Nextep Computer is designed by Hiromi Kiriki.Their present need for internet connectivity is so profound that secondary devices. Developed to be worn as a bracelet, this computer concept is constructed out of a flexible OLED touchscreen. Earmarked for the year 2020, features like a holographic projector (for screen), pull-out extra keyboard panels and social networking compatibility, make the concept plausible. Ten years from now is not too far away, so how many of you think we’d be buying such gadgets?
Earlier this week Asus officially launched its new MeMO Pad ME 172V in the Indian market and this is an affordable Android based tablet now available in the market. Priced at Rs. 9,999, the MeMO Pad ME 172V is an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean based tablet which has quite a few similar design features to that of the Google Nexus 7 however with slightly downsized hardware.
It sports a 7-inch display which has a resolution of 1024×600 pixels, a 1GHz single core processor, 1GB of RAM, 1 megapixel front facing camera, 8Gb of built-in storage capacity and 4,325 mAh battery. It also includes expandable storage as Asus has provided an microSD card slot on the device.
The company also bundles 5GB of cloud storage space and it is available in three different colors – Pink, White and Grey.
Oximeters aren't exactly the most exciting gadgets in the world, but they're definitely quite useful. Monitoring pulse and blood oxygen levels are important for patients in hospitals, athletes trying to squeeze every last drop of performance from their body and anyone making a sudden trip to high altitudes. smARtPULSE uses pretty standard photodetection technology for tracking oxygen levels, but its ability to tether to a whole host of other devices via Bluetooth 4.0 is what really sets it apart. There are free Android and iOS apps for those that just want to check their vitals and be done with it, but tinkerers can have a field day with the open-source hardware and upcoming API. At the end of the day, connecting the smARtPULSE to any computer (be it Linux, Windows or OS X) will be pretty simple, and there will even be libraries available for Arduino, Raspberry Pi and Electric Imp. With the prototyping out of the way, now the team is finishing up the API and ironing out the final design. See the video here: http://vimeo.com/59189928
Did your grandparents have a light timer in their living room? I think many did. Back when burglaries were fewer and farther between it made sense. Unfortunately crime is on the rise. (I’ll resist going on a political tangent) Burglars are much smarter. So we the home owners/dwellers must better prepare our domiciles. House sitters have become a popular option. Or maybe your neighbor stops by to turn lights off and on. Smarthomes enable remote control of many items in the home. But not all of us can afford a True Smarthome (or can’t retro fit ours).
Announced yesterday at Mobile World Congress, and covered by CNN, in Barcelona is a solution to use our everyday technological capabilities when it comes to remote household control. The BeeWi Mobot will make your grandparent’s timer look archaic! At its simplest the device is a power socket. Plug your light, appliance or gadget in however, and Mobot takes over the control. Multiple Mobots in the home can communicate via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, with master Mobot also having a SIM card installed. This, of course, means the master Mobot communicates with the outside world via iOS app (no mention of Android yet). Voila. You can control the full gamut of Mobot connected devices from anywhere in the world. Change the lighting while you are away from home. Pop on the TV to entertain the dog. Turn the TV off as a reminder of teenagers about bedtime. Start the washer while on your way home from work. Or scare the heck out of family that may be home! In addition to controlling power on devices, Mobot offers a motion detector which texts you after movement in the house or you can set it up to turn lights on when you walk in
The World’s First 3D-Printed CarWith 3D printing on the verge of going mainstream, you can manufacture almost anything.You can now add a 3D-printed car to that list.
The Urbee 2 is a three-wheeled hybrid assembled entirely from parts spat out of 3D printers, reports Wired. Just as Makerbot and Form 1 have changed the way we perceive manufacturing, Urbee is seeking to change the way we build cars.
Urbee is the brainchild of Jim Kor and his team at Kor Ecologic, a company solely dedicated to the future of 3D vehicle manufacturing. Their website expands upon their grand vision for the future of the automobile.
“Use the least amount of energy possible for every kilometer travelled.
Cause as little pollution as possible during manufacturing, operation, and recycling of the car.
Use materials available as close as possible to where the car is built.”
Kor’s aim is to make the cars of the future light, energy-efficient and easy to manufacture.
The manufacturing process of the Urbee takes place entirely inside RedEye, a 3D-printing facility that was also used to produce the world’s first 3D-printed motorcycle. Kor says one of the virtues of 3D printing is the added flexibility that’s impossible to produce with sheet metal. Instead of producing a multitude of parts that would be assembled later, the 3D printers can spit out a single, unibody part that makes manufacturing simpler. Kor simply uploads the models for each part into the printers, and 2,500 hours later, Kor has all the plastic parts he needs to assemble his car.
Kor has assurances that the Urbee will be perfectly safe to drive out on in the road. “We’re calling it race car safety,” Kor tells Wired. “We want the car to pass the tech inspection required at Le Mans.” And the car isn’t entirely made of plastic. The engine and the base chassis, of course, will be made of steel.
Good luck, Urbee. You may look like an oversized computer mouse, but you’ve come a long way from the days when you looked like this
Swedish carmaker Volvo has unveiled the world’s first car with external airbags to ensure the safety of pedestrians and protect them from serious had and neck injuries. The airbag is located under the hood and inflates at the base of the windshield while enabling the driver to see ahead. The new Volvo V40 hatchback goes on sale in Australia today.
In addition to the external airbag mechanism, the new car—which was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland—also features a pedestrian detection system. Once a pedestrian steps in front of the vehicle, the car’s brakes apply automatically if the driver doesn’t react fast enough. If the sensors detect an imminent collision with a pedestrian while driving at high speed, the airbag pops-up and inflates in a U-shape.
Numbers state that there has been a decrease in pedestrian deaths in Australia, but these still account for 13 percent of all traffic related fatalities. According to Volvo, nearly 12 percent of all road accident deaths in the US are still pedestrian related.
“It’s fantastic technology and every car should have it,” said Harold Scruby, road safety campaigner and the chairman of the Pedestrian Council Of Australia. She pointed out the lack of federal regulations when it comes to pedestrian protection, which is partially to blame for a small number of cars like Volvo V40 on the streets
This Wireless Charging Device from Poweredbyproxi is the FuturePoweredByProxi is the next wireless charging device that might rid you of that annoying search for your misplaced cellphone charger. Everyone with a cell phone has last a charger at some point and stared at their dead cell phone wishing there was a better way. PoweredByProxi looks like a cutting board and simply sits on any counter, table or desk. When you want to charge your device, you simply place it on the plate and walk away.
An extension of this product works to wireless recharge batteries in everyday devices like television remote controls or high end headphones. This particular device is shaped like a big bowl and the devices just sit inside it while they charge. This company has even developed the first ever wireless rechargeable AA battery. See the video here: http://youtu.be/NuLuAVJXJfc
World's First Bionic Eye Receives FDA ApprovalBy Emily Elert (http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-02/worlds-first-bionic-eye-receives-fda-approval) This morning, I was speaking with Brian Mech, the vice-president of the medical device company Second Sight, when his land-line rang. Mech had just been telling me about the fifteen years his company has spent developing the Argus II, a retinal prosthesis that restores partial sight to people with a degenerative eye disease called Retinitis pigmentosa (RP). It had been a long process, Mech said, but he can count on one hand the number of days he hasn't woken up excited about the work ahead. And they were nearing the end--Europe approved the Argus II in 2011, and the FDA was expected to give the green light some time soon.
When his other line rang, Mech excused himself and set down the phone. I could hear a muffled version of his other conversation. After a few seconds, I heard "I gotta go," and then he was back. "Emily," he said, "I'm going to have to run: FDA approval just came through."
And with that, the U.S. has its first bionic eye.
The Argus II works by substituting a small array of electrodes for the light-sensing cells that normally react to light by sending an electric signal toward the back of the retina. Those signals are relayed to the optic nerve behind the eye, and travel back along the nerve to the brain. In people with the genetic disease Retinitis pigmentosa, which affects about 100,000 people in the U.S. today, those light-sensing cells gradually stop working, resulting in total blindness.
In addition to the electrode array, which is implanted in the retina at the back of the eye, the Argus II system consists of a small video camera attached to a pair of eyeglasses and a visual processor the user carries around their waist. Data from the video camera is sent to the visual processor and then back to the glasses, where it is transmitted wirelessly to the embedded electrodes.
The system works for people with RP because the disease affects the light-sensing cells in the retina, but leaves the rest of the visual system--including the optic nerve, which carries visual signals from the retina to the brain--intact. The electrode array acts as a substitute for the eye's photoreceptors by directly stimulating the retina's remaining cells, which pass the signal on to the optic nerve. Of course, an array of 60 electrodes cannot restore high-resolution vision--it's like watching TV on a screen with just 60 pixels--but it can supply enough information to allow people to move around without aid. See the video here:http://youtu.be/Bi_HpbFKnSw
UK Scientists Launch the World’s First Smartphone-Powered Satellite
This week the world’s first smartphone-powered satellite was successfully launched into orbit. STRaND-1 went into space aboard the Indian Space Research Organization’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Measuring only 11.8 inches tall, the nanosatellite will use an Android-powered Google Nexus One phone to collect scientific data, take pictures of Earth and it will allow people to upload videos that will play in space. The UK mission was developed by the University of Surrey’s Space Center (SSC) and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). By sending their STRaND-1 spacecraft into space, the UK researchers have beaten NASA—who had announced similar plans last year—to the punch. Only 11.8 inches tall and weighing 9.5 pounds, the nanosatellite will use the smartphone to run several experimental apps to collect data from space. Unlike conventional smartphones which stop working around 60.000 feet, the one used by STRaND-1 was specially designed for use space.
Besides the STRaND-1, other satellites aboard the Indian launch vehicle include an ocean-monitoring satellite developed in collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organization and French Space Agency, the Near-Earth Object Surveillance Satellite, which will look for large asteroids whose orbits might bring them in contact with Earth, as well as two satellites designed to study the brightness of stars.
The Kymera Magic Wand Remote Control gives you the opportunity to perform magic in your own home! Imagine walking into the room with your children and their Muggle friends watching TV, whipping out a magic wand from under your jacket and changing the channel in a flash. Why not add a magic spell into the equation to really impress them! An ideal birthday, housewarming or Christmas gift for any Harry Potter fan, the Kymera Magic Wand Remote Control will have friends and family spellbound as you zap to your favorite shows with a flick of the wrist. Why torture yourself during those terrible American Idol auditions? Mute your TV in one magical instant with the Kymera
The Yamaha Star Motorcyle Line Combines Comfort With ClassThe Yamaha Star Motorcyle line incorporates the comfort and easy-rider feel of a large, classic cruiser bike with the sleek sophistication and modern touch of a performance-based model.While many cruisers are often written-off as being big and clunky and seen as being geared toward an older demographic, Yamaha’s newest line of cycles is poised to alter those commonly held perceptions. Although it is certainly appealing to cruise around town on a ultra-padded seat that offers for a completely relaxing ride, those who crave a high-powered motorcycle will often not compromise on performance for a cushy, padded bucket seat.
However, the Star lineup has combined elements from both motorcycle models to allow one to harness some blow-your-hair-back speed and the latest technological advancements with a comfortable seat and a classic, low-rider feel.
Put together by Jonas Pfeil, the Throw able Panoramic Ball Camera is the worlds first panoramic ball camera that you literally throw in the air that takes multiple shots to create a 360° angle shot. This innovative camera uses 36 cell phone camera sensors placed around the outside of the ball, protected by foam.
he Time Timer Watch PLUS incorporates visual, audible as well as tactile alerts to broaden the reach of its users to include those with special needs or anyone who simply has trouble with time tracking. Time is depicted as a red disc that disappears as time moves, and user defined intervals are signaled by both sound alarms and vibration. With an easy-to-use interface, it’s perfect for blind or deaf users, or anyone who just needs a productivity push.
SmartKnob brings keypad access to your front door
Keys? Who needs keys? The Smart Knob is an attempt to do away with those pesky metal things for property managers and renters, attaching a keypad to your front door's deadbolt. Owners of the property can issue codes remotely for a chosen period of time. Visitors can also get codes by calling the service's automated phone system. The Smart Knob is compatible with all standard circular deadbolts, and its creators insist that the installation process takes under a minute. The battery should last "up to two years" with daily use -- and when it gets low, a warning will let you know.
Check out a video of the original plastic prototype after the break. The final version will, thankfully, be made of metal. Video link: http://youtu.be/KeMzTGBQyW0
Metro Dot bracelet for Visually ImpairedThe Metro Dot is a bracelet type transportation card in Braille for the visually impaired. It relays information like your subway station and how many more stations to go before your stop arrives. The bracelet transmits vibrations to let the user know when to get off the train. The interface uses EAP (Electro Active Polymer) to make a 3 dimensional pattern with electronic signals. The electronic signals are sent to the surface raising the constant magnet to make a Braille pattern on the silicon rubber surface. Through this technical method, information such as the subway destination and how many stops are left can be alerted.The destination and train travel information are transmitted to the subway through the rail tracks, used as a conductor, sent from the TCC (Train Control Computer) in between stations. The Metro Dot is able to provide station location information by catching a series of electronic signals that are being sent to the subway’s receiver antenna.
Saudi Arabia Announces Plans to Develop 54 GW of Renewable EnergyThe kingdom of Saudi Arabia sits upon the world’s second-largest oil reserves, and as such, oil dominates the national economy. But in recent years, Saudi Arabia has begun taking advantage of the abundant sun and wind it enjoys by developing several major renewable energy projects. According to a new white paper published this week, Saudi Arabia will seek to develop 23.9 GW of renewable energy by 2020 and 54.1 GW by 2032, making it one of the biggest renewable energy producers in the world. The goals outlined in the new Saudi white paper are some of the most ambitious renewable energy targets set by any nation. Of the 54 GW of renewable energy the kingdom will develop by 2032, 41 GW will be solar power, and the other 13 GW will be powered by wind energy, geothermal and waste-to-energy power.The news comes just months after Saudi officials announced plans for the country to transition to 100-percent renewable energy in coming decades. At present, the country is powered almost entirely by fossil fuels — two-thirds oil and one-third natural gas. Last spring, the country announced plans to invest over 76.35€ billion to develop 41 gigawatts of solar electricity by 2032. The new roadmap significantly eclipses that figure, and it shows Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a more sustainable energy future.
Stretchable, serpentine lithium-ion battery works at three times its usual sizeWhile we've seen more than a few flexible batteries in our day, they're not usually that great at withstanding tugs and pulls. A team-up between Northwestern University and the University of Illinois could give lithium-ion batteries that extreme elasticity with few of the drawbacks you'd expect. To make a stretchable battery that still maintains a typical density, researchers built electrode interconnects from serpentine metal wires that have even more wavy wires inside; the wires don't require much space in normal use, but will unfurl in an ordered sequence as they're pulled to their limits. The result is a prototype battery that can expand to three times its normal size, but can still last for eight to nine hours. It could also charge wirelessly, and thus would be wearable under the skin as well as over -- imagine fully powered implants where an external battery is impractical or unsightly. There's no word yet on whether there will be refined versions coming to real-world products, but we hope any developments arrive quickly enough to give stretchable electronics a viable power source
Boompack Boombox Backpack- Wearing Music On Your BackRemember the days when Boombox were the most talked about things. Well a concept backpack called Boompack by Massimo Battaglia could just bring back the Boombox revolution.The Boompack backpack quite literally incorporates a backpack and a boombox. It sports 8 way speakers and 100 watts of sound power to make your music stand out. The backup comes with a rechargeable battery that can stay on for up to 6 hours. The cool feature of this concept backpack is a 200-lumen pico projector that transforms any place into your own projection room.The backpack also features 32GB internal memory and SD card slot for expansion. The concept calls for Bluetooth connectivity. It also features USB port as well as connectivity for external devices. The backpack will sport a hidden compartment for docking smartphones. Its design is made in such a way as to make it impact resistant and water resistant. It will have front and back radio control and if another boompack backpack is nearby, it will auto-sync with it. It also features a stand, so that the backpack won’t fall down if you put it on the floor. At the moment this backpack only exists in concepts, but it just might make it out of the concept phase into an actual design
Sony's 5-inch Xperia Z coming to India on March 6
Sony is all set to launch its recently announced Xperia Z smartphone in India on March 6. If you go the official Facebook page of Sony Mobile India, you will find the cover image stating, "Everything is about to change. 06/03/2013." The cover image also has a picture of a phone in the backdrop, which looks like the Xperia Z.
However, the image does not hint towards a launch event, but an official spokesperson from Sony Mobile has confirmed to IBNLive that the Sony Xperia Z is scheduled to be launched in India on March 6.
The phone has a 5-inch full HD 1080p Reality Display, and is powered by a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor. Sony Xperia Z's Reality Display is powered by Mobile Bravia Engine 2. The phone sports a 13 megapixel camera and includes 4G LTE.
According to the company, the Xperia Z also includes Battery Stamina Mode that is said to improve the standby time by four times or more by automatically shutting down battery-draining apps whenever the screen is off and starting them up again when the screen is back on.
Despite its slim 7.9 mm body, Xperia Z is said to be durable with tempered glass and anti-shatter film on the front and back. It is a dust-resistant and water-resistant smartphone.
Get Low in Style with the Lazareth Wazuma VehicleFeast your eyes on Lazareth Wazuma, a badass and daring four-wheeler. Designed by the France-based auto maker, this custom-built vehicle may be compact, but packs a powerful punch.Equipped with a monstrous V12 engine and a 350 horsepower capability, this low-riding roadster means serious business when it comes to tearing up the highway. The Lazareth Wazuma is a mash-up between a racy sports car and a demonic motorcycle. Its two rear wheels are positioned closely together, while the front wheels are placed outwards. This innovative design dubbed the "w-wheel" offers riders a distinctively different roadside experience. Riders are essentially driving in a kneeled position, similar to an ATV vehicle.The Lazareth Wazuma is a stylish and peculiar ride that will sure to get heads turning and eyes staring. Just be sure your bank account is able to handle this pricey demon's $250,000 price tag.
Epiphany's onEPuck Charges Your Cell Phone With Your Morning CoffeeYour morning cup of coffee may power you through your busy work day, but what if it could also power up your cell phone? The Epiphany onEPuck is an incredible phone charger that siphons energy from your hot or cold drinks. The disk incorporates a Stirling engine that runs on heat disparities, transforming the change of your coffee’s temperature into power for your cell phone battery. Stirling engine systems are nothing new—they were first invented in 1816 as a rival to the steam engine. But with modern technology and materials, Epiphany was able to create a new thermodynamic system that can be used on your desk at the office. One side of the puck is marked with a red logo, which can receive hot beverages. Coffee, soup or even candles can be placed on the puck (in a mug of course) and be connected to your phone to charge the battery. Cold drinks and ice can be placed on the blue side.
As your hot drink cools down or the ice in your soda melts, the Stirling engine turbine begins turning, which generates electricity for the charger. A cup of coffee has enough power to fully charge your phone, just while you drink it. Even better, the onE Puck is a perfect back up if you forget your charger or no outlet is in site.
New HTC One revealed with Sense 5.0HTC announced a new Android smartphone, the "new HTC One," at a press event Tuesday in New York City. The phone runs a new version of HTC's UI overlay, Sense 5.0.Sense 5.0, the skin that HTC applies to its Android smartphones, "delivers improvements on cameras and sound," said Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC. The new version includes a feature called "BlinkFeed" that threads updates from services of the user's choosing together into one interface. The feed is highly visual, presenting stories as a series of photos augmented by tiny captions.
The phone's body design includes two front-facing Beats Audio-certified stereo speakers, one above the phone's screen and one below. The microphone inside the phone features HDR recording. Sense 5.0 also includes Sense TV, which allows users to control TVs from their smartphone (HTC did not further specify in the presentation how this is accomplished).
The HTC One uses an “UltraPixel camera,” which HTC says captures 300 percent more light than normal smartphone cameras. HTC emphasized how the new design will help in low-light situations, stating that it helps prevent graininess in low-light photos.
Another camera feature, HTC Zoe, captures HD video and images simultaneously to help users capture images in fast-moving situations. HTC did not specify the resolution at which this feature captures images. Zoe can also automatically edit videos into a set of highlights and set the videos to music, as well as compose multiple shots into one photo.
The name of the phone builds on HTC's previous series of flagship phones, including the HTC One X and One S. The phone will come in both black and white, and has a “zero-gap” seamless aluminum body, wherein the antenna is integrated into the shell of the phone.
In HTC's "largest rollout ever," the phone will launch in 80 countries and with 185 mobile operators and partners around the world in "late March," according to Mike Woodward, HTC's Americas president. In the US, the phone will launch with Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
HTC's event is currently in progress. We will update this article as more details become available
Google's electronic eyewear gets 'OK Glass' voice commands"OK Glass."Those are the two words that Google showed today will initiate a variety of commands for its Glass computerized eyewear.In the Google Glass "How it Feels" video, people speak the words "OK Glass" and then pick from a list of featured voice commands to send a message, record a video, take a photo, launch a video-chat hangout, conduct a search, check the weather, or get driving directions.
The demo is a concrete illustration of how Google is evolving its technology from a mere search engine to a constant personal companion that augments your mind.
When Microsoft introduced Windows 95, its Start menu became the gateway for just about anything you could do with the operating system. Google -- expecting to advance computing beyond the era of PCs and even smartphones -- no doubt hopes that "OK Glass" will become as familiar. The Glass eyewear perches a screen just above a person's ordinary field of view; the device itself is equipped with a processor, camera, head-tracking orientation sensors, and other electronics drawn from the smartphone industry. Google began selling Glass developer prototypes called Explorer last year for $1,500 that are due to ship this year.
Google's site shows off Glass' GoPro-like videocamera abilities, with first-person views of table tennis, swordplay, trapeze acrobatics, jumping rope, sculpture carving, hot-air ballooning, and more. The company is trying to demonstrate it as a sort of real-time video Facebook you can use to share life with others as you experience what's going on around you.
Google's video and "what-it-does" explanation is very much from a first-person perspective, showing what it's like to wear the device. It makes for a very personal experience, reproducing what a person would see and adding an unobtrusive transparent Glass interface in the upper right.
But that's not the whole story of Glass, of course. Wearing the devices might be very personal for the user, but wearing Glass makes you look a bit cyborg. Surely many folks talking to a Glass-wearing person will be put off by the knowledge that there's a microphone and camera pointed right at them. Think of how differently people behave when the camera comes out for a photo op.
In time, people will adjust, as they have to people talking on phones as they walk down the street -- especially if Glass becomes mainstream. Google expects Glass will be ready for consumers in 2014.
Google also announced a promotion in which people who share interesting ideas about what to do with the device get the chance to become a "Glass Explorer," who can then pre-order a $1,500 prototype. The application deadline is February 27.
The Ecoxpower will assure you’ll never run out of power on your smartphone or GPS. The genius contraption will charge your smartphone or GPS while you pedal. The faster you go the faster your device charges. Ecoxpower is also a light that can be turned on/off from a handlebar mounted switch. It also includes a mounted water resistant touch screen case for your smartphone/GPS.
Seeing that we are always on the go, we often find ourselves working from remote places, but sending emails and writing reports can be quite the hassle from your smartphone or tablet if you are used to the ease of a full size keyboard. The Laser Virtual Keychain Keyboard looks to put an end to this growing issue by providing access to a full sized keyboard anytime, anywhere. The compact keychain designed device utilizes advanced optics that can track your fingers for efficiency and accuracy while typing, and thanks to the Bluetooth technology used, you can literally connect the projection virtual keyboard to any mobile device including your smartphone, table or even laptop if you desire
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