Jonathan Fincher
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Eyes-on with the Oculus Rift's jaw-dropping virtual reality systemGizmag was able to spend some time trying out the latest virtual reality goggles from Oculus at CES 2013.
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The biggest surprises of E3 2012At E3, we expected to see the WiiU and a new Call of Duty game; what we got was much much more besides.
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Arsenal Firearms' Double Barrel Pistol shoots two bullets at onceArsenal Firearms' new double-barreled pistol can fire 16 rounds in three seconds by shooting two bullets at the same time.
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Norte Photoblocker keeps your face out of embarrassing club photosThe Norte Photoblocker is a beer cooler that keeps your nightlife private by wrecking photos as they're taken.
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Concept Fujitsu Lifebook comes with removable smartphone, tablet, and digital cameraA designer's concept Fujitsu Lifebook would come with slots to insert a smartphone, tablet, and digital camera.
Despite being the most common renewable energy technologies, solar panels and wind turbines still have their shortcomings. Particularly when it comes to the urban environment. Lack of space and concerns about noise are just two problems with integrating them into city settings in an unobtrusive way. That's why Belatchew Arkitekter wants to try a different approach with its Strawscraper concept, which proposes transforming the Söder Torn building in Stockholm into an urban wind farm by covering it in piezoelectric fibers. Read More
Urban Green Energy (UGE) recently unveiled its newest vertical-axis wind turbine, the VisionAIR, as part of an installation at the Beijing International Garden Expo. The company confirmed to Gizmag that the VisionAIR is replacing its former 4K turbine, last seen adorning the top of an EV charging station, as its standard mid-sized option for customers. Compared with the previous model, the new turbine's design aims for better efficiency at moderate wind speeds, which UGE plans to integrate with its hybrid energy projects. Read More
Not too long ago, Amanda Ghassaei from Instructables caught our attention when she constructed several playable records with a 3D printer. By sending raw audio data through a custom script, she was able to automatically generate 3D designs for a printer to follow – albeit with crude results. Recently, Ghassaei programmed a new code that let her substitute the 3D printer for a laser cutter to carve functional records from wood and other materials. Read More
If you're in the market for a 3D printer, there are plenty of qualities to weigh. Price, ease of use, size, and print resolution are all factors that could influence the types of objects you're able to create. If you want a printer that fits on your desk and can print objects the size of a basketball though, you may want to consider the latest model from Aleph Objects, Inc. The LulzBot TAZ 3D printer boasts an open source hardware approach in design and claims to have the largest print volume for desktop printers in its price range. Read More
Archos has made a name for itself by producing a wide range of budget-friendly smart devices, from smartphones to gaming tablets, but now it has its sights set on your kitchen. The French company recently unveiled its new ChefPad, a 9.7-inch Android tablet designed to act as a cooking assistant, with an easy-to-clean protective case and kitchen-centric apps. Read More
3D printers continue to hit the mainstream as more accessible models are released at lower prices, some even landing in major retail chains. The MakiBox may currently hold the crown for cheapest 3D printer on the market, but Pirate3D's new desktop box could provide similar quality and affordability with much less hassle. The company's flagship printer, the Buccaneer, will come fully assembled out of the box with a price tag of only US$347. Read More
While beer is best served chilled, everyone who’s tried it knows that beer and ice generally aren’t a good mix. Most options to keep the beer cold once out of the fridge, like beer koozies or the Chill Puck, work from the outside in, but a new device called the Chillsner turns things around. This freezable metal spike fits inside a beer bottle to keep your brew ice cold from the inside out. Read More
Micro UAVs that have the ability to slip into tight spaces, including inside buildings, have wide ranging military and search and rescue applications. To reach their full potential, however, these UAVs are going to need to learn how to land in rougher areas that don't always have a horizontal surface to touch down on. One team of scientists has begun taking a huge step towards accomplishing just that by developing a quadcopter with a mechanism that allows it to land on walls or ceilings, stay for a while, and then take off again. Read More
Laboratories that deal with dangerous chemicals devote a lot of time and money to ensuring the work environment is safe. Since many toxic substances lack a noticeable smell or color, the trick is finding a detection method that alerts employees to their presence as quickly and clearly as possible. Scientists at the the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies may have found a simple answer to that problem in the form of a protective glove that immediately changes color when it comes into contact with hazardous materials. Read More
For most people, experiments involving a home microwave typically don't go much further than inflating a marshmallow like a balloon or reheating leftovers in plasticware – both with messy results. For metallurgists though, microwaves are sometimes employed to efficiently process metals, which is how researchers at the University of Utah found themselves using a secondhand kitchen appliance in their lab. Their resourcefulness paid off recently, when the team discovered a method for creating solar cell material with just a few basic ingredients and an old microwave. Read More
