e-Tech Gadget

Two weeks ago, we reported on how electronic projections and digital technology was taking traditional board games to a whole new level. Now, old-school video games are being taken to a whole new level with Sportpong.

Yes, you can’t get any more old school with video games than the classic Pong game with the paddles and squared ball. This Sportpong is definitely a more active game than Dance Dance Revolution and WiiSports put together.

You can check out the video after the jump to see how it works, but it has people strapping “paddles” onto their feet that are equipped with special reflectors. From above, projectors beam the image of the bouncing ball, and users must block the ball from hitting the opposite wall, with their feet.

Sounds like a good way to get an old school gamer into shape, doesn’t it? Sportpong feels like a game that people would play at night clubs, and then return home drunk and completely out of breath.

Unfortunately, this Sportpong is not for sale, at least not yet. At this point, it can only be played by contacting the Swiss creators, and scheduling it for special events. I have no idea how much the cost of this is.

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Sportpong-Giesserei-14062008 from Sportpong on Vimeo.

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Sportpong puts pong on the floor

Recharging batteries makes it possible to live without constantly shopping for batteries.  However, in reality those dinky chargers are inconvenient and hog precious outlet space.  Which is a serious crime in my house that seems to have a single outlet per room.  Well this design will only cover up one outlet and it will work with multiple battery sizes.

Sure there are plenty of wall chargers that will charge more than one size, but they are usually awkward to get them all to fit.  Plus they only charge a few at a time.  This one you just drop the battery down the middle and it’ll sort the battery out itself.  Currently this battery station is entered in the Greener Gadgets Design Competition and is a finalist.  That unfortunately means that it’s a long way from the production line.

Source:  Gizmowatch

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InCharge Battery Station sorts and charges batteries

What you see here is a robot made by both NASA and GM, in order to go into outer space. Yeah, it sounds like science fiction, but it is happening right now.

In fact, there is a video of it after the jump so you can see the robots at work. You may notice that they can do some very precise work of assembling and disassembling, albeit slowly. I guess if time is not an issue, these robots could probably be sent to the space station right away.

Yes, there are probably a lot of bugs to work out before these robots are ready to be sent in orbit. Of course, one can see the need for robot astronauts. Why send a man up there if you can have a robot do the same job? Of course, if the robots break down, then you’d better send a robot to fix the thing.

Yes, this R2 is one amazing robot. And yes, they call this robot R2, just like R2-D2 from Star Wars (minus the D2). Of course, it looks a lot more like C3-PO, really. On second thought, it bears a strong resemblance to Samus Aran, the heroine from the Metroid video game series.

Well, on the video, you may have noticed one of the parting shots was of the R2 robots holding some sort of hand drill that looks like a weapon. Uh-oh! This is how T3 ended, right?

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And now, R2 would like to introduce…robot astronauts!

Hovercrafts aren’t exactly the most popular form of transport even until today, but it does offer a slew of fun if you’ve ever hopped on one. Well, assuming you have never experienced such a privilege, then the RC Hoverpod could be just the thing for you, as it allows you to pilot your very own Hoverpod.

Just like the real thing, the Hoverpod slides around the place by thrusting air downwards and propelling along in zippy fashion, leaving you to use the remote control to guide it past obstacles (tables, chairs, the legs of family members). Though it won’t work on water, you can still have hours of fun playing at being the skipper as you nimbly guide the Hoverpod across smooth floors and carpets (as long as the pile isn’t too shaggy).

The law of diminishing returns applies here, where a 10-minute charge offers 5 minutes of hover-time, while the remote control ought to be stocked with a quartet of AA batteries. As with everything else, there is a need for practise as the RC Hoverpod has a learning curve before you can zip it around with aplomb. Each of the RC Hoverpods will cost £24.99, where you can choose from red or blue colors.

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RC Hoverpod brings out the kid in you

Lately I’ve been thinking of replacing my wall clock and going for something completely different and with this Canvas Clock that’s exactly what I’ve found.  Printed onto a pretty white canvas is nothing more than a clock.  However, instead of purely being an image like it initially appears, it actually tells you the current time.  It’s a great way for you to have that tabletop clock look except on your wall.

The hands of the clock are the only real parts, the rest are just something printed onto the canvas.  To control it and change out the batteries you just remove the canvas from the wall and work it all from the back.  It only requires a single AA battery, which is of course not included.  The whole thing measures 29.7 cm long.  You can purchase it through Latest Buy for $36.56.

Source: TechFresh

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The Real Tim Canvas Clock shows current time

Most lamps when created have things in mind like giving you task lighting or illuminating one of your favorite objects.  This lamp instead spotlights itslef more than anything else.  Sure, it might give some task lighting, but more than anything else it shows off its very own shadow.  Not just any shadow though, no this one is actually 3-D and can be adjusted to your liking.

If you don’t like the size of the shadow then you can easily adjust it to have a bigger and better shadow.  Instead of just giving a plain black shadow, this one has a brightly colored one.  There’s a pink type color and yellow, which are the most bold choices.  Then you can also go with clear or just one that has some subtle coloring.  Truthfully when it’s off it looks more like a plastic cup attached to a stick than anything else.  When it’s on it offers such an interesting lighting show that I imagine you won’t want it off too much though.  It appears that this is a concept right now, but you can always contact the designer to find out availability information.

Source: CraziestGadgets

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Becherlicht Lamp features its own shadow

Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre has just introduced their latest collaboration – Beats Solo HD (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition Headphones that comes with a rather monstrous price poin of $229.95. Well, if you happen to have to dough to spare, why not – after all, it will be available online at HSN.com till March 1st, where a portion of each purchase will be channeled straight to the Global Fund to support AIDS programs in Africa. With such an altruistic intention when you bring one of these home, surely the missus can’t but approve this latest acquisition into your household? More on the Beats Solo HD (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition Headphones right after the jump.

This pair of specially commissioned headphones is touted to deliver all the sonic details that the artist behind the voice intends for his/her fans to hear. In a stock pair of headphones, none of the rich, full sound of today’s digital audio tracks can be fully appreciated, but this is where the Beats Solo (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition steps in, targeting those who live an active lifestyle and yet want to enjoy portable audio to the fullest. It will work just like all the other Beats by Dr. Dre Solo Headphones, where listeners are bound to be amazed by the type of music coming from something so compact and portable.

Among the features found would be Monster’s “ControlTalk”, an advanced on-cable feature which provides users with full control of their listening experience when using their device of choice, be it an iPhone 3GS, the entire iPod family or portable media players from other brands. With Monster ControlTalk, the headphone cable comes with a built-in high grade microphone and answer button which enables one to access their music and answer phone calls in a hands-free manner, doing away with the need to reach into one’s pocketbook, backpack or pocket. Bear in mind that not all BlackBerry models are supported, so you might want to be a bit more careful here.

Press Release

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Beats Solo HD (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition Headphones

And now for another interesting application of augmented reality, and it’s pretty practical, too.

Not only that, but it is already in use. At the Takshimaya department store, there is a Digital Cosmetic Mirror that allows customers to see what make-up will look like on their face, without putting it on.

I find it hard to believe that this would work very well. I saw a similar demonstration of augmented reality at CES 2009 that allowed me to have glasses and a mustache, but it looked pretty fake. I mean, it looked like the ’stache and shades were just super-imposed there.

I can’t imagine that this Digital Cosmetic Mirror could do a good job putting makeup on a person and make it look good. However, there seems to be some sort of program that gives personal recommendations and its it put on a virtual version of makeup on your image. However, technology is getting better all the time, so who knows, maybe the augmented reality image really is what the makeup looks like.

If so, then why can’t they make augmented reality to see what clothes look like without trying them on? Hey, they could put these in clothing shops and completely remove the need for dressing rooms altogether.

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Japanese customers’ augmented reality mirror to see what makeup looks like without trying it on

One of the problems with having a car is when you lose the key and you can’t find the spare. If only you could find a friend who has the Electronic Key Impressioner.

All you need to do is stick that key-shaped end into a lock, and it can scan a lock from the inside and record what it sees.

From there, it is as easy as taking it back to the computer and plugging it into the computer via USB port. This gives a code that can be used in a key making machine.

Right now, the machine works with only the Ford models. Just so you know, there are only a few models of keys, and these models are unique to the maker of the car. The inventor of the Electronic Key Impressioner, Steve Randall, wants to make the device work on more models.

Now, I’m sure you can see the downside for this device. Yes, a lot of car thieves probably want this so they could make their “jobs” easier. However, this device would only be given to the professionals and people licensed for it. In fact, the device would be web connected to a central site that would let the powers-that-be see who is copying what key. In fact, if you are an unauthorized user of the Electric Key Impressioner, then you will be on lockdown!

We’ll see if this device gets made. If so, then it could be make the locksmith business easier.

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Electronic Key Impressioner makes key copies from the lock itself

It would appear that the future is in gesture technology. This device, known as the Gesture Cube, is designed to meet the future head-on.

The Gesture Cube is essentially a display with five displays. It would have been six, but that stand has to go somewhere.

There is a video for this after the jump, and you can see what you can do with it. I have to admit that this thing has the most unique gestures that I have ever seen.

For example, the way a person can select music is gesturing to get a playlist, then more gestures to get an artist, then one more for a song. You will note in the video how all sides of this device are used in interacting with this experience. The video shows that a user can download files like photos to the Gesture Cube wirelessly.

You will also note that this computer cube is designed to be in every room of the house, and how it will stop all activity when it detects that it is being carried elsewhere.

It would be great if it was easy to recharge. Maybe there is a retractable cord on the stand to plug into the wall, or something.

Well, this Gesture Cube is still a concept from a German design team, but it looks like something that you would see in a science fiction film. You never know what idea from a good science fiction film will jump off the screen and become reality.

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Gesture cube is a many-sided monitor