Temperature based light for shower…
Peeler and collector
Ice cube controlled…
Ninja stag
Square plug
Kids flipping plates? huh
Nice connector for taps
Easy Chair or Sleep Chair
Wow comb
October 15, 2013
Innovative Inventions that I liked in 2012
November 30, 2011
Panasonic Designs Energy Efficient LED Bulb
A few months ago when a group of politicans wanted to repeal parts of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) in order to bring back the inefficient incandescent light bulb? Well, Panasonic have developed a solution for all those that can seem to let go of the past, with a high-tech LED alternative that resembles the bulbs of old.
Panasonic’s new LED bulb may look like an old fashioned incandescent bulb with its clear glass and visible filament, yet it only uses 4.4 watts. As a result, this ultra-efficient LED bulbs has a lifetime of 40,000 hours which is approximately 40 years (if you use it 2.7 hours per day).
Unlike the old Edison bulb, the Panasonic bulb does not use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which contain mercury and thus need to be disposed of properly. They also reach full intensity as soon as they’re turned on, which hopefully means that certain politicians won’t want to ban them.
As well as being A-energy rated, Panasonic LED bulbs are high in efficiency with 48 lm/W and have a high lumen maintenance of 70% at end of life and a high colour rendering of 80%.
This wonderful idea which must have been a lightbulb concept at Panasonic headquarters has already won a 2011 Good Design Award, and hopefully we will see the electronics company pressing forward with production in the near future.
August 9, 2011
SolarPod Portable Solar Generator Briefcase
The solarpod from Thousand Suns is marketed as a self sufficient portable energy source; ideal for boaters, festival goers and campers! The solarpod is cleverly packaged in a robust looking flight case and our test model was supplied with the optional integrated 15 watt solar panel built into its lid.
The Briefcase
The Top of the Solar Pod
On the top of the unit there is an indicator for both the battery and the charging input. The battery level side lights up with up to 5 blue LED’s to indicate it’s current charge start whilst on the other end of the scale there are up to 5 amber coloured LED’s to show how much power is incoming from the solar panel or mains charger. There is also an On/Off switch for the device as well as a separate On/Off switch for the inverter that powers the 230 volt mains socket.
SolarPod Front
At the front of the unit there are the various output sockets on the unit. These include a 400 watt 13 amp 230v UK plug socket, 2 x 5 volt USB sockets and a 12 volt standard car cigarette lighter socket.
SolarPod Back
The rear of the unit houses the 2 types of input sockets. This is either the 5 amp mains power adapter or connections for a solar panel.
For our review we were supplied with the optional 60 watt foldable solar panel and for anyone wanting to make the most of the solarpod we would certainly recommend that people get this as part of their package.
The Solar Panels
The solar panel simply unclips, folds out and then there are fold down legs to allow you to best angle the solar panel for maximum solar exposure. You simply connect the two panels together and then connect the supplied leads to the solarpod, it really is that simple! In our tests with the optional 60 watt foldable solar panel even with a reasonably cloudy sky we were impressively seeing 2 amber LED’s and with full sun this was hitting 5 LED’s.
To complete a full charge via the solar panel will take approximately 6 hours whilst the 5 amp mains charger can do it in approximately 4 hours. For the environmentally conscious person it’s far more rewarding to use the solar panel to provide you with free and clean electricity! The unit isn’t silent when it’s operating so bear this in mind if you plan to use it somewhere where you will be sleeping. It’s obviously not as loud as a petrol generator but there is an audible sound from the onboard fan, similar to that which you can hear at the back of any standard PC.
This self contained portable energy system is able to run:
-
A 32inch LCD Television for up to 5 hours
Smartphone / iPad for 40 charges
Under counter Fridge for 18 hours
These are impressive numbers and show how versatile this product can be. If you have access to more sunlight then you can easily keep the charge topped up to deliver power for a prolonged period. The battery life on the unit is quoted at around 10 years as after 1500 charge and discharge cycles the batteries performance will have dropped to something like 85%.
Technical Details of the Solarpod
Height (Including Handle): 200mm
Length: 250mm
Width: 110mm
Weight: 4.1 kg
Battery: LiFePO4, 12V 20Ah, 95% recyclable
August 2, 2011
August 1, 2011
Speeding is believing: The bike with gears you can change by using your mind
The world’s first bicycle with gears you can change simply by using your mind has been unveiled by scientists
The Toyota Prius Project Parlee PXP bike has a thought-controlled gearbox that works by responding to cues from the brain – and experts believe anyone will be able to master the technique.
Human/digital interface specialist Deeplocal built the one-of-a-kind helmet, which transfers brainwaves using wireless technology to a micro-control.
All in the mind: The Toyota Prius Project Parlee PXP bike has a thought-controlled gearbox that works by responding to cues from the brain
The ‘neuron helmet’ uses electrodes to pick up neuro-electrical activity to send signals to an electronic gear shifter mounted under the bike’s seat.
Patrick Miller, creative engineer at Deeplocal said: ‘The system has been built using a simple off-the-shelf brainwave reader and software to read the signals.
‘It takes the rider a little bit of training but we’re at the stage where people are successfully changing gears with their mind while riding.
‘There is some special software to train people – while in a neutral state if you think “shift up” the helmet reads those patterns.
‘So over time signals sent to the micro control when a user thinks “shift up” or “shift down”
become recognisable.
‘It’s an experiment at the moment, but once you have control you can do a lot of things like change gear during a journey based on things like speed and distance.’
Smartphone speedometer: The device measures the cyclist’s heart rate and displays the mind-controlled manual gear-shifting
A ‘neuron helmet’ worn by the cyclist uses electrodes to pick up neuro-electrical activity to send signals to an electronic gear shifter mounted under the bike’s seat
Most of the bike – created alongside Toyota, Saatchi & Saatchi and Parlee Cycles – is made from carbon fibre shaped to be aerodynamic and integrates almost all components.
The cables on the Prius bike are routed internally and brakes are built into the forks, while the rider wears a small netbook on their back handling the brainwave reader.
Mr Miller said: ‘It could be mass produced but at the moment it’s just a prototype. As a cyclist myself I’m still used to using my hands and it’s a very different thing.
‘I had no long-term plan with the bike – just to play around and make something cool.
‘We wanted to answer the question “what if?” – how would we do this. It’s just seeing what we can do with science and technology.
‘We took some things off the shelf and made something from it. It was trial and error and we managed to make something from it.’
July 11, 2011
Bamboo Screen
Looking for an earth friendly way to divide a room? Check out the rollable Bamboo Screen made from eco-friendly bamboo that contains no pesticides or harmful chemicals. Like any good homeowner, you are concerned about what you bring into your house and don’t want something filled with pesticides. This handy screen can partition off part of a room or even hide a computer, wires or something else that you want to keep out of everyone’s eyesight. The earth friendly Bamboo Screen is very sturdy and measures 8 feet in width and 6 feet in height so is perfect for just about every room in your house! Get some privacy in an eco-friendly way with the Bamboo Screen!
$269.00 @ Real Goods
Portable Solar Generator
The ultimate in adaptable solar power, this solar generator means you need never be without clean electricity whatever your situation. Grid failure, family camping trip or just powering a shed in the garden without having to wire it up to the grid, its uses are endless. It has its own built in charge controller and a high capacity battery to store excess energy, so it can be used into the night, when you most need it. With its own wheels it is very portable and easy to set up wherever you need it and can be stored away when not in use. Not cheap, it will however save you huge amounts of money from your electricity bills if you use it regularly, reducing your carbon footprint and will give you immense peace of mind in the event of emergency power failure.
Costs $3,999 from Real Goods 😦
The Solar-Powered Stairway Light
This Solar Stairway Light allows you to light up any stair, step or other such low ground hazard in your outdoor spaces simply and effectively. The light is easily attached to a wall or similar structure next to the hazard to provide eco-friendly powered illumination at night.
The Solar Stairway Light has been designed to be placed on a wall next to the step or other such hazard in your outdoor space. The light provides you with added safety ensuring that the hazard is clearly seen by all even in the darkest of nights. The light is powered through its large solar panel that allows it to charge its integrated battery during the day, from a full charge this battery will provide you with enough electricity to illuminate the area for up to 10 hours.
The elegant light is constructed from a sturdy weather resistant brushed stainless steel, allowing it to be left in position all year round. The light uses 4 LEDs to provide a bright focused light that provides you with a 46 cm (18 in) cone of illumination. Multiple lights can be purchased to light up either a large set of stairs or separate hazardous areas in your outdoor space.
The Solar Stairway Light has an inbuilt light sensor allowing the light to turn on automatically once dusk falls ensuring your steps are lit when it is required. Due to the use of eco-friendly solar energy the light requires no complex wiring, and can be positioned quickly and easily where it is required most, though some thought must be given to ensure the light receives adequate sunlight during daylight hours to charge effectively. The light provides your outdoor spaces with added safety without adding any stresses over long term running costs or complex wiring.
December 7, 2010
Green Box: Takeaway Box With Integrated Eating Utensils
Green Box is constructed out of biodegradable material to avoid the use of plastics in the take-away food industry. It integrates an eco-friendly takeaway box with eating utensils where you can easily punched it out (indicated by groove lines). It will drastically reduce the need for plastic utensils, therefore, reducing plastic waste in our environment. Green Box is made with PLA (polylactide) – a biodegradable thermoplastic derived from sources such as cornstarch or sugar cane. For additional strength and better grip, the utensils have been designed with slightly thicker at the rear. You can enjoy your meal without harming your environment.
November 9, 2010
Soladey – Solar Powered Toothbrush That Eliminates Need For Toothpaste
Soladey is a toothbrush that uses negative ions to kill any mouth bacteria, allowing you to clean your teeth without requiring any toothpaste. The negative ions are generated through the reaction of titanium with light and water, in some models of the soladey toothbrush a solar panel is additionally used to generate them.
Soladey Ionic Toothbrush has been developed by Dr. Kunio Komiyama at the University of Saskatchewan and has been manufactured by Japan’s Shiken. The brush contains a titanium dioxide rod which runs from the bristle head (which can be easily replaced) down into the handle. This rod conducts and generates negatively charged ions (electrons). It achieves this through reacting with light and with the water from rinsing your brush before use (and from the saliva in your mouth). Some soladey models boost the amount of negative ions being generated by using a solar panel at the base of the toothbrush. This panel is connection to the titanium dioxide rod through a wire and sends additional negative ions through this.
The Soldey toothbrush will not function in the dark, it is thought to require roughly the same amount of light that a solar calculator requires to operate, which allows it to function in artificially lit rooms. The negative ions help to clean your mouth due to their ability to neutralize the acid of the plaque within the mouth and destroy the harmful bacteria.
Due to requiring no toothpaste, the brush can be used just about anywhere with ease. It can be taken with you camping or to work or school and be used effectively after a meal to help keep your mouth clean. Some may want to add a little toothpaste for minty breath, or add a drop of mint oil to the brush. There are some instances where the ability to clean your mouth without gaining minty breath can be an advantage, especially for those who dislike the taste of toothpastes. This solar toothbrush helps to make cleaning your mouth an easier activity to achieve anywhere and can help save money (and packaging etc) by not requiring toothpaste.
Mai (BlogWorld) 