Python Watercar - The Car that Rules the Waves!

A car that can drive on water? Sounds amazing isn't it? 
Here's another James Bond-ish invention that will wow you.. 

Now, are you ready to buy your first amphibious car? In case you do, make sure you watch the video below. Billed as “the world’s fastest, highest performing amphibious vehicle ever designed and built,” the Python is available in several colors and with several different variations of General Motors’ LS series engine — including the ultra-powerful engine found in the Corvette ZR1. It is said to be the world’s fastest machine capable of running both on water and on regular roads. The car has a V8 engine based on the LS Corvette power train which will get you no less than 640hp when on land. When on water, the Dominator Jet will get you 500hp which means you’ll get a more than decent speed while you’re floating peacefully to your next destination. Pretty cool huh?
      
Amphibious cars have a rich niche history. They are fun to look at, but they don’t really move that well out of dealer showrooms. Wanna know why? Probably because they tend to be very expensive.The car costs around $200,000, but that’s the price to pay if you want a machine capable of going from 0-60mph in 4.5s on land and up to 60mph while on water. That price is just chicken for tycoons. Not to mention the benefits you can get while driving it.

Want to be a chick magnet? This is probably the hippest way on how to be one.


WATCH THE CAR IN ACTION:

A rather interesting decision, especially for those countries which have a flood sometimes. It would probably be a nice buy for people living in areas prone to flooding. What do you think? Is it worth getting it?

Source: TheDesignBlog.org

New Gadget Allows Blind to See Using Tongue

   Have you ever watched Blind Dating? It is a romantic comedy film starring Chris Pine, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Anjali Jay. Maybe some of you have never heard of those names, but it's ok coz i'm more concerned about the Story. It is about an intelligent, handsome, charming young blind man who signed up for a dangerous experimental procedure: brain surgery that may give him partial vision. Having been blind from birth, he volunteers for a risky experimental procedure that may restore his sight -- having a microchip installed in the visual cortex of his brain that connects to a camera that would give him only, at best, fuzzy black and white images. Later, he fell in love with a girl and he would do anything just to see that woman who made her heart beat, even to the expense of his life. To be able to see her eyes, her smile and the way she grin will surely mean the world to him. Now, his dream might finally come to reality with the use of with the use of Wicab BrainPort - a gadget that allow its users to see using their tongue.

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The latest invention of neuroscientists from Middleton, Wisc.-based Wicab, Inc. represents a gadget that can help blind or those with extremely low vision to see using their tongue. The Wicab BrainPort collects information gathered by a small digital camera mounted on a pair of glasses and then transmits it to a "lollipop" electrode array which the user attaches to their tongue.

The device's digital camera sends the light information to a base unit that has the size of a usual mobile phone. Afterwards the small base unit translates the light information into electrical impulses, thus substituting retina's function. Then the base unit transmits that information to a set of 400 microelectrodes that are positioned on the paddle placed on the user's tongue. The article in Scientific American explains that the microelectrodes excite the nerves on the surface on a person's tongue. Those, who have already tested the latest invention, enjoyed the feeling of Pop Rocks candies on their tongue.

It is also worth mentioning that the base unit of the device includes such functions as zoom control, light settings control and intensity. You can find more interesting information on various useful inventions here at www.InfoNIAC.com; please consider checking the links at the bottom of the story.With their help users can identify doorways and elevator buttons. Besides, the latest invention from Wicab researchers can help users read letters and numbers. In addition, the Wicab BrainPort allows seeing cups and forks on the table.

This latest invention is expected to hit the market by the end of 2009. Its initial price will be about $10,000 per device.

Article Source: Infoniac.com
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To have a clearer view of what I'm saying, watch this video...

Apple Tablet PC to be released this 2010

The much-hyped Apple Tablet PC looks set to be unveiled later today, but how funny would it be if the device did not feature in their announcement. The time of the press event is at 11AM, look below for the time for your country. So let us have a look at what we know so far.

The most recent piece of news that we have is the fact that the biggest announcement from the event could be a Verizon iPhone. We know that the Apple Tablet is big news, but if the iPhone was allowed on the most popular U.S. cell phone carrier, then sales would be huge, much bigger than the iSlate, iPad, iTablet or whatever you wish to call it.

So if and when Apple does release its new tablet device, what do you think the commercial will look like. If past products are anything to go by, we know that it will be slick and polished. However, we wonder if they will do things a bit different this time round?

Yesterday we picked up on the fact that the Apple Tablet could change our reading habits forever. The reason behind this statement is simple; Apple changed the music industry with its iPod and the cell phone market with its iPhone, so why would the tablet be any different?

The biggest news of the week has to be what Steve Jobs was rumored to have said. The Apple CEO said that the iPhone is not as important as the Apple Tablet. We have to wonder what he means by that, but the tablet has to be something very special if Jobs did say this.

Here are the times for the Apple Press Event:

• 08:00AM – Hawaii
• 10:00AM – Pacific
• 11:00AM – Mountain
• 12:00PM – Central
• 01:00PM – Eastern
• 06:00PM – London
• 07:00PM – Paris
• 09:00PM – Moscow
• 03:00AM - Tokyo (January 28th)

Watch Apple MacBook Touch Tablet Concept Video Here:

video courtesy of AuburnSpyder

source: product-reviews

Parrot AR.Drone Brings Real Gaming Experience!

Parrot, one of the globe's leading builder of wireless technologies for vehicles, home and beyond for more than 15 years will be releasing the AR.Drone project this 2010. This is would probably be one of the most awaited event in the gaming community as it uses augmented reality for maximum gaming experience.

After almost four years of research and hardwork, AR.Drone will finally be flying around. Parrot AR.Drone is a quadricopter that consists of a central cockpit surrounded by four propellers, each driven by an engine. It is the first quadricopter controlled remotely by your iPhone or iPod  Touch through the use of wi-fi technology. It offers amazing possibilities for piloting, excellent maneuverability and extraordinary stability.

Watch the video Parrot AR.Drone Flight Demo

video courtesy of parrotcorp

It could really be a cool device but I can just see it now, some peeping tom is going to love this toy. This would probably be a must have for all the spy wannabes out there. Sure, it was developed primarily for real gaming experience but with the limitless possibilities it can do, it may also be used as an instrument to bring harm to others. Well, let's just hope for the best.

source:  ardrone.parrot.com

Timex iControl Watch with iPod Control On Sale!

Timex's new iControl Ironman Watch offers wireless iPod control. From its initial price of $125, it was now being sold for almost $25 each plus shipping fee. That's almost a hundred dollar difference. These Timex iControl Ironman Resin Strap Watches comes with an iPod controller that can transmit signals seamlessly to your iPod so you can control your music in a heartbeat. The iControl comes with a special adapter that plugs into the bottom slot of the iPod. This slot is found on every iPod with a screen and Timex guarantees compatibility with 5th gen models including the iPhone. All you need to do is attach the wireless dongle to your iPod and get to control it through your Timex iControl Ironman Watch.

The Timex iControl Ironman Resin Strap Watches are available in 7 different colors:  Black/Silver, Black, Grey, Blue, Green, Orange and Pink. It also comes along with stopwatch, chronograph training log than can stores workouts by date, with best lap, average lap and total segment time.

Watch this video to see the main features of Timex iControl Ironman Watch with iPod Control.

See the Timex iControl Ironman Watch with iPod Control sample product on ebay.

Robots Dancing "Nobody But You" by Wonder Girls

I've just watched a video of Mini Robots in youtube dancing the famous "Nobody But You" by the Korean girl group Wonder Girls. And as i browsed more videos and clicked links, i found out that there were several more robots doing more complex tricks. The minibots look so cute and entertaining. Of course i was able to see the famed Asimo, a humanoid introduced by Honda, whose rapid progression never fails to amaze me. However, I just came to realized how left behind are the technologies of a lot of countries. The Japanese were surely a couple of leaps advanced in technological innovations than most countries.

Pretty amazing, though, it was also a little creepy. Just imagine how many more years to come before the "i-robot" era takes place. The time when human and machines live altogether. Who knows, there may come a point that these robots will no longer be run by remote controls. They might have their own brains or soon develop feelings and emotions. As they evolve, they might even become a treat to humanity. Haha, i guess I'm thinking way too far now. But still, we've already seen it in movies, so we can bet that these things may not really be far from being a reality. ("i-robot" from the movie starred by Will Smith).

Asus' E-Clean Robo Vacuum has Antibac UV Beam

Believe it or not, this round little thing which looks more like a digital weighing scale is a robot. Yes, you read that right. Not all robots have head, arms, or feet which can perform human-like abilities. This UFO looking vacuum cleaner is set to clean your floors and keep it bacteria-free!

Asus is set to introduce the E-Cleaner robot in China and Taiwan for around $150 before the year ends. According to Taiwan Economic News, the robot will be offered by Asus’s subsidiary AGAiT Technology.

Asus’ ECleaner has noticeable design and features similar to Roomba - the first automated cauum cleaner introduced by iRobot in 2002. Only that it has a few nice upgrades. The ECleaner has a photo sensor to detect stairs and avoid falling down. The ECleaner also returns to its battery charge base automatically when it is done with its task or if the battery needs to be recharged.

Watch the video to see how it works:

The Main features of ECleaner includes:

• a 6000-hour UV light for disinfecting the floor
• a slot for spreading fragrance
• a remote control that fits neatly on top of the vacuum

source: wired

Fleximus Camera: Flexibility ideal for Plumbers!

Have you ever imagined how hard and time consuming it is for plumbers to find the faults in pipes whenever they try to do some repairs or maintenance works? Thanks to Art Lebedev Studio, they can now easily locate the source of problem as they introduced their Fleximus camera.

Fleximus camera is an innovative, yet simply designed, flexible tubular camera with lens. It can be mounted on a compact view finder or a 3-inch display module.

         

          Camera with a compact view finder                Horizons for creativity broadened tremendously
 

Detachable part with a large screen

Fleximus can capture clear photos, record videos, and is designed to have as few controllers as possible. The flexible tube allows a photographer to shoot at angles never imaginable before. Just right for plumbers angling through pipes.

source: artlebedev.com

Optoma Pico PK101 - Pocket Projector

  A Handy Dandy Projector That You Can Bring Anywhere. Optoma, one of the largest projector companies in the world, is proud to introduce the stunning Optoma Pico PK101 – a projector that’s so small it fits easily in your pocket! Imagine being able to show your friends and family videos from your media player or mobile phone at up to sixty inches in size. Ever wanted to show the photos on your digital camera or PDA whilst you’re out and about? Well, now it’s possible with this revolutionary new projector you can hold in your hand. No need to worry about connecting to the mains either; the Optoma Pico Pocket projector comes supplied with batteries to give you complete freedom on the move and what’s more it’s fully rechargeable, just like your mobile phone.

     

      
Two cautionary notes: The sound output is dinky, so you'll want to use it with headphones, which makes it less fun for the whole family, or an external speaker, which makes it bulky. (Or, see the FoxL Bluetooth Speaker, at No. 5 on this list). And the rechargeable battery lasts 1.5 hours. Luckily, it ships with two. Price: $399. Optoma Pico PK-101 – This has got to be the coolest gadget to date. It is a mini-projector. All you have to do is plug this small gizmo into your iPod and you have your own personal projector where crisp video images are projected on a wall.
 The latest LED technology, Optoma’s projector expertise and Texas Instruments tried and trusted DLP® chip technology, (used in millions of business and home cinema projectors the world over), come together to produce astonishing image quality from such a small projector. There’s no need to worry about replacing the lamp either - the Pico has a lamp-life of an astonishing twenty thousand hours: enough for more than eighteen years of life, even if you use the projector three hours a day, every single day of the year.

Watch the video here:

Pico could even project an image up to 6ft if it were in a very dark room - depending on the source. This tiny Optoma model may be the most expensive and unusual iPod accessory to date. Optoma's diminutive projector makes a great traveling companion, despite somewhat fuzzy image projection. But, once you’ve seen the Optoma Pico, you’ll agree that it sets the standard in pocket projectors.

Source: Amazingonly.com

Zero Emission Air Powered Car

A low cost car that runs on air? Probably a new hope for the Green Revolution.
Gasoline is already the fuel of the past. It might not seem that way as you fill up on your way to work, but the petroleum used to make it is gradually running out. It also pollutes air that's becoming increasingly unhealthy to breathe, and people no longer want to pay the high prices that oil companies are charging for it. Automobile manufacturers know all of this and have spent lots of time and money to find and develop the fuel of the future.
The search is on, but what will this fuel of the future be? Ready-made fuels like petroleum are becoming more difficult to find and automobile manufacturers are turning to greener energy sources like batteries. These batteries can be charged with energy and placed in a car where that energy can be released. As good as that idea might seem, some manufacturers think air could become an even better energy source.

Air? At first glance, the idea of running a car on air seems almost too good to be true. If we can use air as fuel, why think about using anything else? Air is all around us. Air never runs out. Air is nonpolluting. Best of all, air is free.

Unfortunately, air alone can't be used as a fuel. First, energy has to be stored in it by squeezing the air tightly using a mechanical air compressor. Once the compressed air is released, it expands. This expanding air can be used, for example, to drive the pistons that power an engine. The idea of using compressed air to power a vehicle isn't new: Early prototypes of an air-powered vehicle go back to the middle of the 19th century, even before the invention of the internal combustion engine.

The first air cars will almost certainly use the Compressed Air Engine (CAE) developed by the French company, Motor Development International (MDI). Air cars using this engine will have tanks that will probably hold about 3,200 cubic feet (90.6 kiloliters) of compressed air. The vehicle's accelerator operates a valve on its tank that allows air to be released into a pipe and then into the engine, where the pressure of the air's expansion will push against the pistons and turn the crankshaft. This will produce enough power for speeds of about 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour. When the air car surpasses that speed, a motor will kick in to operate the in-car air compressor so it can compress more air on the fly and provide extra power to the engine. The air is also heated as it hits the engine, increasing its volume to allow the car to move faster

The vehicles themselves also will be relatively cheap. Zero Pollution Motors, which plans to release the first air cars in the United States and estimates a sticker price of about $17,800, which would make these cars affordable to budget-conscious American buyers.

source: howstuffworks

HP TouchSmart PC

Touch the future now

Introducing the next great innovation from HP. The new TouchSmart products redefine what touch can do for you.  Add a new touch of style and interactivity to your home or office with the all-in-one, multi-touch enabled HP TouchSmart PC.

An attendee of the CES 2009 Exhibit is playing Solitaire on an HP TouchSmart PC.

What's new with HP TouchSmart 3.0

• Multi-touch capabilities such as pinch, zoom and pan to handle your content how you want.
• New and enhanced apps such as Canvas, Recipe Box, Hulu, Netflix and Twitter
• Wider 16:9

source: hp.com

Powermat Wireless Charger

The wireless power business sure seems to be getting crowded these days, with upstart Powermat Ltd. only the latest company promising to free your gadgets from yet another cord. Unlike some similar products, however, Powermat’s system looks to actually be ready to charge your devices, with the Loews Regency Hotel Business Center in New York City the first to put it to use. While the company eventually sees its technology being directly integrated into various electronic devices (like every other company), in the meantime you simply hook your device up to a so-called “puck,” which in turn wirelessly picks up the signals from the power mat it’s placed on. No word on when you’ll be able to get a Powermat for yourself, but the company does say the system will be “inexpensive." (2007)

 

The newest versions of Powermat Wireless Charges were showcased at CES 2009. It can now charge up to four handheld devices at once. The device is compatible with most of popular electronic devices, including iPhones, iPods, cell phones, MP3 players, Bluetooth devices, PDAs, digital cameras, portable GPS devices, and more. Rather than introduce a slew of new flashy gadgets, companies are focusing on solving design issues that have been created by years of poor design. Powermat is a revolutionary new design which aims to help frustrated users charge their army of battery powered devices. However, instead of fumbling with power cords and adaptors, Powermat charges your gadgets wirelessly. The system works with a non-conductive Powermat which syncs with receivers attached to your devices. Powermat eventually hopes that manufacturers will integrate wireless charging receivers into devices making syncing even easier. The mat will retail for around $100 and the receivers will be around $35 when the system is launched later this year.

 

source: techlogique

Eliica 8 Wheeled Car: Key to Zero Emission?

Could this be the answer to reduce fossil fuel cost and pollution due to gas emissions of vehicles?
"The Eliica (or the Electric Lithium-Ion Car) is a battery electric vehicle prototype, or concept car designed by a team at Keio University in Tokyo, led by Professor Hiroshi Shimizu. The 5.1 metre (16.7 feet) car runs on a lithium-ion battery and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h (60 mph) in four seconds. In 2004, the Eliica reached a speed of 370 km/h (230 mph) on Italy's Nardo High Speed Track.
The Eliica weighs in at 2400 kg (5291 lbs) and seats the driver and three passengers. The body of the four door car has a futuristic, bullet shape design which was tested in a wind tunnel. The front doors open forward and the rear doors open upward like wings. The car's platform contains 4 tracks of 80 batteries, which make for one third of the vehicle's cost. They currently require about 10 hours of recharging from empty to full charge, and can be easily charged off of a residential power grid.
The car has eight wheels enabling it to be closer to the ground for better traction. Each of the wheels has a 60 kW (80 hp) electric motor, giving a 480 kW (640 hp) eight wheel drive which can tackle all kinds of road surfaces. The four front wheels steer. The electric motors mean that the Eliica can deliver a smooth acceleration free from gear shifts of about 0.8 g. Each wheel contains a disc brake and employs a regenerative brake system to recover energy.

Watch the Eliica Car Video Here:

Interest in Dr. Shimizu's efforts apparently has been recently rekindled as the government of Japan recognizes the importance of electric vehicles. The team would like to receive corporate sponsorship to build 200 of the four-passenger vehicles for an estimated price of 30 million Yen or approximately $255,000. This look more like an electric limo in a science fiction film. Will it be worth buying for a four-seated vehicle? what do you think?

source: xyhd.tv

Midnight Rider Tundra Tailgater

Looking for a really awesome outdoor entertainment vehicle? Here comes the Midnight Rider Tundra Tailgater. It was developed through Toyota’s partnership with Brooks & Dunn. As a tribute to the music duo’s large truck-devoted fan base, Toyota wanted to push the boundaries of bed utility and capture the imagery of the truck trucker. When you slide out the tailgate, exposing a BBQ grill, beer tap, ice chest, 42″ HDTV and Kicker sound system. The sound system features a dual subwoofer system and a separate amp, four two-way speakers with tweeters and separate crossovers, and dual two-channel amps with separate equalizers and speaker control units.

If you want to see the Tundra Midnight Runner Tailgater for yourself, you can catch it sitting outside most venues on Brooks & Dunn's upcoming 2010 Farewell Tour. Showing off the vehicle in person at the 2009 SEMA Show, Ronnie Dunn joked that he and Kix Brooks were going to fight over who gets to drive it to each city. Whoever wins, they'll definitely be riding in style. This tailgater could be perfect for friends night out, or camping with family and friends.

Source: Autoguide.com

Voice Interactive Coffee Maker

 

This coffee maker takes coffee drinkers to a new level. Hammacher Schlemmer offers the first voice-interactive coffee maker that asks, "Would you like to set the clock or set the coffee brewing time?" and operates in response to your verbal commands.If you are feeling lazy to make a coffee, this Voice Interactive Coffee Machine could pass for a maid or servant that will whip up your daily brew according to your wishes.

Simply saying, "Set the coffee brewing time," or "Set the clock," will prompt the machine to reply, "Please say the time, including AM or PM." It uses an advanced voice recognition system to identify any time of day you speak, eliminating the hassle of fussing with buttons. The included reusable, dishwasher-safe plastic filter is specially designed to allow the water to thoroughly saturate coffee grounds, maximizing the richness and aroma of coffee.

The coffee machine brews up to 10 cups at once and allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to pour a cup. To prompt the coffee maker to speak, simply press the "Talk" button; can also be operated manually. Stainless steel housing. 13" H x 9 1/2" D x 6" W. (4 3/4 lbs.)

Source: random-good-stuff.com 

Stackable Furniture for Future Houses

Not much room in your living room? Buy stackable furniture! It's stylish and futuristic design is no doubt a work of art and a space saving solution. With this, you can simply turn a paved patio in a designer lounge.

This stacking lawn furniture tower -- called Obelisk from Dedon -- was featured at a Paris furniture salon, and it was pretty stunning even without the ocean backdrop, with its four chairs and coffee table that could be piled into a sculptural object when not in use. It creates an object of visual interest, unobtrusive but present, when not used as chairs.

Lawn furniture has become incredibly high-tech, often as comfortable and expensive as its indoor counterparts. But the Obelisk from Dedon could also work in an unconventional studio apartment -- perfect for a dancer, maybe, who could put away her living room during the day so she could pirouette around the open floor space. Or for an artist who likes visitors to stop by his little studio for coffee breaks, but always frets that he doesn't have enough room for chairs and a coffee table.
  

The Obelisk Chairs is four powdered coated aluminum frame chairs with white cushions and a table which can stack into one piece made out of woven polyethylene. With both larger and smaller versions available, two to four seats along with a coffee table all emerge from a single sphere or obelisk shape. The table alone sets this apart from most transforming/collapsing chair sets, but with the passable style and transforming functional of this set one could also imagine cramped interior spaces benefiting from one of these designs. And yeah, it's cool!

E-Ball: A Complete Computer in a Ball

  How about taking whole computer in your pocket all the time?  This ball predicts the future of computing. You might have seen many things like this but the unique feature of this ball is that when it is closed, no one can guess that whole computer is hidden inside this ball. Much like the 5 in 1 Pen drive which was fetured in this blog earlier.

The concept PC is called E-Ball designed by  Apostol Tnokovski. It’s shaped like a sphere because in Tnokovski’s opinion this is the best shape in nature and it draws everybody’s attention.

E-Ball will feature a dual core processor, 250-500GB HDD, 2GB of RAM, integrated graphic card and sound card, 2 x 50W speakers, HD-DVD recorder, wireless optical mouse and laser keyboard, LAN and WLAN card, modem, Web cam and integrated LCD projector.

The E-Ball PC supports a paper holder and the paper sheet on the holder could act like a screen where you can watch movies or something. This concept PC will measure 160mm in diameter and it was designed for Microsoft Windows OS. For the moment, there is no word on pricing or when it’s going to be available. But upon release,  it will surely hit the markets as everyone would like to see a small spherical PC like this one.

The spherical shape may not be practical. A sphere isn’t a very good idea for an object that needs to dissipate heat. Spheres have the highest volume/surface area ratio possible (which is why bubbles are spherical) and so would have the hardest time getting rid of waste heat. But hey, the most important here is that someone is pushing the envelope of PC computing and getting bigger ideas. It takes a brilliant mind to think these ideas which engineers then bring to reality. Sure there are some very dodgy concepts like the round mobo etc, but if nobody demands that engineers stretch their imagination we would still be having dinner with a pick axe out of stone.

Source: Techtoggle.com

Toyota's Robot Quartet Band

The most talented instrument-playing robots out there just got an upgrade from Toyota's engineers, who also make some pretty good cars.

Toyota's robot quartet consists of Harry (trumpet), Dave (trumpet), Chuck (tuba), and Ritchie (drums). Songs played include: "The Theme of Lupin III", "Moonlight Serenade", "Stompin 'at the Savoy", and "A train to go".Honda's ASIMO may have picked up the baton to conduct an entire orchestra, but Toyota has just outperformed the little guy with its suite of robo-musicians. the part-wheeled, part-bipedal quartet recently performed a concert where they actually played a trumpet, tuba, drums, violin and trombone.

Awesome, but no passion. Just plain machine music. Music with no soul. They get all the notes and the right beat and stuff. It's a little too perfect but it doesn't have the feel or atmosphere of a real band. This video may be entertaining, but I hope that the efforts that go into making these robots aren't just for music, because I don't think that's the kind of thing robots should be doing.