Gadgets Base

by Ryan Block, posted Jul 4th 2008 at 11:32PM
It’s not too often case mods cross over into the world of body mods, but when you think about it, it was kind of only a matter of time before people started using laser-etchers to give themselves immaculately detailed burn “tattoos.” It’s unclear what kind of lasting effects using an Epilog on your own skin will have, but don’t be too stunned if it just peels right off and eventually becomes some weird, blurry scar. In other words, attempt this dumbass feat at your own risk. Oh, and you didn’t think we would let this one off without a video, did you? It’s after the break — too bad there’s no smell-o-vision to give off the nauseating scent of precision-burnt human flesh.

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Filed under: Misc. gadgets

Sharp is harnessing the power of the sun to create an energy-efficient and environment-friendly LCD TV. In the forthcoming G8 Summit, the Japanese TV manufacturer will show off a prototype of its 26-inch LCD TV using solar panel as its main source of energy.

Sharp claims this new technology reduces annual energy consumption by about 75% compared to the existing 26-inch LCD TVs available in the market today. Moreover, the new triple-junction thin-film solar module technology is free of toxic materials. Not to mention that using solar panel reduces fossil fuel consumption.

While the company’s main objective is to provide TV to approximately 6 billion people on earth with scarce or no electricity, this prototype is also relevant to all of us in the face of mounting increase in gas prices and our fondness for supporting “green” products.

No word yet on the availability or pricing of this solar-powered LCD TV. I’m hoping this socially responsible product will be affordable to the developing countries considering its objective.

Via [CrunchGear]

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by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Jul 5th 2008 at 2:04AM
Using polymorph plastic, some curtain rods, electric screwdrivers, motors, and a whole lot of mad-scientist creativity, an Xrobots hobbyist created this organic-looking robot base. By using wooden sockets and curtain rings as hip joints, the designer is clearly going for a human-like creature of doom here. Knee joints are kept moving with four motors each while a network of bungee cords and strings will act as muscles and tendons. Meanwhile, electric screwdrivers provide power for rotation. The legs measure 26-inches tall alone, so it looks like he’s on his way to a real beast here. Hit the read link to see all the raw materials and sit in awe at this monster in the making.

[Via Hacked gadgets]

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Filed under: Robots

Google is getting ready to launch their Street View technology in the UK, and it isn’t being met with open arms. Although the mapping tool is already in place in some major US cities, folks in the UK are protesting the implementation on their turf.  Street View works by taking photos of, logically enough, streets to match maps. However the photos also include any people on those streets. This is where the problems come in for the UK folk. They feel this is a blatant disregard for privacy; and that permission should be granted by any individual photographed since the pictures are being used in a commercial regard. 

Personally, I don’t see how Google is getting away with this. As a freelance photographer myself, I know that any photographs that I take (even in a public setting) must have release forms signed by each recognizable person in the photo, if I am to be using them in any way for profit. (They even consider a person to be “recognizable” if the photo only shows the back of them for the record.) Apparently, Privacy International, a UK rights group, agrees. They believe the technology clearly breaks data protection laws. 

According to Simon Davis of the group, “In our view they need a person’s consent if they make use of a person’s face for commercial ends”.

Google has already had people in the United States complaining about their images being used as well. Google says they did remove the photos upon written request. (Amazing that they need to be asked to remove them, yet not to take them). Google also said they have begun to trial “face blurring technology”, by using an algorithm that detects human faces in photographs. However, Privacy International is having a hard time believing too much in this technology. They’ve written and asked for some more technical information on the system, and say if they don’t hear back in seven days they will ask the UK Commissioner to block the Street View tool from being used. The only response they’ve received to date from Google is a snide comment to look more closely at their blogs and that it isn’t ready to be deployed yet.

Google, on the other hand, maintains that they are complying with all local laws. Too bad people aren’t really keen on believing every word flowing out of Google’s mouth these days regarding protecting privacy. Let’s review, we had the promise made by Google to the FTC during the Doubleclick acquisition that “crumbling cookies” would be developed. No proof that this has happened yet. Then we had them promise a “privacy dashboard” to help consumers understand the functionality of their user settings in response to concerns expressed at the time of the 2007 internet privacy rankings. Nope. Hasn’t shown up either. And last, the latest fiasco with YouTube, where Google may be handing over the personal information of anyone that viewed any videos on the YouTube site to Viacom. Granted, this was due to a recent judge ruling; but members are certainly not taking this invasion well either.

It seems for all of Google wanting to claim being “for the planet” as of late, it’s a lot of “for the Google.”

Via [BBCNews]

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Recently, we reported on how the OpenTable Beta version has made it possible to set up a reservation at your nearest restaurant, however it would appear that restaurant reservations aren’t the only thing that have been updated for mobile technology.

Police departments in Boston, Cincinnati, and 100 other communities have adopted a text message tip-line. So if someone sees a crime being committed, all it would take is a dropped line to alert the authorities. 

So far, this new department system has produced “great drug information, specific times, dates, names of suspects, locations, pick-up times, and license plate numbers”. 

Boston Police Crime Stoppers commander Michael Charbonnier has been quoted saying “it’s obvious that the future of communication is texting.” I think this man has a point, but I believe that texting is already in our present.  After all, some of these teenagers can text-type with one hand faster than I can type with two. 

In other words, I think it is high time that a system like this for text-messaging was established for law enforcement.  I mean, all it would take some anonymous text tip such as “drugs n car, lic plate 456 AUJ” to bring someone to justice.

Unfortunately, the cops on the other end might not be able to read text-speech that many of these teens are using these days. 

Via [Engadget]

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by Donald Melanson, posted Jul 4th 2008 at 10:29PMWe’ve seen plenty of robots that are capable of showing their appreciation for music, but few have as refined a taste as this trio of bots designed by a team of UK artists and scientists, which have been trained to like punk music and nothing else. That was apparently done by employing “adaptive resonance theory,” which allows the robots to build up a history of patterns relating to different sounds, and analyze songs on the fly, matching the patterns against other types of music it has already listened to. As you can see in the BBC’s video available at the read link below, the bot’s were apparently easily able to recognize a band that they hadn’t heard before and, if you hurry, you can actually check ‘em out first hand, as they’ll be doing their thing at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts until July 5th.

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Filed under: Robots

A Japanese accessory manufacturer has added a unique twist on an ordinary household gadget, the flashlight. They have added a 300,000 pixel CMOS camera and microphone. Carrot Systems created this so-called AD-1500 flashlight to enable security personnel and crime fighters to record the actual events as they happen.

All activities are recorded in MP4 format and it automatically switches to infra-red mode when used at night or in dark areas. The AD-1500 can only cover a distance of up to 4 meters but I think this is enough to capture evidence and actual events in real time. However, internal memory is limited to only 128MB.

This innovative approach to ordinary gadget makes sense. It would be nice though if this could automatically stream the footage online for archiving purposes. Well, that’s looking forward I guess.

Unfortunately, its price of approximately $800 limits its potential, at least for the everyday consumer.

Via [CrunchGear]

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