Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Glass keyboard and mouse: Handle with Care
All I want for Christmas is the Toyota Fun-Vii
A DIY Privacy Monitor I could use in public
Urinals get more interesting with built-in games
Advanced Acrobatic Robot
Zipfy Sledge helps you scoot over the snow

Glass keyboard and mouse: Handle with Care

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 07:30 AM PST

Kickstarter certainly has a lot of terrific things that I would love to see on the market, and this one looks like something that Apple would try to put out.

This is designed by Jason Giddings, and it uses Frustated Total Internal Reflection (FTIR) technology with an embedded camera to pick up infrared light reflected off the inside walls. I’m not certain what that means, but it is to insure the device knows where you are tapping.

By the way, the software that was developed for these particular devices is open source, which means you can have some serious user manipulation going on this. Also, this glass keyboard comes with a glass mouse, which you can see after the jump.

I suppose that transparent is the real aesthetic of the future. Perhaps we will soon live in a world where the display, printer, and all other computer accessories will be completely transparent.

You should be able to go to the Kickstarter donation page and give your money for this thing. They need about $50,000 to get things started. If you pledge $10 right now, you will get a chance to name it, and the winner gets one for their very own.

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Glass keyboard and mouse: Handle with Care copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

All I want for Christmas is the Toyota Fun-Vii

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 07:15 AM PST

Toyota has created one of the ultimate concept cars, and like most concept cars, I doubt there will be many copies of this on the road.

This is the Fun-Vii, and it is the best combination of a smartphone and a car that doesn’t end with a flattened mobile device. In case you can’t tell by this picture, the Fun-Vii has touch-sensitive displays that can show all sorts of colors, patterns, or photos.

I suppose that a good use for the Fun-Vii now would be as a roving billboard. Sort of like the ones that peruse the Las Vegas strip, but the Fun-Vii would have moving images on it.

By the way, the Fun-Vii has interior surfaces that are essentially one big display as well. I know that there is no way the DMV would approve of a vehicle that is essentially one giant distracted driving magnet on wheels.

Still, it is fun to imagine a whole road full of these. Perhaps if we live in some Minority Report world, where cars drive themselves automatically, this is what they look like. I wonder how much advertising space would cost for them, and would they make the world look more dystopian.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ All I want for Christmas is the Toyota Fun-Vii copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

A DIY Privacy Monitor I could use in public

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PST

The site Instructables generally has some terrific DIY projects that you can try at home, and this one is definitely up there with one of their greatest.

As you can see in the image and the video after the jump, it is essentially making a monitor that only a special set of glasses can see. What Instructables user diimovi did was disassemble a monitor, remove the polarizing film, and then glue a cutout made from this film to a pair of 3D glasses, the types that you get at movie theaters and have to return at the end of the film.

Too bad I don’t really have any electronics that I can try this out on. Occasionally, I like to do work at the library or a coffee shop, and I am a little concerned about the information people might see on my computer.

Of course, there might be some people who think I am going nuts looking at a plain white screen. Plus, I’m sure there are people who can figure out this method, but can they form their own pair of glasses?

If you want to check this out for yourself, go over to the Instructables site and follow the instructions.

Source

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ A DIY Privacy Monitor I could use in public copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Urinals get more interesting with built-in games

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:30 AM PST

Guys have basically two choices when it comes to relieving themselves at the urinal – to look down, or look ahead. Looking to the left or right and starting up a conversation with the person next to you is more often than not a big no-no in most guys’ books, after all, it is not going to make anyone more comfortable at all, and neither is it good form to take a peek at your neighbor’s goods.

Here is something to keep you occupied just in case you feel that you need to shoot your mouth off – Captive Media has come up with a urinal mounted, urine-controlled games console – exclusively for men, of course. Talk about a new kind of hands-free gaming, as there is no controller for you to work around with, making this “wee” time different from Nintendo’s Wii…

A rather sturdy device will reside above the normal oval ceramic urinal bowl, where it is touted to be the gateway to an entire world of entertainment. You will be presented with a trio of generous targets where you will need to aim with your stream of piss in the urinal itself – stickers in the unit will read “Start”, “Left” and “Right”. The console is sensitive enough to detect just where the golden stream falls thanks to an infra-red device, and among the games on offer would be a skiing challenge and a multiple choice pub quiz.

I suppose a pub quiz makes good sense – those who knock back pint after pint tend to have to make more frequent trips to the loo, so a game like that is just perfect. Once you are done with your business, you will be able to use your smartphone to post up your personal best score on Twitter as well as a live leader board. The console unit itself comes with a 12″ LCD display, where it will reside behind some toughened glass so that just in case a brawl breaks out, it is capable of withstanding any collateral damage, and is easily cleaned.

Nice to know that the sensor unit is contactless and will not require a camera, which is definitely another important design consideration. It would be interesting to see just how the ladies will be able to get their equivalent, as a design is being worked on to address the issue of long waiting times.

Source

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Urinals get more interesting with built-in games copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Advanced Acrobatic Robot

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 05:00 AM PST

A robot that is capable of performing acrobatics? Well, isn’t that a dear, but you would need deep pockets though if you want to pick up the $2,400 Advanced Acrobatic Robot from Hammacher. This advanced piece of robotics is not something I would recommend you purchase for a 5-year old who will probably trash it in no time, making you wonder why didn’t you get something tougher and far cheaper instead. No sir, this robot is capable of displaying an acrobatic repertoire of 75 moves, where among them include somersaults, backflips, and even to showcase his solo air guitar performance. There is a 60 MHz microcontroller inside to help the robot get around, while 17 servos will combine to work in unison alongside an included gyro sensor and accelerometer to help it maintain its balance and stability.

You will be able to command it using the included wireless gamepad remote control, and considering how precise the points of articulation in its neck, arms, hands, legs, and feet are, this little robot that could can be commanded to pick up and hold objects with its hands, perform a soccer kick (with a ball that small, too, I suppose), or punch the air as though it was about to do a Van Damme or Bruce Lee stance. A 3-hour charge results in 40 minutes of non-stop action. Anyone interested?

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Advanced Acrobatic Robot copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Zipfy Sledge helps you scoot over the snow

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 04:30 AM PST

For those of us who live in areas where there is plenty of snowfall, surely having your own sled is a fun way of burning some calories, in addition to obtaining a thrilling ride for free thanks to the bounty of nature. Well, you might want to color your Christmas this year with the £44.99 Zipfy Sledge that will come in a variety of shades – blue, green, red and pink. Being smaller, lighter and infinitely more manoeuvrable compared to your standard plastic toboggan, this is one colorful sled which can be enjoyed by the entire family – simultaneously, to boot! All you need to do is lug it over your shoulder, go up the slope (the steeper the better), sit with a leg on either side of the black handle and give yourself a nice push to launch away.

You would find yourself careering down the hill in no time, seeing your adrenaline levels rise up by a considerable amount, and hitting speeds which might just set the State Troopers down on you for breaking the speed limit. Anyone up for some clean fun this winter?

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