Five Minutes Into the Future

A tiny pocket city built from scratch next to a crowded urban...

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 02:38:56 -0400

A tiny pocket city built from scratch next to a crowded urban center could alleviate some of China’s crowding and pollution problems. A Chicago-based architectural firm designed a master plan for the city, which will be built within eight years and host 30,000 families, or roughly 80,000 people.

The original FuelBand was launched in February of 2012 and has...

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:37:51 -0400

The original FuelBand was launched in February of 2012 and has reached users across the United States and the UK through their online store. Distribution has been centered in this new launch around the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For those of you that’ve never used it, this device gives you a NikeFuel score for the activity you do during the day while you’re wearing it. You can also display time, calories, and steps based on the basic information the device is able to capture with it’s built-in sensors.

This futuristic Invader Jet Trike was a personal project...

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:36:11 -0400

This futuristic Invader Jet Trike was a personal project inspired by the mix of modern designs in Italy. It looks like something Batman would ride, unfortunately there’s no interior rendering images, we expect something spectacular inside as well. From these photos, we can tell there are 2 small side mirrors, however, we’re not really sure if those mirrors can see anything at the rear due to the huge side body that might block them.

BRIGHT Products has created a new solar-powered lamp with the...

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 13:55:54 -0400

BRIGHT Products has created a new solar-powered lamp with the intended goal of bringing more light to developing nations. Not only that, the lamp can be used as a mobile phone charger through the built-in micro USB cord.

Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen has been making some...

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 13:54:38 -0400

Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen has been making some of the world’s most stylish home electronics gear for decades, but usually they’re cool and discreet, rather than loud and in your face. That can’t be said of the new BeoPlay A9 speaker, which kind of makes it look like you’re trying to pull in some North Korean TV channels.

Originating from the ‘pure plate’ structure occurring in...

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 13:47:09 -0400

Originating from the ‘pure plate’ structure occurring in natural structures such as sea urchins, and based on a hexagonal geometry, the Spaceplates Greenhouse is being used for the first time this term by horticultural staff and students at City of Bristol College’s South Bristol Skills Academy in Hengrove Park, Bristol. Designed by N55, with Architect, Anne Romme, the project is constructed using an innovative building system based on aluminum and polycarbonate and accommodates work, growing and teaching space. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The Center for High Performance Athletics Jamor, for...

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:57:35 -0400

The Center for High Performance Athletics Jamor, for professional athletes, was planned taking into account the various forms of athletics sports, and in order to centralize the training activities with a high standard comfort to the user.

The cleverly named Thermite is a small firefighting...

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:52:43 -0400

The cleverly named Thermite is a small firefighting robot that does jobs humans can’t, or at least probably shouldn’t do. While there can be no doubt that Thermite is cute for a robot, we have yet to learn if it will also displace firefighters from their traditional role on office calendars.

Following on from news out of the University at Buffalo earlier...

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:50:06 -0400

Following on from news out of the University at Buffalo earlier this year that a graphene varnish could significantly slow the corrosion of steel, researchers from Monash and Rice Universities have used a graphene coating to improve copper’s resistance to corrosion by nearly 100 times. The researchers say such a dramatic extension of the metal’s useful life could result in significant cost savings for a wide range of industries.

With the existing Riga Passenger Terminal now outdated and...

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:47:58 -0400

With the existing Riga Passenger Terminal now outdated and situated in an exclusive location – adjacent to the very center of Riga, the infrastructure needed a new identity and urban response. Therefore, the first prize winning proposal by NRJA envisions the development of the territory and port as a high quality urban environment which offers not only maritime transport, leisure, shopping and business experience but also public space connection to the city.

The Koubachi soil moisture sensor works in al¬most any soil, no...

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:44:00 -0400

The Koubachi soil moisture sensor works in al¬most any soil, no matter if you use humus, clay-based, or sandy substrates. The sensor’s system is self-learning: only one sensor in your household is enough to get the most precise care model for each plant – switch it from plant to plant! Equipped with a best-in-class soil moisture sensor, the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor provides un¬matched accurate measurements. It works like your plants’ roots – it measures the exact amount of water that is available to your plants. Connected to your Wi-Fi network, the sensor informs you in real-time when your plant needs to be taken care of, so you can react before it is too late.

Read more at http://www.yankodesign.com/2012/10/05/friday-giveaway-two-koubachi-wi-fi-plant-sensors-to-be-won/#ZyYsxYAHPGrfry48.99

Having trouble selling your knick knacks and sundries online?...

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:37:27 -0400

Having trouble selling your knick knacks and sundries online? Maybe you just need better photos on your eBay listing. But instead of hiring a professional photographer, the Nimbus Cloud Dome promises pro-looking shots using just your smartphone.

HotTug allows you to sail while enjoying a nice wood-fired hot...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:49:10 -0400

HotTug allows you to sail while enjoying a nice wood-fired hot tub. Take your loved one with you to enjoy warm baths outdoor, it’s going to be a unique experience. Even when you don’t fill the tub with water, you can still use it as a stable boat for up to 6 people. Each HotTug can be filled up to 2000 liters of water while the heater heats water to about 8-degree/hour, just wait around 3 hours before the water is warm (100-degree F).

The first steps towards interstellar travel have been taken,...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:46:29 -0400

The first steps towards interstellar travel have been taken, but the stars are very far away. Voyager 1 is about 17 light-hours distant from Earth and is traveling with a velocity of 0.006 percent of light speed, meaning it will take about 17,000 years to travel one light-year. Fortunately, the elusive “warp drive” now appears to be evolving past difficulties with new theoretical advances and a NASA test rig under development to measure artificially generated warping of space-time.

Apigy made waves last year when they released the Lockitron, a...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:24:06 -0400

Apigy made waves last year when they released the Lockitron, a door lock system that was remotely operated via phones. They’ve recently unveiled a significantly improved version of the device, adding tons of new features at a much lower price. That said, it still works as before, i.e. it turns your phone into both a house guard and a security risk.

Designer Jeon Yengwon has now come up with a really cool...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:21:51 -0400

Designer Jeon Yengwon has now come up with a really cool concept design for a camera which can be worn as a ring.

It is aptly named ‘CAMER:ing’ and comprises of two chief components – a tablet-like slate and a separate ring. The ring comes equipped with a camera so that when wearing it, you simply have to click a button to its side and it snaps a shot. Without a doubt, it is a very convenient, and rather discreet, way of taking photos.

The folks at the Movoto Real Estate blog are thinking ahead, to...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:20:35 -0400

The folks at the Movoto Real Estate blog are thinking ahead, to when we’ll be getting off of this rock and colonizing the universe—by strapping our homes to rockets and launching them into space.

The project has been thought to establish a relationship...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:18:36 -0400

The project has been thought to establish a relationship between two different parts of the town, divided by a rainwater channel. Each side of the channel causes a different way to cross, a new shape to define a border. The connection is a kiss, a softy touch of structures. The bridge is a new way to understand the city.

Remember the NEC PaPeRo robot that was said to possibly end up...

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:39:40 -0400

Remember the NEC PaPeRo robot that was said to possibly end up in homes this year? Well, it looks like we’re a step closer to seeing that happen. At the moment, it is available as a research prototype for developers but not regular consumers like you and me and Docomo wants to change that. At this year’s CEATEC, the Japanese company showed off its Shabette Robo.

The cameras built into smartphones keep getting better, but...

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:33:47 -0400

The cameras built into smartphones keep getting better, but this means that fewer and fewer people are carrying around a separate camera just for picture taking. Rather than trying to buck this trend, camera accessory maker Manfrotto has decided to embrace the iPhone, by giving it some accessories to pump up its photo performance.