Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Jul 7, 2011

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

The Aid cane helps track of vital signs
The future of eyeglasses
Home Plus creates virtual grocery store at a subway station
Red Cross sets up donation points via vending machines
Lian Li Mini Tower PC-V600F chassis unveiled
Maze Racer simulates the mind
Doormat Chime lets you know there are visitors in an ingenious method

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:03 AM PDT

I think it is a huge stereotype that senior citizens don’t deal well with technology, but this tech cane can do some very helpful things.

The cane, which is known as the Aid, has a built-in navigator that provides the user directions to a certain location. So if you get lost, this cane will point the way home.

Additional features include monitors for the user’s pulse, blood pressure, as well as body temperature. These important numbers are displayed on the LCD screen on the cane’s clasp. It even has a button for sending out an SOS in case of emergency.

I suppose that we will be seeing the Aid cane on rest homes in the future. I wonder if they will have Apps. I could insert a joke here about how a typical senior citizen won’t be able to figure out this technology, but I think senior citizens of the future are going to be more tech-savvy than your grandparents.

The Aid is the design from Lithuanian designer Egle Ugintaite, for the Fujitsu 2011 design award, and it won the grand prize. I suppose that we definitely be seeing the Aid cane soon, and I am probably going to be using it in the future when I take a walk. Hopefully, my vital signs will be looking good.

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ The Aid cane helps track of vital signs copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The future of eyeglasses

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:29 AM PDT

In the future, our glasses could help us see better in a different way. I’m talking about using some electronic technology on the glasses.

Some Oxford researchers are working on some frames that have cameras mounted on the edges, along with lenses studded with lights. This allows the users with macular degeneration to see a simplified version of their surroundings. They also have some other interesting features like face detection, tracking software, position detectors, and depth sensors.

If you think this is cool, I found another concept set of eyeglasses that can do yet even more. This one is under development by Rosalind Picard of MIT and Rana el Kaliouby at the University of Cambridge, and their glasses have a tiny camera as well. The difference is that this camera has a tiny computer that will “read” someone’s expressions. It will even tell if someone is responding negatively or positively by a flash of a green or red light that only the user can see.

Yes sir, it would appear that eyeglasses are about to becomes smarter than smartphones. I can’t help but think that we are delving into unnatural territory on a Borg scale with something like this. However, these eyeglasses are both concepts for now, so we’ll let the future deal with it.

Source 1 and Source 2

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ The future of eyeglasses copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Home Plus creates virtual grocery store at a subway station

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:52 AM PDT

According to Home Plus (also known as Tesco), the Koreans are the second hardest working people in the world. I don’t know who is the first, but according to my Source, the Koreans think shopping is a real chore in their busy schedules.

Home Plus has made grocery shopping easier by putting virtual grocery store aisles in subway stations. While subway riders are waiting for the next train, they can peruse the pictures of food that are made to look just like grocery store aisles.

The only difference is that pictures of food have QR codes. A smartphone user takes picture of the product, and then pay for the items. I am guessing that payment is done through some online service. I know for sure that the actual items will be delivered to the home.

According to HomePlus, this has made them the second biggest online shopping company in Korea. People like the service, and there is food waiting for them as soon as they get home.

Is there any reason why this can’t be in subway terminals in New York City? Perhaps they already are in place, as it seems an obvious target audience for such a service like this. I wonder if there is a charge for the delivery service, or if the food is just more costly? Someone has to pay for these services.

Source

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Home Plus creates virtual grocery store at a subway station copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Red Cross sets up donation points via vending machines

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:30 AM PDT

Japan is one country where you will be able to see vending machines for just about anything and everything imaginable – within reasonable limits, of course. Forget about just food and drink being dispensed, now there are more vending machines set up in that part of the world that will require you to put in money, but nothing comes out in return save for that warm, fuzzy feeling deep down inside.

What are we talking about? Well, Coca-Cola and the Japanese Red Cross have come up with a new vending machine which allows one to donate money straight to the vending machine. The introduction of the "charity button" will make it easier for folks who want to send some cash to the Red Cross without having to flip out their credit card or send a cheque. All funds collected will be used to rebuild areas which were hardest hit by the recent disasters in the Land of the Rising Sun.

You can't just dump any amount of money though, but you are given the options of donating either ¥10 or ¥100. Of course, just like normal purchases where the buttons light up whenever you insert some dough, the machine will say "Thank you very much for the donation" loudly, without any drink being sent your way. These units are hard to miss since they have been branded with the iconic red cross, complete with images of the work that the Japan Red Cross are currently working on worldwide.

All money collected until this September will be channeled towards relief efforts of the earthquake, but once September passes, that doesn't mean these vending machines will disappear. No sir, they will remain where they are, firmly in place to continue collecting money for the Red Cross until some new policy is drawn out, I suppose.

Do you feel that some sort of incentive ought to be given in return, such as a thank you note, or a pin badge?

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Red Cross sets up donation points via vending machines copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Lian Li Mini Tower PC-V600F chassis unveiled

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Lian Li is famous for their all aluminum PC chassis, and their latest release would be the Mini Tower PC-V600F which will come in a variety of colors. We are talking about black, silver, red, and get this – an All Black. All Black is not a special edition which pays tribute to New Zealand's rugby team, but rather, it will carry that shade whether internally or externally.

Chances are those who pick up the PC-V600F will not be disappointed with the high-quality, all-aluminum computer case, as it comes with a grated front-panel design, a trio of cooling fans (where two of them will sport LED lighting), plenty of build space with hot swappable capabilities, multiple USB 3.0 ports, and anti-vibration capability. Oh yeah, as for folks who hate carrying a toolbox around, or fumble around with screwdrivers and missing screws, it is a relief to know that this PC chassis will boast of being tool-less in nature.

Remember the two 120mm LED lit fans that we talked about earlier? Well, they are located on the front-panel to pull cool air into the case, and a solitary 120mm top-panel fan will expel heated air at the back of the case. Located right below the PSU (Power Supply Unit) mount on the bottom of the case, there lies a vent that helps bring in cool air, preventing dust from getting in thanks to a washable air filter. With additional vents in the PCI brackets on the back-panel, those will aid additional thermal flow.

There will be a couple of hard drive cages that rely on thumb-screws with rubber suspension to keep your precious data repositories in place without the need for tools to assemble. Capable of holding up to five 3.5" SATA hot swappable HDDs and two 2.5" HDDs, you can also increase video card space by removing one of the HDD cages in a jiffy.

Makes us wonder whether it is going to transform into an Autobot or Decepticon when you're not looking, this.

Product Page

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Lian Li Mini Tower PC-V600F chassis unveiled copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Maze Racer simulates the mind

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 05:30 AM PDT

Sometimes, there are games that offer an element of fun, but not without having you use your grey matter too much. The £14.99 Maze Racer on the other hand, will test your nerves to the maximum. This is one addictive game that looks simple, but is far from it. You will need to tip, tilt and roll your way to victory, and with a clock to go up against, frazzled nerves are the order of the day.

You can always opt to go up against your friends or family, and for those who are more anti-social, there is another outlet to handle your nerves – by trying to beat your very own top score. The whole idea of Maze Racer is to send your marble around the maze in the fastest possible time. With obstacles such as Snake Mountain, the Dark Forest, Whirlwind Mountain and Pitfall Valley to overcome, you will need a cool head to complete it the moment the timer starts.

Hopefully the two AA batteries required to power the Maze Racer won't die off when you're on the verge of victory.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Maze Racer simulates the mind copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Doormat Chime lets you know there are visitors in an ingenious method

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 05:00 AM PDT

Most of us have long traded door-knockers for a door bell of sorts, or perhaps hang one of those classic bells that go ding-a-ling whenever a visitor is at your door. Since door bells and door chimes are dime a dozen, with most of them requiring a push of a button, or in a more passive manner, uses motion sensor technology, here is the Doormat Chime that works differently.

This security chime is hidden under the doormat itself, relying on a pressure sensitive pad that will set off one of three pleasant pre-programmed chimes. The portable bell unit has a working range of 100 feet, and can be placed just about anywhere. Other features comprise of volume control, and an optional cordless doorbell unit. The only downside that we can see? Once the trio of AAA batteries and solitary A23 battery runs out, you will need to get replacements. This is where the classic bell beats out on the $39.98 purchase.