Join Is it the end of the clamshell packaging? I hope so.
If you are not familiar with clamshell packaging, it is what you see on that package of three pilers on the image to your left. I’m sure you can’t stand opening this plastic coated nightmare, as it never opens easily.
On an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David is excited about his new gadget, until he can’t get it out of its clamshell plastic. He eventually ends up swearing and stabbing the packaging with a knife.
This packaging might deter theft and keep the materials inside safe, but it often does its job too well. Not only that, it requires a lot of plastic to do so, which is bad for the environment.
Continue reading » Is it the end of the clamshell packaging? I hope so.
Ubiquitous iRemoTap is a Wi-Fi connected power strip
If you are like me, you have “that desk” in your house that is sort of the hub for digital information. On the desk is a laptop or desktop computer, and all kinds of accessories.
Chances are, all of these devices are plugged in to a power strip, and they are a source of great power consumption on your monthly electric bill. This power strip by Japan-based Ubiquitous is the iRemoTap, and it has a built-in Wi-Fi module.
The purpose of the Wi-Fi is so it can send information to connected devices in the household. The iRemoTap can automatically send out some sort of message like an email or tweet so you know how much energy that you are consuming.
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Photosynthesis UV-Sensitive Shirt
When you were back in school, surely one of the more impressionable science topics that you could remember would be the entire process of photosynthesis, where it is a process for plants to consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere during the day (whenever there is sunlight, that is). If you want to remind the adult populace of this particular process, then what better way to do it than with the Photosynthesis UV-Sensitive Shirt?
Watch leaves and roots grow out of the formula whenever the shirt is exposed to UV light. Your eyes might just catch a whiff of the leaves and roots in a very faint manner whenever you are indoors, but once you’re under the sweltering summer sun, things will change for the better. Printed on eco-friendly 100% certified organic cotton, the Photosynthesis UV-Sensitive Shirt will come in male and female sizes at $13.99 a pop.
Bye-5: Turn off the lights by slapping it some skin
I have no idea of who invented the high-five, but this hand-to-hand slap has become one of the first things we learn. We are always so proud when our little babies can high five. Yes, there is something very positive about this hand slap, and designer Da Deng has channeled this positive energy into a device that can save energy.
This is the Bye-5 light switch, and it is an ever present reminder to the user to shut off the lights after he or she leaves a room. I’m pretty certain that if consumers would simply shut off the lights of any room that they leave, we would probably save some really big number on electricity each year. But I’m probably sure that you already know that statistic.
The Bye-5 is shaped like a hand, and it even has a skin-like texture. I’m not certain what that means, but it will hopefully sound and feel like a real hand. The user slaps it on the way out, and it even glows in the dark, so you won’t lose your way after the lights are off.
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Vieria Concept Car actually cleans the air
I think that we all know that nothing contributes to the growing problem of air pollution than the automobile. However, this Vieria concept car is not planning on being a contributor, but it will clean the air.
The Vieria is described by my Source as a water purifier that “takes in dirty and dusty air, runs it through a filter beneath its passenger capsule and returns clean, fresh, breathable air”. Just think of it as the maid to the other vehicles on the road.
That alone would be enough to sell the Vieria in a hopefully eco-friendly future, but it also has another green feature. It has a shiftable scissor-like wheel and axle system, so it can be thinner on the road. Apparently, this can make it easier for the Vieria to go through rush hour bottlenecks.
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Going green sees new projects materializing
It goes without saying that in this day and age, going green is more or less mandatory if you or your company wants to win brownie points with people around. Sure, we have solar powered cell phones and electric cars as well as the slew of recycling programs that you participate in on an almost religious basis, but what about the home that you live in?
You might have populated it with plenty of energy saving devices, but there is still much that can be done. In this aspect, there are several projects that we would like to draw your attention to concerning a green home, and they are the 365 livingARK, the LandARK concept and the epic 365 ark projects. To know more about them, head on after the jump.
Continue reading » Going green sees new projects materializing
Christian Schallert’s shape-shifting apartment
We have reported on many small apartment dwellers who have turned their cramped spaces into something innovative. There was that Hong Kong man who created the Domestic Transformer, and the Japanese man who built his house in a space designed for parking.
This is Christian Schallert, who lives in what many blogs are calling a “Lego apartment”. At least, that is how one of his friends in the video (which you can see after the jump) describes it. I’m not certain whether the Lego is a good description, but it certainly is creative.
Schallert took a place that was a complete dive and turned it into a compact yet cozy living space. Apparently, he was inspired by the designs of Japanese homes plus hidden storage units.
Continue reading » Christian Schallert’s shape-shifting apartment
Zippo Emergency Fire Starter Kit
There are just moments in life when you just want to get away from it all – the hustle and bustle of the city, the craziness and hectic lifestyle at the office, and all the pressure in your life due to a “modern” lifestyle. Well, what better way to do it than align yourself with nature, hanging out in the wilderness with a tent and all your favorite comics in tow?
Oh yeah, that would mean starting your own fires now, right? If you’re a true blue adventurer, then you won’t rely on sissy firestarters but really work to get that first spark out to burn some cinder and get a campfire going. Of course, you might want to enlist a little bit of help via the £19.99 Zippo Emergency Fire Starter Kit.
There is a reason why it is called so – it is meant to be used in emergencies only, so don’t take the easy way out all the time by using this to get that fire started and blazing so that you can be warm and toasty inside. No cheating now, you hear?
