Archive for July, 2007
Join Curve Extreme Sport: Skateboarding reinvented?
Designer Gary Chang is looking to invent a new sport, based on skateboarding. His inspiration seems to have come from the world of MotoGP.
As a former skateboarder, I can testify that normal skateboards aren’t that good as a means of transportation. First of all, they need flat and smooth surfaces, and second they can’t corner that well, especially at higher speeds.
The Curve Extreme Sport seems to not only be fir for urban transport, but also for speedy downhill runs.
Continue reading » Curve Extreme Sport: Skateboarding reinvented?
Wii gets rifle accessory now
Although the Wii looks as though it comes up short in the shooting game department, accessories for this console are anything but scarce. The latest would be this Rifle Gun Prop that makes your Wiimote and Nunchuck controllers more menacing than ever. The Wiimote is placed in front of the gun, while the Nunchuk fits in comfortable into the handle. We all know the Army is using the Wii for therapeutic treatment at this point in time, so is there a possibility for them to improve their aim? Nah, not until a game that involves real world shooting physics emerge. Still, if you want a higher degree of realism the next time you knock off your enemies from a distance, the Rifle Gun Prop retails for $16.58.
THix RE digital watches do dual-LCD
If you’re one who is constantly trotting the globe, setting your watch to different time zones can be quite a hassle. I know that PDAs and smartphones already come with dual time zones, but most of us still rely on our watches for a quick glance at the sands of time. The THiX RE digital watch comes with a dual time display across separate LCDs that tell the time and date. You can choose to display two time zones or just the time on one and the day/date on the other. Additional features include a stopwatch, multiple alarm settings, and being water-resistant up to 100 feet. The black THiX model shown above retails for £69.95.
MiniMate keeps food fresh
Keeping food fresh is a big challenge for mothers as they often have an insane schedule to juggle on a daily basis. The MiniMate utilizes activated oxygen and an intelligent microprocessor that helps remove most germs known to infect your refrigerated foods. All you need to do is place it on the top shelf and you’re good to go, leaving only pure oxygen as the result. There are also no sticky residue or offensive odor to contend with, and according to reader Ashley who sent in this hat tip (Thanks, Ashley!), the MiniMate is one device that will pay itself over many, many times in it’s lifetime. Sounds like a good deal to me – does anyone else have had a good experience with the $60 MiniMate?
Chinook has no chink in its armor
Computer scientists based at the University of Alberta have laid claim to building a computer program that is invincible when it comes to playing checkers, and will at worst draw with a human player who plays the perfect game. Dr. Jonathan Schaeffer was the brainchild behind this computer after spending the better part of the last 18 and a half years going through 500 million trillion checkers positions in order to ensure it will never suffer the ignominy of defeat in another checkers game ever again. The program has been dubbed Chinook, and Dr. Schaeffer claims that his team has pushed the envelope way further than anything that has been done before.
Continue reading » Chinook has no chink in its armor
C-Leg is now new and improved
Remember Captain Hook? Boy, what would he give to trade in that rusting appendage of his to get one of today’s newfangled bionic body parts. Case in point, the new and improved C-Leg from healthcare company Otto Bock. Targeting those in the armed forces who have experienced a loss of limbs, the C-Leg comes complete with a microprocessor controlled knee that is smart enough to adjust the hydraulic systems according to the current activity being performed. An included remote control enables the owner to switch modes, which includes the all new standing mode that takes away most of the weight off the good leg.
Continue reading » C-Leg is now new and improved
Rock on with the Guitar Heronoid
Now this is one cool D.I.Y. gaming project, especially when you’re big on Guitar Hero II on the PS2. Rafael Mizrahi is certainly up there with the brightest by working on this Guitar Hero rockin’ robot known as the Guitar Heronoid. Divided into the brain and body segments, the brain area will detect and analyze PS2 video signals, generating play-commands (consisting of the correct tone to press, the right timing, and when to strum) which are sent to the body. The body will then read these play-commands and send those nimble fingers to do the dirty work, theoretically playing a perfect track every time is the hardware is able to keep up. Some might call it cheating, others see it as genius. What about you?
Source: Hacked Gadgets
