TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities » Curious Technology

Earn $25,000 Completing A Space Mission to Titan [Craigslist Ad Offers $25,000 For Astronaut, But There’s A (Fairly Big) Catch]

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:16:22 +0000

If you’ve ever wanted to venture into space but have nerves of steel you may be interested in an ad that’s appeared on Craigslist seeking ‘someone unique’ who’s interested in taking a trip to Titan for a cool $25,000 – but there’s slight a catch (isn’t there always).
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WiFi-enabled Bathroom Scale to Scare the Overweight [Withings Connected Scale Stores Your Weight Online, Available in the US, Beware]

Alex Ion — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:42:20 +0000

Those who’re looking for a way to track their weight have a new piece of technology to do with, now that the humble bathroom scale has been taken to a whole new level. Created by the creative folks from Withings, what you’re looking at is a stylish Wi-Fi enabled bathroom scale that makes sure it remembers things that you’d rather forget. Meaning that it automatically registers weight, fat and BMI calculation, and stores everything online.

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Mind Flex Telekinetic Obstacle Course [Use Brainwaves to Maneuver Foam Balls Through Various Obstacles, Combines Manchurian Candidate and Fun]

Robert Lesher — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:20:01 +0000

Are you looking for a way to improve your telekinetic abilities while having fun at the same time? I can’t even begin to count how many times I have asked myself that very same question. After all, who wouldn’t want to increase their chances of being able to read thoughts or mentally manipulate people, right? Well, now you can work on honing those increasingly important skill sets by using one of the latest product introductions from Hammacher-Schlemmer, the Mind Flex Telekinetic Obstacle Course. (more…)

Hitachi Intros Biometric Vending Machine [Finger Vein Patterns Allow for Cashless Transactions]

Robert Lesher — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:42:44 +0000

The Japanese love their vending machines. Their country has taken the automatic dispensing of everything from electronics to underwear to a level not seen in most other countries and when you couple this with their almost unnatural love for electronics, you get Hitachi’s latest invention, the Biometric Vending Machine. (more…)

ClimbStation Portable Motorized Mountain Face [Adjustable Inclines and Handholds Without a Safety Harness]

Robert Lesher — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:30:33 +0000

If you are crazy enough to be into rock climbing and the like, it helps to have somewhere to hone your skills. And if you aren’t within easy access of a mountain this can prove quite challenging. Leave it up to the Finns to come up with something so insane and cool at the same time. The ClimbStation is the ultimate gift for those on your list that are into scaling walls and working their way up cliff faces. (more…)

USB-Powered Flowerpot Air Purifier [Combination Container and Activated Carbon Filter]

Robert Lesher — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:08:27 +0000

Office environments can be dirty places. Recycled air and less-than-hygienic co-workers (you know who you are) can have you reaching for your Purell every time you walk in the place. We all know that plants and flowers can help to make the air around you just a little healthier and whose office can’t use a bit more nature? Now with the USB-powered flowerpot and air filter from Gadget4All you can have the best of both worlds; cleaner air and a better looking cubicle. (more…)

Sega Toys Dream Cat Venus [Robotic Feline Delights Lonely Japanese Women]

Robert Lesher — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:12:33 +0000

There are certain things that will always creep me out – carnies and public restrooms among them – but I have to admit that robotic animals of any kind might be near the top of the list. I’m not sure if it’s the lifeless, piercing eyes or the rigid mechanical movements that do it. Maybe it’s just the fact that no matter how much technology you cram under the fake fur they just never seem natural. Either way, when I saw the latest creature creation from Sega Toys, the Dream Cat Venus, it sent chills up and down my spine. (more…)

Super-Geeky Wi-Fi Detecting Cap [Use Your Head to Locate Wireless Signals]

Robert Lesher — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:40:28 +0000

We’ve all seen the little gadgets that you can carry around that let you know when you’re near a Wi-Fi signal. They normally take the form of a small handheld device that you can fit in your pocket or put on your keychain. Not a bad idea, really. So why don’t we see too many wearable gizmos that do the same thing? Probably because they don’t seem to make much sense and most people wouldn’t be caught dead wearing them. The makers of the WiFi Cap certainly got it right when they called their latest invention “geeky” and I’m sure they won’t be winning any fashion awards anytime soon. (more…)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Futuristic City Commuter [Eco-friendly City Vehicle Concept by Adam Palethorpe]

Alex Ion — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:30:34 +0000

For you and me, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is probably a magical car in a children’s book that Ian Fleming (James Bond creator) wrote almost half a century before or just a funny name, but for designer Adam Palethorpe it’s an eco-friendly city vehicle concept. Keeping away from the aero-engined racing cars from the past (that inspired the story), the new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a futuristic city commuter meant for the green-minded.

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Ben Heck Custom Built Xbox 360 Laptop [Super-sized Xbox 360 Laptop Revision Five]

Alex Ion — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:47:16 +0000

Probably the king of casemodding, Ben Heck’s (or Benjamin J Heckendorn) latest incarnation of a portable Xbox is this amazing revision 5 laptop of his portable Xbox 360 console. Based on a Gateway 1775W laptop, this one bad mofo portable system is based on a Jasper motherboard, features a built-in Ethernet port, digital push button volume controls, and a flush mounted optical drive.

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Adam Harvey Anti-Paparazzi Clutch Bag [Must-Have Accessory Gives Stars Flash Backs]

Robert Lesher — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:22:08 +0000

If you are anything like me, and I know you are, you spend too much time fending off photogs hoping to get a glimpse of your famous face. OK, so maybe that’s just wishful thinking, but a guy can dream, right? The bottom-line, it seems like most celebs want to be famous and private at the same time, but those pesky paparazzi have ideas of their own. Talk about your conflicts of interest. What’s a star to do if they simply don’t want their 2am face flashed across the front page? Designer Adam Harvey has created a handbag that just might prove to be Kodak kryptonite. (more…)

Sega Toys Uchiage Hanabi Castrates the Fireworks Show [Mini Projector Provides Simulated Fun]

Robert Lesher — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:12:48 +0000

If you’ve ever thought about inventing a device that projects simulated fireworks on your walls and ceilings you probably work for Sega Toys. Because I’m pretty sure that no one ouside of the land of Hello Kitty would ever come up with such a lame idea. I won’t let the fact that I just don’t get this product stand in the way of the info. After all, that’s why I’m here. (more…)

WhyCry Baby Crying Analyzer [Break the Baby Code with This High-Tech Listening Device]

Robert Lesher — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:57:43 +0000

For many new parents, the challenge of knowing what to do when your baby is crying can be nerve wracking. What do all of those wails mean? Is he hungry? Thirsty? Bored? Is it just gas? No longer do parents have to rely on millions of years of genetic instincts when it comes to raising their children. There is now a device created specifically to decode those baby screams so that even the most clueless parent knows when to feed and when to change. Because mixing up those two activities can really irritate your baby. (more…)

Timbuk2 Dolores Chiller Complete With Bottle Opener [Messenger Bag Cooler to Keep Beer Cold]

Alex Ion — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:06:45 +0000

Although not a gadget in its true meaning, the cold beer flavor from Timbuk2’s Dolores Chiller (named after San Francisco’s Dolores Park) definitely managed to get our attention. Shaped like a messenger bag and perfect for the summer months to come, the Dolores Chiller is a fully insulated cooler that can cleverly disguise up to 24 precious cans of your favorite beer — depending on the amount of ice you use.

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CVFR-S09 Solar Vest [Recharge Your iPod and Alienate People At the Same Time]

Robert Lesher — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:01:35 +0000

If you are having trouble with excess popularity, good looks, and general coolness, and the pocket protector isn’t doing it for you, I think I have just the thing. I believe I may have stumbled upon the quintessential geek garment. This thing enables you to accomplish two things. You can harness the power of the sun to charge electronics and look like a complete idiot at the same time. (more…)

Arimaz Creeps Out Computer Users with Tiny Robot Penguin [Autonomous, Interactive Robot Talks to Facebook]

Robert Lesher — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:16:58 +0000

I have always wished that I could have a small, multi-colored, visor-wearing autonomous robot penguin that would meander around my desk making noises and lighting up. Am I alone here? OK, this one almost defies description and it definitely defies usefulness. Let’s put this one in the WTF file. Introducing the mydeskfriend project from Arimaz.

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Device Created to Entertain Pets, Stupid People [laser powered toy takes the human out of the picture]

Robert Lesher — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:39:40 +0000

We all know how satisfying it can be to watch your cat or dog chase a light around on the floor. Feeding into their innate lower brain function provides us with hours of mindless entertainment. But having to wave that little flashlight or laser pointer around can really tire you out. What’s a lazy pet owner supposed to do? Well wait no more. Owners of pets and slow children, you now have an option to help things along. The latest in laser-powered pet and stupid human entertainment/torture devices is finally here.

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UxSight Brings Cool to Your Cubes [Color-Changing LED Ice-Bucket]

Robert Lesher — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:41:28 +0000

The world is full of boring ice cubes, and I, for one, am tired of it. They just sit there in your ice bucket, staring back at you smugly, almost defiantly, as if they know that they’re doomed to play second fiddle to whatever beverage they call home. If only there was some way to bring sexy back to your bucket, some way to add some mojo to these oft-forsaken chillers. Well, now you can breathe a sigh of relief because your ice cubes can now have their own personal rave courtesy of UxSight.

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Public Toilet with Transparent Walls in Lausanne [Dare to?]

Alex Ion — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:47:28 +0000

Imagine that you’re in Lausanne, you had a few beers and the intoxicating fluid is trying to get out of your body. You really need to go, but the only public toilet you find has transparent walls. What a crappy idea, right? Wrong. Apparently the Swiss came up with a high-tech solution that will turn the “palace” walls (partly made of liquid crystal) opaque by a simple push of a button. They go under electric tension, darken and hence ensure the privacy you need.

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Dogfight [Video of Flight Simulator cum Exercise Bike in Action]

Piyush — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:12:41 +0000

Electronic Sports has launched Dogfight – a next generation exergaming fitness product. Basically, a flight simulator and an exercise bike cobbled together. You pedal, the plane flies! Spring-loaded handles are provided for controlling the aircraft.

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Mamoru – Spooky Looking Robot to Assist Elders

Piyush — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:34:08 +0000

Looking at the image you might wonder if this is a good time to be a senior citizen in Japan. But worry not, for inspite of its downright spooky looks The Mamoru (which means “to protect” in Japanese) is a benign robot that guides forgetful elderly people to their glasses, slippers, medicine, etc.

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Gyroscopic Golf Club [You're Good, You Don't Need This]

Piyush — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:06:35 +0000

Two pastimes and sports that have the potential to offer maximum tranquility and relaxation often end up achieving the exact opposite for the hapless practitioner. One, of course is fishing and we’ve all had the one that got away and usually in our yarns it is thrice as big as God made it. The other sport is Golf which can bring out all the larceny, felonious intent, and predilection to skulduggery in a man more than anything else.

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Solio – Solar Juice for Your Gadgets

Piyush — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:25:10 +0000

The Solio universal “hybrid” solar charger lets you tap into the unending source of power that the sun is. It’s the kind of gadget that you wish to have if you stay in sunnier climes than those of Great Britain. Upon exposure to sunlight for eight to ten hours or after being placed in a wall socket for around four hours Solio’s internal battery is ready to charge sundry small electronic devices such as cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, PDAs, digital cameras etc. A charged Solio can give you at least one completely charged cell phone. You can also plug your gadgets directly to Solio.

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Virtual Butler Mirror ‘Intelligent’ Home Automation Controller [Bespoke ‘Customised’ Virtual Butlers Also Offered]

Andrew Tingle — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:03:18 +0000

We weren’t sure how to title this particular item as, whichever way we put it – within a half-reasonable word count – it simply refused to make any cohesive sense. But then just how does one introduce a home automation computer controller that can control everything from doors to security cameras to jacuzzis (and a great deal more besides) which comes with a mirror through which a (butt ugly) face – the face of the virtual ‘English’ butler – appears to let you know what’s happening and to do your bidding? It’s not easy, let me tell you.

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Slamjam Sparkler Remote Controlled Car Concept [Remote Multi Torch Vehicle]

Andrew Tingle — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:14:26 +0000

If you’re looking for a remote controlled car that’s sure to light the way in any darkened room, this curious and highly whimsical concept remote controlled car designed by Slamjam, and known as the Sparkler, will undoubtedly excel with its multitude of mounted LED torches that are certain to bath anything in the cars path in a halo of blinding illumination.

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Concept Aerial Camera, Skyros, Said To Reach New Heights Thanks To Siddharth & Dipti Hanako Kambe

Bo — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:08:21 +0000

We always think of aerial photographs and helicopters in the same sentence but now thanks to Skyros, you can take amazing bird’s eye view pictures while remaining safely on the ground.

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Fire Fighting Flowers? Flower Power In Da House!

Bo — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:33:48 +0000

We all like to know that we have safety in our lives, especially with regards to fires when we have children frolicking around the home, but how do our kids manage to grab those heavy extinguishers? These “random” plastic flower extinguishers should do the trick!

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The USB Fish Hand And Mousepad Warmer Is Bizarre!

Bo — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:12:35 +0000

I have to laugh at this next “interesting” invention. The Fuzzy Blue Fish Hand Warmer and Mousepad Cover is somewhat bizarre and geekish and … did i mention bizarre?

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Never Type Again – With The Z Pen Life Becomes Easier As You Write On Paper And Download To PC

Bo — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:56:03 +0000

Instead of calling this the Z pen they should have named it the “EZ” pen because that’s exactly how our lives will be now that this baby is around.

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Plastic Logics Electronic Paper Prototype To Be Announced At The CES Exhibition In January 2009

Bo — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:43:19 +0000

We all know that according to rumours paper is out and electronic reading is in. I’m still not sure as I love the idea of the crisp paper between my finger tips. However if rumours are correct then this electronic newspaper by Plastic Logic will be the way of the future.

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The MoVille Tear Drop Concept Car Packs A Punch Both In Design As Well As In Available Features

Bo — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:22:11 +0000

I was just thinking about the Peugeot design concept car of 2005 when what should happen? Another strangely bubble-like concept gets delivered to my pc screen. The MoVille Tear Drop Concept Car packs a punch both in design as well as in available features.

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Thanko Releases New All-In-One Glasses – Be A Super Hero While Watching Movies/ Hearing Mp3s

Bo — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:15:16 +0000

Wacky tech is always fun to review and these new All-in-one glasses launched by Thanko are so funky that I can’t wait to babble on about them.

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This Air Hog Zero Gravity R/C Will Drive You Up The Wall – Literally!

Bo — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:39:46 +0000

We’ve all heard the saying, “Driving me up the wall!” which is something your sibling or boss can do to you … but now you can literally drive up the wall by yourself! That’s right … The Air Hog Zero Gravity R/C defies all that we know from our good friend, Newton!

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Nokia’s Concept OLED Scroll Laptop Designed By Rodrigo Mercado – Futuristic & Impressive!

Bo — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:06:29 +0000

So it’s concept day at TFTS and I have another offering to titivate your eyeballs with. The OLED laptop is a concept scroll type laptop designed for Nokia by Rodrigo Mercado.

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The Rotation Bicycle By Yirong Yang Blows People Away At International Bicycle Design Challenge

Bo — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:17:07 +0000

Anyone who reads my posts will know my fascination with conceptual designs and here is another that has blown my mind away. The “Rotation” bike designed by Yirong Yang is a revolutionary design we hope makes it to reality.

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The Shooter Fire Extinguisher Makes You Feel Like You Have Just Stepped Off Of An Episode of Star Wars.

Bo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:51:30 +0000

I love my bizarre inventions as much as Dr. Evil and James Bond, but this baby is beyond bizarre! The Shooter Fire Extinguisher makes you feel like you have just stepped off of an episode of Star Wars.

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The Virtual Mirror Will Make You “View” Clothes Shopping In A Whole New Light

Bo — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:21:03 +0000

Now here’s a nifty little gizmo I can’t wait for – The Virtual Mirror is set to make life that in the mall that much easier by taking out the pain of trying on tons of clothes while looking for that perfect garment.

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Photovoltaic Film Incorporated Into Our Fabric Makes Nifty Solar Powered Necktie With Cellphone Pouch

Bo — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:48:27 +0000

Ok, now I’ve heard it all. In fact, I’m pretty much ready to say I’ve seen my 1001 things before I die after this new “fandangled” concept AKA the Solar Powered Necktie with cell phone pouch (thanks to photovoltaic film cells).

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NoseVac Conquers Lung Cancer. Really? (Or is this just another gimmick?)

Bo — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:07:24 +0000

Just when I thought life couldn’t get any stranger, I find this beauty online! The NoseVac. Now seriously, vacuuming your nose? Have we become THAT lazy that we are unable to utilize an ordinary tissue, a pair of tweezers and our basic bodily functions, I ask? (more…)

Livescribe’s SmartPen – smarter than kids or just an expensive toy?

Bo — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:23:14 +0000

Here is something I thought I’d never ever say but after finding this new gadget I wish I were back at school. Yup, I bet even you’re shocked! Livescribe’s new SmartPen is set to take the world by storm and you’ll see why …

Livescribe’s SmartPen allows you to record your lectures while writing and you can access these recorded files by simply tapping on your handwritten notes. That easy!
Not only is this a beauty in the class or meeting, but thanks to its usb capability, you’re able to view and access your notes on your pc as well as search for information via keywords.

Who needs textbooks anymore with this invention? Livescribe calls it Paper Replay while this super-pen also offers 2 concept technologies knows as “Paper Translator” (an ingenious creation whereby you can translate a word or phrase by simply writing it on paper or practice your pronunciation by simply tapping on your chosen word) and “Beach Blogger” which will allow you to Write & send messages/ sounds directly from your notebook or connect directly to your blog or facebook by just using this fancy SmartPen.

Livescribe is looking to release the SmartPen within 2008 and according to rumours, should be less than $200. As the SmartPen works with something known as dot paper, Livescribe will ensure that the paper will be available at comparable prices to standard paper products … but all I care about now is “when!”

I’m all ready to be sipping cocktails on a tropical beach somewhere while using my SmartPen to keep you all updated with other exciting technologies!

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