Posts Tagged coolest mobile news
Babel Fisk: Read what you are hearing
Posted by admin in Future Concepts on September 1st, 2010
There have been many advancements in speech-to-text in the last few years. I’m sure that I’ll probably speaking these posts instead of typing them in the next few years, provided I’m not disturbing others in the room.
I’m sure that the hearing impaired would most benefit from speech to text technology, and this is what the Babel Fisk is supposed to do.
Designed by Mads Hindhede, the Babel Fisk has microphones built into the frame in order to pick up the voice of a person in the line of sight, and then an embedded speech-to-text program will create the text that is projected inside of the lenses.
You can even program it to record the text to a flash memory card for later use. So you can literally record everything that you hear as a text file.
The name of Babel Fisk is clearly a tip of the hat to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. In that classic science-fiction satire, the characters had this tiny fish that they stuck in their ear known as a babel fish that could somehow miraculously translate any language spoken. Fisk apparently means “fish” in Danish.
Of course, this just has to be concept technology, and I’m not certain how well this would work, honestly. I mean, if you are with someone who is talking to much, would you literally be blinded by words?
Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Babel Fisk: Read what you are hearing copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Babel Fisk: Read what you are hearing
Hands on with the ZOMM
Posted by admin in Bluetooth Gadgets on August 21st, 2010
I first encountered the ZOMM at CES last January, and I finally managed to get my hands on one for review.
In case you haven’t heard, the ZOMM is designed to link to one’s phone or mobile device wirelessly via Bluetooth, and emit a high pitched noise if the ZOMM and device get too far apart. I believe that you are meant to keep the ZOMM in your pocket (perhaps with your keys), so if you leave your cell phone where you shouldn’t (like on a table of a restaurant), the ZOMM will alert you.
Out of the box set up was pretty simple, and the device needed to be charged for about 4 hours and then have mobile software loaded to it. My wife did that part, and she seemed to notice that it looked like ZOMM had very few subscribers. I’m just quoting my wife, and she could be wrong.
When the ZOMM was turned on, I was able to walk across the room and hear a faint beep. When I walked outside the house, the beeping became a loud blaring. Since it was night, I thought I was going to wake the neighbors. How can something so small be so loud?
All in all, I would recommend this product to anyone who has left their phone behind before. Of course, if you can occasionally leave your mobile phone behind, then you might not remember charging the ZOMM when needed.
Here’s something that you might not know. The ZOMM was invented by a Mom. That isn’t some Dr. Seuss rhyme scheme going on there, but ZOMM is an acronym for Zachary, Olivia, and Madison’s Mom. Apparently, “it is a brainchild of a mom who noticed a common problem among all mobile phone users and provided a solution”. It definitely lives up to its slogan of “alarmingly smart”.
Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool
[ Hands on with the ZOMM copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Hands on with the ZOMM
Sign Lanuage over the cell phone
Posted by admin in Future Concepts on August 19th, 2010
Yes, sign language on a cellular phone. I realize that this sounds like an incredibly sick joke, like a Driver’s Manual in Braille, but this is a study going on at the University of Washington (UW).
Now, you might think that the hearing impaired could communicate via text message and Instant Messages, but I’m sure that we all know how easily a simple message with its tone could be misinterpreted. In other words, they want something where they are free to use sign language to communicate.
While it is true that successful phones like the EVO 4G and the iPhone 4 can do video conferencing, this feature is dependent on the user holding the phone in one of their hands. That seriously limits sign language if you are doing it one handed.
There is also a problem of bandwith. Heavy bandwith conferencing could create some serious problems when the bill comes around. However, this UW team wants to use MobileASL with one tenth of the bandwith of the iPhone 4 FaceTime video conferencing.
This study uses 11 students who are “academically gifted deaf or hard-of hearing pupil interested in pursuing computer careers”. It uses 200 phone calls, each one lasting an average of 90 seconds.
I hope to see more about this study, as well as any improvements in mobile communication for the hearing impaired.
Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Sign Lanuage over the cell phone copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Sign Lanuage over the cell phone
Vertrax skateboard has a tank tread with electric motor
Posted by admin in Future Concepts on August 19th, 2010
I always like covering the latest in skateboard technology, perhaps it is because I used to have a skateboard, and I know its limitations.
For example, if you are skating along, and you come to some grass or gravel, then you are picking it up and walking. After all, skateboard wheels are not exactly designed for all terrains.
However, the Vertrax is. Designer Brian Lovett created this one with a tank tread that has the ability to travel on the aforementioned grass and gravel. It can also go on sand, which would be excellent for the beach. It can also go on the snow, which makes this particular board terrific for winter.
Now, you are probably wondering how well a tank tread could travel compared to that of a skateboard. I mean, just look at how fast a tank travels compared to a car. Well, the Vertrax skateboard has an advantage: an electric motor. It’s similar to the robotic skateboard that we reported on a while ago.
My Source does not say how fast this Vertrax actually goes, but I would love to see how it handles. It certainly would be fun to check it out going uphill. Any idea if it could do a half-pipe? That is a semicircular skateboard ramp for all you non-sk8ters.
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[ Vertrax skateboard has a tank tread with electric motor copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Vertrax skateboard has a tank tread with electric motor
Tube Concept system of mass transit
Posted by admin in Future Concepts on August 19th, 2010
Check out these people with their round wheel-shaped vehicles. It reminds me of this thing that General Grievous rode in that Star Wars Episode III movie.
This is part of something that my Source calls the Tube Concept, and it is a revolutionary system of mass transit.
It is similar to the Metropia that we reported on about a week ago. Essentially, every commuter has one of these vehicles, which can be then be driven to monorail-like transport to get around even more. You can watch the video after the jump, so you can see it for yourself.
If you didn’t watch the video, just think of it as driving around in a big donut, and then putting it on a rack where donuts are stored on their side, and having that rack moved. This rail network moves at high speed, at about 160 kilometers an hour. Or, I could use the comparison that I used for Metropia. It’s like driving a car, parking it on a bus, and resting in your car while the bus does the work.
What makes it different from the Metropia is how these vehicles park. The user just puts it in a “lot” that is essentially one giant vertical tube nine meters tall.
Boy would I love to see this concept become a reality. I doubt it will in my lifetime.
Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Tube Concept system of mass transit copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Tube Concept system of mass transit
Sony Nextep Wrist computer of 2020
Posted by admin in Future Concepts on May 26th, 2010
I remember back in the eighties, when someone wanted to show some concept technology, they would say something like: “By the year 2000, this will be the technology”.
Apparently, 2020 is the new 2000. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen concept technology that has said: “this is the tech of the year 2020″.
This is a bracelet watch/mobile device called the Sony Nextep Computer, which has a pull-out keyboard, as well as an OLED screen.
Now, you’re probably thinking that the white box above the Sony Nextep Computer is the box that the device comes in, but it is, in fact, a hologram. Yes, that’s right, I said hologram. This is one of those technologies that requires holograms in order to be made real. I can’t help but wonder how far away is a holographic society?
I guess we’ll soon find out, and when we do, it will be one of those technologies that just takes over. Sort of like cell phones, texting, Twitter, Facebook, and everything else technological that feels like it sprung up overnight.
Anyway, the Nextep wrist computer is designed by Hiromi Kiriki, and I would love to see it on my wrist. Perhaps I’ll see it at a trade show and get a chance to try it out. In the words of George Takei: “Oh my!”
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[ Sony Nextep Wrist computer of 2020 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Sony Nextep Wrist computer of 2020
HOLO 2.0 is your futuristic wrist-computer
Posted by admin in Future Concepts on May 13th, 2010
Okay, this device is definitely on my “I have got to get me one of these” list.
According to my source, this is a concept design from India, and their marketing department wants its release in 2015.
I suppose by that time we will all be over the whole touchscreen, and we will want holograms. Hence the HOLO 2.0.
As you can see from the illustration, this is a mobile device that you wear around your writs, and then project holograms of whatever operating system that you are using.
Call me stupid, but I don’t know of any mobile device that can do holography, unless you are going for 2D images projected on a solid wall.
I suppose that would be HOLO 1.0, wouldn’t it? After all, why call this HOLO 2.0?
Okay, I think that we all know that we are headed for a future where everyone has a do-it-all mobile device. Some believe that it is the iPhone, but I think it is more of a convenient device that you wear on your wrist.
I think we also know that holograms are the wave of the future, but we don’t quite have the “Star Wars” feel on them just yet, do we?
In short, the HOLO 2.0 is ahead of its time, and I can’t help but wonder just how far ahead of its time it is.
Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ HOLO 2.0 is your futuristic wrist-computer copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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HOLO 2.0 is your futuristic wrist-computer
See your Inbox on your T-Shirt
Posted by admin in DIY Gadgets on March 31st, 2010
I suppose that all of us don’t like to be away from our e-mail for a prolonged period of time, myself included. However, if I just knew that I didn’t have a lot of e-mails to check, I might be able to enjoy my time away from my computer.
As you can probably tell from this photo, this is a DIY project. Chris and Madeline Ball posted their work on the MAKE website, and have succeeded in their quest of showing the world just how much email that the wearer is getting.
There is a video after the jump so you can see how it works. You can see that it uses an Arduino Lilypad controller, connected to an Android device, which wirelessly syncs with a computer to light up how many emails that you have.
Some of you might have noticed that it uses a binary numbers (exponents of the power of 2) in order to show the number of e-mails, which means you have to add these numbers up to get the correct amount. The max it will show you is 127 emails. If you have that many after a few hours, then man, you are just way too busy.
I honestly don’t know why you can’t just get yourself a data plan on your mobile phone and check your emails that way. Still, if this couple can figure out a way to mass-produce this shirt, then it could be the latest fad.
Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ See your Inbox on your T-Shirt copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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See your Inbox on your T-Shirt
SIMsystem keeps track of underwater status, wirelessly
Posted by admin in Future Concepts on March 30th, 2010
Welcome to SIMsystem, which is being hailed as the world’s first electric underpants. I can scarcely believe that this is the first electric pair of undies. Hasn’t someone made a pair of electric underwear to keep your torso warm?
Anyway, the SIMsystem is designed for people who live in rest homes, and the workers who love them. Or, if nothing else, must work with them and change their Depends every once in a while. The SIMsystem uses this sensor strip in the underwear that will detect moistness, and then will send a report via text message, or even over an intercom.
Hopefully the intercom message won’t be something like: “Mrs. Fields has just wet her pants again”. Perhaps something like “Code 142 for Mrs. Fields” will do until everyone learns the code.
You might be wondering how the SIMsystem communicates wirelessly, and it has nothing to do with Bluetooth, bur rather Zigbee.
I suppose we are looking at rest homes of the future who have daily “bladder reports”. It is too bad that these cannot be put into diapers. After all, it is the babies that sometimes get neglected with their diaper changes. However, give it time, and I’m sure that this SIMsystem will get off the ground.
Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool
[ SIMsystem keeps track of underwater status, wirelessly copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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SIMsystem keeps track of underwater status, wirelessly
Personalize your mobile with the iaPeel skin
Posted by admin in Audio Gadgets, iPod Gadgets on March 26th, 2010
While I was at CTIA 2010 this year, I was bombarded by businesses who can somehow turn a profit by selling skins for mobile devices. Most of these businesses looked the same, but one of the most unusual ones that I saw was from a company known as iaPeel, “the only consumer printable skin system”.
All the user has to do is download some special software, and then he or she can put their own image on their skin. From there, it is as easy as printing off a deskjet printer.
These iaPeel skins are available for all kinds of mobile devices, and they are very easy to put on. They also have “a built-in precision alignment system that ensures a perfect fit every time”.
Not only are the iaPeel made from a durable material, but you may notice how the skin of this frame blends perfectly with the image on the device’s digital wallpaper. This is all part of the software.
The iaPeel doesn’t have a distributor as yet, but really should. I’m going to help them as much as I can. The cost is estimated to be $29.95 MSRP pakage, with 12 retail packages per box, 4 boxes per case, and one case minimum order. Find out more information about it here.
Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool
[ Personalize your mobile with the iaPeel skin copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Personalize your mobile with the iaPeel skin