Gizmodo Australia » concept

Kitschy-Yet-Eco-Friendly ReNEW Solar Battery Charger

Rosa Golijan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:20:00 +0000

It looks like a battery-eating iPhone case, but the reNEW Solar Battery Charger concept is actually a clever little device that spits out fully-charged batteries while attaching to your windows with suction cups. Your back-of-the-house, no-one-will-actually-see-it-here window.

The way you’d use the reNEW charger is simple. You toss your batteries in the top portion and they’ll be ready at the bottom once they’re fully-charged. Cool idea, but I’m not entirely sure that I’d want to plaster my windows with it. [Yanko Design]

Turn On The Quackie CD Player By Stroking Its Beak

Rosa Golijan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:40:00 +0000

I thought it was a sleek CD launcher, maybe a DIY weapon, but the reality of the Quackie CD Player concept too horrible either. You open up the “beak” to turn up the volume, close it to power down.

Designed by Mac Funamizu, Quackie doesn’t really seem like it’d be practical once you’re over the five minutes of “Wee! It rolls around! Quack Quack! What’s that, Quackie? Ya wanna go louder? Ooooopen wide!” childlike glee, but it could still be a nice desk decoration. [Yanko Design]

Electrolux Brings Us One Step Closer To A Fireplace In A Can

Sean Fallon — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:20:00 +0000

We like to put everything else in a can, so why not fire? That must be what designer Camillo Vanacore was thinking when he dreamed up this portable, capsule fireplace.

The concept involves some sort of magical ceramic from outer space that starts out opaque, but becomes transparent when exposed to the heat of a flame. The fireplace also seems like it would be small enough to fit in one hand. I wouldn’t expect to go to the grocery store anytime soon to pick up a six-pack of fire—but it is an interesting design at least. [Six Different Ways via Apartment Therapy via DVICE]

Turn On Lamp Is Brought To You By The Letter “Q”

Sean Fallon — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:40:00 +0000

Inspired by the universal symbol for power (or the letter “Q” as it were), designer Marco Lana’s rechargeable Turn On lamp can be switched on or off depending on its orientation.

Unfortunately for people named Quincy, Quinton or Quagmire, the Turn On lamp is only a concept at the moment. [Lana-savettiere via The Design Blog]

Now This Is How The iPhone Should Handle Multitasking

Chris Jacob — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:50:00 +0000

I really hope someone at Apple sees these concept interfaces from Ocean Observations. They’ve taken the best elements of the Pre’s card system, combined them with Cover Flow, and created an awesome vision of multitasking on the iPhone.

The designers also have an idea for managing the mess of home screens that comes along with app hoarding. Tapping the home button would bring up a paneled Exposé page. From there, you could easily jump to a specific page, rather than swiping a hundred times to find Peggle.

Hopefully someone at Apple is keeping up with this page to see what else these guys come up with. [MobileCrunch]

Fit For Jeff Bridges: BMW’s Vision Efficient Dynamics Hybrid Concept

Jack Loftus — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Jalopnik is right. This see-through concept out of the BMW R&D wing would be best served with a side of Tron and a couple of light cycles.

The video above is the official promo for the concept vehicle, which will, sadly, never see a showroom. For more, see Jalopnik, which has up a gallery and oodles of facts and figures. [Jalopnik]

IBM Examining Microchips Built On DNA “Oragami” Nanostructures

Jack Loftus — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:30:00 +0000

From the “at least 10 years out” category of microchip fabrication comes word that IBM is working to reduce future costs and microchip sizes by using DNA. That’s correct, the building blocks of life could one day contribute to your virtual reality headshot in Halo 28: Master Chief Comes Back From the Dead for the 12th Time.

IBM’s early stage research combines the DNA double helix and, unsurprisingly, nanotechnology to build frameworks for theoretically smaller and less expensive microchips.

“This is the first demonstration of using biological molecules to help with processing in the semiconductor industry,” said IBM research manager Spike Narayan. “Basically, this is telling us that biological structures like DNA actually offer some very reproducible, repetitive kinds of patterns that we can actually leverage in semiconductor processes,” he said.

But like I said, ten years out of more before the same genetic building blocks found in all of us are also powering the supercomputers of the future. [Reuters]

Orbis Hacks Wheel Off A Segway For Easier Sidewalk Maneuverability

Jack Loftus — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:30:00 +0000

The Orbis is only half as big as the Segway that spawned it, but don’t let that fool you. The thing’s easily twice as cool, especially if you happen to be Woz playing Segway polo.

I mean come on. Facts are facts. Smaller footprint. Easier maneuverability in the tight spots. Folds down for easy storage in the closet when that hot date comes over for a digestif. Brisk 13 mph top speed. Completely portable. Battery powered. This is assuming, of course, you give two shits about the Segway to begin with.

Negatives? Balance issues abound, sure, but the designers can work those our with Woz’s money help, right?

Too bad it’s just a concept at the moment; a mere whiff of a hipster’s passing dream. This will change though. Segway culture demands it be so. [James Dyson Award via Design Blog]

Bicycle Cup Holders Ignore Common Sense

Sean Fallon — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:00:00 +0000

In the lexicon of stupid ideas, you will find Paul Kweton’s Ring-O-Star handlebar-mounted cup holder. You might get away with a capped bottle of water—but hot drinks and carbonated beverages are entirely out of the question.

As you might expect, the design is only a concept at the moment. I mean, nobody would actually be dumb enough to produce something like this right? Uh…right? [Designboom via Wired via Likecool]

Rubber Band Stretch Shelf Is Storage That Can Kill

Sean Fallon — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:40:00 +0000

The problems that you might have with a Stretch Shelf start with the realisation that you need storage space for something more than a couple of books.

So you try and stretch out the rubber band to accommodate more stuff. If you’re lucky, you might just ruin the wall. If not, you or a loved one could end up shopping for glass eyes and funeral homes. Thankfully, the Stretch Shelf is only a concept at the moment. [Pete Oyler via Designboom]