particular keyboard is of the finger scanning variety, so you only lose a digit instead of the whole hand when the bad guys wanna get at your infoswag goodies. Doubt we'll see this over here, so for now it seems we're stil"

Sharp DC2J1DZ115 - world's smallest WiFi module

Again, if you think about costs of new technology first, remember that even five years ago things like this won't have been possible (also price-wise). Don't let costs come in the way of good ideas ;-)

Sharp DC2J1DZ115 - world's smallest WiFi module: "Filed under: Wireless Is there a reason for Sharp to boast that its DC2J1DZ115 is the world's smallest WiFi module? After all, unlike the world's smallest MP3 player, this isn't a product consumers can actually buy. However, smaller WiFi modules mean smaller, cheaper (we hope), lower-power WiFi devices, so as far as we're concerned, the smaller the better. Now let's get these modules into cameras, phones, PDAs and DAPs ASAP! Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Thanko Silent Mouse kills the click

This might go under "removing harmful side effects" - eliminating the mouse-click. But what about feedback?

Thanko Silent Mouse kills the click: "Filed under: Peripherals Of all the noisy, annoying devices in our office, our mouse has got to be fairly close to the bottom of the list, with an annoyance factor well below that of the fax machine, printer, coffee maker, and, of course, the dude in the next cube who insists on sharing every phone conversation with the world. While he drums on his desk. And snaps his gum. And plays loud Flash games on his PC. But the mouse? How much noise does it really make? Well, it makes enough that Japan's Thanko has decided to come out with a completely silent one, so that when you point and click, you actually point and _________. The price of silence: about ¥2,500 ($21). We suppose if you're really sensitive to ambient noise, it could come in handy. Otherwise, we really don't see the point. However, if Thanko has some ideas about the dude next door, we're ready to listen. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Seiko Spectrum e-ink watch on eBay

Interesting application of "e-ink". Any reflection of the dynamization trend?

Seiko Spectrum e-ink watch on eBay: "Filed under: Wearables If you want to be one of the first to wrap one of Seiko's Spectrum e-ink watches around your wrist, now's your chance. If you're willing to pay a pretty penny for it, that is. Seiko, which originally put a price of about $2,000 on the watch, has now decided to offer it up on eBay as part of a charity auction for British charity Help a London Child. The auction is expected to start on March 19th and run through March 25th. Seiko is only making 500 of these, so if you want one, get ready to start bidding. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Bacteria-based fuel cells for tiny robots

And again new technologies for creating energy sources.

Bacteria-based fuel cells for tiny robots: "Filed under: Robots Unless you're looking at some sort of cyborg solution, one of the biggest problem with tiny spy robots and other such entities is a reliable source of power. Some researchers at Rice University and the University of Southern California are looking to solve that with a new kind of fuel cell based on electron spitting bacteria. Apparently the bacteria can eat at about any material -- the target is waste water -- and spit electrons which the researchers hope to harvest and use to power the tiny bots. Luckily the Department of Defense is behind this to the tune of $4.4 million, so hopefully after they manage to churn out all the espionage needed for the decade, we might get some spillover to consumer devices. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Redbox DVD

Fast food movies fromm fast food rental machines in fast food restaurants: Adding more "functionality" to the ideality equation.

Redbox DVD: "KIOSK: In late May McDonald's unveiled plans to bring a taste of Hollywood to Denver by offering new release DVD movie rentals for just one dollar per night, plus tax. McDonald's, long recognized for successfully bringing together the elements of food, lifestyle, and entertainment, is installing fully automated Redbox DVD rental machines in over 100 restaurants throughout Denver, giving customers another great reason to visit The Golden Arches. At the same time, the company is experimenting with quick service ordering (QSO) kiosks at locations around the globe. In short, this quick service restaurant leader has gone kiosk crazy. In Denver, customers can visit the Redbox DVD machines at participating McDonald's and rent the newest DVD movies releases for just $1.00 per night, plus tax - with no membership forms and no late fees - and return the same movies at any participating McDonald's Denver location. The latest new DVD releases are added to the Redbox DVD rental machines every Tuesday. McDonald's is the first quick service restaurant to offer new DVD movie rentals to consumers, extending its leg"

Cali gangs get GPS anklets

Science Fiction gets close... Collars with GPS-Devices.

Cali gangs get GPS anklets: "Filed under: GPS, Wearables GPS people-tracking devices used to track kids, those under house arrest, and known sex offenders alike will have a new assignment these days: parolee gang members, ese. Three San Bernardino 'high risk' felons who've served their time for society will be getting outfitted with the anklets as a part of a test trial, which will be studied by UCI and monitored at all times by local law enforcement for tampering and movement into 'unauthorized' zones (like, say, known gang territory, or a Streisand concert). Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Auto Dust Pan

Evolution of floor-sweeping: A stationary vacuum cleaner enhances the traditional broom :-)

Auto Dust Pan: "Shiny Shiny: Huzzah!, another household appliance that stops people from having to bend over (why yes, I am the laziest housekeeper in the world, thanks for noticing). The SweepEZE Vacuuming Dust Pan replaces the standard dust pan by lying in wait to 'sense' dirt rather than lying in your broom closet waiting not to be found when you need it. When dust and other bits interrupt the SweepEZE's sensor beam, it activates and automatically vacuums the mess away, allegedly freeing us all of the dreaded 'dust pan line.' I daresay if it had to face my floors in their current state, it's sensor beam would short out, and it would, perhaps, weep. Automatic Dust Pan [Shiny Shiny]"

Caffeine SpazzStick

Adding more benefits and funcionality: A lipstick with caffeine!

Caffeine SpazzStick: "DailyCandy: Caffeine, as many a sanctimonious health freak has informed us, is a drug. One you can be very, very addicted to. To which we reply: So call us Pete Doherty and pass the biscotti. Still, the late-night runs to your dealer for double espressos have gotten a little out of hand. What you need instead is SpazzStick, the lip balm formulated with copious amounts of caffeine. Invented by an Alaskan police officer in need of a wake-up aid (polar bear-on-polar bear crime is apparently way down), the balm contains skin-softening ingredients that heal your lips in even the coldest weather and comes in tasty flavors like vanilla toffee and cool mint. The large quantities of caffeine, meanwhile, are absorbed quickly and effortlessly through your lips. So you can cop a fix any time you need it. Contact High [DailyCandy]"

Wrigley's First New Product In Nearly A Century

Taking small steps: Two flavours in one mint... (increasing dynamicity/degrees of freedom in small steps, huh?)

Wrigley's First New Product In Nearly A Century: "BRANDWEEK: Known throughout the ad world for its iconic “Doublemint Twins” ads, the Doublemint brand today debuted its first new product in nearly a century, along with an ad campaign that satirizes its own brand. Wrigley’s Doublemint Twins mints feature two flavors in one mint. Offered in both Wintercreme and Mintcreme flavors, Doublemint Twins mints packaging comes with the familiar blue and green Doublemint arrows and come in a convenient, flip-top pack. Suggested retail price is 69 cents for 37 mints. “Consumers told us that they were looking for an innovative and exciting way to enjoy the Doublemint brand that they grew up with,' stated Paul Chibe, senior marketing director for Wrigley. Doublemint Rolls Out New Offering, New Ads [BRANDWEEK]"

Methanol fuel cells could power robot limbs

New energy sources. Interesting!

Methanol fuel cells could power robot limbs: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Robots Researchers have successfully created artificial muscles powered by methanol rather than batteries, opening the door to the possibility of fuel-cell powered artificial limbs that could be used both as prosthetics and in robots. Among the techniques being used is a system that relies on a combination of methanol, hydrogen and oxygen gases that warm wires, causing them to contract. By regulating the flow of fuel, the expanding and contracting wire could be used to control the movement of an artificial limb. And the source of the fuel could come from some surprising places, according to one nanotechnologist: 'One day you could find yourself sitting in a bar next to a humanoid robot, who is taking a shot of vodka to give himself the energy to go to work,' said Ray Baughman, of the University of Texas at Dallas. If that's the case, we assume it won't be long until we see robots panhandling on street corners, chugging 40s in parking lots and building homemade stills out of their own spare parts,"

Emotional Seats

Reminds me of the Principle "Segmentation"...

Emotional Seats: " BornRich: Want more furniture like the mood light furniture that changes colors as per your mood, then I bet you will be completely mesmerized with the Animi Causa’s “Feel Seating System” which can change its form according to the emotional state of the body! The Feel gathers all positions in one object. The shape of the stunning seating system is inspired by a molecular structure. The feel seating system is made of 120 soft balls covered with elastic fabric. The molecular structure allows the chair to create multiple positions that you can’t even think off! Feel Seating System [BornRich]"

The miraculous CMU Water Runner

Again the bionics!!

The miraculous CMU Water Runner: "Filed under: Robots Although it probably won't win a following of apostles for the feat, Carnegie Mellon University bot Water Runner's ability to, well, walk on water, is at least worthy of a small write-up in a gadget blog, we think. The lightweight plastic and carbon fiber robot, which is the newest member of a supposed zoo of animal-inspired devices from CMU's NanoRobotics Lab, owes its gravity-defying skills to research done by Harvard University biologists on the basilisk, or Jesus, lizard. Like its scaly counterpart, Water Runner uses a rapid slapping motion of the 'feet' that provides enough propulsion for the bot to avoid sinking or tipping over. Although it's currently just in the proof-of-concept, prototype stage (like, it still needs to be plugged into the wall, making it less than ideal for outdoor applications), future versions of the project will sport batteries (of course), sensors for monitoring water quality, cameras for peeping stuff, and even bacteria for breaking down pollutants (think: Exxon Valdez). These applications are all w"

The RunBot out runs MIT's "Spring Flamingo," can you?

For the "bionicles":

The RunBot out runs MIT's "Spring Flamingo," can you?: "Filed under: Robots Sure, RunBot might not be a true runner yet, since it still keeps one foot on the ground at all times. Also, it's only fastest for its height, managing a swift 3.5 leg-lengths per second, besting the MIT's four times taller Spring Flamingo, which runs at comparably sluggish 1.4 leg-lengths per second. All that being said, RunBot currently holds the world record for fastest bot on two legs. The RunBot's German and Scottish creators attribute its speed to the fairly simple design, which only senses when a leg is on the ground and when a leg swings forward. RunBot merely experiments with whichever leg motions keep it upright and keep it going fastest, and the bot can accelerate up to three times its original speed with its 'learnings.' So far the RunBot can only walk in circles, since it's attached to a boom in the center of a room, but the developers say they're at work on a freestanding version, which shouldn't be too tough because the boom has little influence on the RunBot's"

The RunBot out runs MIT's "Spring Flamingo," can you?

For the "bionicles":

The RunBot out runs MIT's "Spring Flamingo," can you?: "Filed under: Robots Sure, RunBot might not be a true runner yet, since it still keeps one foot on the ground at all times. Also, it's only fastest for its height, managing a swift 3.5 leg-lengths per second, besting the MIT's four times taller Spring Flamingo, which runs at comparably sluggish 1.4 leg-lengths per second. All that being said, RunBot currently holds the world record for fastest bot on two legs. The RunBot's German and Scottish creators attribute its speed to the fairly simple design, which only senses when a leg is on the ground and when a leg swings forward. RunBot merely experiments with whichever leg motions keep it upright and keep it going fastest, and the bot can accelerate up to three times its original speed with its 'learnings.' So far the RunBot can only walk in circles, since it's attached to a boom in the center of a room, but the developers say they're at work on a freestanding version, which shouldn't be too tough because the boom has little influence on the RunBot's"

Toyota's self-parking car coming soon to US

Ideality and the self principle! Phew....

Toyota's self-parking car coming soon to US: "Filed under: Robots, Transportation While we may be stuck waiting until 2008 to see GM's self-driving car, US drivers may soon be able to sit back and let Toyota's Prius do the parking for them, as drivers in the UK and Japan can already do, using a $700 'parking assist' option. With the option, drivers need only sit back and control the speed of the car with the brake pedal while the car takes control of the wheel and maneuvers itself into place. According to Toyota, 70% of the vehicle's owners in Britain have chosen the option. Availability in the US hasn't been announced yet, only that it should arrive 'soon.' We -- and the owners of cars parked in front of and behind ours -- can't wait.[Via Slashdot] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

LCD glasses might replace bifocals

New principle of operation! Laws of evolution of engineering systems... again... :-)

LCD glasses might replace bifocals: "Filed under: Wearables Given the amount of time we spend in front of various screens over the course of the day (and night), it's not surprising that we're a little worried about our vision. But we're also vain enough that the idea of wearing ultra-thick coke-bottle glasses, or even dual-core bifocals, has us a little worried. So, we're ready to volunteer to test the LCD glasses being developed by researchers at the University of Arizona. The specs use electrodes that can alter the configuration of the LCDs, automatically refocusing based on what the wearer is looking at. There are, however, a couple of downsides. Other researchers scoff that the lenses would end up being too heavy and thick (and the prototype pictured here does look kind of goofy). The other downside: if the batteries give out, you're left with plain glass. We wouldn't want to be caught in that position while we're, say, in the middle of passing a tractor-trailer on a rain-slicked highway in the middle of the night. Maybe we'll stick with the coke-bottle lenses for a while,"

LCD glasses might replace bifocals

New principle of operation! Laws of evolution of engineering systems... again... :-)

LCD glasses might replace bifocals: "Filed under: Wearables Given the amount of time we spend in front of various screens over the course of the day (and night), it's not surprising that we're a little worried about our vision. But we're also vain enough that the idea of wearing ultra-thick coke-bottle glasses, or even dual-core bifocals, has us a little worried. So, we're ready to volunteer to test the LCD glasses being developed by researchers at the University of Arizona. The specs use electrodes that can alter the configuration of the LCDs, automatically refocusing based on what the wearer is looking at. There are, however, a couple of downsides. Other researchers scoff that the lenses would end up being too heavy and thick (and the prototype pictured here does look kind of goofy). The other downside: if the batteries give out, you're left with plain glass. We wouldn't want to be caught in that position while we're, say, in the middle of passing a tractor-trailer on a rain-slicked highway in the middle of the night. Maybe we'll stick with the coke-bottle lenses for a while,"

Bionic eye bypasses optic nerve

Principle of local quality applied?

Bionic eye bypasses optic nerve: "Filed under: Wearables Add Portugal to the list of countries working on new technologies to enable the blind to see. In this case, the procedure, developed by Dr. William Dobelle of the Dobelle Medical Institute in Portugal, links the brain directly to a set of eyeglass-mounted cameras. The cams capture images, transfer it to a shoulder-mounted computer and upload the info to the brain. The device is designed specifically for individuals who have lost their eyes and/or use of their optic nerves, and currently has been tested with just 16 patients, including one eyeless woman from the US. Using the $120,000 setup, she can now see flashes of light, though her vision is expected to improve with greater computer power.[Via MobileMag] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Climber to wear HAL cyborg suit, carry quadriplegic man to summit

This might help a lot of disabled people! Use it for something good!!!

Climber to wear HAL cyborg suit, carry quadriplegic man to summit: "Filed under: Robots We're still waiting for someone to toss one of these HAL cyborg suits on and do battle with the forces of evil, but until then we'll have to celebrate the little things. Or not so little things, in this case. The 'hybrid assistive limb' suits are going to be used by two mountaineers to ascend the peak of a Swiss mountain while carrying a 43-year old quadriplegic man and a 16-year old student with muscular dystrophy. The two climbers will start 930 feet below the summit, with one carrying the 43-year old Seiji Uchida on his back, and the other dragging the 16-year old Kyoga Ide in a sled. Sounds like quite the task, even with a muscle aiding cyborg suit, but we're sure the climbers could totally p0wn any ninjas that might come in between them and the summit.[Via The Raw Feed] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Boffins at Oregon State create transparent circuits?

Principle of colour change / changing of visibility attributes.

Boffins at Oregon State create transparent circuits?: "Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets Dude, screw the transparent OLEDs, it's all about transparent circuits, which some Oregon State University scientists seem to have created. The significance, of course, is clear (ahem): you save a lot of space in devices -- especially portables -- when your circuit board is your screen, not mounted on a wafter in a package on a board behind it. Apparently the scientists even expect clear, glass-mounted indium gallium oxide circuitry to ultimately be cheaper to produce than silicon. The military's in on the gig too, the Army Research Office is a project sponsor (as is HP and the National Science Foundation), probably for the project's obvious heads-up display uses. Will we, um, not see this gear any time in the near future? Hard to say, they're only up to 26 transistors in a single array as of yet (compared to the hundreds of millions in chips nowadays), but we'll be waiting.[Thanks, James F] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Boffins at Oregon State create transparent circuits?

Principle of colour change / changing of visibility attributes.

Boffins at Oregon State create transparent circuits?: "Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets Dude, screw the transparent OLEDs, it's all about transparent circuits, which some Oregon State University scientists seem to have created. The significance, of course, is clear (ahem): you save a lot of space in devices -- especially portables -- when your circuit board is your screen, not mounted on a wafter in a package on a board behind it. Apparently the scientists even expect clear, glass-mounted indium gallium oxide circuitry to ultimately be cheaper to produce than silicon. The military's in on the gig too, the Army Research Office is a project sponsor (as is HP and the National Science Foundation), probably for the project's obvious heads-up display uses. Will we, um, not see this gear any time in the near future? Hard to say, they're only up to 26 transistors in a single array as of yet (compared to the hundreds of millions in chips nowadays), but we'll be waiting.[Thanks, James F] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

German researchers develop another transparent OLED technique

The future gets more and more interesting! Transparent OLEDs.... (minority report, minority report, minority report!!!! YESSSSS)

German researchers develop another transparent OLED technique: "Filed under: Displays Looks like Fraunhofer's researchers aren't the only Germans able to get in on the transparent OLED thing. It appears some researchers at the Technical University of Braunschweig are claiming to have developed a technique for embedding OLED pixels on layers of transparent TFTs, creating see-through displays that could be manufactured cheaply with flexible plastics capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. Apparently the transparent displays, which were up to (and over) twice the brightness of today's displays, should be ready to rock in two years -- just in time for us to renovate the Department Of Precrime set we use act out Minority Report in during our lunch hour. Is it now? Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Trend: Podcast/Videocast-Marketing

See the video-sharing post. Trends used by marketing also...

Trend: Podcast/Videocast-Marketing: "Podcast-Marketing uses podcasts or videocasts as a marketing tool – to get the message out. Trend Description: In the first 2 days after Apple’s launch of podcast on iTunes, customers subscribed to more than one million podcasts. According to eMarketer, there is now a total podcast audience of 10 million, 3 million of them download one [...]"

ColorLink's ColorComb take on 3D monitors

Evoltuion 1D-2D-3D... again! I liked the "help me Obi Wan!!" part...

ColorLink's ColorComb take on 3D monitors: "Filed under: Displays, Wearables We love 3D, who doesn't? We'll stop at nothing to get that third dimension, you know? We put up with anaglyphs, crazy glasses, polarized glass, but ColorLink's ColorComb eyepieces (yeah yeah yeah) have an angle on the Z-axis we've never seen taken before (no no no). Their new stereoscopic 3D headgear uses those already-on-the-market six-color LED backlit LCDs to simulate 3D, and can also be used like Sharp's dual-angled screens to enforce privacy or display multiple virtual-optical screens. They also had a 17-inch SXGA 3D monitor they announced, but we aren't yet clear whether that uses the same backlit LED panels necessary for taking advantage of their ColorComb. We know, we know, wearable 3D anything will never be the same as the taunting help me Obi Wan we've been chasing for nearly 30 years, but for now we'll takes what we can gets.[Via Let's Go Digital] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

New Medical Trend in China

Trends... sounds interesting!

New Medical Trend in China: "Entrez PubMed: Chinese biomedical scientists are now developing a new approach to medicine by combining traditional Chinese medicine and Western biomedical science. This is the current medical trend in China. Some significant results have already been achieved. For instance, in treating fractures the traditional dexterity in coaxing broken ends of bones into alignment has been successfully adopted, and x-ray has been used to check whether there was accurate bone union. Heart diseases are treated with Western drugs in combination with Chinese herbal medicine, and the results are encouraging. Ancient theories such as Fu Chen Pei Ben (to strengthen the patient's vitality) are applied, for instance, in cancer therapy, i.e., to stimulate the patient's appetite and to improve his general condition with herbs while being treated with Western anti-cancer remedies. However, the Chinese admit that this process has only just begun. A new medical trend in China [Entrez PubMed]"

Golf Glamour

Have to show this to some friends of mine... Customized Caddies???? :-D

Golf Glamour: "Springwise: Proving that every industry can benefit from innovation, Eye Candy Caddies' mission is to make golf sexy. Similar to Models At Work, the temp agency that we wrote about last year, Eye Candy only works with models and other very pretty people. Caddies can be hired for GBP 150 and travel expenses, which covers 18 holes and an after-links drink at the club house. Not just eye candy, every caddy completes a special training program to learn the finer points of golf etiquette, including essential rules such as 'Never laugh at a bad shot', and 'Encourage and applaud where necessary.' Appealing to a desire for glamour, prestige and a bit of fun, the service is a hit with corporate golf events. Considering the continued popularity of golf around the world, and the sport's strong ties with business, whether for wooing clients or informally closing deals, glamour caddy services should take off in many markets. Glamour on the Greens [Springwise]"

Dartmouth professor invents instant de-icing film

That's worth to develop into an innovation! New De-Icing tchnology!!!

Dartmouth professor invents instant de-icing film: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation That annoying winter morning ice-scraping ritual that much of the country is forced to endure pre-commute (well, those of you who travel to work by car instead of shuffling the five feet from bed to desk) may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a new film developed by a Dartmouth University College professor that can de-ice treated surfaces almost instantly. Engineering prof Victor Petrenko (not, as Cnet helpfully points out, the same man who dazzled us-- though also on ice -- at the 1992 Olympics) had previously worked on creating ice-repellent materials with government funding before deciding that the cold stuff will inherently stick to any surface due to its triple-bonding ability, and starting a company called Ice Engineering to shift his research focus onto thin films that could be applied to existing structures. The result was a breakthrough technology called pulse electrothermal de-icing (PETD), whose brief bursts of electricity not only break the two strongest chemical bonds between ice and surface almost im"

Viral Videos

Evolutionary trend of increasing dynamization: Share not only photos, share video, voice, experience, emotions....
(See also blogs, podcasts, videocasts, inkshows!)

Viral Videos: "TrendCentral: You may have heard about YouTube and the viral video craze that’s become one of the hottest Internet trends since the birth of social networking sites. Two major viral video portals you may not know of yet are Channel 101 and Channel 102. Think of these sites as the localized, viral video equivalents to American Idol. Here’s how it works: anyone can submit a TV show pilot (up to five minutes long). Every month the shows are screened for live audiences in Los Angeles (Channel 101) and New York (Channel 102), and viewers can vote on which shows to renew and which shows to cancel. The top five shows then become the “prime time” lineup, while the losing shows are cancelled forever. At the next month’s viewing, the prime time shows test new episodes against a new selection of pilots, and so on. The New TV [TrendCentral]"

Two interesting new cell phone technologies

Use projections with mobile devices. Inevitable: A video projector fro every cellphone, pda or notebook! Great!

Two interesting new cell phone technologies: "This past week saw the announcements of a couple of innovative technologies that could aid the mobile phone in becoming miniature work terminals. The first is a patent filing by Samsung that describes a Virtual Display that reads input made with an electronic pen to provide a full-fledged data terminal. The mobile phone will read the inked input on the virtual screen projected onto a flat surface and turn it into digital text for the application. It has immediate application for email and IM applications. Ink on your mobile phone is a real possibility with this technology, of course it will be quite some time (if ever) before this patent application becomes a real product. The second technology was revealed in an announcement by ILJIN Display and is the development of an ultra small LCD panel for projecting images from a mobile device to a wall or screen. This projector is tiny enough to be incorporated into small mobile devices since it uses a single LCD to project the display rather than the 3 LCDs current projectors require. This product may be available pr"

Caffine innovation

Customization!!! Save your taste on a card and get your favourites automatically... Well, maybe that's something for Starbuck's: The "Frequent Coffeedrinker Card" :-D

Caffine innovation: " Bornrich: The Milan furniture fair contest focused on how the coffee rituals will evolve in the future. The first prize winner is the “Nespresso Card” that is a personal chipcard, which holds coffee preferences for registered individuals. The card enables you to access your favorite coffee anytime, anywhere. The second prize winner is an interesting concept of InCar coffee machine featured here that is designed by Thijs van Cuyk and Lavrans Laading of the Netherlands. The gadget fits conveniently into the centre console of a car and can also double as an armrest when you aren’t using it to make lattes. So, now you can have as many cups of hot coffee as you wish even when you are driving! Caffine innovation [Bornrich]"

Tag it and Share!

A new trend to create your own "barcode" and share secret information with friends...

Tag it and Share!: " Trendwatching.com: Codes for consumers, not producers, is one thing, but in an open source, CUSTOMER MADE world, what about codes by consumers? Check out Singapore based Tagit, who have developed a universal decoding engine which runs on an open platform, meaning that all types of digitized codes, from the QR Code and the humble 2D DataMatrix to Tagit’s own proprietary Tagit.Code can be decoded. But that's not all: the DIY side of the business is Tagit’s KoolTag: “You can create a KoolTag for any message you want to communicate to your friends. If you want your girlfriend to see a special secret image, or if you want to share a private video clip with your friends, all you need to do is to create a KoolTag on this site, print it out, email it or just stick it on a t-shirt to attract attention. All that's needed is a cameraphone to capture the KoolTag which lets you see the private content. KoolTag is free!” INFOLUST [Trendwatching.com]"

Can't cook? Employ the Intelligent Spoon

Evolution towards decreasing human involvement. Bad or good??

Can't cook? Employ the Intelligent Spoon: "Filed under: Household No amount of hours spent in front of Iron Chef and Good Eats will a good chef make, friends, but perhaps one might consider the employment of one MIT Media Lab experiment by Connie Cheng and Leonardo Bonanni: the Intelligent Spoon. This, um, intelligent spoon has zinc, gold, zener diode, and aluminum sensors to detect the temperature, acidity, salinity, and viscosity levels of the human-feed it's currently stirring, which it then sends back to a host computer for processing and direction. We're not sure this would help us to add a certain subtlety or trans-cultural flavor adaptation to the sweetbreads we were planning on whipping up tonight, but it might just do the trick in keeping you from over-salting that pancake mix on a Saturday morning.[Via The Raw Feed] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Japanese movie theaters to get Internet-controlled "Smell-O-Vision"

Another example for enhancing a Su-Field with an additional field like "smell" :-)

Japanese movie theaters to get Internet-controlled "Smell-O-Vision": "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets In yet another gimmicky attempt to revitalize sagging box office sales, NTT Communications Corp will be installing fragrance-releasing equipment (think: giant Glade Plug-Ins) in several Japanese theaters that mixes different herbs and oils to create aromas that supposedly enhance key on-screen plot elements. According to Kyodo News, NTT 'will use the Internet' to synchronize the scent generators -- which are located under what we assume to be more-pricey 'aroma premium seats' -- during seven scenes of the multi-theater April 22nd premier. Colin Farrell lovers will be pleased to learn that the first movie to get this 21st century 'Smell-O-Vision' treatment is the actor's 2005 film, 'The New World,' whose tale of love between Pilgrims and Native Americans will no doubt result in a heavy odor of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie lingering in the theaters for weeks. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Wind Workout

An near-ideal solution. Instead of heavy weights use... "nothing", er... eh... WIND!!! Great!

Wind Workout: "Yenra: Windjector from Dosho Design uses air resistance to provide a cardio workout, stretching, and strengthening of the core muscles. The twenty-nine core muscles are crucial for improving athletic performance as well as for performing everyday activities. Windjector use of air resistance allows each individual to work out at his own pace. The faster you move, the more resistance you encounter, and the harder you work out. Windjector provides training for the cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular endurance, and muscular strength systems. This workout helps improve flexibility, agility, and mobility. Windjector [Yenra]"

Digismart turns handhelds into projectors

Mobile projectors have definately something...!

Digismart turns handhelds into projectors: "Filed under: Portable Video While companies like Toshiba and Viewsonic are hitting us with portable LED-based projectors, Australia's Digislide has an entirely new concept: incorporating the projector into handheld devices, including cellphones, GPS units and PMPs. At the Demo conference this week, the company showed off its Digismart technology, which uses a miniature wide-angle lens to project images as large as 11x17-inches from a distance of about 3 feet. The company hopes to incorporate the technology into devices and add-on components by the end of the year. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

A New Twist (Sip?) On The Mobile Lifestyle

Virtual drinking buddys... how far have we come? ;-)

A New Twist (Sip?) On The Mobile Lifestyle: "Ok, here's a new twist on the Mobile Lifestyle. Two MIT students have designed wireless glasses. No, not the seeing kind, the sipping kind. If you and your drinking partner are not together the two glasses will allow you to feel like you're drinking together when you are miles apart. When either person picks up a glass, red LEDs on their partner's glass glow gently. And when either puts the glass to their lips, sensors make white LEDs on the rim of the other glass glow brightly, so you can tell when your other half takes a sip. Following tests in separate labs, Lee says the wireless glasses really do 'help people feel as if they are sharing a drinking experience together' Adds a new twist to the old 'clink, clink' Via BoingBoing."

A New Twist (Sip?) On The Mobile Lifestyle

Virtual drinking buddys... how far have we come? ;-)

A New Twist (Sip?) On The Mobile Lifestyle: "Ok, here's a new twist on the Mobile Lifestyle. Two MIT students have designed wireless glasses. No, not the seeing kind, the sipping kind. If you and your drinking partner are not together the two glasses will allow you to feel like you're drinking together when you are miles apart. When either person picks up a glass, red LEDs on their partner's glass glow gently. And when either puts the glass to their lips, sensors make white LEDs on the rim of the other glass glow brightly, so you can tell when your other half takes a sip. Following tests in separate labs, Lee says the wireless glasses really do 'help people feel as if they are sharing a drinking experience together' Adds a new twist to the old 'clink, clink' Via BoingBoing."

Easy Page Scanning

A scanner that turns your book's pages. A solid invention.

Easy Page Scanning: "Atiz Innovation: What if you could digitize any book you want with just the push of a button and without having to go through the tedious process of turning the pages manually? BookDrive® -- the world’ s first and only desktop-sized, automatic page-turning scanner featuring a patent-pending technology that eliminates manually copying and scanning documents. It is just like any traditional flatbed scanners that you are familiar with, but BookDrive is unique in that it has an automatic page-turning mechanism inside. Simply entering the number of pages you want to scan, BookDrive then automatically outputs the entire content of the scanned book in a digital format without requiring constant supervision and interference. Unlike traditional flatbed scanners, BookDrive enables businesses to digitize content with an automatic page-turning mechanism. BookDrive includes an integrated, easy-to-use software function that performs essential tasks such as auto cropping and image clean-up. Outside is a simple interface. Under the hood it embodies advanced software algorithms to automatically detect edge and crop the results so that what you have resembles the actual scanned page. Atiz Innovation's BookDrive"

Digital Wine Cellar

From the Gadget-Category...

Digital Wine Cellar: "Yanko Design: These days, more and more people are enjoying the habit of drinking wine because they find this habit healthy. In the future, life will be rich so that common people will enjoy wine. Since how one keeps wine determines the taste and the smell, preserving wine will become more important. Coming from this point of view, we designed a digital wine cellar which keeps wine and also act as a decoration in the house. Function-wise, this machine adjusts temperature according to different kinds of wine, indicates quantity of wine bottles, and controls air circulating up, down and sideways within the wine cellar. Also, interior lighting function is added, so that this conceptual preservation machine can not only keep wine fresh but also act as a decoration. Digital Wine Cellar by Kyoung Min Sung [Yanko Design]"

More than Banking

Think about improving your services! Sometimes it's just the atmosphere!

More than Banking: "TrendBlog: Banks of the Future create a stylish and user-friendly atmosphere. Target group are people of any income level who want to associate their finances with fun rather than with a strict official approach. Free seminars and events make it easy for first-timers to start dealing with their finances and get involved with the money market. The banks of the Future make banking simple, easy and offer a variety of services which allow the customer to deal with his money independently and flexibly. And it is about more than just money: Banks of the Future present themselves as meeting-places; open spaces for art, culture and discussion. Trend: Future Banking [TrendBlog]"

New Zenview offers six 24-inch displays as one

Segmentation, segmentation, segmentation on your desk...

New Zenview offers six 24-inch displays as one: "Filed under: Displays What you do with it is your business, but the new Zenview Command Center Elite from Digital Tigers -- a monster array of six 24-inch Samsung displays -- is plenty to love. Each display sports a 1920x1200 resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio, and 6ms response times, all of which, when added up, equals a whole lot of awesome. Now we just have to find our stash of dual DVI graphics cards, we know it was around here somewhere.[Via BornRich] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

GE develops non-stick plastic

Non stick plastics! New materials with added benefits is always great to know!

GE develops non-stick plastic: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household It makes us feel all warm and fuzzy to know that some of the best minds on this watery blue ellipsoid are working hard to crack the secret of Fermat's Last Theorem and uh, how to efficiently dislodge ketchup onto fries. See, the good folks at GE have modified the inexpensive plastic 'Lexan' to make it more slippery than a 'freshly waxed car.' While GE has not set out to make consumables yet, it's easy to imagine practical uses in sticky sweet food containers, ever-clean building materials, and in medical applications where tiny volumes of bodily fluids must be whisked away through micrometer-scale channels. Yeah, we know what you're thinking -- it's been done. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Enzyme computers could live inside us, dispense drugs

Transition to the micro-level. Think nano-robots and so on...

Enzyme computers could live inside us, dispense drugs: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Israeli researchers have just announced the successful completion of a molecular computer, which uses enzymatic chemical reactions to perform the necessary logic computations. Itamar Willner and his team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem built the computer using glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzymes, with hydrogen peroxide and glucose molecules representing input values. The presence or absence of these two chemicals correspond to binary 1s and 0s, allowing the computer to perform AND and XOR operations which are determined optically by a camera. Although enzyme computers will always be inherently slower than parallel processing DNA computers, Willner envisions his invention being used one day to precisely calculate and distribute doses of medicine from inside a patient's body.[Via TG Daily] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Asus shows modular concept PC

A great example of what you can do with the segmentation prinicple...

Asus shows modular concept PC: "Filed under: Desktops, Laptops We always thought that when it came to designing new computers, Asus believed that slapping a Lamborghini logo on a laptop was about as cutting edge as it got. But it turns out that the company is full of surprises, since Asus has unveiled a concept PC that looks nothing like anything currently on the market (though it does look a bit like the bookshelf PC from the Microsoft/ISDA design contest). Instead of a beige box, the PC is an open shelf; its innards consist of a series of modules that can be connected to the PC simply by being stacked on the shelf, where they get their power via induction and communicate with other modules wirelessly. Want to upgrade your processor? Swap modules. Need a new hard drive or graphics engine? Same thing. Right now, this is strictly on the drawing board, but props to Asus for showing us that there's more to the company than racecar-inspired notebooks. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Thomas Pink iPod tie keeps your nano on your neck

A key to success for engineering systems: Get integrated with the supersystem! Go, ipod!!

Thomas Pink iPod tie keeps your nano on your neck: "Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables Finally, for the man who has everything -- except a job where he can dress casually -- it's the Commuter Tie from Thomas Pink. The bright pink silk tie has a hidden pocket on the back that's the perfect size for an iPod nano, and includes an extra loop to keep headphone wires from getting tangled (though from Pink's promo pic, right, it looks like the wires will get a bit jammed anyhow, since the headphone jack on the nano is on the bottom). We can't help but worry that using this with anything heavier than a nano would result in a curious tightening around the throat -- not to mention a rather unattractive stretching of our neckwear. And if you're going to spend $95 on a tie, we'd like to think you can also come up with a few bucks for a dedicated carrying case for your audio player. Of course, all of this is irrelevant to us, since we're not in the market for a pink tie -- it would clash horribly with our pajamas. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Hermann: another round of pulling the perfect pint

Just for fun and the bacarian friends :-)

Hermann: another round of pulling the perfect pint: "Filed under: Household, Robots Pulling the perfect pint -- manually or otherwise -- seems to be something of a long standing obsession across the pond, and more than one beer-pouring robot and device has been whipped up in occasion of this grand pursuit. The latest, Hermann, is the fruit of the efforts of one Professor Thomas Weber and his 23 scients students at the German Technical University of Darmstadt, whom set out to design a robot that would cost under $90 US that could pull the perfect pint. Can Hermann really do it? Weber says so -- but he's not sharing sharing much in the way of the secret of their success. (The device pictured is David Stevenson's homer, from 2004.) Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

Robot Retail

Trend towards decreased human involvement. Not yet the end of the line!

Robot Retail: "Ubercool: Global retail sales totaled approximately US$8 trillion in 2004. In the U.S. alone, retailers rang up sales of US$4.1 trillion, up 8% over 2003. While both figures are impressive, one can only imagine what would happen if retailing’s often archaic processes were perfected and streamlined. Below are three new “user interfaces” that show just how stores will evolve into uber-efficient robot retailers. McDonald’s RedBox subsidiary has 1,000 DVD rental vending machines, mostly in McDonald’s. Each RedBox holds 500 DVDs with about 40 of the latest movies. San Francisco-based Zoom Systems has created a retail automat that dispenses Apple iPods, Bose headphones, digital cameras and DVDs at more than 185 locations in the U.S., with plans to add 100 more. Robot Retail [Ubercool]"

New prosthetic foot gives user a natural gait

Something mechanical, without electronics, motors or other bells and whistles. Keep it simple and functional!

New prosthetic foot gives user a natural gait: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables With 7% percent of the U.S. population suffering from diabetes, and 82,000 non-traumatic lower limb amputations of diabetics in 2002 alone, the need for natural-looking and -feeling prostheses has never been higher. One of the trickiest prosthetic devices to design, in terms of correlation to an actual human body part, has been the foot, which traditionally has relied on a three-axis system that allows for movement on rough terrain but gives the wearer an unnatural gait. Well researchers at Stuttgart, Germany's Fraunhofer Technology Development Group claim to have overcome this drawback with a prosthetic foot that mimics the minute inward rolling of a real foot from heel-to-ball that occurs mostly unconsciously during each step we take. Even more impressively, unlike the computerized C-Leg, the foot designed by Dr. Urs Schneider and his team is completely mechanical and devoid of expensive electronics. Users who have tested the foot in clinical trials report less pain in other body parts as a result of its corrective properties, and Dr. Schneider says that 'hardly anyone notices that the person is wearing an artificial limb.' Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

KFC leverages DVR time-shifting to its advantage

Again: KFC advertising on a new track...!

KFC leverages DVR time-shifting to its advantage: "Filed under: Home Entertainment We assumed that the TiVo revolution would eventually convince the entire advertising industry to just close up shop and find a new outlet for its scary powers of persuasion, yet time-shifted TV has actually caused the wily advertisers to evolve and adapt like some strain of superbacteria, and they continue to surprise us with innovative ways to subject us to their messages. Take a new ad from the restaurant formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken that premiers this week, in which a 'secret' message is encoded such that it is only visible while the commercial is being viewed in slo-mo. Now the concept of hidden ads in-and-of itself seems quite effective--even the most die-hard commercial skipper still has to watch the screen to avoid missing the beginning of the next segment, so a fast-forward-viewable message is a likely evolution--but KFC is stepping it up a notch and actually providing an incentive for people to seek out the ad, offering a free sandwich to those who can regurgitate the hidden phrase. Imagine that: there may soon be a day when we record shows not because we enjoy them, but because advertisers have told us that they'll give us free swag if we comply.[Via PVR Wire] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

KFC ads

Now THIS is cool (I love marketing gags!): An ad that counteracts the trend to fast-forward TV-commercials! Good idea!

KFC ads: "FutureWire: Users of digital video recorders are notorious for skipping over ads when replaying recorded TV programs -- a practice that deeply concerns advertisers. In response, fried chicken purveyor KFC is producing ads that are specifically designed for viewers who watch them on recording devices. When viewers play back the ad slowly, they can view a 'secret code' that they can then enter at the KFC website to get a coupon for a free sandwich. The ads debuted during NBC's broadcast of the Winter Olympics and will run until the end of March. The advertising industry is applauding KFC's if-you-can't-beat-'em-join-'em approach, though the actual impact of the campaign is not yet known. “Any strategy that gets a message to rise above the clutter is terrific from the advertiser’s perspective,” says Josh Bernoff of Forrester Research. KFC Develops Ads for DVR Users [FutureWire]"

Fido luggage is traveler's best friend

Development of new suitcases is not necessarily a dumb thing...

Fido luggage is traveler's best friend: "Filed under: Household, Robots Sure, wheeled suitcases and ergonomically correct bags make traveling easier, but face it, what you really want is a robotic suitcase that follows you around on its own without you having to pick it up even once. That's the idea behind Fido Luggage, a product concept from architect Peter Yeadon. Once the bag's owner slips on a watch-like controller, the suitcase is under his control, able to follow both passively over a wireless link, and to obey voice commands. The bag's wheels are each independently controlled for smooth travel in any direction, and laser sensors help it navigate rough terrain and avoid running over small children. Needless to say, we don't expect to ever see this for sale in our corner luggage shop (and we suspect that even if it was somehow produced, the TSA would instantly ban it from US airports), but we can't help but want it anyhow. After all, it's everything we ever wanted in a pet: quiet, obedient and willing to bring us our slippers, newspaper and just about everything else.[Via Inhabitat] Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "

NEC's "KotoHana" LED flower knows how you feel

Electronics sense how you feel :-) This might be nice if away from the loved ones and you'd like to let them knoe that you are having a bad / good time!

NEC's "KotoHana" LED flower knows how you feel: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets We were just saying to ourselves the other day, 'man, if we just had an LED flower that could sense our emotions... then we'd have it all.' Well dreams do come true, because NEC is going to be presenting their KotoHana (the talking flower) at CeBit this year. It's pretty hard to tell what's going on here, but there seems to be a 'Sensibility Technology' that recognizes the user's feelings, and then tells the flower over a wireless connection. The system works over the Internet, so even from far away the flower's LEDs can light up to reflect your true feelings to that special someone. Read Permalink Email this Linking Blogs Comments "