RSS Feeds
|
US Edition
Babblebaby
|
Defamer
|
Gizmodo
|
Kotaku
|
Lifehacker
The day for you to strap yourself into a robotic exoskeleton and fight crime the way your normally flabby limbs would never have let you has come! Cyberdyne, the Japanese company responsible for the HAL (hybrid assistive limb) prototype robot suit, is starting rentals this week. The price for being superhuman: about $US2,200.
KDDI announced a new prototype phone that uses six different types of sensors to see its surroundings, including other people and objects within proximity. According to Tech Radar, KDDI was hush hush about the specifics, but did reveal the sensors include GPS and multiple types of accelerometers and geomagnetic technology — which are then used to render the environment in OpenGL. Its also able to detect how many calories one has burned via walking or running, even using the microphone (?) in the process. No demo was offered, but I'll be waiting to hear how this really works. [Tech Radar]
Proving that Japan always has the coolest concept phones, this Fujitsu device shown at CEATEC lets you separate your screen and touchscreen keypad in whatever configuration you like. Both parts can be used separately or stuck together by magnets, and where you stick the screen on the keypad determines what the touchscreen shows. The screen module contains software functions, including video recording and games, while the keyboard is responsible for communication tasks, such as 3G and radio. No idea whether this will be one of the few CEATEC concepts that make its way into reality, but I sure hope I see it on shelves someday. [Akihabara News]
In a panel at GigaOm's Mobilise conference today, Motorola VP of Applied Technology Fred Kitson revealed some prototype display technologies they have in the works, confirming the company has more on the mind than the damn RAZR. One phone prototype Kitson described involves an embedded projector that made use of 3 lasers that project on a wall, while another makes use of a headset display. He also made mention of home displays that could automatically detect your phone as you move into a target range, and dedicate a portion of that screen to your mobile.
Sikorsky, makers of the Blackhawk and other sleek helicopters, have successfully tested their X2 Technology Demonstrator, a prototype designed to showcase new propulsion systems that will allow their helicopters to fly at twice the speed of conventional ones. And it looks sci-fi pretty too, even more so from the front:
This is the Gorenje Foldable Qube prototype, a hob and hood system that can be hung on the wall of a small kitchen to save some serious space. It's also a kitchen-to-go: "You can take it with you anywhere--just like a laptop", told me the IFA booth laeedee. You know, for those very special times in which you need to cook anywhere else in the house but the kitchen:
Yamaha and KDDI put together a group of concept mobile phones with musical themes, including a trumpet, guitar, DJ scratch pad, and drums. [MobileMentalism and AkihabaraNews]
Posted by Nick Broughall at 9:19 AM on August 29, 2008
Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo Have you ever been frustrated by the lack of being able to embed maps in your emails easily, or just how awkward it can be to share information online? Well you may want to check out the prototype software from Mozilla Labs called Ubiquity.
It is in its very early development stages, more prototype than anything else, but even so it looks like it has the potential to completely change the way we interact with our information online.
Philips is working on their own ultra-thin backlighting technology. But compared to the absolutely stunning Sony ZX1 9.9mm-thin TV, the Philips 8mm 32-inch model is a) just too small and b) just a prototype. However, it looks like it uses a similar LED-in-the-corner backlighting technology. [More IFA 2008 Coverage]
The difference between what I would like to look at and what I would like to use makes for a a gap wider than the Grand Canyon, in this case. One button, no tactile feedback and no screen make this VOIP phone prototype little more than an electronic lollipop. But my desire to lick one increases with every glance. [e-Nova via Yanko and BBG]
This is the Gorenje Foldable Qube prototype, a hob and hood system that can be hung on the wall of a small kitchen to save some serious space. It's also a kitchen-to-go: "You can take it with you anywhere--just like a laptop", told me the IFA booth laeedee. You know, for those very special times in which you need to cook anywhere else in the house but the kitchen:
Philips is working on their own ultra-thin backlighting technology. But compared to the absolutely stunning 