gadgets

Article

Legend of Zelda Theme Played by Tesla Coils

Here's an intensely nerdy video to kickstart your week! The video below (from the SXSW conference) shows ArcAttack, a band/performance art project in which custom-designed Tesla Coils are tuned and fired in sequence to create music. The band describes their project thusly: ArcAttack employs a unique DJ set up of their own creation (an HVDJ set up) to generate an 'electrifying' audio visual performance. The HVDJ pumps music through a PA System while two specially designed DRSSTC's (Dual-Resonant... READ ON

Article

Timelapse Garden Video Camera

I am planning a major home renovation this year. I would like to make a time-lapse video of the process. I don't have a tripod, and even f I did, it doesn't seem feasible to anchor one in a neighborhood full of curious kids and free-range pets. So when I saw the Timelapse Garden Video Camera, my interest meter went off the chart. * This little camera does all the work for you to make a time-lapse video of growing plants. Stick it in the ground and focus it on the area you wish to record. You can set it... READ ON

Article

Xtensor

When I first saw the Xtensor, I thought it was some kind of gaming interface, like a Wii accessory on steroids, or a high-tech concept that would enable remote surgery or the playing of virtual musical instruments. No. It's an exercise gadget for your fingers! The Xtensor Gamer Hand Exerciser flexes and trains muscles and tendons in your hands to keep them in tip-top shape for gaming. Elastic bands extend to each finger and thumb to oppose the normal gripping stress that we do too much of. From the product... READ ON

Article

Machines that Almost Fall Over

Artist Michael Kontopoulos brings us today's weird web video: Machines that Almost Fall Over. Kontopoulos calls it: "A system of sculptures that is constantly on the brink of collapse. My intention was to capture and sustain the exact moment of impending catastrophe and endlessly repeat it." Kontopoulos has created three machines in which a hammer strikes the machine, knocking it off-balance, but the machine just...barely...doesn't fall over. This is a short video showing those machines, tirelessly... READ ON

Article

Kid Finder

We sometimes joke that women have an inbuilt object-locating organ that men don't have so we know where everything is, and men can just ask instead of looking for an item themselves. We call it a "uterus". However, it only works for items that don't move about on their... READ ON

Article

Smart Blocks: Siftables

MIT grad student David Merrill and his team created a set of computerized toy blocks, called Siftables, that are aware of each other. Because the blocks are aware of their own orientation and (to some extent) surroundings, they can interact with each other. For example, around 2:30, Merrill shows a demo of addition via blocks -- by moving around blocks labeled "2" and "3" as well as "+" and "=", the blocks can sum themselves, forming a sort of interactive math problem. Merrill's Siftables demo is only... READ ON

Article

Heated Mighty Pants

By March, I am very tired of cold temperatures, and looking for ways to make next winter more tolerable. Yesterday, I rode on the passenger side during a pizza run, and had the pleasant experience of holding a hot pizza box in my lap on a 30 degree day. The driver joked about me wrapping myself completely in fresh-baked pizza to stay warm. If... READ ON

Article

BristleBots

At the New York Toy Fair, Scholastic unveiled a new book and kit by Klutz entitled Invasion of the BristleBots, with the tagline "Part Robot! Part Toothbrush?" It has the components for a child to assemble two BristleBots, which are tiny robots made from a toothbrush, a watch battery, and a vibrating pager motor. What fun! See, I've encountered BristleBots before. In fact, YouTube has a raft of videos featuring homemade BristleBots. They skitter around like insects on amphetamines until you giggle yourself... READ ON

Article

Third Eye Video Camera

So the prosecuting attorney says, "Tell the court exactly what you saw." As if it were that easy! The human brain stores only what we pay attention to. If only we had a unbiased camera recording our observations. Like a third eye.... READ ON

Article

Hoverit Lounge Chair

How cool is it to sit in a levitating chair? The British company Hoverit has a lounge chair that hangs in the air with no visible means of support. True, you see... READ ON