Geekie Gadgets

FastMac U Socket: The First Wall Socket with USB Ports

by nice on 25/05/10 at 11:53 am

More gadgets in your home often mean more wires, more adapters, and more clutter, especially when you’re using your gadgets simultaneously or when you’re charging them. And when you’re charging your devices via USB ports, the hassle even increases because you’ll have to power up your desktop or laptop just to charge the gadgets. Yikes! More wires getting tangled. Until the U Socket is introduced!

The U Socket is a simple 3-prong, wall-mounted AC receptacle, only it has two additional USB ports. The said ports can power devices compatible with a 5V power adapter. But, the good thing is, you won’t need the adapter when charging—you can charge directly from the port. So, you’ll have less clutter and mess whenever you’re charging. The said innovation also saves on energy because the USB port is only powered whenever you connect something to it. The energy that you can save by using this socket will reach up to $25 per year. Now, isn’t that a good start to living green?

The U Socket is still undergoing some redesign, and this redesign is expected to result in a safer device with more features and improved capabilities. Among those that you can look forward to are USB 3.0, 10w charging support, smaller transformers approved by safety agencies, TruePower Technology, and compliance with EPA’s Energy Star requirements. The manufacturer is now accepting pre-orders, with the shipping date expected to be on October this year at the latest. You can now order the U Socket at $19.95 per unit.

When Safety is Your Priority, Go FlareSafe!

by twinks on 21/09/09 at 6:40 am

Like the UFO, Lochness Monster and Boogeyman, there is no such thing as too safe. We only get one shot at life and we want it to be as safe and pain free as it can get. When traveling outdoors, there is no better safety equipment than forethought, knowledge and the new 3 in 1 FlareSafe. Since safety is our primary concern, the designers of Flaresafe took it upon themselves to combine a powerful LED flashlight, smoke detector and SOS distress alarm.

If you’ve been watching survival guides and other shows on surviving the great outdoors, you’ll realize that the important thing is to get help and get rescued. This device has 3 features essential to safety and getting rescued. The torch four LED lights features three settings, one for full beam, half beam and strobe. This ultra bright flashlight has a 20m focused beam visible for 2km. The optical smoke detector serves as a loud 90db fire alarm at 3m. If a smoke is detected, this survival gadget will automatically sound the alarm and turn on the torch. Finally the distress signal, 110 db of attention hungry noise that can be heard 500m away for over 60 hours.

The FlareSafe is made to survive with its military grade plastics and IPX6 rating. This means that this torch is water resistant to some extent like powerful sprays of water. FlareSafe uses 2 AA batteries and a lithium CR123A (3v) battery.

Visit this website to get FlareSafe – your newly must-have safety gear.

The LightLane won’t scare bikers anymore

by clandestinemuse on 04/07/09 at 11:12 am

One of the famous trends these days is energy conservation. People go to different heights just to do something for the environment. We take advantage of natural light, we harness solar energy, we throw our trash in the proper waste bin. If we are able to do everything, if only we have the resources needed, everyone will be driving cars powered by hydrogen or installing solar panels in their roofs.

Let us take biking for example. Not everyone knows how to bike. Out of the millions of people who are able to ride the bike, a percentage uses the bike when going to work. Out of that percentage, a smaller percentage have had an experience where they were inches away from a potential road accident.

The LightLane can pretty much avoid that. Most of the time, drivers do not care to look if your bike is too close to their cars. What if they suddenly bumped you out of your bike? The LightLane has a laser that imitates a real bike lane. Since not all major roads and highways have bike lanes, the LightLane can signal the driver into telling that you are on his car’s right side.

It is just like marking your territory. It will be safer for the user and road accidents will be reduced.

The concept for the LightLane was submitted by Alex Tee and Evan Gant in a design competition. Unfortunately, their design did not win, but the idea garnered a huge response from the people. This is why production for the LightLane might soon become a reality.

You can find products similar to the LightLane here.

The “Smart Gun” – A Gun that won’t Fire unless used by its intended Owner!

by rheaver on 15/12/08 at 3:50 pm

The “Smart Gun” is a gun actually “smart” enough to recognize its handler, and prevent it from being discharged by unauthorized users. This technology would immensely decrease the violent crimes that are committed with stolen black market guns, and accidental gun deaths of children and others would become practically obsolete. Several private gun manufactures currently have different innovations in research and development., the government has allotted special funding to help aid the development of this technology for police officers and military personal.

The basic idea behind the “Smart Gun” is integrated electronics. Different sensors located in the grip and trigger of the firearm make this technology possible. This technology includes radio frequency coding, touch memory, fingerprint ID, and other possibilities. Each idea creating the assurance that only the intended user of the firearm would be able to use it.

The radio frequency controlled sensors are activated by a transponder worn by authorized users. This technology is being researched for police units that would allow department issued firearms to be used by any officer wearing a transponder. There is a blocking pin located in the trigger mechanism that is removed when the gun receives a coded signal sent out by the transponder. One of the issues with this technology is in the amount of distance between the firearm and transponder, most firearms taken from, and used against police officers are being used at very close range which would still allow for the gun to be used by an unauthorized user.

Fingerprint recognition utilizes common fingerprint recognition technology. The trigger is embedded with sensors that are pre-set to the fingerprint of its users trigger finger and will not discharge until that fingerprint is recognized. The issue with this technology is a common problem with fingerprint recognition, it can be compromised much too easily making the gun difficult to use even for the owner.

Somewhat like fingerprint recognition, touch memory is also an idea being researched by gun manufacturers. The touch memory system utilizes sensors located in the grip of the gun that is pre-programmed with specific hand grip pressure from the hand of the intended user. This also comes with the same issues of delayed recognition which is not ideal for immediate safety needs.

Safety, security, and reliability are the most important aspects of utilizing this “smart” technology. There is a fear of reduced gun safety by civilian gun owners due to a false sense of security and immediate reliability concerns with police and military use. This technology can save millions of lives and would change the world but there are still some bugs that need to be worked out.

The BEAR – Vecna’s Lifesaving Humanoid Robot

by rheaver on 21/11/08 at 11:55 am

The BEAR or Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot is a search and rescue marvel. This humanoid style robot can rescue people in dangerous situations while avoiding the possibility of losing more human life. It was initially created for battlefield extraction but has been recognized for its other possibilities. Being the same size as an average man it can travel places that are not safe for humans but with the ease of a human. It can enter unsafe buildings and structures as well as biologically or chemically contaminated areas and search for survivors. It has the capability of lifting up to 500 lbs, making it possible to remove debris and carry most any human to safety.

The BEAR is created using three elements, an extremely powerful hydraulic upper-body, high mobility tracked legs, and dynamic balancing behavior (DBB) that allow it to balance upright on its ankles, knees, or hips. The hydraulic upper-body is similar to common “earth moving” equipment only in a smaller scale. The dynamic balancing behavior makes it possible for the BEAR to maneuver over any terrain, combined with the independent tracked legs it can travel on its knees or with its legs flat on the ground across treacherous areas while carrying a human body.

Applications:

• Casualty Extraction
• Building evacuation
• Long-distance transport
• Search & rescue
• Hospital patient transfers
• Eldercare mobility aid
• Hazardous materials handling
• Mine rescue
• Logistics & heavy lifting
• Zero-infrastructure warehouse automation

Vecna originally received funding from TATRC, the Army’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center. Originally the BEAR was considered to be limited to battlefield extraction. Once the BEAR prototype was tested, the possibilities for this innovation started to surface. Vecna now promotes the BEAR to be useful in healthcare as a “Transfer Bot”. They would work with patients who suffer from mobility impairment in hospitals and nursing homes, assisting in lifting and moving the patients thus providing a better standard of care. Currently the BEAR is completely controlled by a human with remote access but plans for the BEAR include creating semi-autonomous actions which would allow for the BEAR to complete a task without the need of human guidance.

You can read more about the BEAR at Vena’s website http://www.vecnarobotics.com, Vecna has many great innovations and ideas that can change the world and attempt to make it a safer and better through the use of robotics.

The BEAR is shown here carrying a soldier from danger.