Touch Sensitive Faucet

This gadget may not be particularly ground-breaking but it certainly does offer a very valuable benefit to those in the kitchen. We've all been in the scenario of having our hands full, and needing to contort ourselves just to turn on the tap, to wash our hands.

Well, let me introduce to you the touch sensitive faucet. Both the spout and handle are touch sensitive, so one small touch on either part will cause the water to fall. The faucet comes in two different styles, the chrome finished faucet and the stainless steel version, which will cost slightly more. The faucet can clevery differentiate between a touch and a grab, so temeperature levels are not going to constantly fluctuate.

The chrome faucet will cost you $495, whilst the stainless steel version will cost you $547. Both available from Delta Faucet.

The Installation

It's a little bit of a hassle to install, because you actually have to follow a series of instructions that has you removing your old faucet and installing this one (with the electronics that controls the touch-sensitivity). You actually need two people at one point, when you want to make sure you align the faucet correctly above the sink while the person below tightens.

It's not completely undoable if you have a spare hand and you're somewhat knowledgeable with tools, but I had a Delta professional install it to ensure optimum performance, and it didn't take too much longer than an hour.

Performance

The touch sensitivity, if installed correctly, is good, but not overly sensitive. The faucet and water handle, on the right, are both smart enough to detect the difference between a grasp—when you're moving the thing around—and a tap—when you're turning it on and off.

You turn on the faucet like any other faucet, by using the handle and switching it left for hot and right for cold. Once it's "on", you can tap anywhere on the body or the handle to turn it off. Tap it again to turn it back on. When you're completely done with washing, pull the handle down to the off position to ensure that a cat or a jumping baby brushing past it doesn't activate the water flow. It's also got a 4-minute timeout, so even if you do forget to turn the thing off, an accidental activation won't flood your house.

It's pretty great as an actual faucet too. The head has a pull-down for spray flexibility, and you can adjust the type of spray (like a shower) in one of two modes.

Warnings and Usage

If you install it yourself, make sure you install the base plate insulation unit, because if you don't, you're going to get finicky performance from the touch-sensitivity part. I had to have the installer revisit a couple times because it's not so clear in the instructions that many sinks need it, so even if you think you don't, put it in. Not doing so will make the touch only work 1 out of 3 or 4 times, which is a painful grey zone between not working at all, which is fine, and working all the time. If something like this happens to you, you can luckily disable the touch portion and just use it as a regular faucet until you get around to repairing it.

Also, be aware that you're going to get false positives occasionally when you're reaching over and grabbing something off your sink and you brush against the faucet. This is much less frustrating than the alternative of the thing NOT working when you want it to.

Honda Bicycle Simulator

TOKYO, Japan, October 15, 2009 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced plans to begin Japan-wide sales starting February 2010, of the Honda Bicycle Simulator developed for the purpose of traffic safety education. By safely experiencing the possible risks bicycle riders may face, users will improve their ability to predict risks and increase safety awareness. In addition, rider evaluation session which will follow the riding simulation will help users learn traffic rules and manners in an enjoyable way. Honda will aim for widespread use of this simulator by a range of customers including public offices, law-enforcement organizations, driving schools and educational institutions which conduct bicycle safety education programs primarily for school children and senior citizens. Honda will begin accepting pre-sale orders in November of this year.

In recent years, the total number of fatalities from traffic accidents has declined in Japan. However, the ratio of fatalities in accidents involving bicycles has increased. Bicycle riders aged 10 – 19 in and above the age of 50 have the highest chance to get involved in an accident, and approximately 70 percent of bicycle accidents are caused by violation of traffic rules.

Leveraging the know-how accumulated through its activities to promote traffic safety since 1964, Honda has been developing and selling motorcycle and automobile simulators since 1996 and 2001, respectively, as traffic safety educational devices which enable users to safely experience the risks based on real-world traffic situations. By offering these simulators, Honda’s goal is to improve people’s ability to predict risks and increase safety awareness. Striving to realize a richer mobility society in the future, Honda developed the Honda Bicycle Simulator as an educational tool for a wider range of people.


Key features of the Honda Bicycle Simulator

Hardware

1.Compact design (length 2,270mm × height 1,400mm × width 990mm, weight 88kg)
2.Equipped with monitors to check right/left and behind.
3.Equipped with a “walking sensor” which recognizes the user’s action of walking the bicycle.

Software

1.Contains different courses such as going to school, going to the grocery store, going to cram school and going to a local shopping street to offer realistic experiences for user groups of different ages.
2.Contains a course for the user to learn traffic laws and manners to ride a bicycle in mixed traffic.
3.After the simulation, the rider’s path can be reviewed from multiple vantage points – above/below and right/left – and the riding situation and evaluation will be displayed on the monitor.

Transcend Goggles

Not even Bono can pull off wearing huge glasses to use a HUD through life. But ski goggles? They're practically designed to look ludicrous. These Zeal Recon Transcend Ski Goggles display GPS, speed, altitude and more in real time.

Available this fall for between $350 and $450, Transcend goggles are a partnership between two companies: Zeal Optics and Recon Instruments. The result is a pair of goggles that contain hardware to measure speed, altitude, time, temperature and GPS coordinates—a slew of information that's displayed through a HUD. Charging and data transfer occurs over USB.

Buttons on the side of the goggles will allow you to scan through information on the ski lift, which will be especially useful as Transcend gains additional promised functions, including trail maps, cellphone display integration and video recording.


There's no doubt about it—the Transcend goggles sound a bit too good to be true. But we're childishly refusing to temper expectations while waiting impatiently for fall. If these things actually worked, I'd wear them just, like, on the street. No snowboard required.

Sony Bravia 3D TV

Sony announced today at IFA 2009 it is to bring out a 3D series of its Bravia TVs in 2010, marking the first time the company has brought 3D technology to its TV range.

While the company was remaining tight-lipped about specifics and about just how the 3D tech would work on a Bravia LCD TV, it did show off some demos of the technology. And TechRadar was lucky enough to be among the first bunch of journalists in the world to try out the televisions.

What is the verdict on the future of TV technology? Read on to find out!
using Real D active shutter glasses, we were first told we had to 'activate' the glasses by pointing at a sensor the was situated above the TV. Once done, the glasses were turned on.

First impressions of the 3D technology from Sony is really immediately about how impressive it all looks. Unlike the demo we were shown in the press conference using normal stereoscopic glasses, the active shutter tech means the images are crisp and clear and the images jump right out at you.

We were shown demos of Killzone 2 in 3D (awesome) and even managed to have a play with Gran Turismo in another dimension.

This is definitely technology which will boost the playability of the PS3 for some years to come.

Yes, there is no word how much the LCD 3D TVs will be, but with Sony at the helm, it does mean that you will, very soon (should you have the 'readies') be able to watch movies and play PS3 games in 3D. Which is, of course, ace.

Other demos we were given were of Pixar's UP, which looked stunning, and an (unnamed) baseball game shot in 3D.

While 3D may not be the future for home entertainment, as of yet, Sony's announcement today does herald something of a tipping point for the technology. Now all the company has to do is persuade the Blu-ray Disc Association to pick a 3D BD format that's friendly to Sony's TV technology and we could see 3D finally take off in the living room.

Nokia Morph Concept

Nokia's new Morph concept phone would use nanotechnology to give it a flexible body with a transparent display that could be re-shaped depending on the user's needs, a far cry from today's solid and chunky devices. Even the electronics inside it would be transparent and flexible, so the whole phone may be twisted and stretched into bracelet shapes or tablet form, and nanotech cleverness means it would even clean itself. Developed in cooperation with Cambridge University, this glimpse of a distant future is now on display at the MoMA in New York. Jump for video and yadda-yadda press release.

Nokia and University of Cambridge launch the Morph - a nanotechnology concept device

New York, US and Espoo, Finland — Morph, a joint nanotechnology concept, developed by Nokia Research Center (NRC) and the University of Cambridge (UK) - was launched today alongside the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition, on view from February 24 to May 12, 2008, at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Morph features in both the exhibition catalog and on MoMA's official website.

Morph is a concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their mobile device into radically different shapes. It demonstrates the ultimate functionality that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering: flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces.

Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, Head of the NRC Cambridge UK laboratory, Nokia, commented: "We hope that this combination of art and science will showcase the potential of nanoscience to a wider audience. The techniques we are developing might one day mean new possibilities in terms of the design and function of mobile devices. The research we are carrying out is fundamental to this as we seek a safe and controlled way to develop and use new materials."

Professor Mark Welland, Head of the Department of Engineering's Nanoscience Group at the University of Cambridge and University Director of Nokia-Cambridge collaboration added "Developing the Morph concept with Nokia has provided us with a focus that is both artistically inspirational but, more importantly, sets the technology agenda for our joint nanoscience research that will stimulate our future work together."

The partnership between Nokia and the University of Cambridge was announced in March, 2007 - an agreement to work together on an extensive and long term programme of joint research projects. NRC has established a research facility at the University's West Cambridge site and collaborates with several departments - initially the Nanoscience Center and Electrical Division of the Engineering Department - on projects that, to begin with, are centered on nanotechnology.

Elements of Morph might be available to integrate into handheld devices within 7 years, though initially only at the high-end. However, nanotechnology may one day lead to low cost manufacturing solutions, and offers the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price.

To see a video click this link

Nokia BMW Video Phone

Don’t expect a Nokia BMW phone to land in the shops too soon, as it usually takes some time for two tech giants to cooperate, specially after the Bochum scandal, that left many German workers jobless.

As for the beautiful design you can check out below, it pertains to Evgen Designer and it features GPS navigation and a powerful camera.

Nokia BMW Concept Phone Features GPS and Superior Video Shooting

The Nokia BMW comes with an interesting “push to open” mechanism that makes its display rotate 90 degrees turning the whole device into a handycam. Notice the original camera placement? Sony would probably love to invent something like this…

Canova Dual Touch Screen Laptop In 2010

Back in July we stumbled upon Italian firm V12 Design and its Canova dual touchscreen laptop model. When we then chatted with Valerio Cometti, the founder and managing director of the design agency, about the dual LCD laptop he mentioned that he had been working on a second-generation version of the dual-screen laptop along with a U.S. manufacturer.

It seems V12 and their client Estari are ready to show off the second generation all-touch laptop. See the plethora of pictures of the new design below.

According to Cometti, V12 has reworked its orginal design, “improving the versatility and the potential of our original concept.” The design has been improved for increased movement between the two screens. Both the screens measure 15.4 inches.

v12_12But it is not V12 that will bring the Canova to market, that would be Pennsylvania-based Estari’s job. President and CEO of Estari Peter Thomas has been interested in developing a dual screen laptop for quite awhile and owns the intellectual property rights to the second generation Canova design.

“We are going to finish up the engineering of the arm and the hinge system which is intergal to how it all moves,” Thomas says.

As for timing, Thomas didn’t promise an exact date, but says, “we are hoping as quickly as possible – much less than a few years. We have been involved in developing dual touch screen technology and we have produced products in the past where you have that center hinge with screens locked together.”

The internal technology is currently under wraps, according to Thomas. The company will have a second launch revealing more about the software and hardware it uses to run.

The Canova was originally designed by V12 for use in creative professions. However , Thomas sees dual screen computing appealing to all. “We see it being used across any application, even in a portrait mode with two screens side-by-side and right down to having Internet on one side and e-mail on the other.”

Mobile wireless router for 3G access Vodafone MiFi 2352

These days, Vodafone is launching and promoting some interesting products in the field of Internet access through a 3G connection. One of those marketed products is the new MiFi 2352 (an intelligent Mobile Hotspot for European HSPA Networks). So, this is now an additional option Vodafone users can pick if they need an Internet 3G connection.

The MiFi 2352 is a small device (it weighs hardly 100 grams) that can works as WiFi router as well as 3G modem to access Internet through mobile networks by using a computer or even any device with Internet connection like a smartphone, a video game console, a media player, etc.

It can be configured to operate in two different modes:

1. To work as a WiFi router: This MiFi is able to act as a conventional WiFi router (just like those used in many residential and corporate environments). In this case, the 3G data connection can be shared with up to five computers or other devices.

2. To work as a USB modem: It also works as a conventional 3G USB modem. So, you can connect it to a USB port of your computer in order to have Internet access wherever you want. Of course, you need an adequate mobile Internet plan, and in this case, only your computer will have Internet access through the MiFi.

Gigabit ethernet switch AT-x600

Currently, Allied Telesis is selling a line of switches denominated as the AT-x600 series. Those switches offer several advantages and are perfect as aggregation switches or as an access controller for any network. This family of products with stackable Layer 3 Gigabit Ethernet switches has both 24 and 48 Gigabit port versions with optional 10GbE uplinks.

The wide variety of security functionalities and the easy integration with several NAC solutions, including Microsoft NAP and Symantec SNAC, make these products a good choice for systems where intelligence and security at the network periphery are crucial factors. Besides, all the x600 switches can be stacked by using uplink ports that were specifically designed to enable a 4-unit stack to have a massive 160 Gigabits of uplink bandwidth with no reduction in stacking backplane throughput. This way, this range of products provides a great flexibility and reliability.

The Allied Telesis AT-x600 switches family is available in four versions: Two versions comes with 24 ports (the AT-x600-24Ts and the AT-x600-24Ts/XP, although there is an additional PoE version too), and other two versions with 48 ports (the AT-x600-48Ts and the AT-x600-48Ts/XP). More specifically, the 24-port versions feature 24 Gigabit copper ports along with 4 Gigabit SFP (small form-factor pluggable) ports; on the other hand, the 48-port devices have 44 Gigabit copper ports and also 4 Gigabit SFP ports. In addition, the XP models come with 2 additional XFP ports for 10GbE connectivity. And one more thing: This x600 series uses the excellent operating system AlliedWare Plus, which is the same operating system that is used by other Allied Telesis families such as the x900 series and the SwitchBlade x908.

The new family AT-x600 is already available in the market.

RCA product Airnergy An ingenious gadgets charger or a deceitful device:

Anyone who uses a mobile phone, media player, or other similar things knows nothing is more frustrating than needing to use a gadget whose battery is going dead at the most inopportune time. Well, some makers of electronic accessories are perfectly aware of this problem; for that reason, nowadays there are many available devices designed to charge gadgets by using different methods… and sometimes some very unconventional methods.

One of those devices is the RCA Airnergy. According to the maker (which by now has nothing to do with the former RCA Corporation), the RCA Airnergy is able to transform WiFi signals into electricity that is used to charge its internal battery, and this in turn can be used to charge any gadget of an user. Pretty ingenious, heh? Well, let’s see.

The fact of charging a gadget by using an internal battery is not a big deal and, in fact, there are a wide variety of products to do that. There is no mystery. However, the previous process of transforming WiFi signals into the power source of a device might sound less than fully convincing for some people.

Anyway, at the CES show, there was public demonstrations where a battery of a Blackberry was supposed to be charged from an initial level of 30% to a full-charge state by using WiFi signals. But, according to some calculations that are appearing on several websites, this situation might seem like a far-fetched thing under normal circumstances and even in a place full of WiFi signals, just like the CES pavilions. Apparently, the Airnergy only could get minimal and infinitesimal energy that would be very difficult to transform into effective electricity. So, is there any trick here? Or are those people underestimating the current technology

Samsung cell phone B5722 Duos

Dual Stand-by

You will be able to access 2 different SIM cards with just one convenient and compact touch screen handset. Whether you want to take advantage of different calling plans, or want to keep your business and personal calls separate, the B5722 provides the convenience of two cell phones with a one-mobile solution.


Touch Experience

The B5722’s touch experience elevates the mobile experience, bringing everything the mobile has to offer right to your fingertips. The 3-page extended menu means that you can have easy and instant access to all your apps. Commands are obeyed with a tap of the finger, even when switching SIM card use.

Easily Switch SIM Cards

Switch between SIM cards easily and without needing to reboot the mobile. Switching-SIM-card commands are obeyed with a tap of the finger, the use of dual SIM cards has never been easier or more intuitive.

Features

2.8”large QVGA screen
Touch screen
Easily Switch SIM Cards
Samsung Communities
Palringo Messenger
3.2 MP Camera
Music Player

Sony smartphone with PSP gaming capabilities:


Sony is working on a smartphone that leverages the company's entertainment assets, such as the PlayStation Portable. The device would combine other features of the smartphone genre with the addition of being able to download and play PSP games, according to The Wall Street Journal.

There is an interesting nonofficial announcement coming from Japan: Several journalist have made public that Sony is planning to develop a smartphone where users will be able to play PSP games. In addition, apparently, Sony would be creating a device with a wide range of features, so it would not be easy to define it as a netbook, or an e-reader, or a handheld console (like PSP); actually, it would be a combination of all of them.

These projects are the reaction of Sony to Apple strategies, particularly regarding the iPad and iPhone. So, this is an interesting competition that, hopefully, will benefit the end users. But, at the same time, it could be interpreted as an obvious and meaningful evolution of the PSP, a console that has had strong competitors since it was launched commercially.

As you can imagine, the new smartphone that would be able to play PSP games won’t include slots to insert game cartridges. Instead, they could be connected to the online shop “PlayStation Store” (which is currently accessible by using a PlayStation 3 or PSP console) to download games developed for PSP. Sony Ericsson is working on this smartphone and, most likely, it will impact the mobile market in a strong way. However, it is not clear yet whether the whole PSP catalog will be supported, or only a reduced number of games. Apparently, the original games developed by Sony will be totally supported, but maybe third-party games could have some limitations, at least initially.

For the moment, the only thing we can do is to wait for official announcements and watch for the way how these projects move forward, since Sony is constantly surprising us with innovations and unexpected products. After the launch of the PSPGo, which has had very little success, the company needs a new product with a “wow” factor: That would be an opportunity to recover fans and increase earnings.