Harnessing the wisdom of the crowds
Making the most from the knowledge of the many - Harnessing the wisdom of the crowds
February 21, 2007
December 04, 2006
Don't sit up straight
New research suggests that sitting up straight is bad for your back, the new way to sit is at 135 degrees - does this mean all those old erognomic chairs were useless?
November 21, 2006
The Digital Ice Age
The old problem of digital media obsolescence has not gone away, Popular Mechanics asks - Will an entire era of human history be lost?
November 08, 2006
TIME Invention of the Year
TIME magazine's best inventions for 2006 - winner YouTube
November 01, 2006
Keyless home entry
Just wave a card infront of the lock and the RFID within the card opens your front door for you.
October 17, 2006
Analogue Processes
If you want to monitor digital processes in an analogue form try The Device Process Indicator - it plugs into your computer and the software that runs it can be configured to monitor any process you wish.
October 16, 2006
An Earth without people
What would happen to the earth if tomorrow all the people vanished?
October 03, 2006
A Brief History of Time
Stephen Hawking's 'A Brief History of Time' is now available online for those that wish to delve into the state of the universe and all it entails.
September 18, 2006
Winepod - home winemaker
Make 4-5 cases of wine at home with the Winepod, a computerised 'easy to use' homebrew wine maker.
September 14, 2006
Txting helps
A study of the spelling and punctuation of 11-year-olds who regularly use mobile text messaging found no difference between their attainment and the average achievement levels of non-texting pupils of the same age and educational level - if anything their spelling was better
July 17, 2006
Desire controls what we see
New studies at Cornell University reiterate the old belief that our perceptions are altered by our desires
April 16, 2006
Organic LEDs
They do not heat up like today's light bulbs and are far more energy efficient. They can be printed in wafer thin sheets that could transform walls, ceilings or even furniture into lights, they are OLEDs
March 10, 2006
10 megapixel camera phone
Samsung have shown off a 10 megapixel camera phone at CeBIT.
March 02, 2006
Wikipedia on your iPod
Download and Install wikipedia on your iPod - Encyclopodia
February 17, 2006
Multi-Touch User Interaction
An amazing video that shows a touch based interface for the screen
February 16, 2006
Smart Armour
The American and Canadian skiers at this years Winter Olympics are wearing light flexible body armour that changes at impact. At normal use the chemical make up of the suit is flexible but the shock of sudden deformation causes the chemical bonds to strengthen and the moving molecules to lock, turning the material into a more solid, protective shield.
January 12, 2006
The Digital home
The Economist takes a good look at how different companies are attempting to set up and control the central media hub within the home - The Digital Home
December 15, 2005
Informing Ourselves to Death
Well known for his knowledge on the way technology plays it's role in culture, Neil Postman has written a number of good books such as 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' (about Television) and 'Technopoly' (the role technology plays with society). Here is the written transcript of a speech he gave to the German Informatics Society in 1990.
December 12, 2005
iPod DJ mixer
The Ion iDJ - the world’s first iPod DJ mixing console.
December 06, 2005
Inexpensive LEDs
LEDs have a life time of 100,000 hours and are being used more and more for interior, exterior and industrial lighting designs. A good cheap resource for LEDs is Xmas lights and this hobby site has all the information on how to extract them from your string of lights.
November 23, 2005
USB thumb drives from mimoco
A fun set up of usb thumb drives from mimoco
November 17, 2005
The Inventor of the George Foreman Grill
Meet Michael Boehm, the inventor of the George Foreman Grill.
November 16, 2005
Meditation builds your brain
Researchers have found that meditation alters the structure of your brain. They found that meditating increased the thickness of the cortex in areas involved in attention and sensory processing, which gave the person who meditates increased mental sharpness.
November 01, 2005
$14 steadycam
Make your own steadycam device for only $14
October 10, 2005
Diamonds
Man-made diamonds are becoming so close to the real thing that even highly trained diamond experts cannot tell the difference. This not only changes the market for jewellery but will make new technologies a reality. The ability to manufacture diamonds could change business, products and daily life as much as the arrival of the steel age in the 1850s or the invention of the transistor in the 1940s.
October 04, 2005
Happiness
Can the concept of happiness exist outside of 'Pop Science' and be explained by 'hard science'? Professor Martin Seligman looks into how happiness exists within the biology of the brain.
September 28, 2005
VisionStation
If you like gaming or you're interested in a more unique front desk for your office then the VisionStation by Elumens might be what you are looking for.
September 21, 2005
Can the Banana be saved?
Lacking genetic diversity the banana has been bred down to the single variety known as the 'Cavendish'. A fungus or bacterial disease that infects one banana plantation could march around the globe and destroy millions of bunches, leaving supermarket shelves empty.
August 31, 2005
Most scientific papers are wrong
'New Scientist' reports that a report from John Ioannidis at the University of Ioannina School of Medicine in Greece, has found that because most scientific papers use a small sample size, poor study design, researcher bias, and selective reporting - most of their research findings are later proven to be false.
Wakamaru
Mitsubishi have announced their new home help robot 'Wakamaru'. Built with the task of assisting the increasingly elderly population in Japan.
August 30, 2005
Stellarium
A free open source astronomy software that gives you the ability to map the sky at any particular time, date or location - Stellarium
August 29, 2005
mobiBLU
The smallest mp3 player that looks to be challenging the iPod shuffle - mobiBLU
July 19, 2005
Third of study results don't hold up
Findings in a review of major studies published in three influential medical journals between 1990 and 2003 found that a large number did not stand the test of time.
July 18, 2005
Solar Powered Backpack
Charge up all your small electronic devices through a large flexible solar panel on your backpack.
July 14, 2005
DIY projector
For around $200 you could make your own video projector
July 12, 2005
Wireless iPod headphones
Logitech have just released a set of wireless iPod headphones.
June 20, 2005
Put an iPod in your car
Rather than using the radio or cassette adapters, this site has a quick and cheap way to create a direct 'line-in' to you car stereo from your iPod.
June 18, 2005
Time travel paradox debunked
A team of physicists from the US and Austria have used quantum mechanics to explain away one of the most confusing areas of time travel.
They are suggesting that if there is a certainty in the present you cannot go back in time to change the outcome. So the 'Back to the Future' movies were all wrong.
June 07, 2005
55 visual illusions
Some fun optical illusions and explanations
Augmented reality games
Researchers in Singapore have developed a way for people to play pacman by running around streets collecting 'cookies' that they can only see through the glasses they are wearing.
June 01, 2005
See Free
Block out unwanted billboard advertising with the 'See Free' glasses and see public space free of visual pollution.
May 27, 2005
Nokia 770
Nokia have just released an 'internet tablet'. This 'phone less' product is designed for wireless internet usage around the home or when you are out and about.
11 steps to a better brain
New Scientist looks at 11 things you can do to increase your brain power
May 25, 2005
Toshiba Robots
Toshiba have developed two robots that are to be demonstrated at AICHI EXPO's "Prototype Robot Exhibition," at the Morizo and Kiccoro Exhibition Center from June 9 to June 19, 2005.
May 20, 2005
Words influence smells
Researchers led by Edmund T. Rolls of the University of Oxford have recently published in the May 19th issue of Neuron. They have found that visual words can influence the perception of smells--with pleasant words influencing olfactory brain regions to perceive an odor as pleasant.
May 19, 2005
The sporting advantage of wearing Red
A recent report by Durham University academics suggests that by wearing red, sports teams increase their probability of winning.
May 17, 2005
PS3 unveiled
Sony have unveiled its next generation console, now officially known as the Playstation 3.
May 16, 2005
FoxiPod
May 12, 2005
Be creative by lying down
Research into the brains chemistry suggests that we are more susceptible to creative thinking processes when lying down.
May 09, 2005
Coloured contact lenses for use in sport
Nike is researching the use of different coloured lenses in different sports to get a competitive advantage.
May 02, 2005
Gummi Bears beat fingerprint sensors
Why biometric security won't catch on.
April 28, 2005
Nokia N90
Nokia have released their latest 'do everything phone' it has a 4GB hard drive, 3G, global GSM, WiFi b/g, Bluetooth, USB mass storage, FM radio and a claimed 12.5 hrs of battery time
April 27, 2005
Free Starchart
If you're looking for a free (licensed under CC) Starchart - then look no further - The Mag-7 Star Atlas Project
April 20, 2005
ENV
The Emissions Neutral Vehicle designed around the Core fuel cell, it is virtually silent and its emissions are almost completely clean.
April 14, 2005
Your very own Robocop
For only 2,900 pounds you can have your own 15 inch robot that patrols your home.
April 12, 2005
Seiko paper watch
Using electronic paper, Seiko have developed a curved digital watch.
April 07, 2005
Proof and Beauty
With faster computers available, the world of mathematics is now being asked to justify it's more 'unverifiable' theories. How much proof therefore is required to make them true?
April 06, 2005
Solar Powered Backpack
Using Solar power to charge your mobile devices (mobile, ipod etc)
April 01, 2005
Air Click
March 31, 2005
Floatables
A project that looks at blocking/blurring electrical data
March 29, 2005
Cellphone projector
A mobile phone with a built in projector
March 24, 2005
13 scientific things that don't make sense
New Scientist lists 13 things in todays science that don't make sense
March 18, 2005
RoboMaid
Floor sweeping robot for a reasonable price
March 03, 2005
The new mobile phone drive
It's all about the look (and the music)
Energy Curtains
An interesting concept in harnessing energy from the sun
Sony re-releases the Walkman
Cashing in on it's brand of yester-year Sony Ericsson have released a new Walkman
March 02, 2005
Invisibility Cloak
Using a different technique than the 'Chameleon effect', American researchers are developing a Plasmonic Cover that stops light from reflecting of objects
February 25, 2005
Physical text messaging
Samsung is using a new technology called "haptics" in their new mobile phones. This technology allows for a more tactile experience with your mobile.
Bioethics
A new online game informs the player of all sides to the Biotechnology debate and then asks you to make decisions based on this knowledge - via DW
February 24, 2005
Powernapping made simple
A new aural device from pzizz that helps send you into a deep relaxed state
February 21, 2005
Robots with legs
New walking robots from America and the Netherlands. A possible use for them in the future?
Stifling Innovation
Large media companies are frequently using the law to block new innovations in technology. The EFF have put together a list of technological advancements that are at risk of disappearing due to legal action.
February 13, 2005
Genetically Engineering Suburbia
An article suggesting the use of genetic engineering to make suburbia less hard work - e.g grass that stops growing at 2cm
February 04, 2005
Passwords
The concept of making the user the strongest link in a security chain by depending on their choice of password is flawed and doesn't look at the security argument from the right angle.
February 03, 2005
Drivers using cell phones drive like the elderly
A team at the University of Utah found that even when they used "hands-free" devices, young drivers who normally have the quickest reflexes drove like 70-year-olds
iPod photo presentations
Using the new ipod photo as a tool to make presentations seems like a fast easy alternative to the laptop and powerpoint
February 02, 2005
Banabi
Shapes are projected on the floor with which a child interacts. Over time the shapes stop hiding from the child and start to play with the toddler.
January 28, 2005
Printing Human Skin
Scientists at Manchester University have developed a printer capable of producing human skin.
Using technology for political control
An interesting paper written for the European Union, investigating the use of new technological advances for political control, what these technologies are and stopping them from falling into the wrong hands.
January 25, 2005
Consumer Electronics
The CES 2005 has come to an end and Core77 have really good coverage of what was on offer
January 24, 2005
Sony admits mistakes
Sony video chief Ken Kutaragi, has admitted that Sony's strategy on being proprietary with their music and entertainment content has cost them in potential sales of MP3 players and other gadgets.
January 21, 2005
Making plastic from oranges
Scientists in Britain have discovered a way to make plastic from Orange peels
January 14, 2005
Open source = Communists
After Bill Gates' interview with CNET where he termed supporters of open source as 'communists' the 'blogosphere' reacted against his opinion in many ways - 1,2 - now Gizmodo talks to Bill Gates about his comments and where he sees the future of DRM
Bigger better Wi-Fi
A newer version of wireless technology with a bigger, faster capacity is on the horizon
January 11, 2005
Solar energy paint
A more efficient way of capturing solar energy has been invented at the University of Toronto - it is 5 times more efficient than current methods.
Microchips in sport
By embedding microchips in the ball and shin pads of players, controversial calls will be a thing of the past.
Speech to SMS
At CES 2005, Samsung have launched a new mobile phone with speech to sms capabilities
January 05, 2005
Home Hacking
An interesting looking book on how to hack together Home Automation, Home Entertainment Systems and Security - Home Hacking Projects for Geeks
January 04, 2005
Home automation
Wired looks at automating your home through new cheaper technologies.
December 17, 2004
iPod bluetooth
Belkin are looking to produce a bluetooth device to transmit music from your iPod to your stereo.
December 16, 2004
Swim and listen to your iPod
Now you won't get bored doing laps - a water proof case for your iPod
December 14, 2004
Blind man sees emotions
A 52 year old man with no sight, seems to somehow have the ability to tell the difference between a happy face and a sad face
December 06, 2004
i-foot and i-unit
Some crazy looking robotic 'vehicles' from Toyota
SPOT
Microsoft has set up an OS to be used on watches
November 30, 2004
Smiling frowned upon
Under new passport application rules in America, smiling in your passport photo could now get your application rejected.
November 29, 2004
Face recognition technology
The BBC has an article on facial recognition technology which allows CCTV footage to be scanned and people quickly identified based on the shapes of their faces.
November 23, 2004
Flexible screens
Where are they and why are they taking so long to become a reality
Death of the Video recorder
Due to the boom in DVD players, Dixons (UK's largest electrical chain) has decided to stop selling the video cassette recorder.
Laser Printers
Did you know that every colour laser printer prints out a hidden serial number on each page? So if you start counterfeiting bank notes they can trace it back to you.
November 22, 2004
Chimera
What happens when you blend 'humans' with 'animals'? Biotechnology is making it happen and the ethical philosophy behind it is trying to explain why people are not welcoming of these new 'advances'.
November 19, 2004
Osmos Wheel
November 15, 2004
Mobile phone photography
The BBC has an article on the prolific use of mobile phone cameras and the role they are starting to play with documenting events.
November 10, 2004
Ambient Orb
Digital information wirelessly sent to a 'device' that alters it's colour/appearance based on the information sent to it.
November 09, 2004
Cities without borders
November 08, 2004
Electronic Blacklisting
What if you got on a blacklist that said you returned bought goods more frequently than most? What other blacklists exist?
Digital Cameras
If you are looking to buy a new digital camera then dcresource.com is a good place to start. Lots of in depth reviews
November 05, 2004
ScubaDoo
A funny looking underwater scooter
November 04, 2004
Nokia 7710
Nokia is about to release a new phone with a pen based interface
November 02, 2004
iPod liberation
Apple has just released iTunes 4.7 with a new 'fix' that disables 'iPod Download' - a little program that gives you the ability to pull music off your iPod and onto your computer. Here is a good article on other ways to liberate your iPod
ambient : interface
The 54th annual International Design Conference in Aspen, Colo. - how we engage with increasingly mobile and sometimes invasive computer technologies.
Portable Video Players
According to Jupiter Research, only 13% of European consumers would be interested in a portable video player - maybe the research company should have asked about having 'moving images' on portable devices and not 'video'
November 01, 2004
Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality is now being used in the tourism industry.
October 29, 2004
WebTV start ups
More new companies are attempting to exploit the increase of high speed internet by sending video and other digital media over the internet.
Household wind turbines
Small rooftop wind turbines that are the size of a small satelite dish and can provide 30% of household electricity are going to be used in Scotland.
robotiquette
Robots will need to learn how to treat people like people and not like other robots - they need robotiquette
October 27, 2004
ipod photo
A colour screen ipod that links with iPhoto has just been launched by apple.
October 26, 2004
Robotic Home Help
The decades long promise of robotic home help is starting to come to fruition. By 2007 the number of robots in everyday use is set to jump seven fold.
October 25, 2004
New fruit label
A new fruit label design that tells the buyer (by changing colour) when the fruit is ripe and ready to eat.
Microsoft's worst nightmare
The version 1 release of the open source web browser 'Firefox' could be a thorn in Microsoft's side.
October 22, 2004
5 mp camera phone released
Samsung have released a phone with a built in 5 megapixel camera
October 21, 2004
Erasing Memories
Just like the movie 'Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind' scientists are now testing a pill that can erase traumatic memories - [bugmenot.com]
Information Architecture Wiki
If you are interested in Information Architecture then this Wiki is for you
October 20, 2004
Social Networks
Is content still king or is it all about the connections?
Aerosols can be bad for you
New research points to aerosol use damaging the health of mothers and their babies
October 19, 2004
Coke vs Pepsi
Using Brain scans, scientists have discovered that marketing messages can alter our perception of taste. Maybe these scientists were sponsored by Pepsi?
October 14, 2004
Multi-lingual brain power
Research points to an increase in brain mass when people speak more than one language.
October 13, 2004
iPod rumours
Could the next ipod have a colour screen and work with iPhoto?
October 12, 2004
Alcohol
Researchers at Kentucky University have found that women are better at holding their drink.
October 08, 2004
Patenting taste and smell
The Nobel prize for medicine has recently been awarded to two American scientists for their work on smell. This introduces new possibilities have where patenting smells and taste could be the next money spinner (for lawyers).
Car fuelled by water and sun
A student project has built a car that turns sunlight and water into hydrogen that in turn runs a car. A starting point on something the current car industry said would take 20 years.
October 01, 2004
New gadget
Mpeg4, MP3, Photos - all in one small package
September 30, 2004
Radio recording
The new Radio Shark from Griffin Technology allows you to digitally record your favourite radio shows then listen to them later on your iPod.
Moving mp3's off your ipod
An article over at iPodlounge on some ways to transfer your music from your iPod to your computer.
Swimming in Syrup
Is it faster to swim in water or syrup? The question has now been answered.
September 28, 2004
Money doesn't bring happiness
Money doesn't create individual happiness or build a strong country
September 27, 2004
TiddlyWiki
A new type of wiki using an interesting interface built in one HTML page - Tiddlywiki
Online referendum
Switzerland have just had the worlds first binding online referendum.
September 22, 2004
The computer of the future - Today
A funny look at what people in the 1950's believed the home computer would look like in 2004
September 21, 2004
New VR interfaces
When moving in a virtual world you can either walk with CirculaFloor or swim
Secret Worlds
Similar to the Powers of 10 by Charles and Ray Eames - a java applet that reveals the Universes within
September 20, 2004
Against Types
Personality tests have been around for nearly 100 years, but their position as a legitimate tool for measuring personalities has never itself been tested.
September 17, 2004
Blackberry Keyboard
A new Qwerty style keyboard has been developed for the Blackberry smartphone.
September 15, 2004
Where is all the spam coming from?
A map that shows exactly where it is coming from!
September 10, 2004
Noahs Ark on the Moon
A European Space Agency chief scientist has suggested that a DNA library be placed on the Moon, in case the Earth is destroyed by an asteroid or nuclear holocaust.
Flapping Paper Aeroplane
A nice little diagram to build your own paper aeroplane with flapping wings.
Social Interface Design
It's not just about Usability it's about Sociability
September 06, 2004
iPod Battery
L.A. Computer company has a replacement iPod battery for 3g models for only $22
August 23, 2004
Language shapes our reality
Science has discovered the reason for it's existence
August 19, 2004
Maverick Scientists
It has been 'discovered' that scientists in Britain that come up with theories that go against the norm, are shunned and forced into isolation by their peers.
August 18, 2004
Blobjects
Bruce Sterling at Siggraph talks about blobjects, gizmos and splimes - the future is waiting to be distributed.
August 13, 2004
What makes a good Blog
A weblog author points out some of the qualities that he bellieves make a good weblog
Solar Sail
Japan has unfurled the worlds first 'solar sail' - a technology that some see as the tool to open up space travel
Life Caching
With new technologies, new trends emerge; Life Caching and Generation C are two of these.
August 10, 2004
Privacy
An interesting transcript from the BBC on what new technologies are being used to track, search and monitor people.
August 06, 2004
SMS home phone
Soon we'll be able to text message to and from our fixed-line phones.
August 05, 2004
Amplified Intelligence
Using technology to enhance intelligence
August 04, 2004
Mobiles and the appropriation of space
Vodafone have an interesting article written by Mizuko Ito on how mobile phones are changing the experience of 'place'
July 28, 2004
DRM magic
With the technology companies coding in Digital Rights Management into their hardware the content companies are starting to find themselves between a rock and a hard place
July 26, 2004
Airport Express
Ars Technica review the new wireless tool from Apple
Happy Birthday Walkman
The Sony Walkman has now been selling in America for 25 years. The changes that this new personal audio device has brought to public/private space was unthought of back at it's conception.
July 23, 2004
Do you love your Mobile?
City dwellers in London, Paris and Madrid all 'love' their mobile phones but they all use them in slightly different ways
July 21, 2004
Mindball
A new game that you can use your mind to move the ball on the table
44 percent of large companies read outgoing email
An interesting article at Ars Technica that might encourage you to use your personal webmail for personal emails while at work
July 15, 2004
New Canon XL2 DV cam
This one has all the right features!
Is hay fever transmissible?
A German study has found that partners have twice as much chance as developing Hay fever if their partner already has it.
Artificial Intelligence
The tool for measuring intelligence in machines is called the Turing test. After 50 years maybe it is time to look for a new way to measure A.I?
July 13, 2004
Alternative Interfaces
Some nice experimental interface concepts over at Sony