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January 26 2012
Transparent Smart Window
Click here to view the embedded video.
Displays have been on our desks for too long. Samsung makes space and introduces the Transparent Smart Window. This LCD touchscreen is powered by the sunlight shining from the outside in. During the night time when there is no light to power the device, one can switch to night mode and use an edge-lit backlight instead. Though still a prototype, the possibilities and consequenses are endless — within the frame that is.
- thanks Martijn Lammerts
November 21 2011
Nano Skin Prosthetics
Through the years we have developed a greater and greater knowledge of the human body. Next to all these developments we have also been able to develop our technology on a smaller and smaller scale. Combining these two gives us the possibility to rebuild ‘broken’ human beings. Next level prosthetics grant disabled people new abilities to run, pick things up, utilize tools and now even feel.
Using a new form of nano-skin researchers have been able to place small pressure and heat sensors across a hands surface using nanowire. While taking medical developments further and further it becomes reality to connect these sensors to our nerves and actually start feeling again.
Here is a related TED talk that discusses a new prosthetic arm for veterans.
September 25 2011
Phone camouflage
In twenty years, the mobile phone has become man’s closest utensil. Can you imagine living without this umbilical box? Too bad it’s often still a box that we hold to our ears…
Not if it’s up to the CollabCuped-shop: Its jolly Phone camouflage wraps the technology into a second skin. Hold it like if you are scribbling your cheek.
September 09 2011
Tattoo 2.0
As a child you probably had one of those temporary tattoos that come packed with over-sweetened chewing gum. It was a nice decoration, and a way to stand out. Recently researchers have brought temporary tattoos to the next level with small, flexible electronic circuits.
These electronic patches consist of tiny semiconductor circuits, and are able to stretch with the skin. Scientists from the University of Illinois have created demonstration versions of these “tattoos” using a diverse array of electronic components mounted on a thin, rubbery substrate. Possible applications include sensors, LEDs, transistors, radio frequency capacitors, wireless antennas, and conductive coils and solar cells for power.The patches are mounted on a thin sheet of water-soluble plastic and then laminated to the skin with water, just like a temporary tattoo. The circuits can also be applied directly to a temporary tattoo, hiding the appearance of the electronics.
This is an important advancement in wearable electronics. Such patches could allow us to measure brainwaves and other mental activity in an everyday setting. Currently this is only possible in a lab with a complicated helmet and a lot of wires. Imagine what else might be possible. In the near future we may be able to exchange contact information through a handshake, or finally find that mysterious six sense.
Via Physorg
August 20 2011
Physical Scrollbars
Scrollbars is a series of installations and physical scrollbar-representations created by Dutch artist Jan Robert Leegte. According to the artist, most of us consider the scrollbar to be a virtual object – but in use it triggers reactions such as frustration, which suggests a subconscious acceptance of the inherent “reality” of these objects.
August 17 2011
Swallowable Parfum
Click here to view the embedded video.
Swallowable Parfum is a digestible scented capsule that works through your own perspiration. Once absorbed, fragrance molecules are excreted through the skin’s surface. A unique odor is emanated, depending on each individual’s acclimatization to temperatures, to stress, exercise, or sexual arousal.
This utterly intimate technology is being developed by body architect Lucy McRae in a collaboration with Harvard biologist Sheref Mansy.
July 19 2011
Streetlight Trees
We all know the cellphone masts disguised as trees, created in an attempt to blend technology within the ‘natural’ landscape. Now Taiwanese scientists have created trees that could function as streetlights. They infused the leaves of Bacopa Caroliniana with gold nanoparticles which causes the chlorophyll to produce a reddish luminescence. This phenomenon is awkwardly named bio-LED by the scientists.
According to Yen Hsun Su of the Academia Sinicia and the National Cheng Kun Univerisity: ‘The bio-LED could be used to make roadside trees luminescent at night. This will save energy and absorb CO2 as the bio-LED luminescence will cause the chloroplast to conduct photosynthesis,’ This means that while the tree is ‘lit’ more CO2 is consumed from the atmosphere, therefore the glowing trees could reduce carbon emission, cut electricity costs while still lighting streets safely.
June 16 2011
It’s a plane!
Click here to view the embedded video.
By nature, man is not supposed to fly. But while we’re at it, we may as well turn it into an experience. Charles Champion, Airbus Executive Vice President Engineering, envisions a fusion of dream and technology:
“Our research shows that passengers of 2050 will expect a seamless travel experience while also caring for the environment. The Airbus Concept Cabin is designed with that in mind, and shows that the journey can be as much a voyage of discovery as the destination.”
full article: telegraph.co.uk | related article: Avatar
June 02 2011
A day made of glass
Click here to view the embedded video.
This video shows the design vision of Corning, a company that specializes in glass. Not just any glass, but glass incorporating technology, electronics and displays. And it sure shows in their videoclip. But it makes me wonder, what extra value can glass have that makes it so suitable for the future?
The video presents an endless amount of displays and huge stocks of data that all have to be organized by different systems. These systems all connect to each other and when the information is presented to the user, the user still has to make choices, such as manipulating photographs or hitting the snooze button, and organize the information on different displays and handheld devices.
Computers were invented to perform tasks faster and make life easier. Looking at this video I get the impression that this version of the future actually makes life harder by overwhelming the users with functionality. A transparent vision, but how fragile will it turn out to be?
May 16 2011
Kitten Ears – Blushing 2.0
Click here to view the embedded video.
Always wanted a pair of kitten ears to express your feelings to the world? Well, you probably never thought of that – as you have to be a Japanese genius to come up with such an idea – but now that you’ve seen them you crave for some kitten ears to communicate your feelings to the outer world.
According to the designers of Neurowear.net, the kitten ears convey your feelings by responding to your brainwaves. The ears should go up when you concentrate and down when you relax. Think of it as blushing 2.0. How that brainwave–feelings–ears mapping is exactly algorithmically defined is currently still unclear to us. This could result in some confusing communicative behavior, which wouldn’t matter that much as it would be very kitten like anyhow. Smart.
Thanks Mattheus Swinkels.
March 29 2011
Voodoo Phone
Japanese professor Hiroshi Ishiguro from Osaka University has quite a track record of threading the uncanny valley. Remember his Doppelgänger Robot and Geminoid Female? His current proposal brings new dimensions to mobile communications: Humanoid dimensions.
Although our human body language is one the most effective and natural channels for communication, it plays no role in mobile communication so far. Hence Hiroshi Ishiguro teamed up with NTT Docomo and Qualcomm to develop a humanoid shaped phone, called Elfoid, which adds an element of realism to long-distance communication by recreating the physical presence of a remote person.
The fleshy urethane skinned prototype has a deliberate genderless and ageless appearance, as this should allow for the projection of the personality of any caller. Equipped with a camera and motion-capture system, the Elfoid phone will be able to watch the user’s face and transmit motion data to another Elfoid phone, which should then reproduce the face and head movements in real-time.
The Elfoid phone immediately reminded us of the voodoo communication device for lovers, conceptualized by Yu Yu Chien some years ago. Although some of the negative connotations of voodoo are better avoided, projecting a remote person in a hand held doll, has proven to provide for a powerful psychological effect. Contrary to many of Ishiguro’s earlier humanoids the Elfoid phone combines human realism with a strong symbolic quality that could turn out to be a winning team.
The developers hope to have a fully operational Elfoid phone within five years, so now you can already anticipate what your iPhone 8 will look like.
March 20 2011
Voodoo Phone
Japanese professor Hiroshi Ishiguro from Osaka University has quite a track record of threading the uncanny valley. Remember his Doppelgänger Robot and Geminoid Female? His current proposal brings new dimensions to mobile communications: Humanoid dimensions.
Although our human body language is one the most effective and natural channels for communication, it plays no role in mobile communication so far. Hence Hiroshi Ishiguro teamed up with NTT Docomo and Qualcomm to develop a humanoid shaped phone, called Elfoid, which adds an element of realism to long-distance communication by recreating the physical presence of a remote person.
The fleshy urethane skinned prototype has a deliberate genderless and ageless appearance, as this should allow for the projection of the personality of any caller. Equipped with a camera and motion-capture system, the Elfoid phone will be able to watch the user’s face and transmit motion data to another Elfoid phone, which should then reproduce the face and head movements in real-time.
The Elfoid phone immediately reminded us of the voodoo communication device for lovers, conceptualized by Yu Yu Chien some years ago. Although some of the negative connotations of voodoo are better avoided, projecting a remote person in a hand held doll, has proven to provide for a powerful psychological effect. Contrary to many of Ishiguro’s earlier humanoids the Elfoid phone combines human realism with a strong symbolic quality that could turn out to be a winning team.
The developers hope to have a fully operational Elfoid phone within five years, so now you can already anticipate what your iPhone 8 will look like.
Via PinkTentacle, IEEE Spectrum.
June 17 2010
Physical Scrollbars
Scrollbars is a series of installations and physical scrollbar-representations created by Dutch artist Jan Robert Leegte. According to the artist, most of us consider the scrollbar to be a virtual object – but in use it triggers reactions such as frustration, which suggests a subconscious acceptance of the inherent “reality” of these objects.
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