Check It Out™

Sensei transforms two chairs into one table

2013-01-31T14:39:00.005+05:30

Sensei represents the first piece Sibille has designed in such a way, drawing "many shapes – some simple, some complex – until ... something of value that can help solve problems somehow [emerges]." In other words finding the form first, and then applying a function to it.

The chairs are 76 cm (30 in.) tall, 44.5 cm (17.5 in.) across, and 51 cm (20 in.) deep, while the table is 51 cm (20 in.) tall, 116 cm (46 in.) across, and 44.5 cm (17.5 in.) deep. We've seen similar two-in-one furniture before, but Sensei is not only practical but also easy on the eye thanks to a strong aesthetic.

Sensei remains just a concept for now – while Sibille has constructed two prototypes, the piece has yet to be turned into a commercial product.

Source: ClaudioSibille via Core77

Oncle Sam popcorn machine pops one piece at a time

2012-11-28T13:52:00.002+05:30

Oncle Sam is a popcorn machine art installation which focuses on popping corn one kernel at a time, allowing the user to partake of a tasty snack without consuming too many calories.

This short promo video demonstrates Oncle Sam popping corn.

Oncle Sam was created by Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL) students Laurent Beirnaert, Pierre Bouvier, and Paul Tubiana for ECAL’s Low-Tech Factory exposition – the same project which was home to theRocking-Knit Chair.

Fingernail-sized radar chip could be used in future smartphones

2012-11-28T13:46:00.004+05:30

Research based in Frankfurt, Germany, and funded by the European Union, has resulted in a new low-cost, fingernail-sized radar chip package that could be implemented in a variety of areas, including the automotive industry, robotics and smartphones.

The chip package measures 8 x 8 mm (0.3 x 0.3 inches), operates at 120 GHz, and can calculate the distance of an object up to around 3 meters (10 feet) away, to an accuracy of within 1 mm. It can also detect moving objects, and their velocity, by using the Doppler effect
.

In order to produce a radar system so small, the researchers needed to overcome significant technical challenges. This involved testing multiple antennae to maintain an acceptable size, while also avoiding unwanted electromagnetic radiation and loss of signal due to weather and other conditions. Additionally, a self-test system was also adopted, enabling technicians to easily check the chip is performing as it should.

Bookworm wrap-around chair beckons bibliophiles

2012-11-28T13:43:00.000+05:30

The Bookworm from Dutch design firm Atelier 010 is a single piece of furniture that combines a chair and bookcase in one. But it does so in a truly unconventional way, wrapping the curved bookcase around into something akin to the shape of a heart. The chair is provided by the lowest curve, with the books literally surrounding the seated person. The final touch is a simple light fitting hanging down from the upper portion, providing the reader with a direct, overhead light source.

OK so it doesn't look to be the most comfortable of chairs, and its curved design means it's not the most ergonomic of bookcases either. But such criticism misses the point for this piece of furniture that not only serves a dual purpose but also adds a certain artistic aesthetic to any room that houses it.

Bizarre facts

2012-11-28T13:38:00.003+05:30

Blueberries are purple!
India has more honor roll students than America HAS students.
Strawberry is not an actual berry, but a banana is.

By technical definition, a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single seed. The strawberry, however has its dry, yellow "seeds" on the outside (each of which is actually considered a separate fruit). True berries, such as blueberries and cranberries have seeds inside. However, the banana fruit is a berry for the same reason strawberries are not.

There is a theory that strawberries were named by 19th century children who picked the fruit, strung them on grass straws, and sold them as "Straws of berries".

Oru "origami" kayak

2012-11-28T13:28:00.002+05:30

Oru – a prototype touring kayak made from corrugated plastic, that can be folded up and carried like an art portfolio. Designer Anton Willis and his team have since launched a crowd-funding campaign that has already far exceeded its goal ... which means that the Oru should soon be available to buy.

the main body of the Oru is made up of a single prefolded piece of plastic. Once folded into shape, the boat is held together using attached straps with quick-release buckles. The entire assembly process is said to take about five minutes (once users get the hang of it), and according to its makers, the kayak can stand up to at least 20,000 fold cycles without leaking.

It measures 12 feet (3.7 meters) long by 25 inches (0.6 meters) wide, weighs 25 pounds (11 kg) and has a carrying capacity of 260 pounds (118 kg). Once folded down and put in its shoulder strap-equipped carrying case, it measures 33 x 29 x 10 inches (84 x 74 x 25 cm).

Yes, you CAN tickle YOURSELF! The only place you can tickle yourself is the top of your mouth. TRY IT.

2012-11-28T13:25:00.003+05:30

The sensation of tickling is important to have. It's similar to the feeling of having bugs or spiders crawling on you. The reaction you have to being tickled is important to keep those kind of animals from crawling on you.

You tickle mostly because of surprise. Even if you know you're about to be tickled, you don't necessarily know where, so you react by being ticklish. When you try to tickle yourself, it usually doesn't work because your brain already knows how you're going to do it. You can't tickle yourself because you can't surprise yourself.

Possibly because the roof of your mouth isn't used to being touched like that, it still tickles if you touch the roof of your mouth

Best Android apps of 2012

2012-11-28T13:17:00.002+05:30

Google Chrome

Google's heralded desktop browser made its mobile debut this year. It lives up to the hype. Speedy and simple, the free Chrome is miles ahead of the old stock Android browser.

Play Store: Chrome (free)

Google Drive

More than just a Dropbox rival, Google Drive is a cloud locker and basic word processor rolled into one. Store up to 5 GB of files for free, and edit your docs on the go. If you're invested in the Android ecosystem, Drive is essential.

Play Store: Drive (free)

Google Now

We're cheating a bit here, as Google Now isn't available as a standalone app. But any device running Android 4.1 or higher gets the next generation of Google search, known as Google Now.

In many ways, Google Now surpasses iOS' Siri. It skips the spunky personality, and simply delivers relevant information ... even before you ask for it. At the subway station? Now will show you what trains are coming. Merging onto the highway? Now gives you traffic. Voice searches are also returned much quicker than Siri.

If you're comfortable with much of your life being uploaded to Google's servers (chances are, it is anyway), Now can be a personal assistant that actually helps.

Play Store: N/A

1Weather

OneLouder Apps released the most beautiful weather app for Android this year, called 1Weather. It gives you all the weather info you'd need with an attractive design that we'd like to see more of on Android.

If you want to fully appreciate the gorgeous app, you can pay an extra US$1.99 for the Pro version.

Play Store: 1Weather (free)

Instagram

The former iOS-exclusive Instagram made its way to Android this year. The Facebook-owned app lets you snap pics with a variety of filters, and quickly upload them to your favorite social networks.

Play Store: Instagram (free)

OnLive Desktop

OnLive Desktop gives your Android tablet a touch-friendly, cloud version of Microsoft Windows. The only catch is that you'll need a persistent internet connection.

The free OnLive Desktop account offers basic Windows access, including Office and Adobe Reader. The premium Desktop Plus adds Internet Explorer (including Flash) at Gigabit speeds for US$4.99 per month.

Play Store: OnLive Desktop (free)

Solid Explorer Beta

Who knew file navigation had room for improvement? With multi-panel viewing, drag-and-drop, and support for rooted devices, Solid Explorer ups the ante for Android file management.

Play Store: Solid Explorer Beta (free)

Flipboard

A slew of formerly iOS-exclusive reading apps hit the Play Store this year. At the front of that pack is Flipboard.

Flipboard presents news in an attractive and responsive magazine-style layout. You can link to your Google Reader account or browse the plethora of curated Flipboard channels.

Play Store: Flipboard (free)

Instapaper, Pocket, Readability

Instapaper, Pocket, and Readability let you store news articles to read later. They're more than bookmark services, though, as they present articles in clean, text-and-image only views.

All three offer nearly identical feature sets, so you may want to experiment to find your favorite. No tablet is complete without one of them.

Play Store: Instapaper ($2.99), Pocket (free), Readability (free)

TabletSMS

If you're lounging on the couch with your Nexus 7, you probably don't want to grab your phone every time you send a text message. TabletSMS lets you send and receive texts from your tablet – all using your phone number.

Play Store: TabletSMS (free)

Turntable.fm

Turntable.fm lets you collaborate with friends and strangers on a live setlist. Queue up your favorite jams, and vote others' selections up or down.

Play Store: Turntable.fm (free)

Wave Control

Practice your Jedi powers and control your phone with a wave of the hand. Wave Control lets you play or skip songs without touching your screen. It doesn't always work seamlessly, but it's a great tool nonetheless.

Play Store: Wave Control (free), Wave Control Pro ($2.99)

Firefox

Firefox's Android browser stayed in beta for years, and lagged far behind its competition. That changed this year when Mozilla released Firefox for Android. It emphasizes speed, an overhauled user interface, and customizable add-ons. It even adds an Instapaper-like "Reader mode," that de-clutters articles for simple viewing.

Play Store: Firefox for Android (free)

Magisto - Magical Video Editor

Magisto is the lazy person's video editing app. Add video clips, and Magisto will analyze and compile them into a movie, complete with soundtrack. It even lowers the music volume when people are speaking. It isn't perfect, but it's as artistic as a computer can be right now.

Play Store: Magisto (free)

Swiftkey 3

Swiftkey has been one of Android's best keyboards for years, but 2012 saw the release of Swiftkey 3. It marks a big step forward, with better error correction and "Smart Space," which inserts missing spaces in blocks of text.

Also keep an eye out for the upcoming Swiftkey Flow, a Swype-like trace keyboard with Swiftkey's predictive text.

Play Store: Swiftkey 3 ($1.99), Swiftkey 3 Tablet ($1.99)

Temple Run

The iOS classic Temple Run came to Android in 2012. Snag an idol and run, jump, and slide from the crazy apes in hot pursuit. It's addictive, endless running arcade fun at its finest.

Play Store: Temple Run (free)

Dead Trigger

Android wouldn't be a legit gaming platform if it didn't have at least one good first-person zombie shooter. Dead Trigger gives you just that, for the unbeatable price of free.

Play Store: Dead Trigger (free)

Article by - Will Shanklin

There are people live under Las Vegas in an underground network of tunnels

2012-05-28T02:16:00.001+05:30

The tunnels where designed as a city pluvial system. People have found shelter in the tunnels, and they have even gotten used to live in literally pitch black spaces.
There are approximately 1,000 people living there and they are mainly people that have lost everything because of gambling, or homeless people. Some of them have even found their other halves and live down in the tunnels.

Some of them have day jobs, decorate their place with priced possessions and try to live a normal life. One of the entrances to the tunnels is literally a few feet away from the world famous strip.

They admit that there are a few things that they have problems with, such as water, bugs and outsiders. It is really dangerous to live there because if there is more than 3 consecutive days of rain, the tunnels fill with water, whipping anything that is in the tunnels.

Matthew O’Brien has dedicated a lot of his life to expose the world to the reality of the situation. He has called the attention of the media, and has helped social workers around the tunnels so that they can be reached and make sure they are doing well.

Would you ever like to try this? How unique would it be to live with your family in a tunnel under Las Vegas? If you want to learn more, here is a video showing how people live below the strip.

Rapper 50 Cent says he's never done drugs!

2012-05-28T02:07:00.000+05:30

To say that rapper 50 Cent had a difficult childhood would be an understatement. Born as Curtis Jackson III, he grew up in an impoverished urban neighborhood in Queens, New York.

He was raised without a father and his mother died when he was 8, after which he went to live with his grandparents and 8 aunts and uncles. At the age of 12, he began dealing narcotics as a way to raise money.

However it never crossed his mind, even to this day, to take those drugs. He saw what they did to his mother’s siblings and would rather save than money than blow it on drugs. At a correctional boot camp, he adopted the name 50 cent as a metaphor for "change." He is now a successful rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor.

Google has developed a driverless car

2012-05-10T21:50:00.001+05:30

This new technology sounds as if it is right out of a science fiction movie, and that’s because it’s not far off. Over the past several years Google engineers and scientists have been working tirelessly at Stanford Laboratories to develop a technology that will change the way we live in the upcoming decades: the Google Car.

This car is completely driverless. It combines information from Goggle Street View with artificial intelligence software that communicates with a sensor on top of the car, which in turn speaks to the wheels and steering wheel to drive the car without any human interference. So far the car has clocked over 175,000 miles and had zero accidents.

In fact, the technology has caught on so fast that the state of Nevada has passed the first laws allowing for automated cars! To see a Google Car in action check out the video below!

Bionic eye gives sight to the blind

2012-05-09T20:23:00.000+05:30

A company called Second Sight has received FDA approval to begin U.S. trials of a retinal implant system that gives blind people a limited degree of vision.

The second incarnation of Second Sight's retinal prosthesis consists of five main parts:

A digital camera that's built into a pair of glasses. It captures images in real time and sends images to a microchip.
A video-processing microchip that's built into a handheld unit. It processes images into electricalpulses representing patterns of light and dark and sends the pulses to a radio transmitter in the glasses.
A radio transmitter that wirelessly transmits pulses to a receiver implanted above the ear or under the eye
A radio receiver that sends pulses to the retinal implant by a hair-thin implanted wire
A retinal implant with an array of 60 electrodes on a chip measuring 1 mm by 1 mm

Electronic microchips implanted into the eyes of a group of British patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, an incurable genetic condition that causes blindness, have partially restored the vision of the formerly sightless so that they're able to view the world as a "grainy black-and-white image." The implant'sfirst British recipient said the bionic eye gives him "some imagery rather than just a black world."Another patient reported suddenly dreaming in "very vivid color for the first time in 25 years"

If you want to know how this works clearly, watch the following video.

Google glasses confirms augmented reality glasses project, releases video demo

2012-05-08T08:30:00.000+05:30

Google X (Google's futuristic technology development lab) has pulled back the curtain on Project Glass, its program to develop truly useful augmented reality "Google glasses." Project Glass aims to design and refine augmented reality technology to help a user explore and share their world armed with a wealth of relevant information - not at their fingertips, but rather at the end of their nose.

Instead of interrupting your activities to use a smartphone to search for information - get directions, remain in touch, find out if an item is on sale, translate a tourist's note evaluating a restaurant, and the like - Google's Project Glass intends to provide glasses with real-time heads-up displays and intelligent personal assistant software to enable a seamless user experience.

Source: Google X

There's a town in Italy that doesn't get sunlight for 84 days a year. They've solved this problem with a giant mirror

2012-03-19T20:14:00.000+05:30

Call it the reverse Montgomery Burns scheme. The little town of Viganella is located amidst the Italian side of the Alps. During the winter time, the shift in the sun's pattern makes it so that it never clears the 1600 feet tall mountain that's close to the town. This means that for 84 days, they do not get any sunlight. The townspeople end up suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of mild depression.

To solve this, the government installed a massive mirror on the side of the mountain. It measure 26x16 feet and is computer controlled to follow the trajectory of the Sun. The result is that starting in 2006, the town was able to celebrate the first winter sun in 600 years!

In the Titanic, the band actually did stay and play music as the ship went down. They all died

2012-03-19T19:54:00.002+05:30

You might've thought that the band playing music while the ship was going down was fake. A creative liberty director James Cameron took to enhance the drama in the scenes when people are in chaos trying to leave the ship.

In reality the band, stayed on and played calm, airy music to keep the passenger calm while they were boarding the life boats. They were not obligated to do so, as they were not technically part of the ship's crew. None of them survived the sinking of the ship. Although it's debated which song they last played on the boat, mutliple accounts confirm their brave and selfless sacrifice.

A man survived being trapped under snow for 2 months by hibernating!

2012-03-08T00:34:00.001+05:30

(not the real pic)

A Swedish 44-year old man had a traffic accident near a little town just south of the Arctic Circle. As a result, he was trapped in his snow-covered car for 2 months!

He was found by chance thanks to a passerby who ran into his car. He was taken to a hospital. The doctors explained that the man was lucky that the car experienced what they called a "natural igloo" effect, which protected him a bit from the temperatures that reached -30F in the area.

In addition, the man survived by eating snow (which is how he got water) and burning off his body fat. The doctors say he went into a state similar to hibernation which helped him survive.

The man has declined interviews but has said he wants everyone to know he is doing all right.

LightBeam makes any surface a projector display, and everyday objects a remote control

2012-02-23T22:32:00.003+05:30

Pico projectors might be able to turn any old surface into a display - with varying results of course - but can they turn any old surface into in interactive display and everyday objects into a remote control? No? Well, with LightBeam they can. Developed by a team at Germany's Technische Universität Darmstadt, LightBeam pairs a pico projector with a depth-sensing camera to provide some Kinect style interactive control to projected presentations.

The Kinect-like capabilities of the LightBeam system are no surprise when you consider that the prototype the team has come up with makes use of a Kinectsensor to provide motion tracking and depth sensing. Makeshift display surfaces - a piece of paper or a book, for example - can be manipulated within a limited 3D space and the projected image will reorient itself, even rotating when the paper is rotated. The level of detail displayed by the projector can also be altered dynamically relative to the amount of display surface available.

To negate the need to run back to a connected laptop or fiddle with a physical remote when giving a presentation, LightBeam also allows everyday objects to function as a remote control. As demonstrated in the video below, a presentation can be controlled by manipulating an object within the camera's field of vision - in this case, twisting a mug to switch between a Flickr slideshow and a Facebook page.

The team developed the prototype to examine how users would interact with physical objects using the LightBeam system. They found that study participants quickly adapted the idea of using physical objects to control the projection and liked the ability to easily switch between different levels of detail. The study participants also suggested it might be worth binding digital information to physical objects such as physical documents. The team plans to explore this in their future work.

The team will present LightBeam at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) 2012 to be held in Austin, Texas, in May. The team's paper is available for download here (PDF).

Source: Technische Universität Darmstadt via engadget

Privacy Pop bed tent provides some seclusion in shared boudoirs

2012-02-23T22:31:00.001+05:30

Although we're social creatures, everyone needs a bit of privacy every now and then. This is particularly true in the bedroom, but whether it's sharing with siblings growing up or co-habitation with roommates at college, unfortunately not all have us can enjoy the luxury of our own sleeping space. While not quite in the same league as your own four walls, the Privacy Pop will provide some protection from prying eyes - but you'll still want to keep the noise down - you know, when reading.

Designed as a tent that fits around a bed, the Privacy Pop includes zippered access and windows that provide extra ventilation and light when you want it. The unit also folds down like a tent to fit in a custom carrying bag, meaning it might also appeal to travelers regularly staying in hostels. And while college-goers might find it handy for warding off the morning light after a big night out or not annoying others when working late on a laptop, it's youngsters that are likely to get the most out of the Privacy Pop.

As they get older, kids love their own private space away from grown ups, be it real or imagined - just look at the continuing popularity of blanket forts. The Privacy Pop not only provides that sense of privacy, but allows parents to keep an ear out to ensure the little ones don't get up to too much trouble.

The Privacy Pop is designed to fit twin and twin XL beds and retails for US$199.95.

There’s a Simpson’s house in real life

2012-02-23T22:20:00.004+05:30

There is a house in Clark County Nevada that is the exact replica of the house in “The Simpsons.” Built in 1997, it was the grand prize for a contest run by Pepsi and Fox.

It cost $120,000. The winner could either to decide to occupy the house or take a $75,000 cash prize.

The house exactly mirrored that in the show, down to every color! The winner of the contest decided not to live in the house, and it was remodeled and sold in 2007.

(Source)

In the Disney movie Hercules, the only character without a Greek name is Hercules.

2012-02-21T20:42:00.001+05:30

Hercules, one of the most popular Disney movies of all time, was released in 1997. Roughly based on Greek legends, the story follows the young son of Zeus as he attempts to become a god like his father.

However, what is odd about the movie is that Hercules is the only character with a Roman name! Disney named all the main characters after their Greek counterparts from mythology, such as Zeus, Hades, and Pegasus, yet refrained from naming Hercules his Greek name, Herakles. Disney claimed the name was more recognizable among fans.

source

Students from Hongik University, Seoul win Ferrari World Design Contest

2012-02-21T20:38:00.002+05:30

This year's Ferrari World Design Contest award has gone to three students from Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea. Students from 50 universities worldwide put pencil to paper to compete for the award, with the Korean students being chosen over close contenders from IED of Turin, Italy and London's Royal College of Arts.

Universal Earphones detect left and right ear placement

2012-02-21T20:28:00.001+05:30

The L and R labels on your headphones serve a purpose, and it isn't just about fit. The audio source - whether it's a receiver, PC or MP3 player - sends left- and right-channel sounds to the appropriate earbud. While it might seem minor, this can be a difference between a disjointed experience listening to music, movies and other video, to a fuller experience that connects sight (in the case of video) and sound - with sound coming from the direction it's intended. There's no chance of a mix-up with the Universal Earphones being developed by Igarashi Design Interfaces Project in Tokyo - the headphones decide for themselves which ear they are in, and send sound to the each channel accordingly.

The Universal Earphones contain a microchip in the earbud that senses whether it is exposed to open air in the front of the ear, or in proximity to the back of the ear. Once the earphones determine which ear is left and right, it directs the left channel sound to the left ear, and right channel sound to the right.

The benefit of a Universal Earphone is that users don't have to stop what they're doing and look for the L and the R markings to insert the earbuds in the appropriate ears. A second benefit is that when a user shares the earphones with a friend, the Universal Earphones detect the situation and send a combined left and right signal to each earbud. This means all of the sound is transmitted equally rather than directionally. In this case the earphones detect that they are being shared by sending a low electrical current from one earbud to the other. If a single user is wearing the earphones, the connection is unbroken. When two users are sharing the earphones, the electrical current is broken and the Universal Earphones treat it as a shared mode with full sound to each side.

Additional features are in development such as a sensor that can determine when the earphones are not in the ears, which might have a command such as to pause the music or audio source and resume when earbuds are placed back in ears.

Igarashi Design Interfaces Project says the Universal Earphone design will be cheap to implement and is presenting the concept at the 2012 International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces in Lisbon, Portugal, later this month.

Source: Igarashi Design Interfaces Project via New Scientist

The following video explains everything about them.

Tiny Chameleons. Watch your step !

2012-02-20T02:01:00.000+05:30

Photograph courtesy Frank Glaw
Match-tip tiny, Brookesia micra (juvenile pictured) is the smallest of four new chameleon species found on the African island country of Madagascar. With an average adult length of just over an inch (2.9 centimeters) from snout to tail, B. micra is among the tiniest reptiles in the world.

"In this scenario, Madagascar, as a large island, led to the evolution of theBrookesia minima group, whereas the ... islet Nosy Hara might have favored the extreme miniaturization found in Brookesia micra," the researchers write.

Scientists think the diminutive new chameleon species might represent extreme cases of island dwarfism, whereby organisms shrink in size due to limited resources on islands.

"The extreme miniaturization of these dwarf reptiles might be accompanied by numerous specializations of the body plan, and this constitutes a promising field for future research," study leader Frank Glaw of Germany's Zoological State Collection said in a statement.

(Watch your step ;) )

Scientists think the lizards live in leaf litter on the ground during the day but move up into the trees at night to sleep.

—Ker Than

I would love to have one of em as a pet.... :D

The animal in Firefox is not actually a fox!

2012-02-16T20:28:00.001+05:30

It’s actually a red panda! Slightly larger than a domestic cat, the red panda is native to the Himalayas and western China. Many assume that the animal in the Firefox logo is a fox, yet Firefox is actually the nickname for the rare panda species. Eating mostly bamboo, it is currently classified as “vulnerable” by IUCN because of its dwindling population.

The world’s smallest guitar is the size of a red blood cell!

2012-02-16T20:25:00.004+05:30

Developed by Cornell University researchers, this guitar is only ten micrometers long! How big is that? It would take one million micrometers to make one meter! The guitar has six strings, and each string is only about one hundred atoms thick.

Made out of crystalline silicon it demonstrates new technology for a new generation of electromechanical devices. The guitar can actually be played, but it’s so small the sounds produced would be inaudible to the human ear.