Archive for the ‘Cool’ Category

Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera

36 fixed focus cell phone cameras and a peak sensing accelerometer make for a novel way of taking a 360 degree panoramic image.

 ”We used the camera to capture full spherical panoramas at scenic spots, in a crowded city square and in the middle of a group of people taking turns in throwing the camera. Above all we found that it is a very enjoyable, playful way to take pictures.”

[Via MAKE]

Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera // Jonas Pfeil.

R/C Truck in Afghanistan Saves 6 Soldiers’ Lives

 Very cool use of off the shelf tech.

The little truck was used by the troops to run ahead of them on patrols and look for roadside bombs. Fessenden has had it since 2007, when Ernie and Kevin Guy, the owner of the Everything Hobby shop in Rochester, rigged it with a wireless video camera and shipped it to him.

Last week, it paid off. Chris Fessenden said he had loaned the truck to a group of fellow soldiers, who used it to check the road ahead of them on a patrol. It got tangled in a trip wire connected to what Fessenden guesses could have been 500 lbs. of explosives. The bomb went off. The six soldiers controlling the truck from their Humvee were unhurt.

Remote Controlled Truck Sent to Soldier in Afghanistan Saves 6 Soldiers’ Lives – ABC News.

How Yuri Gagarin Went Into Space

( Click on infographic to make larger )

Source SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

3D Comes to the iPhone with the Hasbro My3D

I’ve finally found an accessory for my iPhone 4 that i just can’t live without. The mega toy company Hasbro have unveiled a 3D viewer that’s designed for Apple’s second, third, and fourth generation iPod touch, iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPhone 4. As soon as I found out about it I ran to my local Target (its exclusively sold there, coming to a different store near you in June!) and patiently waited for the sales guy to unpack the boxes. Needless to say I was the first person to buy one from that store. Read the rest of this entry »

See larger image Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3 Digital Camera with 3.5-Inch LCD (Camera) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock Used from: $151.99 In Stock Release date September 1, 2010.

Astounding Coin Animation!

You don’t usually hear the phrase ‘astounding coin animation’ these days do ya? Have a look at the video all the way to the end, the makers show the secret behind how it was made. No elves were involved, I promise! (I like the old PET computer in the background. nice!)

See larger image Beginner's Guide to Animation: Everything you Need to Know to get Started (Paperback) By (author) Mary Murphy List Price: $22.95 USD New From: $8.93 In Stock Used from: $5.14 In Stock Release date October 14, 2008.

Clever Kinetic Sculpture

Nice little kinetic ball sorting thing. The video (might take some time to load, it’s coming from China) has enough close up shots that is would not be that tough to duplicate this. I need to find a good supply of that brass wire he uses, looks like it’s brazing rod so it shouldn’t be too hard to locate some. I see a trip to Harbor Freight in my future!
Funny DIY Device With Subtle Control of Steel Balls’ tracks

See larger image Creative Kinetics: Making Mechanical Marvels in Wood (Paperback) By (author) Rodney Frost List Price: $14.95 USD New From: $384.05 In Stock Used from: $45.00 In Stock

« Older Entries    Newer Entries »