Archive for the ‘Future Tech’ Category
Gadgets are becoming so multifunctional these days it’s almost as if we’re loosing borders between distinct product categories. While in some senses it can be seen as bad, we generally think it’s a good direction to go towards. Why carry 10 devices when 1 can do everything just as well? Unfortunately, that 1 miracle device has yet to arrive. Smartphones and tablets are a good start, but there’s something still missing.
Whatever it is that is missing we’re not quite sure. But maybe, just maybe the camera/phone/tablet/laptop hybrid “Fujitsu Lifebook” concept by designer Prashant Chandr will finally usher into “that” era. Dreams aside, Chandr’s concept is based around “shared hardware”. For example: when docked to the laptop, the tablet becomes a full QWERTY keyboard. On top of becoming a keyboard, the tablet can either help assist the laptop either with hardware power or offloading processes as well as fully taking over should it need to. Pretty awesome, eh?
We’ll let your eyes do the real investigating. Check out the real (or not) life Laptabphone after the break…
We have all heard about the power of hydrogen fuel cells from the countless hours of media we consume. Whether its from watching the latest headlines on CNN or from reading countless WW II propaganda comic books, the power of hydrogen powered equipment has been a fantasy of most tech developers for several decades.
Now, the company most known for bringing fantasy to life, Apple, has expressed interest in switching their devices over from plug in USB and wall socket power to hydrogen fuel cell power. According to an article in Telegraph, Apple is claiming that their new technology will help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, ease relationships with governments in the Middle East, and make for a much cleaner environment…
- November 18, 2011 1:46 pm
Being the gadget loving fool that I am carry at least a couple electronic devices with me everywhere I go, water plays into a lot of my decisions. The smallest bits of moisture can cause irreparable damage to even more resilient gadgets in mere seconds. With that said, it’s pretty astonishing to see a “super-hydrophobic” silicon spray created by Ross Technology called “NeverWet” turn even the most delicate gadgets into newfound submarines.
Besides NeverWet’s ability to keep gadgets from succumbing to moisture, it is also crazy good at keeping liquids and other sticky substances from sticking to hard/soft/permeable surfaces. In the two videos after the break you’ll see chocolate syrup run off of a motherboard like it’s heated silicone grease as well as various gadgets sent to a seemingly grim demise in bowls of water. Pretty crazy stuff.
Sadly, NeverWet is still in experiment testing and won’t hit the market until sometime next year. Still, it gives us hope that we can soon carry on with our digital lives with one less worry.
Videos inside…
Let me be the first to say that the state of Oregon kicks most pretty much every other 49 states butts. Now, it isn’t because I live here (well, kinda) but it probably has to do with the amazingness that comes from here and the rest of the Northwest. With the upcoming election to replace U.S. Rep. David Wu, who had to resign after a spicy sex scandal, voters will find it much easier this time around to cast their ballots. Oregon previously made it easier to vote being the first state to allow ‘vote by mail,’ but with the rise in technology, why not make it even easier.
The disabled in 5 counties around Oregon will try their hands at using iPads to cast their votes. By just pulling up the ballot and tapping the screen to pick the candidate they want, they’ll be able to easily cast their votes. Connected to portable printers, they then can print the completed ballot and stuff it in an envelope to sign, drop in an official ballot box, mail off or take with them. Since we all know how amazing the iPad really is, those with poor vision will be able to adjust the font size, or even have the iPad read them the candidates’ names.
Apple Inc., which makes the iPad, has donated five of the devices for the experiment, and the state spent about $75,000 to develop the software. Oregon would need at least 72 iPads, two per county, to bring the program statewide, Trout said.
If this pilot project is successful, the state would look at purchasing at least 72 iPads (two per county) to bring the program state wide. Oregon has spend over $300,000 to create and maintain accessible voting tools, so dishing out $36,000 on iPads for the State, and licensing the software, we could already save 10′s of thousands moving to the all digital iPad solution. State election officials believe that Oregon is the first state to use iPads to mark ballots.
For now, this remains for the disabled, but if it ever moves into the hands of us normal voters, I’ll be there first to bring you a hands on 
The “usefulness” of Siri is still debated by some but at the very least you have to admit she (or he) is entertaining. Apple did an awesome job of programming Siri to act more human and not like every other robotic, voice controller feature in modern existence. But come Sprint 2012 even Siri, our personal digital assistant, will get her own assistant by way of the IRIS 9000.
Compliments of ThinkGeek will, the IRIS 9000 iPhone 4S/Siri attachment will allow you to control and interact with Siri from across the room. For $59.99 it seems a bit expensive for a glorified speaker phone/dock that’s also only compatible with the latest iPhone 4S. Still, the geek in us can’t wait. *Calendar marked*
[ThinkGeek - IRIS 9000]
Take every belief you have about motor homes being out of date and throw it out the window. An Australian-based company (Marchi Mobile) has a new £1.9million mobile palace they’d love to show you. The “eleMMent palazzo” features a space-age like design that first and foremost, takes wind resistance into account for what Marchi Mobile calls is the most fuel efficient motor home ever created. A quick stroll through the interior of the Palazzo shows that it is indeed a miniature mansion thanks to spacious, well-designed interior amenities.
While we definitely like the glow-in-the-dark paint job (added night time visibility), 510hp/93 MPH top speed, “rainforest” shower, working fireplace, full-use TV/internet, and 13 mpg fuel efficiency, the coolest thing to catch our eye is the rotating propeller-like windshield wipers (see above and left).
For the 430 sq. ft. of mobile living space you can take with you, is the asking price of £1.9million really all that pad? Ok, yes it is. Still, that doesn’t make us want the Palazzo any less. You?
Gallery after the break…
This is the future: a pizza vending machine capable of making up to 150 pizzas before refueling, and doing so in as little as 90 seconds a piece. While you wait, a 32″ touchscreen is built into the unit so users can catch up on the latest news.
The man behind the all-American dream is a current New Yorker/former middle-eastern jeweler by the name of Puzant Khatchadourian who literally came to America penniless. Khatchadourian has spent the last 20 years working on the pizza vending machine prototype after hearing his son repeatedly complain about how long pizzas take to prepare and cook. The multi-decade design process if finally nearing the end, however, with his company now finally manufacturing 5 prototype machines for testing in select markets.
Ok, so it probably doesn’t taste as good as say a homemade pizza labored over for ~2 hours. But depending on how hungry we are we’d gladly eat it anyway. Video after the break…
- September 30, 2011 7:12 am
Simply put: We have to have one. Hopefully designer Yonggu Do can find some one or investment company to pay for this little gem. We’d by a few (dozen).
- September 8, 2011 1:00 pm
*Pictures property of The Martin Aircraft Company*
Have $100,000 burning a whole in your pocket/weighing down your couch? Yeah, us too. So join us in celebration that the world’s first commercial jetpack could hit the market as soon as next year!
