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Gear Lover - by Craig Hill

Video - Gear Lover

The Polaroid Pogo Portable Printer

July 4th 2008 00:48

The Pogo Arrives

The Palm size Printer

Polaroid, the company responsible for mass producing instamatic cameras back in the day is hoping to launch a new tech revolution with its latest consumer item. Released today (July 4th) the Pogo hand held portable printer is looking to replicate the instant gratification that Polaroids original all in one photo development system had.

USB and Bluetooth compatible the Pogo, prints borderless 2 inch by 3 inch images straight from your digital camera, mobile phone or any other new age photographic devices. Compact and portable, the unit is around the size of a deck of playing cards.

The Pogo at work

Using ZINK technology (zero ink printing) the crystalized paper inside colourises when exposed to heat. From the official Polaroid Pogo site:
“The patented ZINK Paper is an advanced composite material with embedded yellow, magenta and cyan dye crystals, activated with 200 million heat pulses, in 30 seconds, in a single pass. With 100 billion crystals in a 2x3" print, the paper is 100% inkless. A ZINK-enabled printer uses heat to activate and colorize these crystals. Because there is no ink, every ZINK-enabled device has the unique benefits of being small, simple, elegant, and eco-friendly.”

Stephen Smith, the company's UK managing director, said: "There's nothing on the market quite like it. The technology is brand new. Everywhere I go people go "wow" when they see it…We reckon it'll be just as successful as any of our previous launches."

A closer look

If like me the majority of images you capture on digital devices end up on your PC but seldom in hard copy, this invention aims to change all that. Costing around $150 US the paper for the machine is $10US for 30 sheets.

Here are the specs from the official Polaroid Pogo Site:
2” x 3” borderless, sticky-back prints
Bluetooth, PictBridge compatible
Smudge-proof, water-resistant, tear-proof photos
Fade-resistant, long-lasting images
No waste – no ink cartridges
Prints in about 60 seconds
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery

How it Works - The Polaroid Pogo

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Cameras, Gadgets, Home, Video

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The Bionic Arm is reality.

May 30th 2008 05:09

A mind controlled Artificial Limb.

Dean Kamen and the revolutionary arm

When I was a kid watching Lee Majors as the Six Million Dollar Man I failed to see the practical applications of his robotic limbs. To a 10 year old it was the super strength that they seemed to enable that was the most attractive thing.

Now, awareness of the plight of amputees and those who are unable to control their limbs puts a more empathetic perspective on the development of inventions like the latest from DEKA research.

Reported from the D6 conference on allthingsd.com, DEKA founder Dean Kamen demonstrated the new “luke arm” (Empire Strikes Back anyone?). Astounding, this mechanical arm actually responds to mind commands, working much like the Bionic Man or Luke Skywalker’s new hand.

Working for the good of mankind

An engineering marvel that renders the mechanical claw redundant there is a precision to the digits on the hand that seems almost impossible. Wired.com says “The arm is fully articulated, giving the user the same degrees of movement as a natural arm, and is sensitive enough to pick up a piece of paper, a wineglass or even a grape without mishap.”

Here is a blow by blow rundown of what happened at the D6 conference from allthingsd.com:

• Walt and Kara welcome Kamen to the stage.
• So what’ve you been working on? Kamen recalls a visit with some very high-level people from DARPA years ago. The good news, they told him: Battle fatalities have greatly declined. The bad news: Many soldiers that survive battle have lost their arms. And the prosthetics we currently have don’t offer bilateral movement or fine motor control. Kamen says they charged him with developing a new prosthetic that could offer those things. “I looked at them,” said Kamen, ” and I said you’re nuts.” We don’t have the technology yet. How do we interface with the human body? “You think you have trouble with the Vista interface,” quips Kamen.
• Kamen pulled together a bunch of creative folks, did a bit of research and decided to try to build the arm. DARPA asked him to build it in two years. Kamen said he’d build it in one.
• And almost a year later he had.
• Video of a man with two functioning arms demonstrating an exoskeleton version of the arm. He scratches his nose, picks up a pad of paper ….
• Kamen queues up another video that features an amputee who’s lost both his arms, using the Luke Arm after less than two hours of training. After passing a small ball to a colleague, the man pours a drink and then feeds himself for the first time in 13 years.
• Queueing up another video in which a man who has had the arm connected directly to his nerve endings controls the arm simply by thinking. Kamen says it took just a day for the user to learn how to use the arm to do basic things like picking up a glass.
• Kamen talks about the difficulty of this process–with so many possible degrees of freedom, how does someone wearing one of these arms learn to operate, say, a backhoe?
• Kamen says DEKA solved this problem by creating macros that could be programmed into the arm to shorten this process. Video demonstration of the “ball holding” and “power-drill operating” macros, among others.
• We took these things down to a Veterans Administration building to test them out. He found that the arm was difficult to attach because of varying degrees of amputation. Also found that many amputees don’t wear their current prosthetics, because they’re too heavy or uncomfortable or difficult to wear. Kamen worried that the Luke Arm would meet with a similar reception unless he solved these problems.
• DEKA went back into the lab and added a set of air bladders to the arm harness, along with a pneumatic pump that makes the arm not just more comfortable, but easier to use. Also quite powerful. Can lift weights as large as 40 lbs.
• Moving on to another video which shows an amputee using the arm to pick up grapes one by one and eat them.
• Kamen hopes someday to connect these prosthetics directly to the brain–non-invasively.
• On to next Kamen passion: education. He thanks Melinda Gates for setting up the crowd, then makes his pitch: We’re the only country wherein minority kids and women get the message that they aren’t suitable for science or math careers. So let’s turn science, engineering, etc., into a fun sport. In short, he says, we got 23 companies to develop sports-like teams and an annual competition through FIRST (for inspiration and recognition of science and technology). The organization has grown: 13,911 schools from 38 countries. He asks the audience to help.

Here is footage of the DEKA “Luke Arm” at work.

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Gadgets, Video

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Sony HDR-TG1 - World's Smallest Full HD1080 Camcorder

May 16th 2008 07:20

The world's smallest full HD1080 camcorder is due to land in Australia any day now with pre-sales available through Sony Central and/or Sony Style stores throughout the country.

Priced from $1,599.00, the HDR-TG1 features a 2.7" WIDE Touch Screen and is officially the world's smallest, lightest, and slimmest camcorder offering 1920x1080i 'Full HD' video recording in an exciting package weighing just 300 grams!

Featuring a scratch resistant pure titanium body design, the Sony HDR-TG1 is robust, small and light enough to be carried around anywhere and everywhere in pockets or bags. Other highlights of this camcorder include:

Face Detection - this technology enables the camera to detect a human face automatically and to adjust focus, colour control and brightness accordingly.

Zoom Microphone - the built-in microphone automatically "zooms" with the lens so that one person's voice in a large crowd can be captured clearly while other sounds will be less prominent.

Film Roll Index and Face Index - this function allows the user to preview the beginning of scenes and create scene indexes set at specified display intervals (3, 6, or 12 seconds and 1 or 5 minutes) - perfect for seeing what was recorded in a long take. Face Index allows the user to begin playing scenes simply by pressing the human faces detected during shooting.

4.0 Mega Pixel Still Image Capture - the HDR-TG1 features a high quality 4.0 Mega Pixel camera lens. The still image camera also works during full motion video recording.

Backup HD Footage to AVCHD Disc Without a PC - DVDirect (VRDMC5) allows you to burn the videos directly onto AVCHD without a PC. [sony.com.au]

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Posted By: Arnold - Category: Gadgets, Video

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USB Exercising Mouse

April 29th 2008 00:07

USB Typing enhancer

The USB Mouse with a difference

Most USB toys tend to entertain more than they exude a practical application, the USB exercising mouse from crazyaboutgadgets.com is an exception. Sure the little rodent peddles away on his bike to provide giggles but what powers him up is your typing speed. The more words you type in per minute, the faster the little varmint goes.

An LCD screen in the front keeps tabs on your output and even delivers a daily total for you to try and best. Less formal and rigid than any number of typing tutor software packages, this is a clever way of getting the children to accelerate their keyboard knowledge.

Actually forget the kid’s, I’m sure most of us adults would find a simple pleasure in coaxing the speedy Gonzalez cyclist to reach terminal velocity.

Technical Specifications; (From crazyaboutgadgets.com)

• Requires 2 x AA Batteries (Included)
• Compatible with Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP

Video of the USB Exercising Mouse

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Fitness, Gadgets, Toys, Video

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Never Mow Your Own Lawn Again!

February 27th 2008 00:05

The Lawnbott 3500

The Rolls Royce of Mowers

Mowing down the competition, (Just had to get that out my system) this is an invention that in my mind will make manual lawn mowers an inanimate antique.

Personally I’m allergic to grass, on a bad day it can give me a rash and hay fever simultaneously. Add to that the harsh Aussie sun in the middle of summer and you will have the reason why I HATE mowing the lawn.

The Evolution of Grass Cutting

For some one like me the news a few years ago that the Lawnbott 2000 was released was met with an initial wave of pleasure. Soon it subsided though because this earlier Robot gardener was restrictive rather than freeing. It’s impractical design meant larger back yards required multiple charges due to inadequate battery life and it failed to tackle some basic physical obstacles like hills.

LawnBott 3500

Now the Brand new LawnBott 3500 from KA Home Robotics promises more range, longer life and increased abilities. Coming armed with Blue tooth compatible and the capability to work up gradients of 30 degrees this top of the range model boast the drive to cut back 1.5 acres of the ever growing green stuff.

Directly from lawnbott.com:
“The homeowner can program which days of the week and what hours of the day the LawnBott needs to come out of its charging base and cut the grass. At the end of its work cycle, the LawnBott will go back to its charging station and take a nap while it recharges, ready to come out again for the next cycle.

Safety and Security are further enhanced with the LB3500 through a higher sensitivity, free-floating, 360° bumper shell, blade stop proximity sensor, and an on-board alarm system should an unauthorized user pick up the Lawnbott.

Utilizing two (2) lithium-ion batteries to propel more powerful motors, the LB3500 can handle slopes up to 30°. It can also maintain a larger yard area, up to 38,000 sq. ft. That’s well over a 1 ½ acre home’s typical yard size.”

I don’t know about you but once these become more common place and drop in price I will be amongst the first to grab one.

To find out the price of owning your own LawnBott and for further technical information visit lawnbott.com

Here is a video of the Lawnbott 3200 Evolution

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Gadgets, Home, Video

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Introducing the Gravity Light

February 20th 2008 00:05

Greener Gadgets Conference

The Bamboo Kinetic Phone - Crazy but interesting

Over on greenergadgets.com they have just had there annual one day conference that includes a design competition. Directly from the sites press page, the winner was:

The EnerJar DIY Energy Meter Kit
Designed by Matt Meshulam and Zach Dwiel

MacGyver enters the energy race

This little downloadable DIY kit uses household materials to monitor and measure the energy output of a variety of everyday devices, allowing the user to take personal responsibility over energy use.

Not bad, I can see the practical uses but the astounding accomplishment that inspired this post is what came in second prize:

The Gravity Based Kinetic Energy Lamp - Gravia
Designed by Clay Moulton

What goes up must come down

Reminiscent of a grandfather clock, this gorgeous floor lamp uses the weight of a hefty component to kinetically power itself.

A light that works on Newton’s primary principle, is there any fuel supply more readily available? So how does it work you may ask, well an interview with the Gravity lights creator Clay Moulton on newswise.com has a few answers.

“The light output will be 600-800 lumens – roughly equal to a 40 watt incandescent bulb over a period of four hours.
To "turn on" the lamp, the user moves weights from the bottom to the top of the lamp. An hour-glass like mechanism is turned over and the weights are placed in the mass sled near the top of the lamp. The sled begins its gently glide back down and, within a few seconds, the LEDs come on and light the lamp, Moulton said. “It’s more complicated than flipping a switch but can be an acceptable, even enjoyable routine, like winding a beautiful clock or making good coffee,” he said.
Moulton estimates that Gravia’s mechanisms will last more than 200 years, if used eight hours a day, 365 days a year. “The LEDs, which are generally considered long-life devices, become short-life components in comparison to the drive mechanisms,” he said.”

Green Cell Battery Cellphone - Not available in Bamboo

The marvel of nature’s invention, leaving these tools for us to play with. Now with the initiative of that whole climate disaster end of the world scenario looming the human race is again striving forward to develop and discover new energy sources that lie above and below this blue planet.

The cynic in me acknowledges the potential to make big bucks out of the added media hype and corporate greed is an epidemic. Still the ends may justify the means. No matter what your stance on climate change less draining of our natural resources guarantees the future stock for many generations.

To strive for alternate fuel and power is an obvious ambition for the human race. Variety and variation inevitably lead to optimising technology. As a gadget lover the idea of my various components and portable devices being able to run on something as simple and cheap as sunlight or in this case, Kinetic energy or gravity, that's invention.

Please visit greenergadgets.com and newswise.com for more information about Clay Moulton and other revolutionary technology.

Here is some footage of the Green Gadgets Awards Ceremony with some stunning innovations.

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Cellphones, Gadgets, Home, Video

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Rubot meet Rubik’s

February 12th 2008 22:42

The Robotic Puzzle solver

Up close and personal with Rubot II

Strictly speaking this may not be a practical gadget…yet.

Even before Fritz Lang’s 1930’s science fiction film Metropolis, man has dreamed of building mechanical robots that specialise in manual labour and dangerous duties. From the Jetson’s Rosie to Roy Batty in Blade Runner mechanical slaves are being imagined and developed as new millennium pioneers discover what is possible.

The Military may one day be made up entirely of non sentient beings. Household chores could become a thing of the past. Mechanised constructors are already squeezing out human kind in tasks of basic construction and manufacturing.

On the surface the idea of Rubot II The Rubik’s Cube solving robot seems less practical or threatening. Reeking of geekdom, when you get a load of the robot’s terminating good looks (or is that sinister?) you realise this sort of thing could only come out of the mind of children of the 80’s.

Then you remember that one of the first robots ever built was designed for the sole purpose of playing chess. In that light this modern wonder uses colour recognition problem solving abilities and an impressively fluid manual dexterity.

Rubot II works it out.

According to the author of the enclosed youtube.com footage, the Inventor of this impressive contraption is Pete Redmond of Dublin, Ireland.

It seems the Rubot II scans the puzzle with cameras before calculating the solution and then making its sure handed moves to all sides matching. The practical applications and programming that could replace the Rubik’s command boggle the mind?

Part Cylon, part T-100, see the Rubot II in action with the creators daughter.

For further adventures check out the man versus machine Rubik's battle

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Gadgets, Toys, Video

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Speeding with ishoes

February 7th 2008 03:50

Speeding with ishoes

ishoes

Ever find walking to much of an effort and the idea of running somewhere is met with same fear that most associate with a killer shark. Since the dawn of motorised transport and before, technology has been looking for more efficient means of personal travel.

Now comes the advent of ishoes. Looking like a miniature go cart that straps to your feet this motorised footwear may redefine the way we travel short distances.

From the ishoes website:
“The inventor of the iShoes, Ilya Kaganovich is from Plymouth, Minnesota. On a trip to New York, he thought of a new way to get around town: motorized shoes. With the help of his brother, Boris Kaganovich, an aerospace engineering student, they developed prototypes to test the concept.”

Manufactured to be portable and lightweight, specifically engineered for easy user balance and minimal strain, they may appear cumbersome but the buzz is positive. Still looking for investors and distributors the product and accessories are available for purchase from ishoes.com

Vital statistics from ishoes.com:
- Top speed of 13.5mph

- A123 Lithium-ion battery pack

- Recharge in 2 hours

- Colson Sure Grip wheels

- 11.8lbs for the pair

- $599.99 USD

Here is an amateur video showing the ishoes in use – still looks a little dangerous for my liking.

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Fitness, Gadgets, Video

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Cinema Glasses.

February 5th 2008 00:06

Glasses through Celluloid Lens

The Zeiss Cinemizer Movie Glasses

Innovations in the way we experience and receive our digital media entertainment is moving faster than Big Blue on an international server. Now comes Cinemizer video eyewear from the Carl Zeiss school of logical optical electronics progression.

The plan is that you “will be able to watch any movie stored on your ipod, anytime and anywhere.” (Or is that any wear?)

Boasting an assortment of colours in one basic style, the sports cut makes them look more durable than they may really be. As a movie lover this idea sounds like it has potential and at a cost of around $AUS600 it may be worth the gamble investing in a pair once they have had some consumer road testing.

Here are some FAQ’s from the official zeiss.com website, including the release date.

Can all video-capable iPods be connected to the
cinemizer?
Yes. The cinemizer is compatible with iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod with Video, and iPod nano (3rd Generation).

Is the cinemizer also compatible with the iPhone?
With the current connector, we do not recommend using the cinemizer with the iPhone as there is no official certification as yet. Compatibility to the iPod and iPhone is established through an authentication chip in the connector of the cinemizer. Currently, the cinemizer is certified for video-capable iPods and comes with a corresponding connector. There will be a corresponding connector and clip for the cinemizer as soon as certification for the iPhone is received.

Is the cinemizer also compatible with other multimedia players, DVD players and game consoles?
Yes. You only need a 4-pin, 3.5 mm A/V phone jack (see technical note). Connect the cable to the jack on the battery box. An iPod should not be connected. You can also remove the iPod connector to get a flat battery box.

Can the cinemizer also play movies from a computer?
If you would like to use a video source other than the iPod, you need a standard 3.5 mm, p-pin AV plug (see technical note) and possibly a corresponding adapter cable, e.g. for the TV port of the graphic card on your computer. It is not possible to use a USB cable. An iPod should not be connected. You can also remove the iPod connector to get a flat battery box.

What is the resolution on the cinemizer?
Both displays on the cinemizer have resolution of 640 x 480 pixels.

Can eyeglass wearers use the cinemizer?
Yes. You can select a diopter setting between 3.5 and -3.5 on your cinemizer.

Can I see anything through the video eyewear while I am using the cinemizer?
No. It is not possible to see through the glasses because the housing accommodates the optics and technology. You will only be able to look out below the lower edge of the glasses e.g. to operate the iPod.

Can I already buy the cinemizer?
The cinemizer will be available in Germany at selected GRAVIS outlets beginning in February/March 2008.

Please visit zeiss.com for more information.

Here is a promo spot for the Zeiss Cinemizer

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Fitness, Gadgets, Toys, Video

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The Zap Alias Electric Car may not park in 2009?

February 2nd 2008 02:23

Zap Alias Electric Car an unrealistic schedule?

The Zap Alias E.T.A 2009

Electric cars are nothing new, in fact in the early days of auto pioneering the electric car dominated. The battle for superiority on the roads was eventually won by the petrol driven internal combustion engine, largely due to behind closed doors wheeling and dealing.

In 1996 the Electric was set for a return to the market with the GM’s EV1 turning up on the roads in California. Sadly a combination of auto makers self sabotaging, a lack of consumer awareness and inevitable corporate kick backs rendered its early extinction.

Now with the community crying out for more environmentally responsible alternatives to combat global warming/cooling (nature again proves its universal balance), peak oil and dependence on foreign suppliers car manufacturers are taking development more seriously.

Meet the $100,000 competition. The Tesla Roadster

Leading this technological race is the $100,000, high performance Tesla Roadster. A bit pricey for the average Joe, news of the Zap Alias sportster seems to be the everyman’s light at the end of the rainbow.

Scheduled for a 2009 debut, speculation is now rife that the 321.85 horse power three wheeled sports mobile may be delayed. Sceptics are saying that it’s overzealous to think the release date will be met considering that Zap has only just began development with financial constraints in mind.

The Zap Alias Concept and on the right the XR3 from Riley.

According to an article on Wired.com the reason for the claim is that even big auto manufacturers like Toyota and GM take 3-5 years from drawing board to final product even with a prototype in place.

Countering on Wired.com Zap chairman Albert lam says "Looking at our initial project-development plan and our discussion with a number of key engineering and technology partners, I believe we can go into production by the second quarter of 2009,"

So the California company remains optimistic that there flashy voltage driven promise can be met while many in the industry remain unconvinced. Premature or not it is reassuring to know that the development continues.

Here are the Zap Alias vital statistics from the official website.

General Info

Front wheel drive
•Wheel motors X 2
•Pure EV
•Motors: 2 x PML 15.75 inches (400 mm)
- Peak Power – 321.85 Horsepower (240 kW) total
- Peak Torque – 557.52 lb/ft (756 Nm)
- Max Revs - 2100 rpm
- Water cooled

•Performance
0 – 60 mph ( 96.56 Km/h): 5.7 seconds
Vmax: 156 mph (251.06 Km/h)
EV range: 100 miles (160.9 kilometer)
• Vehicle kerb mass: 1612.6 lbs (733 kg)

Safety
ZAP-3 Homologated as a motorcycle
•Recommended safety requirements to provide enhanced safety features
compared with a conventional motorcycle
–Seatbelt provision
–Vehicle structure features
•Roll hoop
–Consideration of other enhanced safety features
•CAE will guide the development of structural safety solutions

Here is a brief look at what the Alias could deliver

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Gadgets, Toys, Video

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The Potenco Pull Chord Generator

January 31st 2008 01:07

The Potenco Pull Chord Generator

The Potenco Pull Chord generator

Don’t let appearances fool you. This simple looking yo-yo device could actually be the start of a portable power generating revolution.

Adopting the age old rip chord technology that used to wind up toys, now a few simple tugs of this ultimate palm sized electrical generator delivers enough energy to power most small electronic devices.

A blessing to under developed nations or isolated communities as this basic idea is expanded upon larger more crucial equipment will benefit from the breakthrough idea.

In the interim it will allow a portable freedom to users and serve as an emergency back up device for anyone without a readily available traditional power point.

A new generation of generator

Here is some handy information and vital statistics straight from the official Potenco site:
A minute of pulling the PCG generates enough energy for:

* 20 minutes of talk time on a mobile phone
* 1 hour of ultrabright LED flashlight use
* 3 hours play time on an iPod Shuffle (about one pull per song)

Generator Specs

The PCG’s quiet, compact and efficient design delivers major improvements over alternative portable power options.

* Compact: 2.5″ high x 3.5″ diameter
* Lightweight: 14 oz.
* Efficient: 20W peak average power
* Quiet: 59 dB at 1 foot, <50 dB at 5 feet
* Rugged: Water, dust and drop resistant
* Smart: Automatically adjusts to your fitness and energy level
* Ergonomic: Uses a variety of muscle groups

Here is the CEO of Potenco demonstrating the device