Transparent smartphone

Transparent anything is cool. Seriously, things that are see through automatically scream ‘futuristic’ based on all the sci-fi shows and movies that used transparent props. They sort of defy all logic, especially when technology is involved. Yet liquid crystal technology and its constant switching open and closed are being put to use to make a transparent phone possible. Which makes me wonder, will we someday lose our phones because we literally can’t see it?

A few companies, including, Polytron Technologies are working to produce a transparent smartphone. Their Smart Glass technology looks cloudy white. But when powered on the switching molecules open up and the device becomes opaque. Obviously other technology in the phone (SIM card, SD card, battery, speaker, camera) are not transparent. Polytron anticipates having an opaque filter to cover those less sexy spots. Working prototypes are expected this year and with any luck Polytron will find some interested phone manufacturers and become an OEM partner. So keep an eye out (if you can see them) for transparent phones in the near future.

Control your cell phone with a ring with the Nokia Nenya

When I saw this particular concept product from Finnish cell phone giant Nokia, I thought I was looking at some delayed April Fool’s Joke like the Google Motion. That, or someone really can’t wait for the Green Lantern movie (coming this summer).

Nokia’s Nenya ring allows the user to control their cell phone with a twist of the ring, like a magician. Speaking of magic, the name Nenya apparently is derived from a ring of power that was wielded by Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings.

Of course, there is no magic involved. In fact, the technology is as simple as mounting a magnet inside the ring. The ring can be twisted at 45 degree angles, which allow commands for about 8 different functions. So if you want to change tracks on your music program, or pause them, just give it a twist.

DARPA augmented reality goggles

For some reason, whenever I hear DARPA, I always associate it with some nifty technology that may or may not exist.

DARPA is now working on some holographic augmented reality goggles for soldiers. It is apparently designed for those who need constant air support. Apparently, if soldiers need to get that, they have to go through all sorts of radio links, and then some sort of bureaucratic nightmare until it actually comes.

Imagine if a solider could wear this special helmet and see a triangle that represents an F-16. The soldier can then just contact the plane directly, and, depending on the ordnance that the plane is carrying, air support might be given right away. Other information might be given with the help of augmented reality.

DARPA is working with several companies like Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Vuzix to make these goggles. I don’t know if you have heard of Vuzix, but they make these viewing goggles like the VR920. Vuzix plans on making these goggles about 3mm thick.

BrainDriver allows you to drive with your mind

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.

Smart Spectacles – “See” the World Through the Eyes of a Gamer

Welcome one and all, to the future, the days have arrived where the cheesy sci-fi movie scenes of yesteryear are actually coming true. Case in point, check out these new eyeglasses, you’ve seen them before, they just weren’t a reality, until now…

This SmartVision product consists of a pair of spectacles incorporating EnahancedView technology which can actually be linked to most commonly available IT sources like your mobile phone, PDA, portable DVD Player, Laptop or Netbook, and… wait for it… Video Game Consoles. Hence, these glasses let it’s users dispense with a monitor altogether, the view is in the glasses!

Soon, you might be able to cut our computers loose from monitors completely and be able to project graphical information onto your world by augmenting reality, does it get more sci-fi than this?

Later this year, Laster Technologies based in a Paris suburb, says it will be releasing its first-generation SmartVision spectacles, which will project VGA-resolution color images on the INSIDE of the glasses, powered by a smartphone or a tablet computer and connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

With ad-ons like gesture and voice command, cameras and object recognition I can honestly say I’ve seen the future… and it’s looking right back at me.

Source: www.spectrum.ieee.org

Here's a Solar-powered Rainbow Machine

Michael Jones McKean is currently working on an artificial rainbow machine, which uses reclaimed rainwater and sunlight to create rainbow effect that you see here in this picture.

Apparently, it uses some jet pumps and create fountain nozzles to spritz some water in the air, and then the sunlight shines through to create the rainbow effect as first witnessed by Noah himself.

Okay, it is time for me to get all philosophical. I realize that we live in an age where technology can often substitute for something else that nature can give, and it’s getting so it is hard to let nature be nature.

Strange Vertical Bed

Technology is about making life convenient; it lives up to that reputation especially with Strange Vertical bed. Rest while on the go!

Have you ever questioned if resting while standing was an option? Then techngology has the answer to the mystery. Strange Vertical bed totally fits the puzzle. It makes resting possible in places we only wished resting possible.

Resting is a requirement with every living human being; it goes without saying that most naturally human nature leans towards resting. Safely resting can be considered a necessity. No machinery can go on working no matter how advanced the technology without resting. Human body is no different!

Standing and waiting on the bus stand or standing in the playing field babysitting your toddlers or just sight seeing now got way easier thanks to Strange Vertical bed. Resting can be supplementary activity to anything else you are doing. Technology used in Strange Vertical bed is consumer friendly to the extent that it comes with sound killing head phones, opaque sunglasses, complimentary standing umbrella and even a built-in suitcase.

Youtube Viral Ad Campaign

A hunter ______ a bear

After a short video introduction, a hunter invites the user to suggest things he can do with a bear besides shooting it, a text field at the top of the screen offering a seemingly infinite amount of options. Type a verb into the sentence “A hunter ______ a bear” more video ensues — leading to a charming, occasionally crude branded experience.

To the campaign’s credit (perhaps because it’s European), the options for what you can suggest the bear and hunter do together include some decidedly un-Puritan suggestions befitting YouTube’s more adolescent users. Because yes, if you’re a dirty-minded human being and you plug the obvious four-letter word into the box, the expected result occurs. (I’m not dirty-minded, okay? It was a journalistic imperative.)

While it’s more fun to discover potential suggestions yourself, the page is full of comments from happy users, and while it is possible to discover the limits of what the designers of the experience have created (“sambas with,” “parties with,” and “dances with” return the same result, for example) there’s a surprising amount of variety at play.

The Tipp-Experience launched officially at the beginning of September, but it’s a testament to its evergreen quality that it feels fresh and fun even a month later. The technology is flawless, the design deceptively simple; it’s almost easy to take this sort of thing for granted.

                                                                                                                                                                    

Ninja's Unboxing 2

Remember quite some time ago a YouTube user pushed out an unboxing of the Google Nexus One done by small ninja’s? Well the same guy has done it again this time with the Google Nexus S Android 2.3 Gingerbread handset.

The Ninja’s Unboxing 2 comes out way courtesy of the guys over at Daily Mobile but the only problem is the sneaky guys has taken over the entire page for his little spout of ninjas and thus made the video un-embeddable so we don’t actually have the view for you to view onsite.

However if you want to check out those three battling ninja’s fighting over the Google Nexus S handset you can do so by visiting the PatrickBoivin YouTube page, and if you do, don’t go thinking there’s something wrong when the YouTube page starts shrinking as its all part of the effect.

You don’t get to see a great deal of the Google Nexus S in action as the action centres on the three pesky ninja’s that swing and jump all over the page, but I have to say it is cleverly done, so head on over and check out the ninja’s going after the Nexus S video…enjoy.

I can't embed it, for obvious reasons, so go check it out for yourself.

Word Lens Translates Words Inside of Images. Yes Really.

Ever been confused at a restaurant in a foreign country and wish you could just scan your menu with your iPhone and get an instant translation? Well as of today you are one step closer thanks to Word Lens from QuestVisual.

The iPhone app, which hit iTunes last night, is the culmination of 2 1/2 years of work from founders Otavio Good and John DeWeese. The paid app, which currently offers only English to Spanish and Spanish to English translation for $4.99, uses Optical Character Recognition technology to execute something which might as well be magic. This is what the future, literally, looks like.

Founder Good explains the app’s process simply, “It tries to find out what the letters are and then looks in the dictionary. Then it draws the words back on the screen in translation.” Right now the app is mostly word for word translation, useful if you’re looking to get the gist of something like a dish on a menu or what a road sign says.

At the moment the only existing services even remotely like this are Pleco, a Chinese learning app and a feature on Google Goggles where you can snap a stillshot and send that in for translation. Word Lens is currently self-funded.

Good says that the obvious steps for Word Lens’ future is to get more languages in. He’s planning on incorporating major European languages and is also thinking about other potential uses including a reader for the blind, “I wouldn’t be surprised if we did French next, Italian and since my mom is Brazilian, Portuguese.”

Says Good, modestly, “The translation isn’t perfect, but it gets the point across.” You can try it out for yourself here.

Mount Everest gets 3G connectivity

If climbing to the top of Mount Everest is one of your life’s ambitions, then might we suggest you open a Facebook or Twitter account if you haven’t done so already. After all, you can now surf the Web as well as make phone calls via a regular GSM 3G network on Everest, so that equals to another blow to satellite phones if you want to communicate with those at the bottom of the mountain (and friends elsewhere around the world). Heck, video calls as well as FaceTime conversations will also be made possible from 17,388 feet above sea level. You can also tweet your exploits or update your Facebook status right there and then, thanks to network operator Ncell of Nepal.