Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Feb 19, 2011

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

BrainDriver allows you to drive with your mind
Chinese Magician Fu Yandong and his fish-controlling powers are under fire
AeroVironment Nano-Hummingbird has a video camera
Bump.Com – Sure Beats “the Bird”
The Spooner – WAY More Fun Than it Looks
Gadget Thumbnails for 17-Feb-2011
eCoupled – Offers Power to Your Packaging

BrainDriver allows you to drive with your mind

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 03:52 PM PST

Imagine getting behind the wheel of your car, and no hands were required on the wheel.

This is the technology of BrainDriver which is under development at Freie Universität Berlin by professor Raul Rojas. BrainDriver uses a head cap with 16 sensors that allow the driver to have control over the wheel.

This is electroencephalography in action, and it is technology that is getting better every day. We have reported on computers that can do this, and all BrainDriver does is create a system for guiding the steering wheel. There’s a video after the jump so you can see how it works. You will note that they aren’t testing this on the real road with real traffic yet.

You’ll also notice that the driver seems quite young. The first thing I thought was “I am surprised he has his license”. Speaking of thoughts, I’m not certain whether or not thought driving is such a good idea. I mean, when I drive, I think an action and then I do it. This Braindriver had better be able to discern when I am thinking about making a turn and when I definitely want to make a turn.

However, if this young guy can figure it out, then I think I could probably figure it out. I guess it would be like having a limo with my brain as a driver. Perhaps this is just one stepping stone in our goal of completely autonomous vehicles.

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ BrainDriver allows you to drive with your mind copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Chinese Magician Fu Yandong and his fish-controlling powers are under fire

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 03:25 PM PST

These hands are the seemingly powerful hands of Chinese magician Fu Yandong, and he has made headlines with his “mystic control” over fish.

His magic act was shown televised over China Central Television over the Chinese New Year, but there are some who are not at all impressed at his ability to make the fish swim in perfect formation.

For example, some animal activists are claiming that the fish controlling trick is magnetic in nature. That Yandong has somehow implanted magnets in the fish and leading them around with attracting forces. These same animal activists are equating this magnetic implementation as animal cruelty.

Of course, Fu Yandong has not come out and said that this is how the trick is done. I don’t know if this is a written or unwritten law, but I believe that a magician is not supposed to reveal his or her secrets.

I believe that some magicians have some history of being cruel to animals. Some of you might remember a scene in the film The Prestige where a magician is shown killing a dove in order to make it look like it disappears into a collapsible cage.

Of course, I’m not certain about animal rights laws in China. Some have suggested the trick is done with infrared lights, which would mean that the trick is more about training than implants. If so, can anyone learn how to control fish like Aquaman?

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Chinese Magician Fu Yandong and his fish-controlling powers are under fire copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

AeroVironment Nano-Hummingbird has a video camera

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 02:57 PM PST

A while ago, we covered a Robot Hummingbird created by a Japanese researcher named Hiroshi Liu, and it was intended to have a camera.

That article was written a year ago, and I don’t have any idea if this Nano Hummingbird is related to that aforementioned Robot Hummingbird, but it does have a video camera.

This tiny aircraft has a wingspan of 6.5 inches and weighs in at 19 grams. I have no idea what powers it, but it carries its own energy source and has flapping wings for propulsion and control.

I’m not certain if you know about this, but hummingbirds are one of the most maneuverable aerial animals. They are like the helicopters of the avian world, and they are the only birds that fly backwards. The Nano Hummingbird can climb, descend, as well as fly left and right, forward and backward. It can also rotate clockwise and counter-clockwise, and have an airspeed of 11 miles per hour.

So, is this the next generation of flying cameras? It could be, provided hummingbirds are a common sight. Considering that I have never seen a hummingbird that let me see it up close, I’m not certain whether or not this camera would fool me if I were up close.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ AeroVironment Nano-Hummingbird has a video camera copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Bump.Com – Sure Beats “the Bird”

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 09:02 AM PST

As American drivers we spend an extraordinary amount of time on our roads and highways. The average driver must spend almost an hour on their daily commute alone, so its no surprise that someone has developed a social website that allows you to talk to your fellow drivers.

Enter the world of bump.com, where your dreams of being able to tell the driver next to you what a moron they are, or conversely, how cute they are, or how hot their ride is, in a fun, safe and comfortable manner right from your phone.

Imagine finally being able to tell the guy next to you that their tire is flat, or the back end of their car is on fire. Maybe you need to remind someone of the rules of good manners, or let them know that their parking skills are simply not up to snuff. bump.com has got you covered.

So the next time you're around your car, take a picture of your plate and send it to register@bump.com and the company will take care of the rest, you can visit the site and leave or check messages directly from your smartfone, but remember, texting and driving is a no-no! See you on the road.

Source: www.bump.com

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Bump.Com – Sure Beats "the Bird" copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The Spooner – WAY More Fun Than it Looks

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 07:27 AM PST

Did you ever see something that didn't look like much, didn't seem like it could do much, and thought to yourself, who would buy one of these? And then, as if someone read your mind, they showed you what it could do, and you had so much fun in that 15 minutes that you knew that "thing" was a winner? I have.

Meet the Spooner, a virtually indestructible balance board that spins, flips, wobbles and slides. It's a skateboard with no wheels, a surfboard with no waves, just add snow and it's a sled or a snowboard, but add a kid, and it's all of those and more. Don't miss the video HERE.

So grab a Spooner and simulate skateboard or surfing tricks or brush up on your snowboarding techniques either on or off season. The Spooner board has been designed with your kids safety in mind and I know what you’re thinking, YES it keeps your floors safe as well. It's time for the kids to be up and off the couch and while your kids are free styling on the Spooner Board, they are also improving core stability, balance, coordination and their gross-motor skills The Spooner, it may not look like much, but it's a blast!

The Spooner is available now from www.amazon.com for less than $40.00 bucks.

PRESS RELEASE

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ The Spooner – WAY More Fun Than it Looks copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Acer launches Blue Gemstone

Gadget Thumbnails for 17-Feb-2011

Posted: 17 Feb 2011 09:01 PM PST

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Gadget Thumbnails for 17-Feb-2011 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

eCoupled – Offers Power to Your Packaging

Posted: 17 Feb 2011 05:42 PM PST

I have the luxury of a home office, my husband on the other hand, trudges off to work everyday. I used to pack him a lunch, but often, he didn't eat it, thinking my culinary skills were even worse than I suspected, I decided to get to the bottom of it, it wasn't my food, the microwave at work was just so disgusting he couldn't use it… ewwww.

Well if eCoupled™ has anything to do with it he won't need to use the filthy thing ever again. eCoupled has developed intelligent wireless power that is so flexible it can actually be printed directly onto packaging. Cost effective power ON the packaging has an endless number of interesting applications, it can call attention to a product or its benefits with lights, or…drumroll please, it can be used to make self-cooking soup cups that can heat up a can of Campbell's Chunky Soup when placed on a wireless charging surface — no microwave or stovetop needed. Excellent. The implications of this powered packaging are staggering.

Wireless power integrated into this new packaging technology also works in store or at home, tracking inventory, nutritional information, or expiration dates—all from a computer or smart phone, stores can have automatic ordering and you'll have a grocery list at your fingertips for the next time you're out shopping.

Don't know how I'm going to feel about the blinking, talking and beeping special effects extravaganza thats sure to hit the store shelves, but the future is calling, it just seems to have gotten here way too fast.

Source: www.ecoupled.com

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