Robotic wheelchairs are becoming the latest lure in personal mobility. Even the not so helpless us, want to get into these new concepts (no intentions of hurting anyone’s sentiments). Still, the motive behind these designs and makes is to get life going simple and independent for the disabled. CARRIER, a new robotic wheelchair concept, developed as a semester project at the University of Applied Arts, is a self sufficient helping ride good to negotiate all terrains.
The dystrophic can benefit with the wheelchairs specially designed seat which opens over a commode, while patients with spine problems can stand again with CARRIER’s lifting ability, we seen that in a DIY wheelchair, remember?
For the aged and other who have difficulty ascending and descending stairs, this wheelchair features unique Galileo Wheel, which combines the advantages of a wheel and track, so that remains no problem too. A great concept with thoughtful credentials, I would want this to reach the needy.
It’s difficult to pick between a wireless and a wired mouse, and if you’re an avid gamer, the snag gets even wider. Catering to the problem however, and to lift the gaming mouse standards to a new height, Razar has introduced the all-new Razar Orochi gaming mouse. Orochi employees Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity to enhance portability, and also is easy to use in a wired mode for gaming grade performance.
If the Orochi’s dual-mode capability isn’t good enough to impress you, then its ambidextrous design and the 4,000dpi Razer Precision 3G Laser sensor will definitely get you. A $80 price tag may seem demanding, but then it’s not at all bad for the performance Razar products are so prominent for. Waiting already, yeah, it’s coming next month.
In case you’ve missed the Razer Naga, it’s difficult for you to understand how tacky a mouse can be. It was well done, but, those 12 buttons, I haven’t still figured, why? Anyways, things change faster than we adapt and here Razar is back with a better offering. Only a revamp of its old Death Adder mouse, but with higher resolution optical sensor, real time adjustable sensitivity and comprehensive 3500dpi, this right-hand designed mouse features five customizable buttons - perhaps this number makes some sense. Offering 1ms response time, and attached to a 7-foot braided fiber cable, the Death Adder mouse features a gold-plated USB connector. Priced at $60 the mouse is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.
The iLuv Micro USB Car adapter turns your car's cigarette outlet into a universal USB charger, so you don't have to buy specialized car chargers for all of your USB-chargeable gear. The device is tiny (1.7-inches long), so once plugged in only a small portion of the gadget will stick out from your dash, so it shouldn't be much of an eyesore. Then, rather than buying car chargers for your cellphone, your iPod, your camera, or whatever else you've got that can already charge via USB, you can just plug your cheap USB charging cable into the USB car adapter and call it good. The gadget will set you back $15, so it's probably just as cheap (if not cheaper) than dedicated chargers. It's currently not available from the iLuv store, but it's supposed to be sometime in September, meaning it should be available sometime in the next week.
The astronomers at Palomar Observatory love the Astronomer’s Laser Flashlight because it combines the brightness of a green laser pointer with a high-intensity flashlight. The green laser pointer is 20 times brighter than the red laser pointers on the market and truly provides a beam of light that may disappear into beyond the galaxy which is great for pointing out stars and planets in the light sky. The flashlight comes complete with a 15-inch lanyard, a belt pouch, and a storage box. With the three included AAA batteries, you will enjoy 20 hours of operation.
Most of us have been out doing the things we like to do and ran out of power for our mobile phones, MP3 players and other gadgets. This can be a big problem f you need to make a call of someone needs to get in touch with you. Callpod has announced a new battery backup solution that is called the Fueltank Uno and will be sold at Best Buy.The device will hit Best Buy stores Sunday and is described as a 6-in-1 multi-device charger. The Uno has four times the battery capacity as the standard mobile phone and have adapters available that allows the device to support over 3,000 different devices including the iPhone and iPod as well as a plethora of other mobile phones.
The Fueltank Uno value pack will retail for $39.95 at Best Buy. Exactly what components are included in the value pack is unknown at this time. I would bet the device ships with tips for USB charging devices and possibly the iPhone/iPod.
You know, if you are going to call something the Swiss Army Watch I expect the thing to have a screwdriver, a spoon, and a fork built-in. At least throw a toothpick in or something. Still the Swiss Army Watch is pretty cool and much tougher than you are.
The watch is good to a depth of 20,000 feet where the arm attached to it may be crushed to a pulp, but you could still get the time of your own demise. The watch can also withstand a gunshot and being blown up by a stick of dynamite.
That kind of toughness sounds cool and all, plus the watch is attractive. The big catch is that the thing costs over $4,400. It also sports Valjoux COSC-certification, whatever that means. Do people still wear watches today? I haven’t owned one in years. At least you can wash your hands with this thing on with no fear.
We’ve reviewed our fair share of pico-projectors here at Tech-Here, and while they’ve often had impressive aspects to their performance, there’s been nothing that pushed them out of “expensive toy” and into “must-have accessory”. 3M are hoping that their latest model does just that: the 3M MPro120 is the company’s second-generation attempt at the pico platform, using a new LCoS imager and four times the battery life. Can it earn a permanent place in our bag? Read on for the full SlashGear review.
Compared to the MPro110, its first-gen predecessor, the MPro120 is larger and better put together. It also gains a voice – in the shape of integrated stereo speakers – and a chunkier battery, promising around four hours of runtime versus the 110’s measly single hour. In terms of design, the 120 is far more visually appealing, too, with a matte-finish plastic case bisected by a glossy button strip. Hardware controls include power, brightness, battery status and volume, together with a firm but not too tricky focus dial up front by the lens.
Underneath there’s a standard tripod bush for use with either the included bendy-legged mini-tripod or your own, together with a neat flip-down stand that can be used for more impromptu setups where you just want to angle the MPro120 up slightly. On the back there’s the DC power input – the Li-Poly battery can be charged and the MPro120 used simultaneously – and the A/V port. 3M supply various adapters for the AC plug, suitable for travelling, together with both a composite video cable for use with a standard source (plus RCA converters so you can plug, say, an iPod A/V output cable directly into the MPro120) and a VGA adapter cable for plugging in a notebook or netbook.
Setup is straightforward, and instantly benefits from both the better quality build and the new optics. The focus dial is less prone to drift than on other pico projectors we’ve used, but doesn’t go so far to the other extreme that it’s impossible to tweak without jerking the MPro120 all around the table. Meanwhile the new LCoS (liquid-crystal on silicon) optics require less space in order to create a bigger picture, so you’ll see a larger 640 x 480 VGA-sized projection than the MPro110 at the same distance. You might lack the resolution of a 32-inch HDTV, but you can readily achieve the scale in a smallish room, making the MPro120 ideal for hotel rooms and the like.
With a mere 0.5W from each stereo channel, the MPro120’s speakers aren’t exactly setting out to knock you off your feet. There’s no 3.5mm headphone socket, but given 3M haven’t granted the pico an onboard media player, as on some of the rival projectors we’ve seen, that’s not likely to be too much of an issue. Sound quality, though, is pretty loud all things considered, and while at the top end there’s increasing amounts of distortion, the MPro120 does a decent job keeping up with film soundtracks.
Also keeping up is the new battery, which offers two power settings. If you want to get close to 3M’s four hour prediction you’ll need to leave the MPro120 in “normal brightness” and play it cool with the speaker volume; “high brightness” mode, meanwhile, will drain the pico in half the time. Still, we came close to 3M’s suggested times in both settings, either of which is enough for a good few episodes of your favorite TV show download or even a feature film. Since you can run the MPro120 while recharging it – something sadly lacking in some rivals – battery life needn’t be an issue if you’re near an AC point.
Sample shot:
Despite a mere 12 lumens of brightness and its limited resolution, the MPro120 puts up a decent fight. Presentations lack some clarity around smaller text, but faster moving scenes and bright colors are both handled well. Darker colors and areas of strong shadow continue to be a problem, with murky greys more likely than true inky blackness, but it’s certainly ahead of many other picos.
At $350, though, it’s still priced as a luxury, and one we reckon few will be able to justify. What’s hopeful is the fact that the MPro120 is light-years ahead of its predecessor, and yet the pico manufacturers are still telling us that technologies like LCoS – as well as other systems – are still in their infancy. We won’t see 1080p any time soon, but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility to expect twice the resolution offered by the MPro120 in devices arriving next year. Still, if you want a pico projector that’s capable of both notebook content and A/V, with impressive battery performance and build quality to the point where you’re happy to dump it in your laptop bag and not worry it will have fallen apart, the 3M MPro120 projector ticks all our boxes.
The HP DreamScreen takes boring digital photo frames to a whole new level. Not only is it sleek and stylish, it adds a brand new dimension to sharing your digital content. Get up to date Facebook status, watch videos, and listen to Pandora Internet radio right from the DreamScreen. The DreamScreen comes in two display sizes – 10.2 inches on the DreamScreen 100 and 13.3 inches for DreamScreen 130; priced at $249 and $299 respectively. Both feature a piano-black design with a flush glass widescreen display, 2GB of built-in memory, a remote control, WiFi b/g streaming and integrated speakers.
I had an opportunity to experience the DreamScreen first-hand and must admit that the duo would likely make great gifts for anyone. The DreamScreen 130 seems ideal for coffee tables or on a fireplace mantel, while the DreamScreen 100 would fit perfectly on a nightstand or dresser. The onboard speakers sound great and there are even built in connections to accommodate headphones and additional speakers. The HP DreamScreen 100 is available today, priced at $249, while the HP DreamScreen 130 will drop in October, priced at $299.
HP DreamScreen features: Wireless—Connect to your wireless home network to access weather info, Snapfish and Facebook with built-in Wi-Fi.
Touch-enabled controls—Get fast, easy access to information and entertainment with simple touch controls embedded in the display that disappear when not in use, or use the included remote control for added convenience.
Day at a glance—Wake up to music and get a 5-day forecast1 with one glance thanks to built-in alarm clock and weather functions.
Social media hub—Keep up with your friends’ photos, status updates and upcoming events by accessing Facebook.
Music—Turn your HP DreamScreen into your entertainment center by listening to Internet radio from Pandora or HP SmartRadio.
Photos—Play a slideshow of your photos copied to the HP DreamScreen or directly on popular memory cards formats.
Videos—Watch home movies and video clips in full screen – Its simple! Connect with your PC—Stream Photos and Music from your PC or wirelessly copy photos, music or video from your PC to the HP DreamScreen.
Lighting goes modular in this solution, spotted in the profile of Marlyn Sofia Martinez Marrero, an aspiring jewelry designer. DIO 2 is a modular (and I mean modular) lamp that is powered by a host of LEDs. Much like lego blocks, DIO 2’s components interlock and allow for a bunch of configurations. Individual units are fed by a base module that in turn is connected to the power supply. Marlyn has been gracious enough to depict just how these modules connect, to enable the passage of current. The modules are made available in a variety of colors – from bright green to black (wonder if anyone’s looking for a black lamp though!). The owner is free to exercise choice in combining differently colored modules to give his DIO 2 an individuality of its own. Seems a perfect recipe for a mood light. More images follow.
Reuge, the world’s foremost manufacturer of luxury music boxes and singing birds, showcased a sublime creation dubbed the Manhattan musical table at Baselworld 2009. The Manhattan table is step forward in the creation of luxury music boxes. The contemporary design of the Manhattan table perfectly represents modern art - small and subtle. The tapestry-like inlay comprises over 3,300 pieces in pear tree and chestnut tree woods. Each musical movement originating from the Reuge factory is manufactured with extreme precision. The two side drawers of the table hide 12 interchangeable cylinders and each plays three tunes on 72 notes. The unique compilation includes “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, the Hungarian Dance by Brahms, Guiseppe Verdi’s Aïda and “Yesterday” by the Beatles. The stylish Reuge Manhattan table is a classic tribute to music and contemporary luxury.
Ulysse Nardin is really good at making luxurious watches and I don’t understand why they need to make phones, but then, it’s all about going green. The renowned Swiss watchmaker has now partnered with the European firm, SCI Innovations, to create a hybrid smartphone called Chairman. The Chairman hybrid smartphone with watch DNA uses kinetic energy technology, which is mostly used to power timepieces. This inherently green smartphone is being said to feature a horde of components that have never been seen before in a smartphone. I really wonder what components they are talking about, but it’s an Ulysse Nardin creation and we can expect some good from them. There is no other info available related to pricing or the spec sheet. The Chairman hybrid smartphone will be unveiled at Baselworld 2009 at Ulysse Nardin’s booth.
Who would have thought that one of the coolest things we’ve seen at CES would be hidden in a 10×10 booth at the very back of the South Hall? Like a diamond in the rough, there sat the PQ Labs iTablet.
They’ve essentially taken the idea behind the Microsoft Surface and have done it better in every way. It’s cheaper, it’s gorgeous, and perhaps most notably, it’s not a hulking monster.
Two of the most notable features of the Surface are its multitouch capabilities and the availability of a development SDK, both of which PQ Labs has matched (or, in the case of the SDK, plan to match soon). The number of fingers detected by the multitouch sensor is limited only by the individual software designer’s desire - the hardware itself supports as many simultaneous prods as you can throw at it.
Contrary to its iCliche name, the iTable runs Windows XP rather than on OS X or some proprietary system. The last bit is good news for developers - if you’ve already got an app ready to go, you don’t need to rewrite it from scratch for compatibility. Just call in the proper APIs for mapping input, and you’re good to go. They’re pitching this pretty hard as a “big iPhone” (hence the name) - it’s probably not the best way to market it (as it’s not, you know, a cellphone), but it really does feel similar to the iPhone; the feel of the glass, the way multitouch behaves, it’s all very similar.
The iTable product comes in a variety of flavors, depending how complete of a system you’re looking for. The cheapest way to get in on the fun is the Multi-Touch G², a 32″ LCD overlay that goes for $2,399. Beyond that is where the “Table” part of the “iTable” name comes in - a few grand more (the $5000-$7000 was thrown around in conversation) nets you a table with the sensors incorporated into the display, and roughly $10,000 gets you the aforementioned table with a beast of a computer pre-configured ready to go. It may seem pricey, but with the 30″ surface going for $12,500, it’s relatively cheap.
The company is a recent startup, so they don’t quite have the resources to throw around that Microsoft does. As such, they operating without a warehouse, so these things are being built per order and they’re currently only selling units to businesses.
Now here’s something that will end up at the bottom of the toybox next Christmas. The Mindflex lets you control a floating ball around a little obstacle course. Air bumps and pops the ball through hoops and tubes and ends up frustrating you more than anything else.
If you’re really into biofeedback - the thing sense your concentration - or your paralytic and have little else to amuse yourself with, this might be for you. Otherwise, I expect the average pre-teen will eventually just sit on this thing out of general principle.
What you see here is really all it does: you put on a helmet and move a ball.
I had a long and interesting chat with Razer’s president about the development of the first wireless mouse the company has put out. Of course, it’s not just wireless, it’s also wired, making it what he termed the first “convertible” mouse. At last, you can use a mouse while it’s charging!
You may remember that Razer was one of the die-hard ball-mouse proponents. They were making ball mice for ages after everyone else had moved to optical, because they felt the technology wasn’t good enough for gaming input. Now most of their mice are optical, but they’re transitioning now to the 3rd (and a half) generation laser sensor. And this whole time they’ve been weighing whether to try wireless; actually, it’d be more accurate to say they’ve been trying it for years and only just recently decided that the device they could put together was good enough. And now they have what they feel is the best mouse in the world, and a first in several categories.
You can see the tour of the Mamba in the video, but it’s worth mentioning here that the grip is very comfortable and they’ve tweaked the shape of the Death Adder to make it more comfortable, as well as repositioning the thumb buttons, adding some extras at the tip, and coating said buttons in the grippy finish, which I love. The base is also the charger, but you can detach the cable (appears to be a modified mini-USB interface) and put it in the mouse, so it’ll charge while you’re using it. There is no performance difference, they say, between wired and wireless; they were only satisfied with the product once the wireless firmware could support the same 1000Hz polling rate as their wired software. And now they say they’ve squashed most of the bugs and we’re going to get a really solid product.
You new punk rockers and your graffiti skateboards! New wave, you say? No way. This skateboard is a strait up wild-style NYC modernist skateboard design. It’s an art-board, inspired by New York City “Wild Style” graffiti, but it’s also functional. Its unique shape provides lots of gawkers along with new bends, twists, and banks you’ve never broken your neck with before.
Designer Loren Kulesus describes the unique skate experience you’d have riding the “IPSVM” board to be comparable to a convertible car. One who is used to driving a “normal” car finds driving a convertible totally wild: they’ll find the same to be true of the IPSVM board. The same is true, Kulesus says, about the trucks specifically. Take a peek at them, skateboard enthusiasts, and say specifically how nice you’d be able to turn.
And about these banks… What kind of banks we talking about, Loren? The banks are totally amazing I bet.
Unless you are doing it for Discovery or National Geographic, nobody expects you to diary your travel experiences. Even your odd post on Trip Advisor really has no weight till it’s corroborated with a video or pictures. The question is, do you like jotting your travelogues? If yes, then something like the Backpacker’s Diary could be functional for you.
Designed to look more like a book than a traditional PC, the diary has flexible pages that let you do a whole lot of things. The ‘eyes’ of your travel is the Digital Book Mark, which packs in a digicam, mic and LCD screen. What it sees, it records, and transfers to the Diary via Bluetooth. Simply clasp it to your shirt pocket and wander.
On the Diary you will find flexible pages that include a silicone rubber flexi-keyboard and a pullout solar panel. Needless to say the solar panel is to juice up the device.
Backpacker’s diary also helps you draw out your travel plans as you can use the maps to chart your course. What I like the most about this concept is the EL Illuminant Panel that doubles up as a night-light. Yes, I always need a nightlight!
Intelligent Cash Registers. Duh. They remember who you are, they know your “interests.” They know you! Intel is going to unveil this prototype “register” at the National Retail Federation show in New York on Sunday, but they’re really pushing the system, not the hardware. (Although, they do mention the fact that the hardware will use 90 percent less power than modern check-outs. Nothing to scoff at.) Intel teams with Frog Design for this project. Frog is responsible for the hardware: making this 3-touchscreen terminal work with Intel’s newest processors. The touchscreen works in concert with RFID cards and salespeople (to talk you up on more products the screen shows to be juicy.) The idea is to take the internet’s ability to “up-sell” and apply that to everyday impulse buying. Fun, huh? The best part, (or -only actual good part, for you hippies,) is that these machines fall back asleep when they aren’t active. This accounts for most of the 90-percent less energy spent. And as Wired mentions: “for a retail chain with 5,000 terminals, that’s a serious rebate.” Designer: Intel Corp and Frog Design
Via: YankoDesign
The device will hit Best Buy stores Sunday and is described as a 6-in-1 multi-device charger. The Uno has four times the battery capacity as the standard mobile phone and have adapters available that allows the device to support over 3,000 different devices including the iPhone and iPod as well as a plethora of other mobile phones.
I had an opportunity to experience the DreamScreen first-hand and must admit that the duo would likely make great gifts for anyone. The DreamScreen 130 seems ideal for coffee tables or on a fireplace mantel, while the DreamScreen 100 would fit perfectly on a nightstand or dresser. The onboard speakers sound great and there are even built in connections to accommodate headphones and additional speakers. The HP DreamScreen 100 is available today, priced at $249, while the HP DreamScreen 130 will drop in October, priced at $299.
Lighting goes modular in this 
