Unique USB Gadgets

USB is intended to help retire all legacy serial and parallel ports. USB can connect computer peripherals such as mouse devices, keyboards, PDAs, gamepads and joysticks, scanners, digital cameras and printers. For many devices such as scanners and digital cameras, USB has become the standard connection method.

The Touchless Touch Screen User Interface

As much as I love my iPhone, I can’t stand getting fingerprints all over the phone’s beautiful glossy screen. So I was jazzed when the guys over at Norway’s Elliptic Labs let me know about their new touchless user interface technology.



The system is capable of detecting movements in 3-dimensions without ever having to put your fingers on the screen.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Jyx3hMq0Axg

Their patented touchless interface doesn’t require that you wear any special sensors on your hand either. You just point at the screen (from as far as 5 feet away), and you can manipulate objects in 3D.

http://www.youtube.com/v/tuAIckCTaNo

Elliptic says the technology is compact enough that it could eventually be embedded into mobile devices. Representatives of the company will be on hand at the upcoming GDC show in San Francisco this February to show off their system in person.
source : 1 , 2

Airbus A380 "Private Jet"

The famous quote says that the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. When you place a Middle Eastern dignitary in the equation, you'll have this difference at it's tipping point.

What am I talking about? Well, I am talking about a toy that will cost 150 million dollars, yeap, US$ 150,000,000.00. That's the price of a new Airbus A380 "private jet"� soon to be delivered to this unknown dignitary. Actually, a Flying Palace fits more the new toy description.

Since last February news and photos of the plane interior are slowly leaking into the internet.

From Bornrich.org :

    Besides the fully-equipped board room, cozy relaxing zone, the pimped-out jet features a grand entrance, VIP lounge with five couches and a tucked away wet bar that is fully equipped with a refrigerator, a wine chiller and a microwave and a dining room with a 70-inch flat screen and 42-inch pop-up monitors. There is even a secluded area off the private dining room on the upper deck that is designed to enjoy desert retreats. The jet's 6,640 square-foot cabin is designed by designer Edese Doret.

CIS Solar Tower

Built in 1962 in Manchester(UK) to host the British insurance company CIS Ltd. head quarters, the CIS Tower was suffering the from its 40 years exposure to pollution.

The building, that was the highest in Europe when was built and still is the second highest in Manchester, had millions of little mosaic tiles covering its windowless façade, but due to time and pollution, these tiles were falling down. A long term repair was needed.

Gary Thomas, Head of Property and Facilities, had the idea of turning the building in a giant solar panel in 2000. And in 2004 the transformation began.

A few years, 7244 photovoltaic panels and £ 5.5 millions (around $ 11 millions) latter, the 400ft building turned into a giant solar power plant that generates 390kW, 181,000 units of renewable electricity each year - equivalent to the energy needed to full power 55 homes for a year.



 Some more details:

    In total, 7,244 Sharp 80W modules are used to clad the entire service tower. From this total, 4,898 PV modules are live, 870 €˜full size dummy modules and 109 ‘medium size’ dummy modules and 1,367 edge modules were used in order to optimize the system's electrical generation and minimize costs. (source: Solarcenter)
     

Curiosities:

            * Generates total electricity for 61 average three-bed houses each year (note: there is a difference between what is stated in the Tower's site and in the Solarcenter's site)
            * Generates enough electricity each year to light an average three-bed house for over 305 years
            * Generates enough electricity to make 6.8 million pieces of toast/9.9 million cups of tea every year
































CIS
CIS Solar Tower Website
Solarcenter
Via: MetaEfficient

Aurora Lamp

Melbourne’s Ruby Studio recently launched the Aurora Lamp, made from 60 identical laser cut pieces of acrylic that represent the letter ‘j’. Each layer is slightly twisted, ensuring that there is visual movement throughout the piece. Designed by John Hoogendoorn, the Aurora lamp takes an energy saving globe bulb and recently won Best Lighting Design at Fringe Furniture, part of the Fringe Festival in Melbourne.









source : rubystudio

Words into Personal Art

26Gallery has come up with another way for you to create personal art by changing the way we look at the letters of the alphabet.
You choose any words you like, they horizontally rotate the letters in 3D and stick them together to create a very beautiful painting.

Each piece is a Giclee fine art print, printed on high quality, acid-free, polyester-cotton canvas.

























The explanation of how these pieces are made.



source : 1 , 2

Edge Fashion Phone : Trendy People Need This Phone

The Edge phone is designed for the style conscious fashionistas. The name has nothing to do with data speed. In fact we don’t even know what this phone is capable of because as with all fashion phones, looks rein supreme and the Edge phone makes sure you notice with its glowing glass keyboard.



To answer an incoming call, slide the glass keyboard out. An embedded LED illuminates the etched numerics via refraction creating a glowing effect. The only visible lines is the microphone wiring which designer Chris Owens has cleverly disguised as a keyboard border. [design]

Touchscreen Phone

Another Touchscreen Phone - Mooon+ Concept phone comes with integrated Bluetooth Headset, but wait, this one has a surprise!

Do you have a hard time keeping track of all your gadgets? Wouldn't it be nice if you were able to connect your Bluetooth headset directly to your phone? This way, you're much less likely to lose the handsfree side of the equation.











Seems like it could be a neat idea, but I'd imagine that the premium of the "free" Bluetooth headset will be integrated into the price of the phone as a whole. [mobilemag]

SkyTran - Individual Maglev System

The American company UniModal Transport Solutions developed a concept for a very high-capacity and high-speed Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) network. Pictures and informations of this sky transportation vehicle are showed below.



This SkyTran system operates with individual, two-passenger vehicles, which are propelled and suspended by a maglev system from overhead guideways. These are laid out in a one mile by one mile networked grid throughout the city. A large number of small departure and exit portals are placed underneath the guideways at approximately every 400 metres or at every city block.







SkyTran has no fixed routes or timetables. Users can simply enter any departure portal, get into the first empty vehicle in the queue and select their destination. The vehicle then speeds up on the acceleration lane and enters the high-speed overhead guideway.





At the selected exit portal, the vehicle enters a deceleration lane where the speed is reduced until it stops at the arrival portal. Individual vehicles are capable of speeds up to 160 kilometres per hour within city limits or 240 kilometres per hour between cities. A very short braking distance allows a distance between traveling vehicles of a mere 25 metres.

Slim G4 - Worlds Thinnest Mouse

 Since I've bought my first trackball, about 15 years ago, I had never bought another mouse. But I think that I will buy one in the next days to use with my notebook.

Meet the world's thinnest mouse: the DaoKorea's Slim G4. It is only 5mm high and about the same size of a PCMCIA card when folded, actually as it has a retractable cable, you can keep it in your notebook's slot for that card after using.

Specifications:

            * Dimensions:
                  o when flat: 9.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 cm / 3.7 x 2 x 0.1 inch (length x width x height)
                  o when Active: 10 x 5 x 3 cm / 4 x 2 x 1 inch (length x width x height)
            * Weight: 43 Gram +/- 10%
            * Interface standard : USB
            * Cable Length : 65 cm / 25.5 inch, Manually retractable into the body
            * Buttons: 2 buttons (Left & Right)
            * Wheel: Touch scroll wheel
            * Resolution: 800 DPI

Retails from £24.99 up to $99 depending on where you buy.





















Via: Gizmodo
DaoKorea
KJ Global (online shopping - £24.99)
Slim Mouse (online shopping - $99)

8 EXORBITANT LUXURY YACHTS

 Some people have it all. Loads of money, beautiful partners, fast supercars, extreme houses, exorbitant yachts. Over a hundred million Dollars for a yacht is no exception. But we have pictures, and those are free…

 
1. The Amevi ($300.000.000)



2. The Octopus ($200.000.000)



3. The Lauren L. ($112.000.000)



4. The Boadicea ($120.000.000)



5. The Maltese Falcon ($100.000.000)



6. The Pelorus ($179.000.000)



7. Dubai ($230.000.000)



8. Salem ($19.750.000)

Carbon Butterfly Indoor R/C Plane

Almost all R/C Airplanes demands a large space to be used on, at least a small runway to take off and land is necessary. And depending on where you live, you cannot just fly a R/C plane everywhere you want to.

Actually there is one you can use one inside your own home, it is the "Carbon Butterfly Indoor Flyer", the smallest RC plane you can fly if you are not some sort of secret agent with freaking ultra über cool gadgets.

Check this out:

    Most remote-control airplanes are heavy and bulky and require acres of open space to fly and turn properly. But the Carbon Butterfly Indoor Flyer is the smallest and lightest ready-to-fly remote-control airplane available. At 3.6 grams, this tiny plane is small and light enough to maneuver around your living room, and the sturdy carbon-fiber frame adds durability to the device. Please note this is a toy for bigger boys, small children can enjoy watching the Butterfly fly but should not be allowed to pick it up, be mindful of pets as well as they are capable of causing damage. The included four-channel transmitter provides precise control for tight turns and slow flying. With some practice, your airspace need only be 12 feet by 16 feet. This tiny remote-control plane is powered by the included lithium-polymer battery.

The price of US$ 299.99 is not so light.

http://www.youtube.com/v/TSLZ7rmK2GE













Via Gizmodo - SmartHome (shop)