Introducing the Copenhagen Wheel, an M.I.T. project designed to introduce a smarter, new era of bicycling. Infused with Bluetooth capabilities, this bike lets you know updated status of speed, distance, direction and theft. Yeah, that’s right. Someone tries to tinker with your locked up bike, and you get a text message.
Even better, when you apply your brakes, you are also creating and storing enough energy to give yourself a power boost for later use. The stored kinetic energy is managed by KERS, or the Kinetic Energy Recovery System installed on the rear wheel.
With cold weather all around us, many people who use touch interface devices are going to find that they will have to shed a layer to check email, answer a phone call or navigate their MP3 players. Instead of taking off your gloves, try creating a conductive pad on your finger tips.
These gloves can be purchased, but what is the fun in that? Try making your own gloves with a few simple items. Using your ordinary gloves, you can create an extraordinary interface to communicate between your fingertips and your electronic touch surface device.
You can order a sample bobbin of conductive thread for a small amount of money compared to the cost of a large spindle. Instructables even has an article about creating conductive glue if you choose to go that route. The idea is to create your own active conductive surface with a little creativity and know-how. The possibilities are limitless.
With so many electronic devices showing a progress bar as a visual indicator, why not extend that courtesy to stop lights?
The Eko stoplight, in theory, offers a visual queue to drivers wanting to let off on the gas in advance, or in some cases, punch it at the last second. Regardless, this light is an advancement in traffic signaling, if you ask me. Of course, if you want a real countdown, there is always this option:
I grew up having to split wood when we lived with a wood-burning stove so, I can assure you, these two videos would have done wonders for me, had YouTube been around. The first shows ‘Nordic splitting.’ This is a smart way to splinter off pieces of wood from a log.
The second video shows how to keep your wood bundled as you chop away, being sure to make it safer and quicker to split your logs.
This is a clever design. A tea cup with a mixing ball that you swirl to stir. And with a protruding, curved base, the ball does not fall out as you tilt back to drink. Clever, to say the least.
This set of coffee cups makes fetching coffee a breeze. No need for everyone to make a second trip back to the coffee machine when you can just link your cups together. The ceramic mugs have male and female ports and plugs to join together as you scoot around the office passing out a fresh pick-me-up.
Take a look at this revolutionary structural design method of ‘board on frame’, made famous by IKEA. This smart design process has been documented so you can see it all happen in their European manufacturing facility. Enjoy!
Winter seems to be so near, and these fireplace designs are looking so inviting. There is something about a well-designed fireplace that is welcoming and cozy, even to just look at.
Small spaces can engender the best of designs. So many designs have been centered around tight quarters, but not like this. A company called Spiral Cellars has found a niche market servicing the wealthy wine aficionado.
Using a cut-out hole in the floor beneath common areas in the home, these guys create spiral staircases that lead to small depths; so small in fact, that you can do no more than grab a bottle of wine. A cool factor, indeed, to have such a cool hidden cellar, but at what cost? Plenty, I am sure.
Having seen many induction stovetops, I was excited to see the Caso portable induction plate. This version, priced right and portable, makes induction cooking possible for anyone. Though this hot plate can reach temperatures of up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit, don’t be intimidated. Its built-in safety features include the ability to sense pans on its glass top surface. It also has a 180-minute timer and 10 precise power levels. Well designed and beautifully functional.
Even better, when you apply your brakes, you are also creating and storing enough energy to give yourself a power boost for later use. The stored kinetic energy is managed by KERS, or the Kinetic Energy Recovery System installed on the rear wheel.
