Category: Technology

StairCycle

Staircycle

All the times I have gone to the guy and walked on that dammed step machine from hell I’ve thought things would be so much better if I was actually getting somewhere for all my work. Didn’t get anywhere with the weight loss thing might have been nice to have gone around the block or something. I guess someone else had the same idea because you can now buy something that gets you somewhere.
Its called a Staircycle, you stand on it and walk up and down while driving around making you think like your getting something done. 🙂
It has eight speeds – three on the childs version – on a Shimano rear hub, no seat so you are pretty much going to break a sweat using it, and very clever gearing that will allow the user to take whatever size step they want.

By the way, the idea can’t be all that crazy, it won the Yahoo Search Marketing’s Think Big Contest, so expect to see ads for these popping up all over the place. I want to try one, looks like a pretty cool idea. Hey, someone hit the donation button and help me out ok? Please? 🙂

StairCycle Innovations
(Thank you George for this info)
innovation, staircycle, excercise, cool

TactaPad

Tactapad

I want one! This is just too neat! My friend George told me about this today, he edits gobs of video and I can see why he would want tone of these. If you could just pluck and plop video chunks around your screen with your fingers would be fantastic. Haptic control over your computer is going to take off one of these days, for somethings a mouse is just a pain in the arse. The easier it is to use your tools the better work you can do.
Too bad it’s not avaliable right now, but with some luck it will be soon.
Here is some press stuff from their page:

Interact with your computer in a direct and natural way. With the TactaPad you can reach into your computer and use both of your hands. Just like the real world.

      See — The TactaPad’s camera continually captures an image of your hands. Your hands are translucently overlaid on your display as live video.
      Touch — The TactaPad is touched directly with the hands. The surface can be touched in multiple places at the same time. A cursor appears on your display for every touch.
      Feel — The surface moves vertically when pressed, providing dynamic force feedback. Each touch has a unique feel which corresponds to the object being touched.

Introducing the TactaPad

haptic, computer, input, blue sky

A Thousand Eyes Looking At You

Argus C3 - A totaly sweet ride!

Holy cow! Quite the collection of cameras AND sample photos from each of them! Some of these I’ve seen before, heck I even own one or two of them. The sample photos are a show stopper if you ask me, some of the cameras have quite different ways of viewing the subjects. If you ever hear a photographer say that they have a favorite lens because its contrasty, or is gives a certian look to an image this is a great way to get a feel for what they are talking about.
Quite an impressive collection. Make sure you check out the PinPionyrPanorama, very cool! (If you have a pinhole camera you can make those too, just don’t advance the film all the way and turn the camera a bit so you can get full coverage of your subject.)

Andreas Wolkerstorfer > cameras

Direct Hit!

Temple 1

Last night the space probe ‘Deep Impact’ did just that to comet Temple 1. Some fo my friends and I were out looking for it, I didn’t see anything but Kevin and Donovan said they might have seen somthing flash. I had a camera with me but didn’t know exactly where to aim it. I have to admit that I was too busy playing ‘Ticket to Ride‘ to look up the info correctly. Anyway, the probe impacted as planned and hopefuly it will produce some good science as to what a comet is made up of. The photos from the impactor just before touching down at 6 miles a second are pretty cool. Go have a look now.

NASA – Deep Impact

NASA, Deep Impact, comet, space

Itty Bitty Flying Machine

Dragon flyer

This looks like a very cool toy. Not only can you fly it in doors, you can attache a little video transmitter so you get a cool, if not stomach turning, point of view from your little aircraft!

The Draganflyer V Ti R/C Helicopter is small and agile at just 30 inches in diameter. This compact flying-masterpiece lifts off effortlessly with its ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber body and stylish lines. Unlike gas-powered or other electric radio-controlled helicopters that are complicated and difficult to fly, ours has been designed for beginners. Our RC helicopter uses a heading-lock yaw gyro which helps simplify flight in all conditions. The Draganflyer V Ti gives you complete control over yaw, pitch, and roll – full aerial maneuverability – using a patented control board that is so elegant it uses 95% fewer parts than conventional helicopters. The Draganflyer V Ti comes as a complete package requiring a simple, quick, and straightforward assembly of only 30 minutes.

Dragan Flyer V – New Version!
helicopter, R/C, toys, cool