IKEA might be known for soulless furniture basics, but in the year 2040 they’re planning on selling mood-adjusting kitchenware, and fridges that project celebrity chefs’ cooking tutorials. In short, it doesn’t sound all that far-fetched.

The “SKARP” concept as it’s been dubbed, was designed after close to 2,000 people were surveyed on what they expect kitchens to look like in 2040. I’m not so sure about their idea that this kitchen will have sixth-generation iPads in every cabinet door, but the 3D food printing is certainly something we know is on its way.

These numbers correlate to the objects in the picture above—

1.) Food is grown on this shelf without soil.
2.) 3D food printer
3.) Fridge, with an interactive 3D screen.
4.) Multi-touch tap.
5.) Self-cleaning surfaces.
6.) This tool displays nutritional info of ingredients
7.) Remote-controlled cooker
8.) Retractable shelves
9.) Height-adjustable cabinets
10.) Energy monitor
11.) Genetically-engineered food.
12.) Roll-out chopping boards and draws.

Really, 2040? Most of this technology is already available, or at the very least, entirely possible. Nonetheless, I’d give up eating cheese for a kitchen that tidy and organized
Source

One man drove 12,238 miles and across 30 states in the U.S. to scrawl a message that could only be viewed using Google Earth. His big shoutout: “Read Ayn Rand.”

Nick Newcomen did a road trip over 30 days that covered stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. First, he identified on a map the route he would need to drive to spell out the message. He put a GPS device in his car to trace the route he would follow. Then, he hit the road.

“The main reason I did it is because I am an Ayn Rand fan,” he says. “In my opinion if more people would read her books and take her ideas seriously, the country and world would be a better place – freer, more prosperous and we would have a more optimistic view of the future.”

Newcomen, unlike previous GPS artists, actually traveled the lines he traced on the map. He used a GPS logger (Qstarz BT-Q1000X) to “ink” the message. Starting his trip in Marshall, Texas, he turned on the device when he wanted to write a letter and turned off the device between letters. The recorded GPS data was loaded into Google Earth to produce the image above.

“The first word I wrote actually was the word ‘Rand’, then I went up North to do the word ‘Read’ and finished it with ‘Ayn,’” says Newcomen.

And for those who don’t know, Ayn Rand is a Russian-American writer whose books Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead are among the world’s best-selling novels.

Newcomen’s venture sounds pretty crazy, though he gets points for ambition.

What message would you write using a GPS?

source

This vehicle has been pampered by the original owner, and it shows. There has been nothing altered in the mileage representation on this vehicle. Take this vehicle home now; it needs nothing but tender, loving care. Clean smell throughout, appears to have never been smoked in. There are no signs of prior damage on this vehicle. Words cannot describe how flawless the exterior of this fine auto is. Garages are made to protect automobiles and this vehicle shows it…. Very responsive and a joy to drive with great styling and the high tech gadgets for a low cost of ownership. Comfortable, great gas mileage, great in the rain with a clean and functional interior. Great Finance Options Available. This is a CARFAX Certified 1-Owner vehicle. We stand behind this vehicle and the CARFAX report available to you free of charge. We stand behind our vehicles, call for details on the ASE Certified Mechanic inspection this vehicle has passed. If you are reading this, then you are in the market for a new car. Let our Sales Professionals conduct a simple needs and wants analysis to find the exact car for you. We strive to price our vehicles competitively in the market.

via:car gadgets

Bright Idea in Your Wallet

It’s mighty dark in your wallet, a perfect haven for wallet grues. These spawn of old text adventures wreak havoc by de-magnetizing your credit card strips and making that $10 bill you’re sure was in there… disappear with out a trace. Largely unknown, the wallet grue is responsible for billions of dollars in losses every year from unsuspecting wallet users..

Now you can banish those pesky grues and impress your friends with the Credit Card Lightbulb.

This unusual card looks like a flat incandescent bulb, but push the bulb vertical and it unexpectedly lights up. The rest of the card serves as a stand. Store one in your wallet or purse and ward off those deadly grue attacks.

Product Features

• Small lightbulb folds flat for storing your wallet
• Flip up for light
• Same size as a credit card,
  • Batteries included

  via:Light Bulb

I remember having a lava lamp that slowly warmed the lava and moved it about.  However, mine actually had a light bulb on the inside.  This lava lamp can even be used while you’re camping, since it doesn’t even require a bulb or to be plugged in.  Instead this lava lamp goes for the lo-tech approach.  To warm up the lava it only requires a handy little tea light, making it possible to take it wherever your heart desires…….

If you need a quirky light for your patio, then this could work just as easily.  It’s the very first lava lamp to actually be powered by a tea light.  The retro lamp comes in 4 different colors, including pink, purple, turquoise and green.  The rest of it features cast zinc alloy base and bottle cap, plus a chrome plated finish.  Then the glass bottle is filled with that famous super secret lava.  With that small tea candle it can run for 3 hours, which is about the usual burn time for one tea light candle.  You can pick it up for $29.99 through think geek.

via:Gadgets

Don’t be surprised if one day your refrigerator nags you to lose weight, your phone blocks calls it figures you’re too stressed to handle, and your wisecracking car entertains you with pun-filled one liners.

Within a decade or two, researchers at Silicon Valley companies and elsewhere predict, consumer gadgets will be functioning like hyper-attentive butlers, anticipating and fulfilling people’s needs without having to be told. Life would not only be more convenient, it might even last longer: Devices could monitor people’s health and step in when needed to help them get better.

“I think it’s inevitable,” said Michael Freed, an artificial intelligence specialist and program director at Menlo Park, Calif., think tank SRI International, which has been studying the concept for the military. Noting that some of these gadgets already are being developed, he added, “I expect we’ll see more soon — a trickle and then a flood.”

The technology propelling this new generation of personal assistants is a combination of sophisticated sensors and carefully tailored computer software. As envisioned, the machines would adjust their own actions to the preferences and needs of an individual, by analyzing data on the person’s past actions and monitoring current behavior with cameras, audio recorders and other sensors.

Intel, the Santa Clara, Calif., chipmaker that has been studying the technology for several years, believes that one day soon the gadgets will have the ability to read their owner’s emotions.

While some experts have proposed that face and voice recognition gear be used to detect a person’s disposition, Intel has been experimenting with heart monitors and galvanic skin-response sensors. A study it did last year envisioned the gadgets detecting mood swings “while people are driving, singing, chatting with friends, attending a boring meeting and even while going to the dentist.”

Others expect household appliances eventually will be designed with human-like personalities. In a study this year that was partly financed by Nissan, researchers at Japan’s Hokkaido University experimented with cheery-sounding devices that they imagined one day could serve as “artificial companions for elderly and lonely people” or as pun-spouting car navigation equipment that could “entertain drivers by talking and possibly by joking.”

Although some gadgets already make assumptions about what people want, such as word processing software that automatically corrects grammar, the devices contemplated by Intel, HP and other companies would be capable of much more sophisticated judgments about a broader array of human needs. That’s a complex task — so difficult that some experts are skeptical the technology will be ready in the near future………

“My guess is that we will get there in time, but it’s a little further off than the most ambitious announcements from a lot of companies have indicated,” said Bob Sloan, who heads the computer science department at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “There are a lot of hard problems to solve.”

But other experts say the idea recently has become more practical because of the proliferation of computerized devices, from universal remote controls, MP3 players, air conditioning equipment and microwave ovens to security systems, lawn-sprinkler controllers, exercise equipment and toys.

Because many of these devices come with cameras, global positioning systems and other sensors to monitor what’s around them, these experts say, it’s not hard to imagine them gathering enough data about people to act autonomously on their behalf, assuming the individuals let the gizmos have that authority.

One product that already claims to partly think for its owner is a “personal assistant” app for the iPhone and iPod developed by Siri, a San Jose company Apple bought in April.

Besides being able to recommend a good play, book a taxi and offer helpful reminders, the app — which responds to verbal queries — “adapts to your preferences over time,” Siri claims. For example, ask it about a good place to eat nearby and it might suggest a certain type of restaurant you have picked before, a company spokesman said. He added that the app also can learn to recognize a person’s voice and speaking style, which might make it easier for it to understand what the person is saying on a noisy street.

Other products could be on the way soon, said Diane Cook, a researcher at Washington State University, which has an experimental smart house filled with such devices.

“We have companies large and small and in-between visiting us monthly — IBM, Bosch, Qualcomm — all wanting to commercialize it, all trying to decide what that first step is, that first niche,” she said.

Stanford University operates a similar research lab. When it held a workshop on the technology three weeks ago, it attracted interest from Facebook, Google, Honda, Intel, Microsoft, Nokia, Panasonic, Sony and Hewlett-Packard, according to the lab’s website.

Hamid Aghajan, who supervises the lab, foresees gadgets knowing enough about their human housemates to select appropriate lighting and music when the people are eating or reading, coaching them on their speaking skills during meetings and connecting them via social networking sites with people the gadgets determine share their interests.

Peter Harwell, a senior researcher at HP, believes such devices could be built into new homes within a decade or so, though he cautions they must operate “in a way that doesn’t annoy the user.”

One initial application of the technology is expected to be monitoring the elderly in their homes.

Oregon Health & Science University researchers say they have detected the onset of dementia in older people by using smart pill containers that record whether the person takes their medicine and motion sensors that can tell if their walking and dressing slowed, potential early signs of the disease.

Some experts believe it will be possible for a refrigerator with the right sensors to keep track of how much a person eats and to urge them verbally to adjust their calorie intake. And if the person gets seriously sick, these experts say, other gadgets might be able to detect the illness and alert authorities.

Even the military is interested. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency hopes to develop computerized assistants for commanders that “can reason, learn from experience, be told what to do, explain what they are doing, reflect on their experience and respond robustly to surprise.”

All this raises concerns for Eric Goldman, who directs Santa Clara University’s High Tech Law Institute. One issue is how to protect the privacy of the information the gadgets accumulate on people.

“The more data we gather the more the government is going to want to get its paws on it,” he said, adding that lawyers in court cases may try to obtain it too. There also is no guarantee such a device “will do exactly what we want it to,” he warned. “There is always the possibility that the smart agent will go rogue.”

But others consider the potential benefits worth pursuing. That includes using the technology to rescue people from uncomfortable situations.

If a person gets a call from someone who stresses them out, according to Intel officials, their savvy phone might automatically switch the caller into a voice message. Another intriguing possibility could arise if the phone notices its owner is extremely tense in a meeting, added Lama Nachman, a researcher at the chipmaker. In that case, it might respond with what she termed an “exit phone call,” a bogus ring that gives the person a convenient excuse to leave.

via:gadgets

BMW to offer an in-car wireless internet system for just $200.

BMW Australia is set to offer wireless internet access in its cars before the end of this year.

The system will allow drivers and passengers to access the web and email accounts by using an internet-capable mobile phone, with the car’s iDrive display screen acting as the computer monitor, and the iDrive joystick operating as a mouse. ……..

As with some sat-nav systems and DVD entertainment systems, BMW’s in-car internet system has been homologated to comply with Australian standards, and only works when the car is in “Park”, to avoid any driver distraction.

BMW Australia managing director Stavros Yallouridis says being able to Google on-the-go opens the door to further advances for in-car infotainment.

“For many of us, the internet is an integral part of our daily lives which is why the ultimate driving machine must fully support, and be compatible with, our information and communication needs,” says Yallouridis.

The system will also allow the phone user to call numbers sourced from the internet, and even add new contacts to their phone through BMW’s Navigation System Professional.

“The beauty of this system is in its simplicity, utilising the driver’s internet-capable mobile phone,” says Yallouridis.

The fact that the system uses a mobile phone could prove problematic. New South Wales Police media spokesman Mick Willing says because the system uses mobile telephone technology, NSW drivers could be fined if they use the system in traffic.

“A driver of a vehicle is not permitted to use a mobile phone whilst moving or stationary (not parked), unless exempted as emergency vehicle,” says Willing.

“As a result a driver would commit an offence if using this system through a mobile phone as there is Supreme Court decision in NSW that states any use regardless of other uses of a mobile phone is classified as using a mobile phone. This can be turning it off or on.”

So if you spend quite a bit of time parked in a BMW (Hire Car drivers, take note), the BMW Internet system could be just the ticket. It will cost $154 for vehicles under the luxury car tax threshold ($57,466), and $200 for new BMWs over that price.

The system is likely to make its first appearance in December, with orders commencing in August.

via:google gadget

How it works?

• Charge your phone or gadgets in the car
• Plugs into your cigarette lighter
• Super-low profile: doesn’t jut out and block cup holders………

Juice your gadgets without losing a cup holder

One of the best things about technology is watching new devices shrink in size as time goes on. Remember how big cell phones were back in their infancy? They were practically bricks and could only barely make phone calls. Now we have phones that are handheld computers and cameras, and handheld computers and cameras that occasionally make phone calls when the stars align. *cough* ANYHOO, one such device that is finally shrinking to a manageable size is the car power adapter.

Say goodbye to the clunky chunks of plastic and metal that blocked the driver’s side cup holder! The Tiny USB Car Power Adapter fits snugly into the cigarette lighter, jutting out just enough for you to be able to pull it out. But you won’t want to do that! You’ll be thrilled to have a charger that you can use to power up your phone or phone-like device, mp3 player, or other electronic wonders. You’ll be even more thrilled that you can still fit your giant +32oz Vessel of Caffeine into your cup holder for those long drives. Perfection.

A tangled web no more because more gadgets are going wireless, writes Stephen Fenech

BlueSIM Phone
Price: $299
Rating: * * *

Be it for convenience or health, many people prefer to limit time spent on a mobile phone. The BlueSIM looks like a regular desktop phone, but it can pair with up to eight handsets using Bluetooth.

It then lets users make and receive calls using the mobile phone’s cellular connection. It’s ideal for users who rely on their mobile phone but want to limit the exposure to potentially harmful radiation.

The device has the Phonebook Access Profile (PBAP), so users can browse contact details of friends. Those with a regular home or office phone can also connect the BlueSIM gadget in addition to a mobile phone.

Belkin Play Max Router
Price: $279.95
Rating: * * * *

Belkin has taken routers to the next level with the Play Max model that has an added layer of intelligence to make downloading and sharing files easier. It does this with apps that can distinguish different internet uses and optimise the performance of each.

The Play Max Router can detect and resolve network issues, run routine scans to maintain clear channels and stream music wirelessly to a stereo or gaming console.

Other apps can assist with wireless printing, labelling downloaded music tracks and making it easier to download large files. The Play Max can also prioritise traffic on the network for better performance……..

NetComm My Zone
Price: $299
Rating: * * * *

Sometimes wi-fi networks are not where you need them to be. In that case you can use the NetComm My Zone, a small 3G modem and router that can deliver wireless internet to your gadgets from the phone network.

It has a built-in, rechargeable battery and, being only slightly larger than a credit card, is small enough to fit in your pocket or bag.

The NetComm My Zone is not locked to any network and can fit a standard 3G SIM card and deliver download speeds of up to 7.2Mbps.

Its connection can be shared with up to 10 devices and its network can be protected with a password.

TDK WR700
Price: $199
Rating: * * * *

When listening to music through headphones you run the risk of becoming tangled in cables. TDK’s WR700 does away with the cable altogether to free up your listening experience.

Using TDK’s Kleer wireless technology, the headphones are cable-free while maintaining audio quality. The WR700 comes with a small transmitter that connects to the audio device’s headphone jack and sends the signal to the headphones up to 10m away.

The compact cans have cushioned ear cups which provide a comfortable fit while reducing outside noise that would detract from your songs.

Kogan Wi-Fi Digital Radio iPod Dock
Price: $199
Rating: * * *

This net-friendly radio lets you reach more than 15,000 stations from around the world via the internet. Its wireless connection is also handy to stream music from computers and other media players on your wireless network.

The device is also a DAB+ digital radio so local stations sound clearer than ever and allow tuning by station name rather than frequency.

Users can view scrolling text on the display, such as the name of a song playing or a phone number. If you’d rather listen to your own music there is an iPod dock and an aux-in connection for MP3 players.

via:Gadgets