Technology
Technology: It’s A Drone, An X-Wing… Nah, It’s A Parrot Swing (Video)
August 31, 2016
With Parrot Swing, you have the stability of a quadrocopter and the power of a plane!
Parrot Swing is the only mini-drone allowing you to pilot a supersonic plane with surprising ease. It’s also the only plane with autopilot and a vertical take-off and landing mode. With the Parrot Flypad controller, discover ultra-precise control to pilot like a pro. Transform the sky into an unbelievable race track!
Truth. But what’s even doper than the model/drone/toy is the possibilities for real-life. Imagine combining the great speed and efficiency of a plane with the ability to take off and land from small platforms, rather than long runways. Of course, the military would jump on this first. But imagine the search and rescue possibilities. Mobilizing quickly for tough terrain rescues, where planes cannot go but copters cannot be sent quick enough… disaster relief for that matter… Think about unmanned vehicles getting materials in and/or people out of places where the roads are impassible or non-existent.
Nice!
Posted in Product, Recreation, Technology, Videos | 
Tags: AVIATION, drone, drones, Parrot, QUADCOPTERS, TOY, TOY DRONES, UAVs, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, x-winged drone | 
No Comments »
Watch The First Flight Of The Largest Aircraft Ever (Video)
August 20, 2016
You see… it’s not the size of… Nah, #$%! that, homies. That Airlander 10 is a big azz airship; the biggest that ever took to the skies! Why’s any of this matter? Well, check this out:
The ship is part  helicopter, part blimp and at 92 meters (301 feet) long it is the largest aircraft in the world. Though its maiden flight was only 15 minutes, flights when it enters normal operations could be as long as five days and night with passengers or up to two weeks at a time when controlled remotely and unmanned.
– FastCompany
Posted in EVENTS, History, Technology, Travel, Videos | Tags: air cruise, Airlander 10, largest aircraft in the world, long-term flight | No Comments »
Technology: Transparent Solar Cells Designed To Turn Invisible UV Rays Into Renewable Energy Gains We Can See (Video)
August 15, 2016
Research at Michigan State University has yielded designs for a transparent solar panel capable of capturing solar energy. Professor Richard Lunt, MSU assistant professor and head of the research team, believes that the panel can be used in a variety of ways – like on tall buildings with lots of windows or mobile devices. The ultimate goal is to harvest solar energy via surfaces in such a way that people do not even notice (according to a press statement from Lunt).
Most solar panels capture visible spectrum light, letting invisible ultraviolet waves – the bigger portion of the spectrum – go to waste. The transparent luminescent solar concentrator (TLSC) doesn’t capture visible light, but non-visible ultraviolet waves are absorbed by the device, converted, and sent to the edge of the concentrator, where photovoltaic (PV) solar cells convert light energy to electricity.
One caveat: Right now the TLSC is performing at around 1% efficiency, but the MSU team believes that 5% optimization is achievable. Currently, non-transparent luminescent concentrators (current tech) max out at 7% efficiency.
But before you get pessimistic about the low numbers, compare them to using ZERO percent of the abundant untapped energy that we are being drenched in daily!
Posted in Environment, Science, Technology, Videos | Tags: invisible ultraviolet rays, Michigan State University, MSU, Renewable Energy, Richard Lunt, solar panel, TLSC, TomoNews, TomoNews US, transparent luminescent solar concentrator, Transparent solar panel, ultraviolet rays, UV energy, UV rays | No Comments »
Technology: Upgrade Your Golf Cart Game With Bubba’s Jet Pack (Video)
August 9, 2016
Sports performance equipment and lifestyle item maker Oakley has teamed up with professional golfer Bubba Watson to create a flying platform that looks straight out of a “Jonny Quest” cartoon… with a special place to put your clubs. It’s called Bubba’s Jet Pack. AMAZING!
Waitaminute. Didn’t Oakley and Watson collaborate on the production of a golf hovercraft?? Yes, and we posted about that on here earlier.
Posted in Business, Celebrity, Lifestyle, Product, Recreation, Technology, Videos | Tags: Bubba Watson, Bubba's Jet Pack, flying golf cart, Gadgets, Golf, Golf Cart, Jet Pack, Oakley | No Comments »
Altwork’s Integrated Workspace: “The Station” (Video)
August 8, 2016
Okay. Looks like you can get really productive, really comfortable, or both with this new generation uber-ergonomic tech-integrated work desk.
Altwork introduces its new integrated workspace, the Station, designed to be a multifunctional piece of furniture that gives you more flexibility with respect to how you interact with your computer.
Of course, all this could take a lot of getting used to – the concept, getting comfortable with going from collaborative, to standing, to seated, to lying prone Station positions, computers and peripherals hanging around and above you. Oh, and the price is nothing nice. Get out your black card and slide it for about $7,000 player!
(Still looks cool though.)
Technology: Holograms In Your Home (Video)
August 8, 2016
The future is now. Next level television!
Well, it’s Not TV… It’s Holovit TV… an apparatus that presents as just a clear screen showing moving images. You know, as in 3-D IMAGES!!! No clunky projection systems required, the compact Holovit works with devices without the requirement of a projector or special equipment. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs … any 3-D images it projects to HoloVit are shown floating in the screen. IndieGoGo funding is underway (until September).
Check out the Holo-Dance after the jump. Haaa!
MORE: HOLOVIT (INDIEGOGO)
Posted in Technology, Videos | Tags: Hologram, Holographic Dance, Holography, Holography system, Holovit, Holovit TV | No Comments »
Researchers Are Developing Implantable Sensors As Small As A Grain Of Sand That Can Monitor Vitals (Video)
August 4, 2016
Medical professionals have got to know that among the things that suck about what they do for us patients is the discomfort due to invasive procedures to even figure out what’s going on in those they treat. Well, looks like someone up the line has been working the problem. Maybe we will get that Star Trek medical tricorder where docs don’t have to even touch you to diagnose one day. This tech right here though, coming soon.
University of California, Berkeley engineers have built the first dust-sized, wireless sensors that can be implanted in the body, bringing closer the day when a Fitbit-like device could monitor internal nerves, muscles or organs in real time.
The so-called neural dust, which the team implanted in the muscles and peripheral nerves of rats, is unique in that ultrasound is used both to power and read out the measurements. Ultrasound technology is already well-developed for hospital use, and ultrasound vibrations can penetrate nearly anywhere in the body, unlike radio waves, the researchers say.
“I think the long-term prospects for neural dust are not only within nerves and the brain, but much broader,” said Michel Maharbiz, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences and one of the study’s two main authors. “Having access to in-body telemetry has never been possible because there has been no way to put something super tiny superdeep. But now I can take a speck of nothing and park it next to a nerve or organ, your GI tract or a muscle, and read out the data.”
Nice.
NASA Puts Its Money Where It’s Satellite Is: Burning Up A Billion-Dollar Probe To Protect Alien Life (Video)
July 29, 2016
Once again, Star Trek gives science the blueprint. Remember the Prime Directive (prohibiting Starfleet personnel from interfering with the internal development of alien civilizations? Well, NASA is following that in purest form and intention!
NASA’s Juno probe successfully began orbiting Jupiter on July 4. The spacecraft has 37 orbits to go before it burns up on purpose — to protect potential aliens.
Holy self-destruct, NASA! We don’t even want to risk exposing any potential alien life to our Earth germs. And before you grumble about that being billion-dollar overkill, Google how ill the Native Americans got shortly after being ‘exposed’ to European explorers ALIENS waaaaay before Star Trek.
Technology: The Skreemr Jet Is Designed To Cross The Atlantic In A Half-Hour (Video)
July 28, 2016
Yoooo! Okay, we posted on the Concorde from back in the day and how it was designed to make supersonic travel a reality. Three-and-a-half hours to hop the Atlantic. Impressive. But how about a new jet concept… one that blows that trip time out the water (so to speak)? We’re talking going from NYC to London in 30 Minutes! Maaaaannn, you could barely get started on that pizza you ordered to enjoy while peeping our posts on here.
Okay, pump your air brakes a bit though Canadian engineer Charles Bombardier’s concept will likely roll out for military purposes before commercial; but still…DOPE! Watch.
What Ever Happened To The Concorde Plane? (Video)
July 27, 2016
This plane could cross the Atlantic in 3.5 hours. In the time you’d take a cross-state bus trip, you’d be across the ocean on ANOTHER continent!! The Concorde gave us supersonic transport. So, with all that going for it, why did this supersonic plane fail? The answer is complicated. Vox’s Phil Edwards investigated.
Check This All-Black ‘Super Yacht’: The Black Swan (Video)
July 25, 2016
Duuuuude! This ought to make a “Most Expensivest Sh*t” episode, hosted by 2 Chainz, with theme music done by Rapsody (“All Black Everything”)!
This slick yacht looks like a supervillain’s hideout straight out of out of the next 007 film. The superyacht is called The Black Swan and is a design concept by designer Timur Bozca.
– Tech Insider
– @ojones1
Posted in Lifestyle, Product, Technology, Videos | Tags: Superyacht, Tech Insider, The Black Swan | No Comments »
Performance Enhancement: ‘Sex Shorts’ Help Men Train The Pelvic Floor (Video)
July 14, 2016
For real? Pelvic floor exercises. Well, the ladies have their Kegels to do. Now, the technology exists for men to (pause) keep it tight (double pause). Nah, not saying any more here. Watch and let the video tell you what the hell these VylyV smart pelvic training shorts are supposed to do.
(Want to keep a strong schlong? There’s an app for that. BWAAAHAHAAAAA!)
The Cyclotron: Spokeless Smart Cycle (Video)
July 14, 2016
The Hubless Smart Bicycle bka The Cyclotron. Nice! Technological dopeness with the family in mind. Check out the video package above on the future of cycling, transportation, exercise, and more. Of course, there is a Kickstarter Campaign going on (linked below).
Posted in Business, Technology, Videos | Tags: Android, App, Carbon Fiber, Cyclotron Bike, Cyclotron Cycle, Electronic E-Gear Box, Future of Cycling, Hubless Smart Bicycle, iphone, Space Grade, Spokeless Smart Cycle, The Cyclotron Bike, The Future of Cycling, Wing Man Child Seat, Wing Man Child Seat attachment | No Comments »
Technology/Product: Amazing Omni-Capable Liddiard Wheels (Video)
July 1, 2016
William Liddiard – just using his noodle (e.g. brain), available materials and time to work on them – has developed his own working omni-capable wheels (e.g. wheels that can move a vehicle in all directions, and turn on the spot). Liddiard Wheels are durable and can work in all weather and road conditions. They could be installed on anything that works using regular tires. Even these are proof-of-concept prototypes they are good enough to show that they work (like in the clip above). Remember this is what William did in his spare time, with spare materials. Imagine what a dedicated manufacturer could do.
Thing is, he actually wants to license or partner with someone or some such manufacturing entity to bring Liddiard Wheels to market.
Posted in Business, Product, Technology, Videos | Tags: Liddiard Wheels, omni capable wheels, proof-of-concept, prototype, William Liddiard | No Comments »
Technology: Boston Dynamics Introduces Its SpotMini ‘Dog Robot’ (Video)
June 28, 2016
Dog robot, dog bot, looking-like-a-giraffe-bot… whatever. Though we are into tech, gotta admit this is getting kinda creepy. Especially at the end of this clip (you can keep that cola can, um, ‘Spot’).
SpotMini is a new smaller version of the Spot robot, weighing 55 lbs dripping wet (65 lbs if you include its arm.) SpotMini is all-electric (no hydraulics) and runs for about 90 minutes on a charge, depending on what it is doing. SpotMini is one of the quietest robots we have ever built. It has a variety of sensors, including depth cameras, a solid state gyro (IMU) and proprioception sensors in the limbs. These sensors help with navigation and mobile manipulation. SpotMini performs some tasks autonomously, but it often uses a human for high-level guidance.
Still, this is a solid step forward in robotics tech; a mobile pick-and-place robot with some serious intelligence designed into it by Boston Dynamics.
Posted in Product, Technology, Videos | Tags: all-electric robot, Boston Dynamics, Robot, Spot, SpotMini | No Comments »
Technology: Nissan’s FPV Drone Is Insanely Fast (Video)
June 27, 2016
We’ve done our share of posts on drones on here for certain. We’ve even written up drone racing for sport. That might bring to mind just how fast these things go; but how fast is that really?
Well, Nissan has this GT-R Drone – one of the fastest accelerating FPV (First Person View) racing drones in the world. Watch it above, keeping up with the new 2017 Nissan GT-R while filming on the track.
Zero to 100, real quick. Like in less than two seconds. Crazy!
Posted in Product, Sports, Technology, Travel, Videos | Tags: Britain, drone, Drone Racing, Drone Racing champion, First Person View, FPV, GT-R Drone, James Bowles, NISMO, Nissan, Nissan Europe, Nissan GT-R, quadcopter, Ricardo Sanchez, Silverstone, Sky-Hero, Sky-Hero quadcopter, Tornado XBlades Racing, World Drone Prix, World Drone Prix Champions | No Comments »
Sideways Elevators In London (Video)
June 17, 2016
Thyssenkrupp Elevator CEO Andreas Schierenbeck has declared this concept as one that could “undoubtedly change the face of London’s transport network, and reinforce the UK’s position at the head of global innovations.” No cables; magnetically driven; able to move up, down and sideways… to eliminate street glut by streamlining the ‘mid-commute’ (travelers exiting subway cars, walking out of stations via mazes of underground to top-bound pathways, onto the street, into tall buildings and packed elevators to get to their destinations…only to reverse that madness to get home). Here’s the idea.
Thyssenkrupp MULTI elevator technology, rope-less and moving sideways, increases passenger shaft capacity by 50%. Originally designed for tall buildings MULTI can also open up new possibilities for underground metro stations, set to make metro hubs true centers of human interaction.
Imagine a futuristic George Jetson meets Star Trek car-and-lift system that takes throngs of passengers from subway car to in-building destination; eliminating ‘people traffic’ in much the same way that an underground rail system reduces the amount of traffic on surface roadways. Dope! And they are testing in the UK in 2017.
Posted in Technology, Travel, Videos | Tags: Andreas Schierenbeck, London, magnetic elevator, MULTI, rope-less elevator, Sideways Elevators, Thyssenkrupp, Thyssenkrupp Elevator, UK, United Kingdom | No Comments »
Elon Musk: Life Is A Videogame? (Video)
June 17, 2016
Consider that we, in what we call reality, actually exist as part of a simulation (like ‘The Matrix’). It sounds crazy, but billionaire tech futurist Elon Musk says it is crazy not to think of our existence in this way. He posits that 40 years ago, the height of video gaming tech was pong – two rectangles and a dot. In less than half a century we grew the tech into some realistic, 3D simulations, in a ‘world’ of millions of simultaneous players… and such tech is getting better and better, faster and faster. Soon the line between real and virtual could very well become irrevocably blurred. Heck, to have Musk tell it, it may have happened already.
Could that be accidental, incidental, or random evolution? Well, Musk says what he thinks. What do YOU think?
Posted in Opinion, Panel, Technology, Videos | Tags: alternate reality, Code Conference 2016, Elon Musk, Is life a video game, Recode, simulated reality, The Matrix, Virtual Reality | No Comments »
Science: Stan Larkin Lived 555 Days With A Backpack Powered Artificial Heart (Video)
June 15, 2016
DUDE! It’s like he had a powered heart. A Tony Stark heart. Like Iron Man but without the ‘Arc Reactor’ part. But seriously, the bleak picture of a heart disease patient waiting for an organ – sickly, hospitalized 24-7 the whole duration of the wait – could be a thing of the past! Watch this medical miracle gone sensational viral video… and be amazed!
A 24-year-old man survived 555 days without a heart with the help from a portable artificial heart.
READ: MAN LIVES 555 DAYS WITHOUT A HEART (CNN)
– @ojones1
Technology: Machine 3D Prints Metal Structures In Midair (Video)
May 26, 2016
You’ve seen us post on 3D printers here before; the slow, layering from the base up type. And those were cool. But what about incorporating laser tech and raw materials with a printer capable of generating objects made of metal in mid-air?
In this video, see the laser-assisted method developed by Wyss Core Faculty member Jennifer Lewis that allows metal to be 3D printed in midair. Credit: Lewis Lab / Wyss Institute at Harvard University.
Posted in Technology, Videos | Tags: 3D print metal structures, 3D printer, 3D Printing Metal in Midair, laser, lasering, metal structures, midair laser, nanoparticles, Wyss Institute | No Comments »
