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Goodbye gloves, hello Sanyo eneloop Kairo hand-warmers
By Jeff Salton
23:27 November 24, 2009 PST
Cold hands, warm heart. Why not have both this winter? (warm body parts, that is) Just in time for the Northern Hemisphere’s colder weather, Sanyo has launched two new eneloop Kairo portable rechargeable hand-warmers. Shaped a bit like an egg, the eneloop Kairo is available in one-sided and two-sided models, and makes an ideal stocking-filler … or pocket-filler for this Christmas season. Read More
LaCie LaCinema Classic HD has DLNA server, Wi-Fi and up to 2TB storage
By Jeff Salton
21:26 November 24, 2009 PST
LaCie has revamped its LaCinema Classic multimedia hard drive to be a media player with up 2TB internal storage, optional 802.11n Wi-Fi and a built-in DLNA server that lets users browse, play and share HD 1080p media collections from anywhere in the home, directly on an HDTV. Read More
Youth Mobile 2030 - designers dream up hip cars for the kids of the future
20:25 November 24, 2009 PST
Each year as part of the Design Los Angeles Conference held at the LA Auto Show, creative types from major car companies get to stare into their crystal balls and let their imaginations run wild in designing the car of the future. In 2007 the theme was the car 50 years from today, last year the challenge was to envision how motor-racing will look in 2025 and this time around, the brief is to look at what young people will be driving in the year 2030. Read More
The Pedal-A-Watt Stationary Bike Power Generator: create energy and get fit
By Jude Garvey
20:10 November 24, 2009 PST
As people the world over continue to search for renewable energy sources, innovative and interesting ideas for generating power are constantly being devised. Those interested in keeping fit and producing power at the same time might be interested in this unique product – the Pedal-A-Watt. It converts your bicycle into a stationary bike and uses your pedal power to generate energy that can be stored in a power pack. An average rider can produce up to 200 watts – ride for an hour and you'll generate enough to power a 25 watt fluorescent light bulb for eight hours. Read More
Starve yourself and live longer
By Darren Quick
19:30 November 24, 2009 PST
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have unraveled a molecular puzzle to reveal why a lower-calorie diet slows the development of some age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the aging process itself. In their search for an answer they discovered that it doesn’t seem to matter how the diet is restricted – whether fats, proteins or carbohydrates are cut – to produce protective effects against aging and disease. Read More
Diamonds boost processing speeds in quantum computers
19:19 November 24, 2009 PST
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have made important advances in the field of spintronics by demonstrating the ability to electrically manipulate, at room temperatures, the quantum states of electrons trapped in the atomic structural defects of diamond crystals. Despite previous indications to the contrary, such quantum states can be manipulated very quickly, even at gigahertz frequencies, paving the way to significantly faster quantum computing. Read More
Nissan leases first fuel cell vehicle in North America
By Darren Quick
19:14 November 24, 2009 PST
Following on from the successful use of its Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs) in demonstration fleets in Japan and California, Nissan has announced its first commercial FCV lease in North America to Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc. In an advantageous brand tie-in the zero emissions X-TRAIL FCV will be used by the bottler for sales calls and public events in the Sacramento area in promotion of its Coca-Cola Zero soft drink. Read More
New maps suggests Red Planet was blue
By Jeff Salton
16:42 November 24, 2009 PST
Could it be that Mars - the dry, red planet - once had an ocean so huge it covered around one-third of its surface … and that rain created it? New research by scientists from Northern Illinois University (NIU) and the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston would indicate that could be the case. Using an innovative computer program to produce a highly detailed global map of the valley networks on Mars, their findings indicate the networks are more than twice as extensive (2.3 times longer in total length) as had been previously shown in the only other planet-wide map of the valleys. These valley networks roughly form a belt around the planet between the equator and mid-southern latitudes, which would indicate the presence of a long-gone ocean. Read More
No pain, no strain - the SmartFish ErgoMotion Mouse
By Mick Webb
13:47 November 24, 2009 PST
Ah, the humble mouse. Enabler of functions, the bridge between human and machine, and, evidently, the cause of much discomfort for millions of users the world over. With repetitive strain injury a major health problem linked to PC use, the long awaited Smartfish ErgoMotion Mouse is hoping to alleviate the pain. It features a tilting base that swivels in unison with a user’s natural hand and wrist movements, promoting circulation and comfort with the aim of reducing injury. Read More
Innovative anchor takes inspiration from the Ferrari of underwater diggers
By Darren Quick
23:33 November 23, 2009 PST
Researchers at MIT have taken inspiration from the simple razor clam to design a “smart” anchor that burrows through the ocean floor. The so-called RoboClam could prove useful as tethers for small robotic submarines that are routinely repositioned to monitor variables such as currents and temperatures. The device can burrow into the seabed, be directed to a specific location and can also operate in reverse, making them easier to recover. Read More
Spy vs spy – wireless camera detector lets you sleep easy or play hard (in privacy)
By Jeff Salton
23:25 November 23, 2009 PST
If you don’t trust that shifty-looking night supervisor at the motel or the suspicious-looking smoke detector in your room, or if you just value your privacy, help could be at hand. A quick scan of your room or surrounds with the Chinavision CVMV-J19 Spy Wi-Fi Signal and Camera Lens Detector should let you sleep easy or play hard – in privacy (I guarantee there are a few celebrities who wish they had one). Read More
Belkiz Feedaway: a unique 100% recyclable baby chair
By Jude Garvey
23:16 November 23, 2009 PST
When it comes to buying baby gear, new parents can be forgiven for becoming a little befuddled with all the equipment needs of a new baby. One item that is on most parents’ list is a feeding chair and it seems the choices and styles are endless. Here’s an interesting new travel-ready solution that might attract parents who lean towards green – Belkiz’s Feedaway – a strong, portable and lightweight feeding chair made from 100% recyclable Visy cardboard. Read More
Intouch IT7150 adds all touch interface to the digital photo frame
By Darren Quick
23:09 November 23, 2009 PST
The humble photo frame has come a long way in the last decade. It has been transformed from a cheap and easy gift idea for displaying a single cherished photo into a not so cheap and easy gift idea capable of displaying slideshows of a multitude of images, not to mention video, and the ability to connect to the Internet. We're now seeing touch interaction added to the digital photo frame's long list of technological trimmings and this new offering - the Intouch IT7150 wireless Internet frame - uses a full-touch capabilities to deliver a more user-friendly interface with expanded capabilities. Read More
Dancepants - keep running or the music stops
By Jude Garvey
22:58 November 23, 2009 PST
When did running get so complicated? Remember the good old days when going for a run was as easy as changing shoes and heading out the front door? Now, there’s a plethora of running gear and gadgets - ranging from heart rate monitors to state-of-the-art running shoes. It seems that not many runners leave home without their MP3 players either, but would they be prepared to work hard for their music? The Dancepants kinetic music player is a new design concept that would see runners harnessing their kinetic energy to power their music player. Yep, you’ve got to keep moving to keep grooving. Read More
Dissolving wound dressing could vastly improve treatment for burns victims
By Jeff Salton
22:15 November 23, 2009 PST
In today’s environment of advanced medical treatments where high success rates are achieved in amazingly delicate operations that until recently weren’t thought possible, a staggering 70 percent of people with severe burns still die from related infections. It is hoped that a revolutionary new wound dressing developed at Tel Aviv University (TAU) could cut that number dramatically. Read More
Apple patents enforced ad-interaction into OS
By Paul Lester
22:05 November 23, 2009 PST
Anyone who has spent even a modicum of their time browsing the Internet over the last few years will be aware of how annoying pop-up and embedded ads can be, especially if they involve audio and video and particularly if it’s more difficult than it should be to find the ‘close’ button. Thankfully it doesn’t usually take too long to remove the offending source from our screens, but those who are particularly irked by this form of interruption will not be placated if a recent patent filed by Apple ever sees the light of day. Read More
Retrofit kit allows cars to drive themselves
By Alan Brandon
18:32 November 23, 2009 PST
Let’s say you want to go for a ride in your car, but you don’t feel like driving it. Or perhaps you want to drive your car, but you don’t want to go for a ride in it. These two seemingly contradictory scenarios are probably not what Kairos Autonomi had in mind when it developed the Pronto4 Agnostic Autonomy System. The Pronto4 is a drive-by-wire system that when installed in a vehicle, provides self-driving capability as well as remote control. The system is “agnostic” because it is a retrofit kit that the manufacturer claims can be installed in any steering-wheel based vehicle. Read More
StairSteady gives a helping hand up stairs
By Jude Garvey
18:18 November 23, 2009 PST
We’ve seen some innovative free-standing personal mobility aids designed to tackle stairs in recent times, but this offering from a young UK inventor takes a fresh approach to a solution that's been around for years - the mechanical stair-lift. Conceived by Ruth Amos when she was just 16 years old, the StairSteady is a handrail with a unique steadying handle and locking device that supports the user whilst on the staircase while allowing them to remain active and independent. Read More
Early IE9 preview confirms Microsoft's tendency towards incompatibility?
17:45 November 23, 2009 PST
With Firefox recently racking up one fourth of the total browser market share and Microsoft's Internet Explorer constantly struggling to keep pace, with the older versions being more popular than the newer ones, the Redmond software giant hopes to reverse the trend with the upcoming Internet Explorer 9. However, preliminary test results posted on Microsoft's IE blog have left some - including Gizmag's Dario Borghino - puzzled over the Web standards compliance of the future browser. Read More
Ford Flex 2010 to feature wheat-straw reinforced plastic
By Jeff Salton
17:31 November 23, 2009 PST
Ford is the first automaker to develop and implement environmentally-friendly wheat straw-reinforced plastic in a vehicle. Before you get carried away, the car itself, a Ford Flex, isn’t made of plastic, instead, it’s just the third-row interior storage bins made from the natural fiber-based plastic that contains 20 percent wheat straw bio-filler. Surprisingly though, Ford says this application alone reduces petroleum usage by some 20,000lbs per year, cuts CO2 emissions by 30,000lbs per year, and represents a smart, sustainable usage for wheat straw, the waste byproduct of wheat. Read More
Harvesting energy from vehicle air flow using piezoelectrics
By Darren Quick
23:03 November 22, 2009 PST
Previously, we’ve looked at technology to generate electricity from roads embedded with piezoelectric crystals that produce electricity when squeezed. Now a group of researchers is looking to shift the technology from the road to the vehicles themselves and use piezoelectrics placed on the vehicles to convert their kinetic energy into electricity. Read More
Large Hadron Collider back up and running
By Darren Quick
22:55 November 22, 2009 PST
Contrary to claims by some scientists that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was being sabotaged from the future to save the world, it is back up and running. The LHC is now beyond the point where it was in 2008 when it had to be shut down just nine days after it had commenced sending beams around its 27km (17 mile) circuit on September 10 last year. Read More
Using aerospace principles to ride a wave of limitless energy
By Darren Quick
22:45 November 22, 2009 PST
The ocean is a potentially vast source of electric power, yet wave-energy systems are rare as they generally offer limited efficiency, must withstand battering storms, and need to be tethered to the sea floor. But by applying the principles that keep airplanes aloft, a team of aerospace engineers is creating a new wave energy system that is durable, extremely efficient, and can be placed anywhere on the ocean, regardless of depth. Read More
Solar Impulse takes to the runway
By Jeff Salton
22:42 November 22, 2009 PST
Gizmag has followed closely the progress of Solar Impulse from back when it was just a dream through to it latest developments, which now include it’s recent runway test. For the first time, the Solar Impulse HB-SIA has ventured out under its own steam (solar power) and taxied down the runway. Entirely powered by the sun, the aircraft has a giant wingspan of 61m and is covered in almost 12,000 solar cells. Read More
Simpler, cheaper, biodegradable plastic without using fossil fuels
By Darren Quick
22:32 November 22, 2009 PST
In recent years, polylactic acid (PLA) has attracted attention as a replacement for petroleum-based plastics. It is made from corn-starch, or other starch-rich substances like maize, sugar or wheat, and is biodegradable – reverting in less than 60 days in ideal conditions. PLA is already used as a material for compost bags, food packaging, and disposable tableware, and also for a number of biomedical applications, such as sutures, stents, dialysis media and drug delivery devices. Although its price has been falling, PLA is still more expensive than most petroleum-derived commodity plastics, but now a team of researchers has succeeded in simplifying the production of PLA and making the process much cheaper, meaning we could soon see PLA used in a much wider variety of applications. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
