Published on September, 14th, 2011,
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The European branch of Toyota launched a concept video that imagines the future of, essentially, the car window. The video shows a girl interacting with the window as if it’s a touch-screen that interacts with passing scenery. She also draws and trace objects on the window with her finger and able to zoom in on distant subjects and tap the screen to hear a voice that tells her what she’s pointing at. Giving the child an opportunity to learn new things in a fun way while spending time in the car.
I can see this sort of thing happening in the no-so-distant future, also if Apps get introduced (similar to apps on the Apple iphone), this can have multiple practical applications, from child education to games to tour group guiding.
The video is titled ‘Window to the World’ and was launched in partnership with the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design.
http://www.psfk.com/2011/08/toyota-imagines-what-it-could-be-like-in-the-backseat.html
Published on July, 28th, 2011,
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Project Aura is a lighting system designed to keep cyclists safe who often ride at night by increasing their visibility to motorists and, hopefully, avert accidents.
The wheels are lit up by tiny LED lights and accompanying reflectors. These LED strip encircling both wheels of the bicycle. According to designers Project Aura has a larger visibility footprint from the side and that conventional reflectors doesn’t even come close.
The lights also changes color from red when slowing down to white when going faster, so motorists can respond appropriately. Project Aura is powered by a hub generator instead of batteries; all cyclists have to is pedal.
http://designtaxi.com/news/35299/Illuminated-Wheels-for-Safer-Night-Cycling/
Published on July, 26th, 2011,
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Making plastic from sugar can be just as cheap as making it from petroleum, and it’s a lot better for the environment. Dow Chemical plans to build a plant in Brazil that it says will be the world’s largest facility for making bio-based chemical products.
Most large-volume chemicals are made from petroleum. About 80 million tons of polyethylene are made annually around the world. But high oil prices have increased the costs of petrochemicals. Sugar-cane ethanol production has allowed the industry to drive down costs, making ethanol competitive with fossil fuels.
Dow Chemical is keeping costs down by handling every part of the process, from growing the sugar-cane to producing the polymers. This makes it possible, to provide energy to run the plant with biomass left over from producing sugar from sugar-cane.
http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/38114/?p1=MstRcnt
Published on May, 23rd, 2011,
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When touch-enabled computing was introduced to the world, no one could have anticipated that this technology might help open up a new world of communication, learning and social possibilities for autistic children. Yet it has.
Hacking Autism is a story of technology and hope and the difference it’s making in the lives of some people who need it most.
Hacking Autism doesn’t seek to cure autism, but rather it aims to facilitate and accelerate technology-based ideas to help give those with autism a voice.
The organization is looking for developers and people with great ideas. Head over there and see how you cant help.
http://hackingautism.org/
Published on April, 26th, 2011,
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Chromaroma as an automated check-in service for clients of the London public transport system. It takes your travel data
and turns it into a game. It makes every journey count in a competition for the city.
It tracks a range of statistics on the number of swipes of your Oyster Card (London’s public transport smart card). From that information it will make you compete on achievements, missions, places, transport type used, and even the passengers you passed as you travel through the city.
Not only is it better for the planet if we travel using public transport, but with Chromaroma it’s definitely more fun.
http://www.chromaroma.com/
