Rufus Cuff, Wearable tethering smartphone accomplice

Earlier today Google released it's much anticipated Android Wear, an operating system for smart-watches and almost immediately announcements emerged from an assortment of technology companies, with a number of new 'wrist-wear' devices. 

Most of these devices are called smart-watches and are at most 'in-between' devices, that function in accompaniment with a smart-phone. Similarly the Rufus Cuff has emerged as a real life Star-Trekesque 'wrist communicator'

The Rufus is a wrist communicator that can pair either with an iphone or Android smartphone, The cuff has an exceptionally large screen although the band that attaches to your wrist appears to have a fairly normal looking size band!

The possibility of completely removing your identity from the internet

but, just how far into the future is impossible to determine, largely because of the exponential growth of internet compliant appliances for everyday use. Up until as recently as six years ago the only everyday consumer device that was compliant on the internet was the computer. Certainly since from the launch of Apple's iphone around 2007, a growing list of everyday consumer electronic devices are being released as connectable, or some even, dependent upon the internet and hence a legally binding identity to use and connect them.

Many if not the greater majority of them, need an online legally binding identity in order for them to even work. To name just a few of these currently internet compliant gadgets are cell phones, tablets, refrigerators, ovens, tv's, vacuum cleaners, and on the immediate horizon if not already in the consumer market motor cars.

iSketchnote: Nifty pen gadget records notes and sketches

Although the digital age is well and truly absorbed into our lives and community, there are many many writers and journalists remain using a a pad of paper and a pen or pencil. 

Simultaneously there are some pen pushers who have adopted either a digital pen or other such device to record and digitise their notes, scribblings and or doodles. These devices are by no means the most harmonious of devices between analogue and digital that justifiably satisfy all writers particularly those that use Apple products like the ipad and or Mac  computer. 

Thus an erstwhile team of developers have created an ipad cover enabling Apple centric writers and doodlers alike to digitally record their jottings. While the iSketchnote is being produced as a cover for an ipad, it can also be used with either a PC or Mac via USB.

Sweet, Light Hearted Kites dance and thrill

A gorgeous aerial ballet of a train of six high performance precision kites, flying in tandem, spin, dance, radiate and thrill to the tune of Patrick Watson's scrumptious "Lighthouse".

Google Demo's Glass Project AR Concept Eyewear

We can all surely attest to the notion of how in the last few years computers are getting smaller so much so, that smart-phones and tablets are taking over the realm of the average user. Largely speaking more people are becoming more switched onto the idea of ditching their computers since discovering their smart-phones and tablets can perform all the functions their computers did plus much more.

The iPhone and iPad provided the main sources for this switch and as we all know Apple never releases a new product until they're satisfied that it's finished, whereas Google introduces their products well before their ultimate conclusion more so as ongoing developments such as their Chrome operating system.

True to Google's intentions they have recently unveiled their concept AR (augmented-reality)  Glass Project, in which the user can control music, get directions, take pictures, give voice commands and do video chats. The glasses are really just a band that rests on the nose, so it seems like the wearer does something like look up to engage with the display, as can be seen in the following video.

Heavily conceptualised futuristic holography enabled iPad

Eagerly awaiting the release of the third version of iPad due to be released next week, iPad and Apple enthusiasts alike behave similarly to circling buzzards over an almost breathless animal.

From nigh on approximately 2 months before Apple even makes an  announcement of an upcoming product release, Apple rumour sites and bloggers trigger and enliven discussion about almost all upcoming Apple devices. Notwithstanding many an active design conceptualist add their possible future candidates.

OSX Mountain Lion Preview

Apple earlier today announced a new leaping version to its OSX system software badged Mountain Lion or 10.8 and its main purpose is to make Apple computers work and function the exact same way as either an iphone, ipad or ipod touch.  Essentially turning your computer into a great big iphone, plus more.

Mountain Lion's key feature is convergence and integration of immediate conveniences experienced, in their i-devices.

Between Lies Deception and Truth, Magic on 3 iPods Video

Magician Marco Tempest uses sleight of hand and clever timing on his three iPod Touches demonstrating  his own brand of techno-three-card Monte.

Along the way, he makes some thought-provoking points about self-deception, lies and truth, and how sometimes lies turn to truth, resulting in magic. Thanks, Marco that was way cool.

Flex-image Touch-screen display technology

A group of researchers from Osaka University, Japan recently demonstrated a new software interface in which a user fluidly scrolls and crunches up an image as the user manipulates the surface of a touch screen computer display.

The demonstration in the video below shows a researcher sweeping and swiping his fingers across a google map. Usually a map on a screen has an edge or border, but in this instance parts of the content are distorted to keep them within the screen. This allows the user to navigate within a seemingly endless or edgeless map while keeping in mind the parts of the map that were originally on the screen.



I have to admit to being somewhat confused by this new advance since it would seem to me to be a software invention rather than a whole new type of display technology. But the demonstrator says in the video:

"Because this interface can be easily added to any software, it can be used on all kinds of devices. You can use it on the iPhone and the iPod touch, and it could also be used with larger screens."

Apt iPhone controlled retractable kitchen storage island

is a terrific IKEA hack, or a motorized kitchen island that essentially hides beneath the floor when not needed and, conveniently remote controlled with his iPhone!

Tim Thaler created his magic with found IKEA boxes and hardware with custom walnut fronts built by Scherrs.

"This is my kitchen island, below is an unfinished utility/storage room. A hydraulic scissor lift is at bolted to the cement, and then a small frame is built on top of the scissor lift table. On top of that is a sub-floor, flooring, and then the island. The cabinet doors are on the other side, and have safety push button switches that kill the electricity from the Smart Home Insteon switches, and prevent it from moving when the doors are not fully closed. This lift can easily lift over 1,500lbs, so it was an important safety feature!"

The video here shows how Thaler's motorized kitchen island operates so salubriously smooth.



Its important to note, that there's no "How to do" documents since the inventor's motorized kitchen island was used with found parts, and was remarkably made for less than $1,000.

Tomorrows computer and mobile phone display concepts

Practically daily we see more and more innovative display terminals popping up. And as our computers, televisions and mobile phones get progressively smaller and thinner, display screen technology is steadily becoming reduced to a mere sheet of glass covering interfaces.

Multitouch screens and gesture panning are already with us, so the next likely steps in interface device development will likely be, transparent monitors in the bathroom and in the office, retractable phone screens, tactile feedback, flexible e-ink and LCD screens that roll out and or fold up.

The video here is the result of TAT's Open Innovation experiment, where we get to appreciate an experience within a few moments of a day in the future, using some cool gadget interfaces.



One peculiar moment in this video, is the use of a contemporary Apple keyboard and mouse, surely one would have imagined at the very least some virtual keyboards ?

"Sweet Dream" on the iPad Orchestra

People often say "Music makes the world go round" but it looks as though Music will go round the world a whole quicker now with a wifi enabled iPad. This is exemplified by Alex Shpil's video here of the iPad Orchestra playing a piece entitled "Sweet Dream" composed by Ilya Plavunov.



The quartet are using an application called Seline HD available from the iTunes store, and for your convenience here also is the introductory tutorial video for Seline HD.



The iPad may be come the tool of choice for composers and musicians who collaborate either within a studio environ or more significantly from within almost anywhere in the world to anywhere else. Nevertheless you may not be all that familiar with the iPad so here is the link to Apple's youtube channel where you can view introductory video's of the iPad as well as video's of the latest iPod products that Apple released today.

New Smart Vending Machine

With the advent of interactive touch-screen technology exponentially impregnating our daily social interactions that began with the iphone, new smart vending machines are now poised to enter the market for our highly  personalized convenience.

The video here introduces us to the smart vending machine that heat sinks our desires based on our age and gender via an an on-board camera. This new smart vending machine is powered by an embedded Intel Core processor.

These machines are controlled by a centralized server, and are equipped with sensors that recognize basic costumer information that provide suggestions alongside the list of available drinks.



Read more about the future of these machines here.

Catception: Dramatic Cat inspired by Inception

This fun video stars Bret, the super pet  and was shot with an iPhone 4 and a LED light, (creating the spooky glowing eyes effect). The music track was appropriated from the soundtrack of Inception and is 528491 by Hans Zimmer.



And while your at it I'm guessing you may like to see a short movie trailer of Inception.

Entertaining iPad game, Spider: Bryce Mansion HD

Originally released for the iPhone in 2007, Spider: Bryce Mansion HD  is an interactive puzzle game where you explore an abandoned mansion as a tiny arachnid, building webs to trap insects, has just been updated to an iPad version.

As the player clinches the insect prey, I became subtly seduced by the overall cuteness of the interface and simple yet site specific sound-designs on each level.

The person playing the game in the video doesn't appear to be the most fastidious or co-ordinated of players yet the game would likely frustrate the best of players at higher levels. Nevertheless, Spider, appears to offer appreciably clever graphics and good entertainment if only harmless timeless value !



Spider: Bryce Manor HD, iPad version ($4.99 @ iTunes store), has an exclusive single device multiplayer game mode called Sidekicks, and whatever that means, is likely to heighten your enthusiasm for it.

Ripping apart and reassembling an iPhone 4 in techie ambience

Do you remember how long ago that it was only repair people who were privy to see what was inside  gadgets and home tech boxes ?

Now its more and more commonplace to be given the opportunity to be shown how the elements in a device are built or fitted into a case or box. And this is cool since we are now no longer kept mystified about what comprises the innards of our gadgets.

Thus we are entertained by a catchy stop motion video, comprised of 1784 hi-res photographs, from a repair shop that has found a creative way to advertise itself. This is, however, no ordinary unboxing and take-apart video, since its set to a custom electronic/glitch soundtrack



Aside from this clever video, some iPhone whinges, including myself, have wondered on seeing the space for the battery and its location, as to why Apple has refrained from having a replacement battery: You to ?

Nevertheless, since your here, you may as well go see how you may be able to pick up a free ipad, from TechRestore.

Finger painting portrait of Beyonce on an iPad

Here is a cool time lapse video, documenting a digital painting of the performer Beyonce, produced with one finger on an iPad, by UK artist Kyle Lambert, using the Brushes app and 1 finger in 6 hours of work.

Multitouch Display Aquarium

Water is the most intimate material for human touch. Here we see a man playing with the surface of a large Multitouch Fish Tank at Deutsche Telekom CeBIT 2009. This rather opulent looking aquarium from q-bus enables interactivity with a computer display interface which is facilitated by tracking software through water, with the ability to play with the fish in the tank.

This appears to be an enlivening experience if only a novel one at best. Nevertheless I envisage a big market for these devices in large department stores, opera theatres, fashion conduits and stadium based convention and entertainment  centers.

The software was created by q-bus to run on an Apple Mac OS X platform. Although it may take a little while to properly load, be sure to check out their entertaining, Expanding Sphere video on the opening page of their website.

TechRestore disassembles re-assembles iPad

The first thing that strikes you about this video is the uniquely creative sound effects of this stop-motion animation tear-down treatment. It's pretty fun to watch. Apparently it only took 4 minutes of real time to pull it apart and re-build it !

Critically speaking there seems to be more than enough space within the enclosure to have a camera, an SD Card reader or a simple USB port in it, surely ?

But hey, isn't this all part and parcel of an Apple product ? Or are there production issues to be considered when building a completely new product ?

I tend to think that apple build the simplest which becomes the cheaper option available for the market, then listens to its critics and responds in the next generative model. I'd certainly be interested in reading your opinions in the comments section of this post.

Hydrofoam: One heck of a RC boat !

Oh what fun the Radio Remote Control 3-in-1 Hydrofoam looks in this video.

Wouldn't at all be surprised if you could  use  an iPhone or iPad or similar wifi gadget with it. I was surprised though that I couldn't seem to find any on-board video views ?

The 3 in 1 hydro flying remote control plane boat is built with model plastic and foam construction, super tough lightweight airframe, uses a brush-less motor and is sold with a 4 channel transmitter receiver.

See a close up image of the Hydrofoam here or go get yourself one here.