In case you’re not familiar with the device, a chorded keyboard has fewer keys – the user presses multiple keys at once to enter a single command or character. This not only leads to a smaller device but makes it possible to type with one hand. Entering the patterns on such a device is similar to playing chords on a piano, hence the name. This is an example of a chorded keyboard. I’m not sure if the Kee4 Keyboard also qualifies as a chorded keyboard, but it does work in a similar way.

As for Teague Labs’ app, it uses five virtual buttons which appear when the user places all five fingers on the screen. Theoretically, it addresses the three weaknesses of traditional on-screen keyboards. The buttons are large. If you can memorize the patterns for characters, then you don’t need tactile feedback. Finally, the buttons go away when you lift your fingers off of the tablet’s screen; they can also be dragged in another area of the screen. Then again they take up the whole screen while you’re typing. Here’s the app in action:

If you have an iPad or Android tablet, fire up your tablet’s browser and go to this page to try out Teague Labs’ chorded keyboard prototype. Note that the app doesn’t allow for punctuation marks – those will be included in the second set of buttons, which are still in development. It’s a nice concept but I think I’ll stick to the default keyboard on my iPad. I don’t do a lot of typing on it anyway and I’m already looking at the screen when I’m typing so I don’t need to touch type.

What I really want is for Apple to include a numpad-style button, similar to the ones available on older cellphones. Years of owning Nokia phones have burned the memory of that interface to my thumbs. Also, I’m not sure if the guys at Teague Labs are aware of this, but there are already virtual chorded keyboard apps for both the iPad and for Android tablets, although the ones I saw are designed for use with two thumbs.

[Teague Labs via Hack A Day]

These attractive sleeves for your tablet and laptop come in two designs: a composition notebook and an interoffice envelope. They’re pretty tame to bust out my device from their current state of boringness, but I’m just the type of person who finds it amusing to dress them up in something they aren’t (or are they? I mean, it could very well be a notebook, and you can use applications in the device to deliver messages to your colleagues, replacing the need for interoffice envelopes. Just saying.)

The outside of these sleeves are comprised of water repellent microfiber, while the insides are lined with soft fleece. Diana is currently ramping up for a large production run of Wonder Threads, which are currently up for funding on Kickstarter. A minimum pledge of $35(USD) will let you get your hands on one of these fun sleeves.

There are two reasons why they’re named that way: first of all, they’re all in earth tones or colors. Second of all, that’s because they’re made from stuff derived from the earth like coffee beans, cedar sawdust or cedar bark.

They might not look as attractive as the extremely colorful plastic LEGO blocks, but I think you could definitely teach a thing or two about using eco-friendly stuff to your kids with these blocks. That, and the fact that appearances are just appearances because you can pretty much do the same thing with Earth Blocks and plain LEGO bricks, creating whatever structure your mind can come up with.

Sure, it’s not like you typically throw out LEGO bricks, but there are bound to be by-products of manufacturing all that plastic, right? If you’re ready to go green with your bricks, you can get a set of 50 Earth Blocks over at the Guggenheim Store for $30(USD).

[via Dvice via Bit Rebels]

All of the pieces are leather. The gloves, boots, belt, pants, and jacket. It includes removable CE approved body armor and a spine protector, which comes in handy for crashes since you yourself are (probably) not a super soldier like Steve Rogers.

The full outfit costs $1,290(USD), and that doesn’t include the shield or a helmet – but hey, this is still a quality suit for the price. If you pre-order from UD Replicas now it should arrive in late April. This is a must for Captain America fans who cruise the open road.

[via Chip Chick]

WASD Keyboards uses Cherry MX mechanical switches, so after creating your design you’ll choose the color and type of switch you want. You can also order a dampener if you don’t want the trademark clicking sound that mechanical keyboards make. You can also choose the font of the text on each key and whether the text will be engraved or lasered in. If you really want to get creative you can upload your own design or even send custom art for each of the keys.

Above is my design for a Technabob-themed keyboard; you can see more at WASD Keyboard’s website or have a look at the gallery below for more user-created designs.

Head to WASD Keyboards to design and order your own V1 Custom Mechanical Keyboard. Prices start at $140 (USD). The company also sells a Semi-Custom version of the keyboard, which is still brimming with tweakable specs.

[via Gamerfront via The Red Ferret Journal]

The CampStove features a thermoelectric system that will transform part of the heat of the fire into electrical energy by moving the internal fan. There are no batteries or other fuels required. You can charge any USB device, from smartphones to LED lights. The overall device is quite small and packs away easily since it’s about the size of a Nalgene bottle.

It sells for $129(USD) and will be released in the spring of this year, right about when you’ll need something like this when you go out camping.

[via NOTCOT]

The watch face displays four figures, each with a lot of random-looking lines and triangles stuck on them all over the place. I tried staring at the image and trying to read off what time it was, before giving up and just peeking at the bottom of the image to read it off: 15:23.

The design was submitted by Lloyd from Australia, who explained: “I feel this design would appeal to puzzle, game and sci-fi lovers in particular. It would also suit geeks and anyone who likes quirky modern things as well as thinking ‘outside the box.’”

Here’s the key to figuring out the numbers that the figures stand for:

If you haven’t cracked the code, this is how it was done:

Extremely simple, right? But were you able to figure it out on your own? Now that you see it though, it’s actually a really easy watch to read if you know what you’re looking for.

[via Tokyoflash]

Sure, you’re used to grabbing a burger, hotdog, or taco from a stand at the corner of the street.  But from a shipping container in the middle of New York’s Time Square?

This literal “snackbox” was brought to the Big Apple by Montreal-based firms Aedifica and Muvbox. It’s basically one of those shipping containers used to transport all sorts of stuff on huge ships and barges, only it’s been fixed up and converted into a tiny food vending station.

The 20-meter long snackbox was created for restauranteur Jonathan Morr, who’s selling iconic New York street food from an equally iconic canteen. The box itself is completely portable and is entirely self-sufficient: it gets its supply of water from a tank that’s embedded into its floor, while it’s powered by a hybrid energy system that combines electric batteries and a generator.

[via designboom]

The cases from Schreer Delights certainly look authentic. They’ve got a couple of other models, including the G4 Graphite, and some non-Apple themed cases as well. The retro iMac iPhone case in Bondi Blue looks really good in my opinion. The graphics are printed deep in the plastic of the case, so even if the case is slightly damaged, the images won’t fade.

The cases are available for the iPhone 4 and 4S for $45(USD) each, but they might not be available for long, because Apple is sure to flex their legal muscles to protect their intellectual property rights. So if you want one, you’d better move quick.

[via core77]

Nike developed this with world-record holding amputee triathlete Sarah Reinertsen and Össur. The sole has a stacked design and uses a stretch rubber leash over a rubber waffle outsole. Nike used ‘regrind‘ materials salvaged from reused shoes, a polyurethane foam midsole that was topped by a thermal plastic, which was made from recycled air bags.

Plastic tabs lock the sole in place. Reinertsen tested the prototypes and worked with the design team to develop this incredible high-performance running solution.

Seriously though, I wonder when, if not already, amputee runners will be able to run faster than able-bodied ones.

[via designboom]

The ADzero is made from bamboo and it will probably be sold in design boutiques, not cell phone stores, since it won’t be mass-produced. The overall weight of this phone is half of an iPhone, despite its larger screen. Woodhouse is a design student at Middlesex University who was contacted by Jerro Lao, a tech entrepreneur after he saw some early concept images of the wooden phone.

The prototype runs Ice Cream Sandwich and will have access to the Android Market. Other than a mention of a built-in ring flash, there’s not much other detail about the specs of the final phone. A production version of the ADZero bamboo phone is expected to be launched in 2012 in both China and the UK. There’s no word on any North American distribution at this point.

[via Pocket-Lint via DVice]

Vasare Nar’s cases are inspired by geometry and Aztec tribal art. The abstract geometric shapes are definitely distinctive, especially in the bold colors he offers.

Over at her Society6 site, you can choose from a variety of different covers, skins, and decals for PC laptops, MacBooks, iPads, iPhones, and other gear. Prices start at $15(USD) and go up to $30.

[via designyoutrust]

However, if you’re way better than I was (and most of you probably are) and shoot hoops by yourself regularly, then you might want to get one of these SKLZ Shoot-Arounds. They’re basically chutes that fit standard hoop rims that guide the ball back towards your direction after you make your shots. The cool thing is that you don’t have to keep running back and forth to retrieve the ball so you can work on improving a single shot at a time.

The entire set includes the four-piece Shoot-Around ball return chute, attachment nuts and bolts, and rotating insert ring with four rim straps and hooks. If you’re interested, you can purchase one online from Amazon for about $39(USD).

[via The Green Head]

The Hagent uses its heat sensors to find warmers spots in your pad, like next to a heater or a fireplace. Then, it will soak up all of that heat, storing it as energy. Once the temperature drops, it will move around to where it’s cold and release the stored heat. That’s pretty smart. The storing process isn’t fully described, but it’s nothing too futuristic looking at the prototype robot in the video below:

Assuming they can get this thing down in size and cost, I think they’re onto something here. I wouldn’t mind having one of these, following me around like a puppy. The pets would go nuts though.

[via Gizmodo via DVice]

Mariclaro also salvages truck tarps, seat belts, bicycle inner tubes, and boat sails to created their laptop sleeves, messenger bags, briefcases and bags. 99% of each bag comes from upcycled materials. The remaining 1% is the thread and logo.

Some of their stuff is pretty cool, including the laptop sleeves made from bicycle inner tubes. Some of the bags are even waterproof as a bonus.

Prices start at around $29(USD) for an iPhone sleeve and go up to $299 for the Airbag Back Pack.

[via NOTCOT]

But then came Serafin’s Wall Mount Liquid Fuel Fireplace. Your home could be really cramped for space but you could still have the comfort that a fireplace can provide, right on your very own wall.

The entire thing was made to look like a blank metal canvas on the wall if it’s not being used, so it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb in your home. The fireplace makes use of a natural ethanol-based fuel, too, so you don’t have to worry about ventilation or anything of that sort because it burns so cleanly.

You can get your own wall-mounted fireplace from Amazon for $649(USD).

[via 7gadgets]

Just like that, you have an instant shelter. When you are inside, the material reflects your body heat to keep you warm. If you reverse it, the material will reflect the sun to keep it cooler inside. While it’s not likely to keep you from freezing to death in the wintertime, it’s still a simple and imaginative design.

[via SmartPlanet via Dvice]

This interesting concept comes from Körös Benedek and features three analog bands that travel 360 degrees around it’s surface. Individual bands have the hour, minute and seconds on them. You get the correct time by reading the break in the middle of the bracelet as the bands move into position.

Should it ever become a reality, it would be made from materials like stainless steel, plastic, and rubber. Too bad we can’t buy one right now. I’m sure they would sell very well.

[via Yanko Design]

Gymbot is a concept robot was designed by Massimo Battaglia of givingshape. The robot will basically be on your case 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Think of him as more of a drill Sergeant overseeing your life. This humanoid robot features articulated joints that mimic human movement, speed and precision. It is equipped with a 3D video camera with a scanner and thermal camera and using a microphone, it will measure your heart rate and blood pressure, while it ignores your pleas for a rest.

This personal trainer ‘bot will also calculate your body fat index, which is just what none of us want to hear about. The touchscreen on Gymbot’s chest will show you the exercises to do. It seems like a lot of trouble and a huge expense to get you to exercise, but it will probably make some company rich someday.

[via Tuvie]

In between all those dress fittings, cake tastings, and makeup trials, I must have heard countless horror stories about women getting jilted at the altar or engagements gone bad to last me a lifetime. So when I saw these ‘Til Death Do Us Part Knuckle Dusters, well, you probably already know which group of women I thought about.

This tough-looking set of rings was designed by Kate Bauman and was intended to be just a one-of-a-kind statement piece back in 2006. However, the demand was huge and the interest was high, so she decided to offer these knuckle dusters for sale on her site for $425(USD).

The ’Til Death Do Us Part Knuckle Duster can be cast in your choice of sterling silver or brass, with a 1-carat cubic zirconia set in each of its four rings.

[via This is Why I'm Broke via Red Ferret]