Ecotricity Greenbird -- World's Fastest Wind Powered Vehicle

clipped from www.greenbird.co.uk The Ecotricity Greenbird smashes world speed record!! On the morning of March 26th, 2009 on the 'dry' Lake Ivanpah, The Greenbird - driven by British engineer Richard Jenkins - smashed the world land speed record for wind powered vehicles. The Greenbird clocked 126.1 mph (202.9 km/h) , eclipsing the old, American held, record of 116 mph, set by Bob Schumacher in the Iron Duck in March 1999 at the same location. clipped from www.dailymail.co.uk British engineer blows away land speed record for wind-powered vehicles after 10-year quest Record-breaker: The Greenbird clocked up 126.1mph clipped from www.youtube.com clipped from www.greenbird.co.uk About The Greenbird Two vehicles - for land and ice - powered only by wind. The Greenbird is two vehicles: a land craft and an ice craft, powered only by the wind. The project's aim is to break both the land and ice world speed records. The crafts' design achieves staggering efficiency. It enables the land craft to travel at between 3 & 5 times the real wind speed, depending on the surface traction. More on the craft & how it works.

LiV Rush an all-electric lithium battery powered sports car

clipped from thefutureofthings.com LiV Rush – All Electric Sports Car EV Innovations, a Las Vegas manufacturer of plug-in, battery powered vehicles, has developed the LiV Rush, an all-electric lithium battery powered sports car capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. The LiV Rush is able to travel over 150 miles without recharging and is capable of reaching speeds up to 110 mph. With zero emissions, quick acceleration, and edgy design appeal, combined with the capability for 2500+ recharges of its battery, the LiV Rush is a high performance, green option. clipped from hybridtechnologies.com LiV™ RUSH Dream Dynamics clipped from hybridtechnologies.com LiV™ RUSH Performance Speed: 110 mph (177 km/h) Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds Range: 150 miles (250 km) Charge Time: 8 hours (110-120V or 220-240V) Cycle Life: 2500+ full charges LCD Touch Screen: Vehicle operations monitor - miles remaining, power consumption, each cells' level of charge, battery temperature, drive time, distance traveled, and average speed. clipped from hybridtechnologies.com Lithium Power Advanced Drive System Technology

The Hotelicopter (update)

clipped from www.techeblog.com Hotelicopter: The First and Only Flying Hotel Based on the Soviet-made Mil V-12, the Hotelicopter is the world's first and only flying hotel. Featuring all the amenities you'd expect "from a 5-star hotel -- from private entertainment systems and room service to extras like spa treatments, yoga classes, gaming and a tea garden." clipped from www.bornrich.org The Hotelicopter flying hotel sets new standards in luxury travel Designed with the sophisticated, affluent traveler in mind, the Hotelicopter has 18 lavish rooms for people on the hunt for a truly unique inimitable travel experience. Each soundproofed room comes with a queen-sized bed, fine linens, a mini-bar, coffee machine, wireless internet access, flatscreen TVs and a range of amenities you’d look for in a flying five star hotel. clipped from hotelicopter.com clipped from hotelicopter.com First Flight Photos of the first test flight of the Hotelicopter. Everything went great, and Captain Fishman can’t wait to put her through her paces in preparation of her maiden voyage in the summer. clipped from hotelicopter.com clipped from hotelicopter.com clipped from hotelicopter.com Accommodations clipped from hotelicopter.com clipped from hotelicopter.com clipped from hotelicopter.com

Update Mar-31-2009: Hotelicopter an April Fools Joke ...

Clipped from: Heli-hoax: Beware the First of April - BusinessWeek

Heli-hoax: Beware the First of April

UPDATE: Boing Boing Gadgets has confirmed that the Hotelicopter is not real but a viral publicity campaign for a chain of airport mini-hotels.

Commuter Cars Tango: World's Fastest Urban Car

clipped from en.wikipedia.org Commuter Cars Tango The Tango is an ultra-narrow electric sports car initially designed and built by Commuter Cars, an American company based in Spokane, Washington, that sells this car worldwide for $108,000. clipped from www.commutercars.com Introducing the high performance, road-hugging, ultra-narrow Tango Meet the Tango Introducing the world's fastest urban car clipped from www.commutercars.com Studio clipped from www.commutercars.com clipped from www.commutercars.com Adventures clipped from www.commutercars.com clipped from www.commutercars.com Parking clipped from www.commutercars.com clipped from www.commutercars.com Miscellaneous clipped from www.commutercars.com clipped from www.commutercars.com clipped from xprizecars.com Background and Details The first prototype was shown at EVS17 in 2002 Electric air conditioning (12kW) and heating (3kW) They have an excellent Cost per Mile table which includes the costs of replacing the batteries - very educational. Racing seatbelts - 4 point harness Car is built around a roll cage The batteries are very low in the car, giving it excellent stability (a 5-star NHTSA rating) despite its narrowness References: Commuter Cars Gallery CostPerMile Wikipedia EVWorld_VideoInterview CarType

WOW Lab

clipped from www.wowlab.net wowlab clipped from www.mcgill.ca The WOW Lab, a new initiative in elementary and high school level science education, was launched at McGill on Monday, September 17, 2007, with a ceremony to thank Imperial Oil for its generous founding donation. (View the presentation.) The project will develop three-dimensional science and math teaching technologies to enable schoolteachers to teach science with the highest levels of student excitement, amazement and amusement, resulting in higher motivation, interest and increased learning. clipped from www.youtube.com The Awesome Levitating Train A short film that shows our levitating train. This model maglev train uses superconductors and magnets to float above the track. The film also features an animation segment explaining the physics that makes it work. clipped from www.wowlab.net Light Rain A rain of light that showers down clipped from www.youtube.com clipped from www.wowlab.net Passage clipped from www.youtube.com

Telepresence Dining

clipped from www.youtube.com The Telepresence Dining Experience of the Future - Polycom A video from Polycom showing the direction and potential of telepresence. clipped from www.dvetelepresence.com DVE Tele-Immersion Room The patented DVE Tele-Immersive RoomTM is the world’s most realistic group-teleconferencing experience where the conferees appear in the 3D space of the room. After analysis of total needs of corporations for their high-end communications requirements, DVE created the DVE-Tele Immersion RoomTM that provides: True augmented reality conferencing Eye level mounted camera behind the image Full presentation environment Fully immersive where the imaged people can be seen sitting and standing in the physical room High end digital cinema Stunning corporate marketing tool with recorded presentation for visiting clients Volumetric 3D visualization of 3D objects up to 9 feet wide floating in air Optional stereoscopic 3D visualization

Tata Nano -- World's cheapest car

clipped from en.wikipedia.org Tata Nano The Tata Nano is a rear-engined, five-passenger city car built by Tata Motors, aimed primarily at the Indian market. It was first presented at the 9th annual Auto Expo on 10 January 2008, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India.[4] Tata Motors will begin sales of the car in July 2009, as the company targets motorcycle buyers wanting to trade up to four wheels. [5] clipped from wheels.blogs.nytimes.com Tata Nano Launched in Mumbai The scrum around the Tata Nano when it was introduced on Monday. Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, at the introduction. clipped from www.youtube.com Ultra-cheap Tata Nano Launch clipped from news.bbc.co.uk World's cheapest car is launched "I think we are at the gates of offering a new form of transport to the people of India and later, I hope, other markets elsewhere in the world," Mr Tata added. The basic model has no airbags, air conditioning, radio, or power steering. However, more luxurious versions will be available. A slightly bigger European version, the Nano Europa is due to follow in 2011, and is expected to cost nearer to £4,000. clipped from tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com clipped from tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com clipped from tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com clipped from tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com clipped from www.youtube.com

Philips Emotion Jacket

clipped from www.geek.com Philips Electronics experiment with movie emotion jacket As we slowly move to digital projectors in movie theaters, and film makers start to experiment with 3D more, other ways of enhancing our movie watching experience are be considered. This week at the World Haptics Conference 2009 Philips Electronics are demonstrating one such experiment that takes the form of a jacket. clipped from www.worldhaptics2009.org Third Joint EUROHAPTICS CONFERENCE and SYMPOSIUM ON HAPTIC INTERFACES FOR VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT AND TELEOPERATOR SYSTEMS clipped from www.spectrum.ieee.org A motor-studded haptics jacket can run a chill up your spine The jacket contains 64 independently controlled actuators distributed across the arms and torso. The actuators are arrayed in 16 groups of four and linked along a serial bus; each group shares a microprocessor. The actuators draw so little current that the jacket could operate for an hour on its two AA batteries even if the system was continuously driving 20 of the motors simultaneously.

Mosquito laser gun

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk Mosquito laser gun offers new hope on malaria AMERICAN scientists are making a ray gun to kill mosquitoes. Using technology developed under the Star Wars anti-missile programme, the zapper is being built in Seattle where astrophysicists have created a laser that locks onto airborne insects. clipped from www.geekologie.com Mar 17 2009Scientists Build Mosquito-Killing Laser Beam clipped from blog.wired.com 'Star Wars' Gurus Create Insect Death Beam clipped from www.cnn.com 'Star Wars' scientists create laser gun to kill mosquitoes The laser, which has been dubbed a "weapon of mosquito destruction" fires at mosquitoes once it detects the audio frequency created by the beating of its wings. The laser beam then destroys the mosquito, burning it on the spot. Developed by some of the astrophysicists involved in what was known as the "Star Wars" anti-missile programs during the Cold War, the project is meant to prevent the spread of malaria. clipped from www.youtube.com Starwars Musquito Defense System English Version Groen Brothers commercial spoof of an anti-mosquito laser system

The iStick a mini multi-media device

clipped from www.yankodesign.com Designer Alexei Mikhailov isn’t out to convince people his iStick concept is the perfect mobile convergence device. In fact he clearly points out the iStick isn’t for viewing movies and the screen is too small for effective photo viewing. What it does have is a visual replication of the iPhone/Touch space inside a device the size of a lipstick tube. clipped from sparkingtech.com Sparking Tech Dedicated to cutting-edge technology, gadgets, and science. iStick - a fusion of iPhone and iPod shuffle The iStick is modeled after a tube of lipstick. However, all four sides have a touchscreen providing for a slick interface. While the device isn’t for movie or photo viewing, it would be perfect for listening to music. It’s small, light, and has the same great interface as an iPhone. The iStick would also have Coverflow to let you scroll through album covers for an added effect. WiFi is also built in to browse iTunes. clipped from www.behance.net Alexei Mikhailov Istick clipped from www.behance.net clipped from www.gearcrave.com To complete the dream device, the earbuds are wireless

Dancing Robot

clipped from robots.net Robot Analyzes Music then Dances An interesting project going on at the LIACC artificial intelligence lab and INESC Porto in Portugal is connecting the open-source Marsyas music analysis engine with a LEGO NXT-based robotic platform. The result is a mobile robot that attempts to dance to the musical beat and patterns - complete with spinning skirt. clipped from paginas.fe.up.pt Towards an Interactive Framework for Robot Dancing Applications clipped from marsyas.sness.net Marsyas (Music Analysis, Retrieval and Synthesis for Audio Signals) is an open source software framework for audio processing with specific emphasis on Music Information Retrieval applications. It has been designed and written by George Tzanetakis (gtzan@cs.uvic.ca) with help from students and researchers from around the world. Marsyas has been used for a variety of projects in both academia and industry. clipped from mindstorms.lego.com What is NXT? Learn more about the inner workings of the new NXT product and what it can do!

MSI Funtoro FunStar Car Entertainment ALL-in-One System

clipped from www.computex.biz Funtoro FunStar Standard System, Enrich the Life-Style in Vehicle! Taipei, Taiwan (March 6th, 2009) - Funtoro Inc., a member of MSI (Micro-Star International) Group, presents "FunStar Standard" solution for automobile at CeBIT 2009. Funstar Standard is a cost-effective system integrated with digtal TV and GPS navigation for car entertainment and supports 3 monitors with touch-screen control. clipped from gadgetsblog.org clipped from global.msi.com.tw 1.Complete Built-in Functions -GPS Navigation system -Mobile TV、Gaming、Media player -AUX-IN (External A/V Input, Ex: CD/VCD/DVD changer, 2-DIN AV OUT) 2.Triple Zone playback 3.Easy to Use -Integrated TOUCH HMI -Optional Remote controller 4.Patented "Never Stop" Technology -Auto Recovery (Watchdog) -Dual Boot -Last Good (Memorizes every passenger's fun moment, and automatically resume the last playing point upon system power-on) 5.Intelligent peripheral integrations -Rear view camera -Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) -Car information by OBDII 6.Integrated Language Learning System

Dolphin Bubbles

clipped from www.dailymail.co.uk Video: Playful dolphins astound trainers by blowing perfect bubble rings underwater SeaWorld has revealed amazing footage of dolphins blowing bubble rings out of their blowholes. They are captured blowing puffs of air and angling their heads so that they rise in a straight line thereby creating the perfect circles. clipped from www.youtube.com clipped from www.youtube.com Intelegent Dolphins Playing with Bubbles This Video shows our mates the Dolphins mucking around with bubbles they form themselves through their blow holes. I see these blokes swimming around while out in the boat all the time but to head under into their world and see some of the stuff they get up to just makes you love them even more. Its hard to imagine that Japan herds thousands of these little champs into a bay every year and then murders them just for a feed. Good one Japan! clipped from www.youtube.com Dolphin play bubble rings

TASER XREP -- eXtended Range Electronic Projectile.

clipped from www.newscientist.com Wireless Tasers extend the long arm of the law The Taser XREP is an electrically charged dart that can be fired from up to 20 metres away with a 12-gauge shotgun. Upon impact, its barbed electrodes penetrate a victim's skin, discharging a 20-second burst of electricity to "distract, disorient and entice the subject to grab the projectile", says Taser. But grabbing the dart routes the shock through the hand, making it difficult to let go and spreading the pain further. Commercial production of the XREP is due to start later this month, with US police departments and the US military expected to be using the weapons by the end of 2009. clipped from www.taser.com TASER XREP clipped from www.youtube.com TASER XREP (extended range electronic projectile) clipped from www.youtube.com Video of XREP Wireless Taser Shotgun clipped from www.taser.com clipped from www.taser.com In today’s world, maintaining self-confidence involves the need for self-protection. For independent, self-reliant women, the TASER® C2 is an effective personal protection device that fits any lifestyle. clipped from www.taser.com

Intel -- Programmable Matter

clipped from www.tomshardware.com Intel's Vision of Programmable Matter A new video report by CNN reveals a very interesting concept being explored by researchers at Intel known as "programmable matter". clipped from www.intel.com Programmable Matter: Computers that Change Shape Intel researchers are also investigating how millions of tiny micro-robots, called catoms, could build shape-shifting materials. If used to replace the case, display and keyboard of a computing device, this technology could make it possible for a device to change physical form in order to suit the specific way you are using it. A mobile computer, for example, could be tiny when in a pocket, change to the shape of an earpiece when used as a mobile phone, and be large and flat with a keyboard for browsing the Internet or watching a movie. clipped from www.youtube.com

World's First Wireless Monitor

clipped from www.itechnews.net Asus EzLink Series Wireless LCD and VH192C, VH196 Green LCD Displays clipped from www.itechnews.net Asus, introduces the new EzLink series wireless LCD monitor. Unlike conventional displays, the EzLink series connects using Wireless Host Controller Interface (WHCI) or USB Host Wire Adapter (HWA) via USB cable. clipped from www.electronista.com ASUS show wireless, eco-conscious monitors Users have the option of connecting displays to their host computers via a Wireless Host Controller Interface (WHCI) or Wireless USB Host Wire Adapter (HWA), reportedly without any degradation of quality compared to conventional wired displays. clipped from www.asus.com ASUS Unveils Smart and Energy-Saving Displays for Work and Entertainment at CeBIT 2009 A Myriad of Innovative Display Solutions and the World’s First Wireless Monitor Amongst Highlights at CeBIT 2009

Touch, Taste and Smell Virtual Reality

clipped from www.telepresenceoptions.com Researchers Want to Add Touch, Taste and Smell to Virtual Reality A group of British researchers have developed a design for a virtual "cocoon" that will provide a virtual sensory experience that will include not only sight and hearing but smell, taste, and touch. The virtual reality helmet titillates all five body senses while viewers sit at home on their sofas The headset is being worked on by scientists at a number of British universities clipped from www.dailymail.co.uk Revealed: The headset that will mimic all five senses and make the virtual world as convincing as real life clipped from blog.wired.com "The crucial thing for 'real virtuality' is that it will hit all five senses in a highly realistic manner," said Alan Chalmers, a professor at the University of Warwick Digital Lab. "You can't ignore the crossmodal effect. We need to have smell, we need to have taste."

Amex Photo Frame Printer

clipped from thefutureofthings.com Amex Photo Frame Printer Amex Digital recently announced the release of SP-7, its 7-inch digital photo frame which includes an integrated photo printer. At a list price of $199 the SP-7 will let you view photos, watch movies with sound, and print out 4” x 6” photographs. With speakers built into the frame, you can also play MP3 audio files to while your photos are displayed in slide show mode. clipped from www.amexdigital.com Features 1. High Quality Photo Printer 2. 7 inches 16:9 TFT color LCD 3. Resolution 800 x 480 4. Card Reader Type MS/MMC/SD/XD/CF 5. File Formats Supported JPG/AVI/Mpeg1,2,4/MP3 6. USB Host 7. USB Device 8. Slide Show 9. Speakers 10. Music & Video Playback 11. Adjustable Brightness 12. Remote Control 13. Power Adapter clipped from thefutureofthings.com TFOT has previously covered stories on wireless picture frames, including the world's first wireless frame. Other related stories include 3-D printing on demand, and FujiFilm’s 3-D digital photo frames.

Sliding house

clipped from vimeo.com Sliding house clipped from www.drmm.co.uk clipped from latemag.com "The brief was simple: to build a house to retire to in order to grow food, entertain and enjoy the East Anglia landscape. The outcome was as unconventional as they come." clipped from www.youtube.com clipped from picocool.com London architects dRMM have designed a house with mobile walls and roof that can be moved to cover and uncover parts of the dwelling. The house, in Suffolk, England, features a sliding structure that fits over the static main house, guest annexe and greenhouse. The mobile element, which is 28 metres long and weighs 50 tons, move along rails set into the ground. As it moves, the sliding element creates shifting outdoor living areas between the static elements as well as altering views, lighting conditions and the sense of enclosure inside the house.” clipped from www.homedesignfind.com

Audi Shark

clipped from www.carbodydesign.com Audi Shark Concept The Audi Shark is a futuristic flying concept vehicle with a streamlined design inspired by motorcycles and airplanes. It was designed by Kazim Doku and won the Desire Competition by Domus Academy. The Shark Concept by Kazim Doku reinterprets the Audi's design language in a futuristic way. It placed first in the Desire Design Competition launched in 2008 by Italian Domus Academy. clipped from www.carbodydesign.com clipped from www.youtube.com clipped from www.trendsnow.net