Author: John

Inkless pen made of solid metal

I wonder if this uses a low melting point alloy like Field’s metal.

The solid metal ‘nib’ consists of a metal alloy, that leaves a mark on most types of paper. If you use the sort of paper typically used in printers and photocopiers, the pen leaves a mark that looks as if it was made by a pencil. However the line will not smudge, and cannot be rubbed out. Since there is no ink, there is nothing to dry out, so the pen will work just as well in 25 years time as it does today. And of course it never needs sharpening.

[via Boingboing]
Inkless pen made of solid metal

Idea Globe or Polar Chalk Board

I love this idea! I’m going to be on the look out for an old globe to do this to.

Don’t have much room for a full white board or maybe you think chalk boards are outdated and take up too much invaluable wall space? Why not build yourself a handy desktop Idea Globe™!

Ingredients:

1. Used classroom globe (in this case my wife bought me one from target for x-mas).
2. Chalkboard Paint
3. Spackle
4. Newspapers
5. Gesso (with squirt of black acrylic paint).
6. Coat Hanger

Directions…

Read more here:
Invention: Idea Globe or Polar Chalk Board

DIY Electric Kenetic Energy Weapon System

Now this is classic mad scientist stuff! The idea is simple, fling bullets at your target. Ok, it’s a little more complex than that but not very much. This is a simplified version of something that’s been popping up in the tech news lately, the DREAD system. I think the version form 1963 could be made from an Altoids tin and an electric motor from a Furby…

DIY centrifuge weapon from 1963 Popular Mechanics

The Online Paper Airplane Museum

theonlinepaperairplanemusuemlogogif.gifJust in time for the wintry weekend, a site that can keep you amused for days! Just stock up on paper before you get snowed in.

The Mission of the museum is to inspire everyone to greater heights, no matter what they choose. If this much variation and grace can come from a simple piece of paper, imagine what you can do!

The curator says that he is going ot add my ‘build a glider from a fast food container‘ project. Neat!

The Online Paper Airplane Museum

Top 10 Robots of Japan

Paro seal robots on display at the 2006 NextFestAwards have been given out by Japan’s Ministry of Economics and Trade Industry for the top 10 robots in the area of service, industrial, civil, and small to medium sized venture robots.
It’s easy to see why Japan has given out these awards. Japan has a pretty low birth rate and their citizens are living longer and longer so it makes sense to build robots that will assist the elderly. I’m all for it, as the technology advances more and more of it will trickle down to everyday tasks. I for one hope that robotic fueling stations for cars become common. It might force car makers to establish a standard fuel port for cars but I think that would be a small concession for the convenience and environmental benefits such a system would create.
I saw a gob of the contenders at the 2006 NextFest in New York last September, and I can say that the Paro robot seals are going to be a big hit when they come across to the US. From the reactions of the kids that were interacting with them I’m sure that pediatric hospitals will be buying some of them.
KHR-2HV robots are cool just because they walk like humans but they are low enough in price that you could see a few being used in a school setting to teach robotics.
Go follow the link and see who took home the top award.

[via MAKE]

Top 10 robots selected for Robot Award 2006