Around The Home
New Band expands the uses for DaysAgo timer
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March 1, 2008 There’s nothing worse than finding a jar in the back of the fridge and testing the contents with your nose only to discover the contents have turned rancid or pouring milk into your morning coffee and seeing it curdle before your eyes. DaysAgo, the digital day counter which attaches to opened food containers and tells you when the contents need to go straight to the trash can, has a new accessory. “The band” is designed to be used on non-metal or odd-shaped containers, allowing you to use the timer on many more items.
ONELink wireless, talking, networked smoke alarm
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February 29, 2008 When it comes to home safety, you can never be too cautious, and every second counts in the event of an emergency. The ONELink Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detector with Voice from First Alert not only provides a wireless way to network your smoke detectors, it actually tells you what you’re dealing with. Identifying both the location and type of danger in the home, the voiceover alerts those in the house to give them the best chance of escape without harm.
Dryer Miser: energy-saving clothes drying technology
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February 14, 2008 In another innovation that promises to aid us in reducing our carbon footprint, Hydromatic's new energy saving technology targets one of the biggest energy guzzling appliances found in the home - the clothes dryer. Launched at the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, the Dryer Miser system uses a specially-engineered fluid in the heat exchange process to reduce energy consumption by up to 50% and cut clothes-drying time by up to 41%.
Tefal Quick Cup: hot tea in seconds
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February 14, 2008 Increasing awareness of the urgent need to address global carbon emissions is leading to changes in the way we consume energy in our day to day lives. It's a classic "every little bit helps" scenario - from turning off appliances at the power point to using the "eco" function on the washing machine - and following this philosophy, Tefal has introduced a great little energy saver known as the Quick Cup. This device offers a fantastic alternative to traditional kettles that take an average of three minutes to boil (and often heat excess water that isn't utilized) by delivering the exact amount of hot filtered water needed for a cup of tea or coffee in three seconds flat while using only a third of the energy of an ordinary kettle.
Singer Curvy tackles sewing's biggest challenges
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February 13, 2008 Singer, the company that invented the world’s first portable sewing machine in 1921 and its first computer-controlled machine in 1978, has released a new line designed to eliminate two of sewing's key frustrations -
threading the sewing machine and threading the bobbin.
First BoKlok display home opens at Gateshead
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February 1, 2008 In the latest news from the IKEA affordable housing project in the UK, the first BoKlok display home has been unveiled in Gateshead. A two-bedroom apartment has been fitted out, along with a two-bedroom unit converted to an office/marketing complex that features a BoKlok exhibition area. The apartment and the unit are open now for the public to view.
Radio-controlled hybrid GOAT grass-muncher
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January 30, 2008 Humans love grass - an obsession that sees us spending an inordinate amount of time and effort tending to its needs. If you don't mind the time part, the Evatech GOAT radio-control mower can certainly help reduce the effort inherent in keeping your lawn manicured – and its hybrid petrol/electric motor gives it the power to pull a fertilizer spreader, climb 45 degree inclines, or even operate as a snowplow in winter.
Armchair immersion: Ace Bayou's Wireless Audio Recliner
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January 29, 2008 Media furniture manufacturer Ace Bayou has unveiled the latest addition to its Xfunctional platform - the Wireless Audio Recliner. Designed to utilize the space inside the chair to amplify sound, the new recliner includes wireless capabilities and built-in sound system with two forward-facing speakers and a subwoofer.
Hoverit releases magnetically-suspended floating lounger
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We’ve written before about the EUR 1,200,000 (US$1,750,000) floating bed which uses permanent opposing industrial-strength magnets to enable it to float, so this exquisite floating lounger is by comparison a bargain basement remainder with pricing starting at GBP 5,875 (US$11,500). The British designed, precision engineered Hoverit Lounger is the first of the company's built-by-hand, magnetic ‘hover’ furniture range. Almost magical with its use of magnetism to offer a genuine floating sensation and no-fixed-means-of-support, it’s the ideal thing for a design studio or advertising agency reception area, and the perfect gift for the person who has everything already.
Jun Murakoshi's multi-functional Shelving Chair
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January 23, 2008 Having guests over but not sure where they will sit? Why not use the bookshelf. That's the theory behind the Shelving Chair from Jun Murakoshi Design which subverts the idea that chairs lose all usefulness when stacked away.
Calair wildfire protection system
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January 17, 2007 Wildfire has long been a difficult and dangerous problem to manage and weather extremes around the globe in recent years have seen have seen large-scale fire disasters effect the lives of people from California to Greece. In Australia, the world's driest continent, where bushfire is a familiar threat, a D.I.Y., from-the-ground-up protection system for homes has been developed incorporating dedicated sprinkler heads for different areas of the house linked to strategically placed, automatic heat sensors.
Sleep diagnostics meets serious entertainment: the Starry Night™ Technology Bed
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January 8, 2008 It's not the first thing that springs to mind when you think consumer electronics, but this high-tech bed from Leggett & Platt is nonetheless making its mark at the 2008 International CES. The Starry Night™ Sleep Technology Bed packs in a range of entertainment hardware to play with when you are not asleep including Internet connectivity, an iPod docking station, a 1080p projector and a surround sound system with four eight-inch subwoofers. And when you do drift off, there's plenty of technology left over to help you make the most out of your rest - dual programmable temperature control, a diagnostic system that monitors body movement and breathing pattern, plus anti-snore technology which detects vibration caused by snoring and tilts the bed to encourage you to stop.
Lasershield to unveil Sparrow home security Internet adapter
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December 27, 2007 Home security specialist LaserShield Systems, Inc. will introduce what it describes as the first Plug & Go wireless instant home security system for the Internet at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Waterfall Audio's striking glass loudspeakers
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December 18, 2007 Waterfall Audio has unveiled two examples of its stunning glass loudspeaker enclosures destined for the American market ahead of the debut of its unique line at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Named after two famous waterfalls in Africa and South America, the Victoria EVO and Iguasçu EVO models consist of slender, hand-crafted glass towers designed to convey the impression of floating speakers with internal “stretched” driver wiring utilized to keep heavy speaker-cabling at floor level and further enhance the clean, elegant impact of the showpiece enclosures.
OSRAM develops high-performance transparent white OLED
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December 17, 2007 OSRAM Opto Semiconductors has developed a transparent white OLED (organic light-emitting diode) tile that opens up the potential for new applications in furniture and interior design.
Transparent toaster concept: pounce when it's perfect
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December 10, 2007 No matter how sophisticated our toasters have become in the last 50 years, they still haven't managed to overcome one simple problem: how do you make sure your toast comes out exactly how you like it? The transparent toaster concept from Inventibles uses heated glass technology to let you watch your slices gradually browning over so you can pull them when they're perfect. Are we looking at the Toaster 2.0 here?
Advanced soil moisture monitoring technology saves water
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December 5, 2007 Effective use and management of precious water resources is increasingly a key concern for many countries. Two products from Agrilink offer optimization of irrigation scheduling via advanced soil moisture monitoring technology that promise vast water-savings for the environment.
Teresonic's Magus compact speakers
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November 30, 2007 The new Magus compact loudspeakers from Teresonic combine quality audio and environmental efficiency in a unique casing. The speaker gets the most out of its low wattage, thereby offering power savings without compromising on sound quality.
Simple and effective: Page' Up document holder
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November 27, 2007 Much attention is placed on ergonomic keyboard and chair design these days, but the key fact that typing while looking at sheets of paper usually involves twisting your neck in ways that would require years of Yoga to master is often overlooked. The Page’ Up document holder offer an effective and unobtrusive solution – and they’re currently adorning the desks of 15 million users in 42 countries.
Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock: complete control of your waking life
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November 26, 2007 American Innovative has released a successor to their Neverlate 7-day Alarm Clock. The new Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock is a fully customizable 7-day Alarm Clock with everything from the backlight brightness (three levels of brightness or off altogether) to the total alarm duration being fully adjustable. The new model features the first-ever "preferences menu" in a clock radio and snooze duration, sleep and nap timer options are carried over from the original. If you're not a tinkerer however, these advanced features stay out of your way.
Oregon Scientific weather forecasting projection clock
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November 22, 2007 Oregon Scientific has added its range of weather monitoring smart clocks with a Projection Clock that constantly reacts to forecasted weather from 12-24 hours in advance, changing its display color to red, light blue, blue, orange or green depending on the anticipated conditions.
Whitegoods get a color makeover
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November 16, 2007 The term “whitegoods” may be headed for the scrap heap. Over the past few years, silver, grey and black have crept into the color scheme for bulky household appliances and now Electrolux has expanded on the trend by announcing its Color Passion range of kitchen and laundry appliances in a number of vibrant hues.
iRobot Looj cleans up at innovation awards
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November 14, 2007 The Looj remote controlled gutter cleaning bot from home robotics specialists iRobot has been announced the winner of the Best of Innovations Design and Engineering Award in the Home Appliance category in the 2008 International Consumer Electronic Showcase (CES).
Waterdrop Weather Station
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November 1, 2007 It’s 6am, dark, the alarm is buzzing and you can’t find the snooze button. If that’s your worst nightmare then perhaps this rather novel clock and weather station from the Sharper Image is the solution.
More BoKlok homes for Gateshead
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October 22, 2007 Following our report earlier this month that applications had opened for the innovative
BoKlok housing project in the UK, approval has been granted for even more of the homes to be built at Gateshead in the UK.
Poggenpohl Porsche kitchen designed for men
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October 9, 2007 Since the world’s marketers have become aware that women account for more purchasing power than they’ve previously been given credit for, there’s been a distinct lack of “women’s domain” appliances designed for men. Recognizing that men are showing an increasing interest in developing the kitchen as part of their habitat, Porsche Design Group and Poggenpohl Mobelwerke have taken the covers off their first co-designed kitchen, the P’7340.
Applications open for first UK Boklok housing
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October 8, 2007 IKEA has accepted applications from potential homeowners for the first release of Boklok houses in the UK. Gizmag has been following the progress of this innovative housing development that aims to create affordable and sustainable housing to offer space and flexibility to low income families.
iRobot release Looj gutter cleaning robot
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October 1, 2007 Cleaning the gutters is an unloved yet necessary - even dangerous - household chore that is inevitably given the lowest priority until gutters are clogged and overflowing with leaves. The latest offering from home robotics specialists iRobot uses remote control to solve the problem – the Looj blasts out debris and brushes gutters clean while your feet remain firmly planted on the ground.
Celebrating 40 years of microwave cookery
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September 20, 2007 After completing a 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, 750 pound (340 kg) prototype in 1947, the Raytheon Corporation introduced the first commercial microwave oven to the world in 1954 and 13 years later Amana brought us the very first domestic bench top microwave. In the 40 years since is inception the microwave has fundamentally changed the way we live, shop and eat.
Low-profile Weibel projector lift
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September 8, 2007 Rising projector sales on the back of lower prices and constantly improving technology has seen increasing numbers of consumers bringing the big screen feel into their homes. But when it’s not offering a visual feast, a projector can be a bit of an eyesore. The Weibel Precision Projector Lift is designed to address one of the issues that arises when trying to solve this problem - build depth - by requiring only 15 centimeters of space to be built into the ceiling.
Hydrogen based power offers green alternative for homes
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September 7, 2007 In a development that marks another step towards the vision of a sustainable, clean future for home power generation, UK company ITM Power has announced the upcoming release of a device which can generate hydrogen in the home to fuel central heating boilers and cookers while drastically cutting CO2 emissions. Set to go into production next year, the ITM electrolyser is designed to utilize off-peak or renewable electricity sources to create its own hydrogen fuel which can then be stored and used as a conventional gas to burn in central heating boilers as well as a fuel for cooking.
Meridian iRIS Universal iPod Dock - high-quality video on HD screens
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September 5, 2007 Meridian Audio is set to unveil a product later today at the 2007 CEDIA Expo which could have quite some significance if it delivers on its claims. A unique new enabler for the Apple’s iPod family, the Meridian iRIS Universal Dock for iPod accepts the full range of current iPod models and delivers battery charging and home audio-system integration and control. More importantly, the design features high-end video up-conversion processing (up to 1080p) that produces what it claims are astonishing images with clarity and detail, delivering true big-screen performance from iPod Video. The company claimsthe new dock can play iPod videos on the big screen, with big-screen quality, clarity, and freedom from video-noise, “jaggies,” or blocking-artifacts.
Surface computing meets home automation: ROSIE Coffee table touch-panel
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September 5, 2007 Surface computing is moving full steam ahead and this latest release from Savant is another reminder that even the wireless mouse is becoming an outmoded piece of technology. The ROSIE Coffee Table Touchpanel Controller offers an easily accessible interface for home automation coupled with interactive multimedia capabilities, connecting to iTunes, digital cameras, IP network cameras, business card readers and various high-tech devices around the home.
The Microwave television
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September 4, 2007 One of the first kitchen appliances to have an integrated LCD was LG’s much celebrated refrigerator which began show appearances seven years ago and though it was a star in its day and is still around in a subsequent design, it still strikes us as something for people with more money than tech savvy. Seven years later, at IFA in Berlin this week, the Holland Electro Wave TV made its first appearance. While the product in the press handouts looks impressive, HE showed what appeared to be a prototype at IFA and quite frankly, they shouldn’t have because it looked like exactly what it is – two different consumer electronics products bolted together.
Brownie baking pan has the edge
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September 4, 2007 True brownie lovers who savor the edges of chocolatey treats will love this new pan from Baker’s Edge. The 9” x 12” x 2” Edge Brownie Pan was designed specifically with “edge-lovers” in mind and is promoted as the only one of its kind.
