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Motoman SDA10 - Multi Talented Robot

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:39:07 +0000

Manufactured in Japan, Motoman SDA10, the dexterous robot can cook several recipes or assemble a camera with nice programming and thanks to precise arms. On the following video from a Japanese TV, it assembles complicated pieces less than two minutes. Obviously, such industrial robots are already widely used but the amount of precision in recognition of objects and error reduction is the important part in advanced robotics.

The following photos show the same robot while cooking a Japanese dish Okonomiyaki. (Cook what you want in English). The customer gives the order by saying ingredients (I guess) and it knows what to cook by voice recognition. Unfortunately, there is no video yet but I will update the article as soon as one appears.

Seen on Engadget and Pink Tentacle

4 Recommended 7 Port USB 2.0 Hubs

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:56:46 +0000

USB hubs are popular nowadays because of heavy connectivity needs of people on latest years for a variety of USB devices. Especially 4 and 7 ports USB hubs are trendy but I would prefer 7 ports because 4 is a really small number for a busy computing environment.

Cables To Go 7 Port USB 2.0 Hub
It is really a slim one if you consider space is an important factor and travel much. There is a sliding metal base to keep the hub in place when devices are added to the ports. You can get the power directly from USB port or use the included power supply. Up to 127 devices can be supported adding extra hubs.

Transfer rate is up to 480 Mbps which is certificated by USB-IF. There is no installation, everything is automatically recognized. So, a combination of external hard drive, webcam, several flash drives, a wireless mouse, a laptop cooler and a printer connection to your notebook is not a dream. Top customer ratings at Amazon, plus cheaper than its rivals.

Belkin USB 2.0 Plus Hub (7 Port) F5U307-WHT

It is the same functionality but in a more stylish way. And 2 of the ports are on the top for easier, quick access.

There is an over-current protection functionality embedded into the device. It doesn’t need any external power supply for most devices.

One of the Amazon user comments is interesting as a negative side. If you connect even one USB 1.1 device, all other ports will be forced to work according to its speed limitations. He stated that it is a common situation for most USB Hubs except Cables-To-Go USB hub which we reviewed at the beginning of this post.

Kensington PocketHub USB 7 Ports Portable USB Hub K33366

and
CyberPower High-Speed 7-Port USB Hub

are also other recommended gadgets with the same functionality and similar high customer ratings.

If you are looking for something original, not for functionality but mostly for style, read about Smart EZ YEGO USB drive hub as well.

Mobile Phones are Popular but Tasteless

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:47:15 +0000

As you probably noticed, I am not a fan of writing about every new mobile phone model as it is the main topic of many gadget blogs. I don’t blame them doing this but it is totally boring for me to tell “Oh look here we have another rival for iPhone, Blackberry etc. with bla bla new super-duper features which you will possibly not need at all but would like to have one”. If someone creates a really unique idea, I will be glad to introduce it like the handmade wooden mobile phone from Russia even though quite primitive looking. That’s worth of thousand Vertus with expensive diamonds around. I guess most of the readers of my cool gadgets blog will think similar. Anyway, two things grabbed my attention while browsing lazily in net. I was playing with cool home music tool Acoustica Mixcraft much so my blogs were dead silent. Anyway, First attention is Sany Ericssan with Vaio logo on it. Actually, I had seen another mobile phone long time ago with a wide range of logos on it including PSP, Xbox, Ferrari etc! Haha! This is from China as expected but it is quite Japanese for its -san ending and arguably with the nice features.

Second is a clarity phone with very simple big buttons to be used by children and old people to be not lost in the labyrinth of advanced mobile phone models. Just the needed buttons for calling, very large fonts both in screen and pad, a red “Save the world but first me now” button to push instantly. It will call the pre-recorded number for help.

Actually, I had a mobile phones category when I had started this blog around a year ago, but later removed it because it was not cool to have one with empty content

Korean Plant/Flower Robot Produces Oxygen

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:50:11 +0000

The robot research laboratory at Chonnam National University has developed a clever robotic plant which can do the same key plant functions like oxygen-producing, humidifying, aroma-emitting, and kinetic functions.

The robot plant is 130 cm tall and 40 cm in diameter and consists of a pot, a stem, and five buds of a flower reminiscent of a rose of Sharon. A national flower of South Korea.

They have put also several motion sensors to make the plant more entertaining. If someone approaches to it, the plant flower buds will go full bloom and the stem will bend towards to the person. The same is valid for sound and light inputs as well for example music or room light.

Actually, there are American and Japanese toys similar to this robot plant, but it is currently accepted as the most advanced one.

Hanging Noose Lamp - Nightmare Provider

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:07:36 +0000

If you want to remind yourself a terrible part of human history every day in your living room (oh not the bedroom please), this disturbing cord gadget is a perfect choice. It will also help the owner develop a well formed paranoia by time. I just don’t remember the writer, but I had read a quite effective horror story years ago about a ghost judge haunting in his old house and murdering the people who stays there with the noose. So, this 4750 € fantasy will introduce the lucky buyer possibly several ghosts in this monotonous life as well. Dare to buy at Petites ! Productions or DIY with an illuminated cord for $100 bucks at most.

See my other guest-terrifier gadgets collection post if further interested in such disturbing things.

Snowball Blaster - Automatic Pain Launcher

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:17:40 +0000

This gadget will give you certain advantage on your bloody snowball street fights. Just place your snowballs into the three chambers and close the lid. Aim your target and fire. It doesn’t need any battery because it uses an elastomer (a special kind of polymer which will return to its original state when the tension is removed) mechanism. And I have another good news for you. The range is 50 feet. So, it means that in short range it can really give some pain to the victim.

As a fast snowball maker and player, 3 chambers are just not enough for me. Anyway, it is a good start, we want more complicated snowball blasters for more fun. Hear us Hammacher Schlemmer

Your Shirt will be a TV soon !

admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:40:21 +0000

The reason I have chosen such a daring title is to imply you about the possibilities of Samsung’s new OLED display which only .05 mm thick, flexible and even flaps around in the wind. It was unveiled at FPD International 2008. This .05 mm paper-thin layer 4 inch screen can generate an image of 480×272 pixels with a 100,000:1 contrast ratio and 100% reproduction of the NTSC color gamut. This is actually the standard for the new flat panel screens, they could manage to put this tech. into .05 mm thickness using a new advanced technique. So, let’s not be amazed when we see such flexible ultra-thin OLED displays on places like clothes, wallpapers.

You might be interested to know more about paper-thin flexible speakers as well.

via Oled Display Net

Flatshare Refrigerator - Electrolux Design Lab 2008 Winner

admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:17:30 +0000

There is a useful design competition run by Electrolux to encourage undergraduate and graduate industrial design students to create innovative, daring home appliance product ideas. In 2008 finals, there were over 600 projects from 49 countries. The winner is really a useful product design for roommates who share the same refrigerator in the room.

Austrian Applied Arts University student Stefan Buchberger’s “Flatshare” refrigerator allows each individual user to have his/her own refrigerator space which can be recognized by different colors or skins. The refrigerator consists of four of detachable modules so there will be no more fights to clean the refrigerator or blame others being so much dirty. He has won € 5000 and a six-month internship at one of Electrolux global design centers. Practical, simple but effective idea, nice real life solution and it deserves the prize for sure. Put an electronic lock as well on each module, it would be a top seller.

Official Electrolux Design Lab Website

This Solar Powered House can Walk

admin — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 05:22:10 +0000

I had written about the only swimming guitar in the world in my previous post. This time, I will introduce you my latest action gadget discovery. Walking house ! This house was built in Denmark by a team of engineers to give an idea about an alternative eco-lifestyle. It is written in the official walking house website that there are solar panels and little windmills to collect energy from the natural environment. It can collect the rain water and there is a toilet system as well.

This 6 legged hydrological living form was inspired by the traditional nomadic culture of Romanis. There is a crazy idea as well we should note. You can establish a walking village with thousands of walking houses, in theory.

Found in EcoTalks

This bike can transform into a suitcase !

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:45:11 +0000

Have you ever thought a bike which you can fold it into a real suitcase?

Well, I didn’t think but a Chinese company not only designed but also manufactured it. The bike can transform into an 8 kg suitcase in just 10 seconds. Nice solution to carry your bike in small transport situations or by dragging if needed and it occupies much less space, so it is really a cool item.

The manufacturer website Happy Bicycle has much more information both in Chinese and English.

If you wondered the biggest and longest motorbikes, please check my related post too.