Quantum Levitation: Floating in a 3D Magnetic Field!

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Delana

[ By Delana in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

If you ever needed proof that science is completely amazing, the mind-blowing phenomenon of quantum levitation might just do it. A group of researchers from Tel-Aviv University demonstrates the incredible effect in the video below. We aren’t physicists, but the science behind the phenomenon goes something like this: a crystal sapphire wafer is coated with an extremely thin ceramic layer. When it is cooled to an extremely cold temperature, the ceramic-coated wafer becomes a superconductor.

Putting the superconductor into a magnetic field causes something called the Meissner effect. From there, there is a lot of complicated physics that happens with magnetic fields, superconductivity and magnetic flux tubes. The powers of superconductivity and magnetism fight against each other. When the superconductor moves, the flux tubes move as well – but the superconductor tries to prevent this and so becomes “pinned” or “trapped” in mid-air.

The effect is nothing short of stunning. The wafer appears to levitate effortlessly – and it doesn’t hurt that it gives off impressive amounts of vapor, making the demonstration look almost like magic. It even seems to float upside-down. We have a feeling that if every high-school science teacher used a demonstration like this in class, we wouldn’t be saying “we aren’t physicists” today.

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Outstanding In Their Field: 10 Outrageous Outhouses

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Hey You, Get Onto My Cloud: Bizarre Floating Transport

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[ By Delana in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

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Mini Rube Goldberg Machine Makes Cool Travel Companion

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Steph

[ By Steph in Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

A man takes a seat on a park bench and opens a pair of suitcases, carefully adjusting a few things inside, placing a few small objects in just the right spot. Then an alarm clock sounds, a pencil comes down onto a trigger and the most entrancing sequence of events takes place, one after the other. Melvin the Mini Machine is the creation of Dutch design studio HEYHEYHEY, and it’s possibly the coolest portable Rube Goldberg machine ever invented.

As music starts playing, the choreographed movements begin, flinging objects from one of the suitcases to the other, making their own little sounds. The fact that all of this magic can fit inside these small compartments, compact enough to travel around the world, is even more incredible when you consider the fact that HEYHEYHEY previously created the world’s largest Rube Goldberg machine.

Melvin the Magical Mixed Media Machine was a room-sized exhibit made for 2010 Dutch Design Week, and as cool as it was, it had one big limitation: it couldn’t be moved. Lots of people who couldn’t travel to the exhibit wanted to see it. Thus, the idea for the mini was born.

In addition to the many Rube Goldberg machines that came before them, both Melvins were inspired by the cult 1987 art film ‘The Way Things Go’ by Peter Fischli and David Weiss. Check out a clip, above.

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Rube Goldberg Machines: Making the Simple, Complicated

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Ghost in the Machine: Uniquely Musical Cassette Art

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Creative Musician Makes Crazy Instruments From Everyday Items

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[ By Steph in Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

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Crop Culture: 10 Cool & Futuristic Concept Tractors

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Steve

[ By Steve in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

If you think tractors aren’t exciting, you’ve spent too much time on a collective farm and not enough on the showroom floor. These 10 cool & futuristic concept tractors may not break any speed records but when it comes to bringing the original “mechanical plow horse” up to speed, let’s just say they’re outstanding in their field!

Lamborghini Toro Tractor

(images via: AutoMotto and XciteFun Forum)

Before Lamborghini made supercars, it made superior tractors – true story! Now the Lamborghini Toro takes Ferruccio Lamborghini‘s exoticars back to their roots, in more ways than one.

(images via: AutoMotto and XciteFun Forum)

Designed by 22-year-old Jason Battersby, a Transportation Design Masters student at the Umea Institute of Design in Umea, Sweden, the Lamborghini Toro tractor concept melds elements of the new Lamborghini Reventon with the rugged practicalities inherent in working tractor design. Some say Ferruccio Lamborghini began building exotic cars just to get under Enzo Ferrari’s skin. Well Enzo, maybe it’s time for some payback.

1947 Concept Tractor by Radebaugh

(image via: Granttt33)

The big red machine above was conceived by futurist illustrator Arthur Radebaugh for the Bohn Aluminium and Brass Company. Though dubbed a 1947 model, Radebaugh actually penned the work in 1940. Save for the lack of a glassed-in cab to keep dust out, Radebaugh’s vision extends far beyond just 1947.

Valtra ANTS Tractor

(images via: PsiPunk and ZMags)

The Valtra ANTS Tractor concept was designed by Lighthaus of Sweden as a modular “tractor system” able to adapt to the varied needs of future farmers.

(images via: PsiPunk, Tuvie and MyValtra)

According to Valtra, “ANTS is strong, friendly, dynamic, agile and lightweight just like real ants.” Considering what a nest of actual ants can do, imagine the results farmers will get when an army of ANTS gets to work on the back 40!

ETRION 400 Tractor

(images via: AGweb and Farmers Weekly)

Merlyn Gray of Merlyndesign envisioned the Class ETRION 400 Concept Tractor to do everything modern tractors do, but better. The design exploits the best features of wheeled and tracked tractors to enhance stability and reduce ground compaction. Most radical feature of all? The ETRION 400 is designed to be driverless.

RoboTrac Robotic Mini-Tractor

(image via: GizmoWatch)

Tractor-maker Valtra has their fingers in more than a few pies, one of which being the RoboTrac Robotic Mini-Tractor concept by industrial designer Hannes Seeberg. Wireless internet connectivity and onboard GPS helps keep RoboTrac in the potato patch and out of the petunias.

(images via: GizmoWatch)

Powered by an 85 hp diesel engine and carrying a 200 liter fuel tank, RoboTrac can be customized on-site to suit the needs of the day. Switch between two- and four-wheel drive, switch out the wheels for larger ones, push the button and let RoboTrac loose among the cornstalks.

Case IH Tractor of the Future

(image via: Titan Outlet Store)

This impressive sketch of an un-named “Tractor of the Future” looks as if it were destined to be plowing fields of Red Weed on the dusty plains of Mars. Credit DeviantArtist Slime-Unit with conjuring up a future in which farmers are fully formidable!

International Harvester HT-340 Prototype Repro

(images via: Farm Collector)

The HT-340 was a concept tractor that not only made the jump from blueprints to working prototype, it did it half a century ago! International Harvester endowed the sleek (as tractors go) blue & white machine with a hydrostatic gas turbine engine and displayed it at a number of farm-related events during the summer of 1961.

(image via: Rallycross Blog)

The tractor shown here is a faithful reproduction of the prototype HT-340 which now resides in the Smithsonian Institution. Brian Harris, a retired machine repairman at General Motors, installed a modern gas turbine engine that puts out 150 hp and runs at a blistering 60,000 rpm.

NH² Hydrogen Powered Tractor Concept

(images via: Anglia Farmer and Torque Talk)

New Holland’s NH² concept tractor is powered by hydrogen but this is one concept that won’t go over like a lead zeppelin… if you know what I mean, and I think you do. The tractor’s “engine” is a bank of fuel cells that produce hydrogen gas. Stored under pressure in a small tank, the NH² runs silently and emits steam as its exhaust.

Cosmic Trac

(images via: Yanko Design)

The Cosmic Trac is one tractor concept that could very easily see production sometime soon. Vipin George’s simple and straightforward design not only looks good, it’s intended to work well in real world use.

(image via: Treehugger)

A single-sheet hood, fibre-reinforced plastic head light housings and a partially exposed engine for ease of accessibility make the Cosmic Trac an appealing prospect for farmers who’d rather work in their fields than work on their tractors.

Deuterium Multi-Dimensional Tractor

(images via: PsiPunk)

It’s tough to think of a more futuristic name than Deuterium, unless it’s Dilithium. Indeed, the Deuterium Multi-Dimensional Tractor would look perfectly natural roaming some M-class planet in the Delta Quadrant.

(images via: PsiPunk)

Designed by Prithu Paul in collaboration with Ankit Kumar, Deuterium is as high-tech on the inside as it looks on the outside. An onboard CPU, GPRS and sensor controlled motion path allocation add up to a futuristic farming vehicle that empowers tomorrow’s autonomous farmer.

(image via: Yesterday’s Tractor)

Tech prognosticators and assorted futurists love nothing better than announcing the “(blank) of Tomorrow”, though tomorrow never seems to come – I’m looking at you, flying cars. Tractors are a horsepower of a different color, however, and most of the concept designs thrown into the arena stand a better than average chance of reaching reality. You don’t have to be a farmer to get excited about that!

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15 Cool & Crazy Concept Computers

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[ By Steve in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Man X Machine = Awesome Graffiti

Posted on May 10, 2012 by wheelbarrow

Kidrobot Black artist Jeff Soto is the first human to collaborate with Chevy’s radical graffiti robot car. The multi talented artist knows a thing or two about can control and he recently crossed streams with the mechanized mural maker. The outcome is absolutely amazing! Indulge in the couple of short videos documenting this unique collaboration and how it was made.

Sublime Sounds: 10 Uniquely Stylish iPhone + iPod Speakers

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Delana

[ By Delana in Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

The speakers, amplifier or dock you use with your iPhone or iPod can say as much about your personality as your device’s case does. For that reason, more and more people are bucking the trend of the same old iPhone speakers and going for something with a bit more flash. These 10 iPhone and iPod speakers not only help you hear the music – they help you proclaim your individual style.

Children of the 70s and 80s will probably appreciate this fun iPhone speaker the most. Shaped like an old-school cassette tape, the IMIXID mixed tape speaker definitely isn’t powerful enough to play the soundtrack to your next epic house party, but it is perfect for listening to some Depeche Mode while sitting at your desk. Thanks to a flip-up USB plug, the speaker is rechargeable and doesn’t need batteries.

The Koostik is an electricity-free iPhone amplifier; it uses a hollow wooden box to embolden the sound from your iPhone’s own small speaker. Each one is lovingly hand-crafted from solid wood by a woodworker named Jim who sees the Koostik as the perfect partnership between technology and nature.

Although only a conceptual product and not actually available for purchase, this origami-inspired speaker is a fantastic marriage of form and function. The Flexible Speaker starts out as a small pyramid, but as you unfold and expand it into a series of connected triangles the sound gets louder and louder. There are no buttons or remote controls to deal with – only a totally charming functionality that ties in perfectly with the speaker’s appearance.

Undoubtedly one of the most stylish iPhone amplifiers ever made, the MegaPhone could very easily be mistaken for a decorative object. Indeed, it does add something lovely to the decor of a room, but it is also functional. Slip an iPhone into the smaller end of the ceramic object and turn on some music, and the hollow chamber amplifies the sound beautifully. The wooden base keeps the ceramic body from vibrating with the music and causing unwanted sounds to mingle with your tunes.

Tree huggers, look away for a moment. the iTree certainly isn’t for everyone – and even if it was, very few people could afford one. The $14,000 iPod dock/speaker is made from an entire hollowed out tree trunk. Since they are made from real trees, no two are ever the same. Buyers can choose the type of wood wanted – or even go on a ride through the woods and pick out the exact tree to be used. The iTree definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but people who can afford a $14,000 iPhone speaker are probably few and far between.

Sometimes, when we hear music sounding thin and tinny through cheap or underpowered speakers, we say that it sounds as if it’s coming from a tin can. In this case, however, that might just be a compliment. The Audio Can from designer Dean Brown is a simple, pared-down speaker that sits inside a plain metal can. Far from sounding anemic, the music that comes from the can is surprisingly full-bodied and robust.

Zooka is a Bluetooth speaker that is the perfect size to slide onto the side of your iPad, but it is also compatible with iPhones, iPods, laptops and any other smartphone or tablet. It is incredibly slick, streamlined and simple to use, with only a few buttons to fiddle with. If you can’t wait to get your hands on one, you are not alone: the Zooka Kickstarter project received nearly three times its initial funding requirement, so we could very well see these on store shelves soon.

Who doesn’t love Atari? Unfortunately, while Atari games are great for nostalgia, we still prefer playing games on an XBOX 360 or PS3…and there are untold numbers of old, unloved Atari consoles just sitting around gathering dust. One talented audiophile turned an old Atari 2600 into a very modern gadget by gutting it and replacing its insides with speaker bits. The external subwoofer adds a boost to the speakers hidden inside the case. Although this particular version has already been sold, it would definitely be possible for like-minded individuals to make a similar Atari iPhone dock.

Looking rather like a sculpture paying tribute to the great jazz legends, this recycled trumpet is, in fact, an un-powered iPhone amplifier. Artist Christopher Locke makes the Analog Tele-Phonographer from discarded trumpets and machine parts, and the sound they produce is wonderfully rich. The inherent acoustic and amplification properties of the trumpets must play the biggest part in their beautiful sound quality.

People who hate the look of clunky speakers all over the house will appreciate Irish designer Niall Diggins‘ creation, Ceramic Sound. The speaker features a removable watertight planter on top so that the speakers can be made to look just like ordinary household planters. As an added bonus, playing the right music on these speakers might actually encourage your houseplants to grow!

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Sublime Sounds: 10 Uniquely Stylish iPhone + iPod Speakers

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Delana

[ By Delana in Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

...

[ By Delana in Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

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3D Printing Goes Giant: Print Your Own Home?!

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Steph

[ By Steph in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

Three-dimensional printing has made so many advancements in recent years, researchers have been able to print highly detailed models of castles that are as small as a grain of sand. But what about the other end of the spectrum? A concept by designer Sebastian Bertram takes 3D printing a step further with a massive robot that “prints” contours of a building shell using fast-drying concrete, one layer at a time.

The 3D Contour Crafter doesn’t look too different from contemporary construction equipment, resembling a sort of crane. But when it’s programmed with pattern data, the robot pours concrete in specific configurations, repeating the process over and over again until a three-dimensional form is achieved.

Combining industrial production with rapid prototyping techniques, the Contour Crafter concept could potentially revolutionize urban construction methods. The fast pace and uniform nature of this kind of building would speed up the construction process to an unprecedented rate, enabling builders to keep up with the demand for fast-growing urban areas.

While it’s not yet a reality, printing entire buildings is definitely not beyond the realm of possibility. If we can already use 3D printing to produce vehicles, furniture, shoes, artificial bones, tiny models of cities and even a replica of King Tut’s mummy, there’s no reason we can’t raise the bar even higher. And with our population expected to grow to over 9 billion by the year 2050, we’d better get a move on.

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Call Me Back: 10 Retrofuturistic iPhone Accessories

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Steve

[ By Steve in Technology & Vintage & Retro. ]

Eager to endow Apple’s mass-produced modern marvel with some timeless personality? Retro iPhone accessories give your cutting-edge cellular communicator old-fashioned style to complement its right here, right now functionality.

iPhone Cassette Tape Case

(image via: Zedomax)

Camouflaging your iPhone as a classic C90 cassette tape isn’t just a shout out to your Eighties roots, it’s also a cool way to turn off potential thieves. The case fits neatly into a faux cassette tape box which doubles as a stylish stand.

Film Noir iPhone Dock

(images via: iRetrophone and iRetrophone)

Eh, what’s up, iPhone dock? A number of retro iPhone docks copy the old-time look of tabletop telephones, with the mobile phone typically sitting right where the dial used to be. Some models include a fully functional handset that hangs off your belt when you’re out shadowing the Fat Man.

(image via: Geeky Gadgets)

Considering how often iPhone owners use their docks it’s no surprise said owners are looking for a little more style. The model above would look smashing on any desktop, ideally set beside a statue of The Maltese Falcon.

Macintosh iPhone Case

(image via: Graphic Cupcake)

Are you an iPhone owner with a soft spot for the 1989 beige Apple Macintosh sporting the rainbow Apple logo? If so, hopefully you’ve discovered the lovingly designed and crafted Apple-inspired iPhone cases offered by Schreer Delights. Latecomers should be advised that Schreer recently withdrew their Apple-inspired cases, possibly influenced by the Cupertino corp’s eager legal beavers.

Horn Amplifier Hands-Free iPhone Stand

(images via: Deal 2 Day)

Pre-war oldsters used to assist their hearing via the use of ear trumpets. Post-war hipsters are doing much the same, only instead of their ears they’re amplifying their iPhones with cute, colorful Horn Amplifiers that beg to be seen AND heard.

(images via: Geek Alerts and Geeky Gadgets)

In the hierarchy of horns, the Megaphone is king. Big, bold and beautiful, Megaphones are the Swiss Alpenhorns of the iPhone amplifying world and they look great with or without an actual iPhone riding up top.

Tomko Transceiver for iPhone

(images via: Strapya World)

The Tomko Transceiver for iPhone evokes the glory days of CB radios but eschews the Bandits, Bears and bad records by C.W. McCall. The device combines the best features of hands-free communication while sparing users from having to wear a Bluetooth device in their ear.

Yubz Handset

(images via: Future Looks and Mightypop)

The Yubz Handset was one of the first hand-held accessory mobile phone receivers to hit the market and they’re available in a wide range of colors and patterns.

(image via: Mac Life)

Using a Yubz Handset isn’t only about making a fashion statement, however. The old-style handset offers exceptional hand and ear comfort for long conversations and by keeping the phone distant from the user’s head, any concerns over possible microwave radiation are effectively allayed.

Leica Rangefinder iPhone Case

(image via: iPhone Savior)

One might say Leica is the iPhone of cameras: a paradigm of ergonomics, functionality and quality. Now Gizmon conjures up the mystique and magic of the legendary Leica Rangefinder with a high-functional, multipart iPhone case. The Gizmon iCA Military Edition case is no one trick pony – a real shutter release button mounted on top blurs the line between phone and camera.

iPhone Microphone Speaker

(images via: Yanko Design)

If David Letterman can sport a huge retro microphone on his desk, why can’t you do the same for your iPhone? Actually you can, or to be more accurate you can have a speaker that looks like a big honking metal mic perched on top of your iPhone. Choose from gold or silver tone to match your personal degree of bling.

(image via: Andrea Galante)

No batteries are required; instead the design boasts a built-in rechargeable Lithium Ion battery that draws its juice from your laptop or desktop computer via a USB connector. Fully charged, the speaker will play for up to six hours.

Moderne TV iPhone Amplifier

(image via: Schreer Delights)

Those hulking home console stereo systems from the fabulous Fifties were the polar opposite of today’s light, portable and much more powerful mobile phones and music players. That’s why this miniaturized version of the old wooden wonder from Schreer Delights is such a kick as an iPhone amplifier. It was either that, or design an iPhone as big as a coffee table.

Retro Brick iPhone Case

(images via: Lazybone and ClickShop)

Mobile phones have come a long way since their brick-like ancestors wowed consumers back in the 1970s… imagine what those consumers would think of the latest model iPhone? They’d be even more amazed by today’s consumers modifying their sleek iPhones with clunky, boxy, brick-like cases.

(image via: ThumbsUp!)

Why go back when the future’s where it’s at? Maybe those old-style cellphones had some advantages that have been lost along the way, such as being too big to lose? Or perhaps their owners are actually time travelers… hey, if you had to live through the Disco Era you’d want to escape too!

(image via: My Trendy Phone)

Are retrofuturistic iPhone accessories like these really veiled critiques of Apple’s much-praised but rather Plain Jane corporate style? Do stereotypically smug iPhone owners secretly crave a side-order of non-Jobsian personality with their mass-produced main course? Make of it what you will, but it just might be that Apple’s ubiquitous presence in today’s society has sparked nostalgia for times when the Apple in your pocket was destined for your teacher’s desk.

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4 Fantasy Yachts Blend Sleek & Silly in Style

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Delana

[ By Delana in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

Yachts have always been the playthings of the ultra-rich, and some of them are so lavish as to border on ridiculous. However, just because yachts are perpetually inaccessible to most of the population doesn’t meant that we do not appreciate their unique and graceful designs. So just for a while, pretend you are one of the world’s super-wealthy and take a tour of one company’s incredible yacht offerings.

Oculus

(all images via: Schopfer Yachts)

The Oculus, meant to look like a giant fish or marine mammal, is Schopfer Yachts’ first design launch. The 250 foot long-distance cruising yacht is meant to accommodate up to 14 people in crazy luxurious style. The company recently announced that they have chosen a naval architect to begin building this monument to sea-faring elegance.

With three levels, 12-foot-high ceilings and a dedicated Owner’s Suite, the Oculus is bigger than most homes. Which could come in handy when the tough life of a billionaire gets to be too much and the future owner of this beautiful beast just has to get away from it all.

Infinitas

Putting aside for a moment the fact that yachts are luxury items that very few can afford, it is easy to see that they are often the result of fantastic design by skilled craftspeople. The Infinitas was inspired by the infinity symbol and it is easily one of the most inventive looking yachts ever designed.

On of the stand-out features of the Infinitas is the huge pool deck between the lounge and dining room. The pool is bisected by a footbridge which guests can walk across to access either side of the deck; swimmers can glide through the underwater openings in the bridge’s support. Alternately, guests can walk across the glass-floored, glass-roofed sky bridge directly above the pool on their way to the dining room or the helipad.

Audax

The sleek Audax is a sport fishing vessel whose name translates to “adventure.” The team at Schopfer went out of their way to create a fantastically redesigned version of the typical sport fishing yacht.

The redesign allows for much more cabin space, all arranged around a central staircase. The yacht tender and two jet skis have their very own storage areas with their own individual hoists, making it easy to get them into and out of the water.

Audax 130

The second yacht in the Audax series continues the trend of sleek, polished, luxury fishing yachts. The second Audax has a wealth of interior space along with cushioned sun lounges and mid-ship access to the flybridge.

The shape of the Audax 130 was inspired by the energetic ocean-going flying fish. It features a dedicated “garage” just for the on-board water toys and plenty of space for either fishing or just hanging out and enjoying the sights.

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1 Trillion Frames-per-Second Photos Capture Light in Motion

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Urbanist

[ By WebUrbanist in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

Nothing moves faster than light, right? True as that may be in theory, a team at MIT has developed a method for visualizing its propagation to amazing effect in practice.

Slowed down and turned into film format, an illuminated tomato goes from ordinary to uncanny as a snaking arc of white light approaches in a billionth-of-a-second burst, then deforms to move across it, with an unrivaled FPS rate.

And the impact goes beyond making neat little films: “Beyond the potential in artistic and educational visualization, applications include industrial imaging to analyze faults and material properties, scientific imaging for understanding ultrafast processes and medical imaging to reconstruct sub-surface elements.”

So how does it work? Per their abstract: “The effective exposure time of each frame is two trillionths of a second and the resultant visualization depicts the movement of light at roughly half a trillion frames per second. Direct recording of reflected or scattered light at such a frame rate with sufficient brightness is nearly impossible. We use an indirect ‘stroboscopic’ method that records millions of repeated measurements by careful scanning in time and viewpoints. Then we rearrange the data to create a ‘movie’ of a nanosecond long event.”