Tag: Robots
Moleskine hard drive enclosure
The Moleskine hard drive elicits deep ambivalence. On the one hand, anything by Moleskine is sleek, light, portable, and has an unimpeachable literary heritage. Perhaps a hard drive stored within a Moleskine would be flavoured with greatness right through…
Resitec Earthing Static, versus a thousand natural shocks
Especially in the winter, but at risk for it all times of year, I get zapped by anything that can build up a static charge. It gets to the point where I’ll tap-tap-tap anything metal I have to touch, especially door handles, and run the risk of looking like I have OCD just to avoid getting shocked. So I’m very keen on the Resitec Earthing Static, a keychain which lights up when it detects static, and then disperses it. Finally, I can wear wool again! $14 from Brando. [GT]
Scientists to build robot society
To learn more about human society, the University of Abertay is building a robot colony in Dundee. Sixty robots will live together under observation (which we scientifically know will change the results) to allow researchers to introduce controlled elements and gauge the effects. Professor John Crawford said, “One of our key challenges in this research will be to identify and interpret these patterns of behaviour as evidence for an emerging robot culture.” [GT]
Magic display mirror switches between you and would-you
Every girl’s got a soft spot for a magic mirror, and every practical woman wants her vanity to do more in the space it’s already got. Magic Display does both, ah, somewhat. It depicts advertisements on its glass surface except when you’re up-close and dabbing on your lippy. Video after the jump. [GT]
qStart reminds you where you're driving, big-picture-wise
It’s not impossible that you skip back and forth over the pond enough that you can’t remember if you’re in London or America, and if so, the qStart is for you. Just plug it into the lighter socket and it’ll give a cheery vocal reminder of which side of the road you’re to drive on. As a special bonus, every two hours it’ll nag you to take a break, and probably after you’ve gotten comfortable it’ll start asking why you don’t give it the good petrol or some new mudflaps. £10. [GT]
Kryptonite discovered in Serbia
Bored one afternoon, Dr Chris Stanley, from the Natural History Museum, fed “sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide” into Google and was bemused to discover he had a small cache of Kryptonite on his hands, according to the label on a lump of green K stolen by Lex Luthor during the latest Superman picture. Stanley’s Kryptonite is white, and Luthor’s has fluorine, which may account for it not being lethal to superheroes or glowing green. [GT]
Todd Goldman "mistakenly" traced Shmorky kitty, cease-and-desists others
“I made a judgment error and did not research the background of this particular submission. My intention was not to copy Mr. Kelly,” said Todd Goldman, in reference to Dave “Shmorky” Kelly’s discover that Goldman had made a painting closely derived from Shmorky’s webcomic, Purple Pussy. Further claims of Goldman’s deriving commercial work from the webcomics of others are in progress with varying degrees of formality. Goldman has since retained a law firm to send cease and desist notices to bloggers commenting negatively on his intellectual property concerns. Since Goldman is worth a fair bit of money this should prove an interesting test of how much protection we creatives can expect for our hard-done work. [GT]
USB memo holder lights up after the fact
Usually if I’m in full Selznick memo-writing mode I want extra light, so it’s a little puzzling that the USB memo holder lights up after you’ve put a memo in it. However, it does also have a USB port in the back, so at least it functions as an extension cable with a flirty little stand. And then, when want to just fire Craig by note, he’ll be more likely to notice the glowing glob in the middle of his soon-to-be-ex-desk. 9,90 €. [GT]
'Super' Earth-type planet discovered
Gliese 581 C is a temperate planet like Earth, according to recent findings from the Eso 3.6m Telescope in Chile. With temperatures ranging from 0 to 40 C, if it has water, the water would be liquid, making it habitable for us, and probably other life forms as well. Future missions will analyze the planet for signs of biological activity such as chlorophyll and methane. Gliese 581 C is 20 light years away, so it’ll be a while before we can actually go there – unless we have a breakthrough, in which case, party at Marklar’s place.
Cushion Control puts the remote in your seat
Totally decorative, and fully functional, Cushion Control is a trio of couch decor with a power button, volume up/down and +/- adjuster. Wouldn’t you like to just wiggle your behind in order to rewind your favourite track for the nineteenth time? They use soft switches and RF to actually be functional, suggesting that not only is the Singularity approaching, so’s the day you can use your cat to turn on the telly. I’ll take three! [GT]
Cushion Control
