Good Thinking
Solar powered road studs offer 10-fold visibility improvement
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November 21, 2007 As drivers we tend to ignore "cat's eyes" until we strike inclement weather or unfamiliar roads at night, at which point their safety value in showing us the road ahead comes very much to the fore. Standard reflective road studs rely on illumination from the headlight beams of the approaching vehicle and are effective to a distance of up to 90 meters, a situation that is being greatly improved by the application of solar power to the create stand-alone, self-powered illumination devices. The latest generation of solar road studs has just been announced by pioneering British company Astucia - the SolarLite™ “smart” road stud uses stored solar power to run built-in Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), providing an effective guide for drivers at up to a distance of 900 meters and extending reaction times from 3.2 to over 30 seconds when driving at 60mph. Read More
CFX: tiny compressed-air foam firefighting system
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November 2, 2007 This simple but revolutionary firefighting system features what its inventor claims is the smallest, lightest and most inexpensive Compressed Air Foam System on the market. Mounted on a small utility vehicle, the CFX system can get firefighting foam into restricted and difficult areas a firetruck can’t reach. Read More
New technology helping the blind to “see” images
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October 31, 2007 A recently completed licensing agreement for two new technologies may help bring affordable graphic reading systems for the blind and visually impaired to market. The two systems bring electronic images to life in the same way that Braille makes words readable. Read More
Wine bottle USB key opens the door to the château
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October 29, 2007 If sniffing, swirling and sipping isn’t enough to cure your craving for wine, perhaps this novel new USB key is. Loaded with information about the Grand Cru Classé winery in Bordeaux, the USB key comes in the shape of a bottle of the vineyard’s Pontet-Canet.
CEO IQ’s rCard now available
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October 28, 2007 Gizmag first encountered the rCard – a device about the size of a business card with an interactive screen that displays text, graphics, photos, and slide shows – back in late 2005, and now this novel new technology that lends itself to countless business applications is hitting the market at a cost of around USD$40. Read More
TV remote and hands-free phone combo to aid vision impaired
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A decline in her mother’s eyesight was the catalyst for Catherine Crichton to turn her hand to inventing and as result, the TeleMax® III was born - a universal TV remote control and hands free phone for people with vision impairment or disabilities.
World-first technology combines payment card and authentication in a single device
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October 24, 2007 A next-generation credit card that incorporates a 12-button keyboard, a microprocessor and an embedded alphanumeric display promises to provide unprecedented security in phone and online banking transactions. Read More
Sky Garage: off-street parking for the upwardly mobile
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October 23, 2007 Parking is the cause of much stress in any major city around the world and New York is definitely no exception. The tiny island of Manhattan has a land area of just 22.96 square miles (59.47 km²) but is home to more than 1.5 million people. With limited space and residents needing somewhere to park their cars, one property developer is planning to take to the sky to accommodate residents.
HTI's revolutionary forward osmosis filtration system
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October 15, 2007 On any given day, over one billion people lack access to clean drinking water and over 50% of hospital beds are occupied by people suffering from water-borne diseases. In the face of these facts it is clear that any technological innovation that can help combat this problem is a worthy one, with water filtration systems such as the LifeStraw and the LIFESAVER bottle having recently grabbed our attention. Now new technology developed by Hydration Technologies (HTI) has become available that allows the user to create a safe, clean diluted sports drink from any contaminated (even sewage-like) groundwater source without the use of power, pumping or chemicals. Read More
Revolution Money offers online payment alternative
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October 12, 2007 Online shopping has become a way of life for many consumers with 39 per cent of adults in the US reportedly making a monthly purchase online according to a study from icrossing. With the advancements in technology has come increased security risks and fees, opening up a market for new approaches to online financial transactions. One of the newest players in this field is Revolution Money - a company founded by the co-creator of the AOL Internet service, Steve Case, that claims to have developed a better way of managing money in cyberspace.
Gunshot location system boosts city surveillance
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October 12, 2007 When battling gun related crime, police are often faced with the problem of being unable to pinpoint the direction or proximity of overheard gunfire. In order to combat this issue over a wide area, the ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System uses acoustical triangulation to accurately detect incidences of gunfire and combines this with an integrated camera network to provide law enforcement with instant situation reports. After its celebrated role in capturing the Columbus sniper of 2003/2004, 20 major US cities, most recently Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have adopted the ShotSpotter GLS as a tool to combat gun related crime and as a deterrent against future crimes. Read More
Micro-adjustable Branie sports belt
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October 5, 2007 Designed for outdoor sports and sailing, the Branie belt features a ratcheted closure system similar to that used on ski boots which allows adjustments in micro increments of 2 millimeters. The durable belt is also 100% waterproof and recyclable, making it a practical and eco-friendly option. Read More
Visa Micro Tag contactless payment device
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October 5, 2007 Designed to allow customers to make small purchases without swiping, signing or PINs, the keychain-sized Micro Tag is Visa's smallest payment device to-date. To be issued as a companion device to existing credit, debit and prepaid cards, the Micro Tag enables payment by waving the device in front of a contactless payment terminal. Read More
World’s largest outdoor ads to target airline passengers
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September 27, 2007 Fledgling company Ad-Air has announced plans to target airline passengers with enormous flight path ads at the world’s busiest airports. The first of its kind project will see digitally printed ad skins of 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet) – that twice the size of London’s Trafalgar Square – placed within view of window seat passengers. Read More
Inkless magic: the pen that never runs out
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September 21, 2007 While most pen designs are getting more complex, this inkless metal pen takes inspiration from the past for its simple design and functionality. Though not likely to usurp the ballpoint, the novel pen made from stainless steel contains no ink yet is able to write on any most types of paper without ever needing a refill. Read More
Satellite imagery used for sales lead generation
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September 20, 2007 Part of the fascination with emerging technologies is wondering just where they will take us, and when the application of new ideas is given a dose of lateral thinking the results are often surprising. This new service from Geosemble is a case in point. Making traditional telemarketing look about as sophisticated as two tin cans with string, GeoPrism is the first sales lead generation service using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to automatically generate sales leads based on satellite imagery (think Google Earth). Read More
Lifesaver: all-in-one water filtration bottle removes pathogens without the use of chemicals
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September 19, 2007 Estimates put the number of people without access to safe drinking water at a staggering one billion, and with thousands – most of them children - dying daily from the risks associated with waterborne disease there is no doubting the significance of this new all-in one ultra filtration water bottle. The LIFESAVER bottle is a World first breakthrough for access to clean drinking water that removes waterborne pathogens without the use of expensive overheads or chemicals. The device has huge potential to save lives in humanitarian and disaster relief operations as well in military situations where its pressurized system also allows it to be used as a sterile wound wash. Read More
Don’t wash your dishes…recycle them!
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September 13, 2007 This household appliance concept from the ever-ingenious researchers at MIT would inevitably put a stop to a lot of after dinner arguments were it ever to make it to market. The DishMaker concept would enable users to create dishes on demand and then recycle them after use. No washing, no storage. Read More
New Parker executive Multipen
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September 12, 2007 Remember the excitement of getting a brand new four color pen when you were a kid? Ahh, the joy of writing words and alternating colors for each of the letters. Pen maker Parker's new Multipen provides a modern twist on the plastic classic - the four-way pen includes standard black and blue ink, pencil and a highlighter. Read More
Australian Design Awards now open to professional designs
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September 10, 2007 The 2008 Australian International Design Awards are now calling for entrants, and for the first time, professionally designed products will be eligible. After discovering such varied ideas as the electric violin, retractable umbrella, convertible high heels and the waiting room chair that converts into a hospital bed, it will be fascinating to see what will come in under the new eligibility criteria. Read More
Fence Defence security system for construction sites
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September 4, 2007 Seventy-five percent of theft from residential and commercial building sites occurs at night and on weekends. In response to ongoing concerns about this problem within the construction industry, UK based CSS has announced plans to launch of a new security system designed specifically for temporary compounds such as building sites. Read More
Savvy eBay trader makes US $500,000 in two easy steps
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It's a brave new world out there, and one can easily underestimate the skills required to make full use of the internet. Here's one example that's sure to illustrate the importance of basic internet trading savvy, and tickle your sense of schadenfreude - an eBay trader who leveraged the mistake of another to make himself a tidy US $500,000 profit, for a small amount of work. Read More
Surround Vision projects perfect images on surfaces of any shape
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August 30, 2007 UPDATED HI-RES IMAGES Projecting brilliantly sharp images as a single picture onto curved surfaces has previously been a very elaborate and expensive process. Now a new software system automatically calibrates the projectors needed so that the images are superimposed with pixel-precise accuracy. The technology promises so many applications from enhancing the planitarium experience to creating compelling immersive viewer experiences in trade show booths, show stages, multiplexes, theme parks, product presentations and advanced simulators. Download the brochure here. Read More
UK public contactless payment technology begins roll-out
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August 26, 2007 Money makes the world go around, and as with any system, reducing the frictional losses should benefit the productivity of that system – so the publicity stunt staged in a McDonalds drive-through in London with a Formula One car is quite significant. It was nominally the first use of contactless payment in the UK and marks the beginning of the roll-out of contactless cards which use radio wave card technology. When the contactless card is placed in very close proximity to the terminal, it transmits data from the card to the retailer’s card reader. The new technology allows contactless purchases up to UKP10 and normal chip & PIN purchases above that amount. Trials have shown the cards can halve the time taken for a cash transaction. Read More
iXoundWear headwear for the iPod Nano and Shuffle
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August 22, 2007 Sick of being annoyed by the pesky wires hanging from your ears when walking, running, or jogging with your iPod? The simple iXoundWear solution is to use your head - literally - via their range of hats, visors, and beanies with wire-management system designed for the iPod. Read More
Superbungee takes aim at the traditional shoulder strap
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August 21, 2007 Laptop bags, satchels and other shoulder bags generally do a fairly good job of protecting what they’re carrying – but how much thought gets put into the primary interface of the bag with the body? Skooba’s Superbungee is a retro-fittable shoulder strap that uses air-cell padding, grippy laminates and “sports-tuned suspension” to minimize carrying shock and perceived weight as you schlep your gear about. Read More
Zeroshift tool tracker increases aerospace maintenance efficiency
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August 14, 2007 Anyone with a tool shed will be familiar with the scenario - your beautifully erected shadow-board is all but empty because tools are strewn all over bench-tops or have long since disappeared into the ether. In industry this can be much more than just a minor frustration - particularly in safety intensive fields like aerospace where missing tools lead to serious productivity, procedural and safety headaches. A new solution from Zeroshift is designed to solve these tool management problems faced by aerospace manufacturing companies. Read More
Interpretation Service Card opens a world of opportunity
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August 12, 2007 In the not too distant future seamless computer-facilitated verbal communication between people who do not speak the same language will be entirely possible. NEC [http://www.gizmag.com/go/2686/] is likely to be a pioneer in this field, having already conducted numerous successful trials, but this technology is still a way off and will be costly for the user. For those of you with limited patience and a limited budget, there is a very useful system available right now in the form of a prepaid interpretation card. Read More
Five minute warning for August 8, M 7.6 Java earthquake
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August 10, 2007 Yesterday's M 7.6 West Java earthquake was detected, located and sized in just four minutes and 38 seconds by the German Tsunami Early Warning System (GITEWS) currently under construction in Indonesia. The location of the earthquake was established in just 2 minutes and 11 seconds. To put this in perspective, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii published the location and magnitude of this earthquake 17 minutes after the event. The analysis of ambient data which accurately identified the earthquake magntdue and location was done by a new software system called "SeisComP" (Seismological Communication Processor) developed by GFZ Potsdam that was installed at the Meteorological and Geophysical Agency of Indonesia (BMG) in Jakarta, just a fortnight ago. Read More
Magic Wheelchair: More mileage, less effort
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August 10, 2007 Even with years of practice the wear and tear on the body from utilizing a manual wheelchair is immense. Users experience ongoing pain (and in some cases long-term injury) in the arms and shoulders as a result of being reliant on manual force to propel the chair’s weight in addition to their own body weight. One company has sought to alleviate some of this pain by releasing new and innovative technology which is bringing wheelchairs up to speed. Read More
New water treatment system saves space and reduces costs
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August 9, 2007 A new waste water treatment system may soon be available for commercial and governmental use which would reduce the costs associated with treating water, produce higher quality water than currently available systems and significantly reduce the size of land needed to house treatment plants.
Smart meter provides fairer parking system
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August 9, 2007 The PhotoViolationMeter is a smart, networked parking meter solution designed to bring efficiency and fairness to everyone involved in the daily chore of finding somewhere to leave the car. Recently tested in the Port of San Francisco, the system is beneficial to both drivers and municipalities in that it provides an easy to maintain wireless system that automatically detects when you are in a parking space so that users pay only for time used, no more, no less. Read More
Proof there's always a better way - the Revolutionized Wrench
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August 7, 2007 The Business Week IDSA International Design Excellence Awards have been awarded for 2007 and as usual, there’s a whole bunch of good ideas worth checking out but one that really caught our eye was the Revolutionized Wrench. In our mind, it’s absolute proof that there’s always a better way, no matter how tried and true the design it replaces – why hasn’t this been done before? The Revolutionized Wrench provides exceptional user ergonomics, comfort, control and torque through an innovative design that offers a 500 percent larger grip area when applying force. There is no planar rotation in the wrench handle to interfere with grip or comfort and the outer handles have a thin profile to ensure the accessibility of each wrench head to a work piece.
Worlds collide: multi-million dollar real world home for sale via Second Life
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August 6, 2007 The ritual of traipsing all over town to queue up at countless real estate inspections every Saturday could soon be a thing of the past as real estate agents move selling houses into the realm of virtual reality. Coldwell Banker Real Estate has taken a step beyond Internet listings and online tours to offer a reality inspection of a scale model of a real life property within the popular virtual world of Second Life. Read More
Mixed reality chainsaw simulator provides safe, effective training platform
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August 4, 2007 Simulation has proven an effective method for training in many mission critical scenarios so it makes sense that this approach be adopted for the use of dangerous hand tools like chainsaws. To this end researchers have developed a type of hybrid virtual reality system known as the “Cybersaw” chainsaw - it looks like a chainsaw, feels like a chainsaw, sounds like a chainsaw and yet it only saws virtually. As soon as the starter is pulled, the motor starts to roar and with screaming saw in hand, the operator applies the real cutting bar to a perspex tree trunk in front of him. The virtual aspect is what the trainee sees on a projection screen behind the Perspex tree trunk - a sawhorse in the midst of an idyllic farm scene which the user can watch on the screen as the chain blade saws through the tree trunk, with the accurate simulation completed by the real feeling of resistance to the pine wood and the vibration of the saw. Read More
