Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Mar 5, 2011

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Someone taught a Robot Seal to shoot a basketball with a 99 percent success rate
Green Goose is like playing Second Life, the first time
Add smells to your list of video game peripherals
SWATS – Wearable Gunfire Detection
The Video Surveillance Clock Sees All
Gadget Thumbnails for 03-Mar-2011
Flexdex illuminated skateboards
Check out this Matryomin orchestra
Jetpack and skis are going uphill fast

Someone taught a Robot Seal to shoot a basketball with a 99 percent success rate

Posted: 04 Mar 2011 05:04 PM PST

Say hello to Paro, the Japanese robotic seal. It is the creation of some roboticists at National Chiao-Tung University in Taiwan.

Even though a robot seal would be pretty interesting, this is just a robot arm dressed up to look like a seal. For some reason, they made it so the arm/seal can shoot baskets.

After all, who wouldn’t want to train a real seal to shoot a basket? I mean, we teach them to balance balls on their noses, but stray away from the idea of seals playing professional sports. This seal can shoot a basket with a 99 percent success rate. Yes, that is quite good. You can watch more in the video after the jump.

I’m not talking about a 99 percent successful shooting statistic derived from a stationary place. The creators of robo-seal have developed some sort of basekt that moves around and can even change its angle. The seal gets it almost every time.

You might be wondering how it does this amazing feat. Apparently, there are cameras that can detect the placement of the backboard and can calculate what kind of throw is needed for a good swoosh.

So, what’s our next move? Do we remake Air Bud with Paro the seal. I don’t see why not. Everything is being remade anyhow, and we could save a bundle on special effects.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Someone taught a Robot Seal to shoot a basketball with a 99 percent success rate copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Green Goose is like playing Second Life, the first time

Posted: 04 Mar 2011 04:41 PM PST

One of the reasons why people enjoy playing video games is because actions are often met with immediate rewards. Even if that reward is a useless virtual trophy or a few more points, it seems like more than what life gives us at times.

I believe that the purpose of the GreenGoose system is to make it so the deeds we do in life get some sort of reward. The starter kit has this egg-shaped sensor that is designed to take input from various other accessories For example, there is a credit card sized pedometer, a toothbrush monitor, and stickers with mini accelerometers for detection motion.

The point is that items with these accessories will detect when you use them. From this daily routine, the user will get “lifestyle points” that can be tracked on the company’s website. Points accrue for intensity and consistency.

It’s like someone has turned your life into a video game, and you’re the one behind the controller. I would have to say that this is definitely designed for those who need a little more external motivation. By the way, the name GreenGoose comes from the device’s original purpose, which was to make people more environmentally conscious.

I don’t have any information from my Source on what sort of batteries it needs, but the GreenGoose starter kit is $24.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Green Goose is like playing Second Life, the first time copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Add smells to your list of video game peripherals

Posted: 04 Mar 2011 04:21 PM PST

We live in an age where video games are getting more an more interactive. The Nintendo Wiimote, the PS3 Move, and the XBox 360 Kinect have taught us to get off of the couch, but besides 3D, how can gamers get more into their game?

The answer might lie in olfactory interface devices. At the Game Developer’s Conference (GDC) this week, two companies (Sensory Acumen and Scent Science) had their individual devices out on display.

Like a console or handheld gaming device, these scent devices need individual cartridges. These cartridges, for lack of a better word, contain oils that emit a certain odor when heated. At the appropriate part in the game, they will spray the scent in the air.

My Source uses burning rubber for a racing game. I have to admit, that is very excellent idea. But what if you are playing a game like Dead Space? I can imagine the smell of all the aliens can’t be too pleasant. I suppose that the foul stench of an alien might increase the excitement of an imminent attack, but do you really want to play a game that you have to pause in order to open your windows?

Anyway, if this ever does get underway, these units would connect to an ordinary USB port. They would probably run about $60 to $70.

Source

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Add smells to your list of video game peripherals copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

SWATS – Wearable Gunfire Detection

Posted: 04 Mar 2011 07:19 AM PST

Last year, in Afghanistan alone, enemy shooters have killed or wounded more than 4,500 U.S. troops. Enemy fire has been particularly difficult to pinpoint, because the shooters fire from hills, mountains, rocks or villages. Any inability to determine an exact location, costs countless lives.

Enter SWATS (Shoulder-Worn Acoustic Targeting System) a $2,000 device that's about the size of a wallet, weighs less than a pound, and contains technology that can detect shock waves emanating from a gun blast. SWATS can detect the origin of incoming fire in less than one second. When a shot is taken at troops, the device provides them with an audio warning and a read-out with range and compass bearing. QinetiQ North America developed SWATS in response to concerns about the high toll of small arms fire on military forces. Thousands of these high-tech devices are being given to combat troops in Afghanistan and Iraq to help stop this major source of casualties.

The technology isn't really all that new, vehicle-mounted detectors have been used for years in war, and even the police in some U.S. cities have used the technology mounted to towers in high crime areas. The Army had also tried mobile versions before, but determined that they needed more testing.

The U.S. Army selected SWATS for its Individual Gunfire Detection System program with an initial order for 13,500 units. The U.S. Marine Corps also selected SWATS for its Man Wearable Gunfire Detection System program with an order for over 900 units and training support. In addition to the U.S. military, SWATS has also been deployed with allied forces. Of course being the sap that I am, I would just prefer if they developed bullets that didn’t hurt anybody, maybe just stun them until they all come to their senses. But thats just me.

Source: www.qinetiq-na.com

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ SWATS – Wearable Gunfire Detection copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The Video Surveillance Clock Sees All

Posted: 04 Mar 2011 05:17 AM PST

In this day and age, we have the ability to know everything that's going on in our lives, even when you're not there. With the advent of the surveillance camera, we have become privy to whats happening in our streets and shops, or even what our kids are up to while they're at pre-school. Parking lots, airports, the grocery store, somebody is always watching us. It got me to wondering, whats going on in my house when I'm not home.

Not that I don't trust my husband, but I know I'm not the only one who wonders whats going on when I'm not looking, so in order to "catch" my husband telling people on the phone how wonderful I am, or walking around the house muttering to himself how much he misses me while hugging my pillow (hey, it's my story, I'll tell it the way I want to!) I'm thinking about the Video Surveillance Clock.This small (2 3/4″ Diam. x 3/4″ D ) analog clock has a built-in, motion-activated video surveillance camera that records both audio and video and takes photographs too, it's just perfect for checking out the action in a room or office.

The image sensor captures 720 x 480 resolution video in a 62º angle from nine feet away while its sensitive microphone picks up sound from 16′ away. It can also take photographs at 1,280 x 960 resolution.

Included is a 4 GB microSD card that will store up to six hours of AVI video or 52,000 JPG images, it also supports up to an 8 GB microSD card. You can download all the heartwarming content you want to your computer and its rechargeable lithium battery is recharged via USB port and included cable. Compatible with Windows 7, Vista, XP, and Mac. At the very least I'll find out how the cat keeps turning on the water in the kitchen.

Available from hammacher.com for $159.00 bucks.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ The Video Surveillance Clock Sees All copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Gadget Thumbnails for 03-Mar-2011

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:01 PM PST

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Gadget Thumbnails for 03-Mar-2011 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Flexdex illuminated skateboards

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 10:00 PM PST

These days, pretty much anything can be made to look cool with the application of some LED lighting. Of course, some might think that this tech is too “flashy”.

Whatever your viewpoint, I suppose that we have the renewed success of Tron and the long-awaited sequel Tron Legacy to thank for this LED accessorizing. We covered some gaming controllers from PDP that looked quite cool with them, so why not skateboards?

This is why Flexdex made of translucent wheels, a clear as glass polycarbonate frame, and strips of LED lights that need to be powered by 9-volt batteries.

My Source does not say how long the batteries will last. In all honesty, I just don’t know how long they can last if you are giving your board a thrashin’ on your ride. Man, am I out of touch with the skateboarding community.

I suppose that we are going to see a lot of skate parks open at night now that these skateboards glow in the dark. What am I talking about? Most skateboarders hit the skate parks after hours whether they are open or not. I mean, I guess so. Once again, I am out of touch with the skateboarding community.

The Clear29 LT longboard will sell for about $199 in colors of electric blue, red, green, orange, and white.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Flexdex illuminated skateboards copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Check out this Matryomin orchestra

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:32 PM PST

Did you ever see something so unusual, that you just had to stare at it, like a spectator at an auto accident?

Well, let’s see what we have in the video after the jump:

1) Many attractive women in evening dresses that seem quite overdressed.
2) They are all wearing stethoscopes.
3) They are all holding matryoshka dolls, big ones.
4) They are playing a theremin like instrument by signing with their hands.

Yeah, Just one of those four things might succeed in capturing my attention, and the video has all of it. This is a demonstration of the Matryomin device, and it was created in 2000 by Masami Takeuchi.

I am surprised that I haven’t seen this before. After all, it is so odd that it borders on comical. You know, I can just see some show like America’s Funniest Videos try and show this footage and insert a laugh track. Personally, I think that would be in bad taste.

Man, I wonder if this group (that is known as Mable) can do the theme to Star Trek. Hey, I got an idea, is there a way that we can open up the doll, and make notes for higher octaves, or something. That would be very cool.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Check out this Matryomin orchestra copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Jetpack and skis are going uphill fast

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:02 PM PST

I haven’t been skiing in a long time, but if you’ve never been, it can often be twenty percent going downhill and eighty percent waiting or riding on a chairlift.

Of course, ski-lifts are a necessary evil, because it is impossible to ski uphill. This wasn’t good enough for Troy Harman, who realized that a jetpack is the best way to get up those hills.

The ski jetpack uses two engines from a decommissioned military UAV, and they propel him up the slopes at about 47 mph. Feel free to watch a video after the jump to see his ski-camera.

For those who have never heard of Troy Harman, you should know that he is an “all around stunt stud and extreme sports junkie”. This man jumps out of exploding planes, as well as jumping out of a plate glass window on the 37th floor of an office tower.

Okay, now is the time where someone needs to figure out how to make one of these jetpacks for skiers. Can you imagine an age where ski-lifts are a thing of the past, and skiers just zip uphill as fast as they go downhill?

Yeah, that’s probably Jetsons-era technology, but that certainly would be fun. Just watch out for skiers going the other way as you go down or up?