future tech on technabob...

In a study published in Nature magazine, a group of scientists revealed that human cells may be induced to regenerate appendages in the same way that salamanders do. Meaning we can also grow salamander limbs. Kidding.

Apparently the cells on the stumps of a salamander “only” need to revert to a “less mature” state instead of a day 1 embryonic…

This weensy little computer is so small that you might accidentally misplace it if you’re not careful.

The oddly-named Marvell Sheevaplug (I think I went to college with him) is about the size of your average gadget’s power adapter, but it actually contains a complete computer (sans video output). The device has a 1.2GHz CPU, 512MB of flash memory and…

Designed by Billy May for Nike, the Hindsight is a concept design for cycling glasses that extends a person’s vision by up to 25° on each side. The extra vision is achieved by attaching curved Fresnel lenses on each side of the glasses.

Of course it still depends on the person wearing it to actually take advantage of the extra…

What would you say if I told you that your next car could run on air instead of gasoline, and that it would produce zero pollution? The MDI AIRpod might just bring that promise to reality when it hits the streets later this year.

The subcompact AIRpod runs on compressed air instead of traditional automotive fuels. A set of carbon-fiber…

Tonight’s nightmare is brought to you by the US Air Force Research Laboratory and their Playstation 1 – era CG presentation of the Micro Air Vehicles project. Narrated by someone who sounds almost exactly the same as Metal Gear Solid’s Col. Roy Campbell, the video outlines the ideal capabilities of MAVs, which are basically robotic bugs and birds.

Similar to…

This is undoubtedly one of the most environment-friendly appliances that I have ever seen: using technology developed by professor Stephen Burkinshaw of Leeds University, the Xeros washing machine is so efficient it only needs a cup of water to clean an adult-sized shirt. That translates to 90% less water used compared to ordinary washing machines. The special ingredient: nylon beads.…

Winner of the 2008 red dot design award, the Shake Control presents a unique and environment-friendly way of controlling television sets. It may also be frustrating enough that people won’t want to watch TV anymore. Instead of using batteries, the Shake Control is indirectly powered by the user; a magnet generates current whenever you give the controller a shake.

Users…

Okay so maybe I shouldn’t be so sarcastic; the new build sports significant changes as well. Or should I say “builds”. But I’m getting ahead of myself: Build 7232 of Windows 7 was leaked yesterday, bringing with it improved driver support and application compatibility. Oh and a new wallpaper. Because that’s what everybody wants from Microsoft: improved wallpapers.

That’s the…

The Office of Naval Research – not to be confused with the Office of Navel Research, a pet project of the previous president – recently awarded defense contractor Raytheon a year-long contract to develop laz0rb33mz. No seriously, the US Navy wants to have a 100-kilowatt Free Electron Laser as a weapon that will be installed on naval warships. Marvel Comics…

I think the best advantage in sending robots instead of humans to armed conflicts is simply the fact that robots are not human. Robots don’t have feelings or families, so no one gets hurt if a robot goes down, not even its fellow robots. Robots are not alive, which means they can’t die.
Brainz showcased some of America’s present and…

Mitsubishi’s L65A90 LaserVue 65-inch Rear Projection HDTV is the world’s first laser-powered television, and the company claims that its laser-lit DLP delivers twice as many colors as the now stupid and old LCD and plasma HDTVs. If I may quote the L65A90’s tech specs…  “Twice the Color Over 200% of HDTV.” WOW. Twice and over 200% in one sentence? This…

The guys over at Yanko Design came across this mysterious miniature vehicle called ROCK.

Created by Mexico City industrial designer Alberico J. Camacho, the ROCK dons a tiny Nissan logo, and looks something like an oversize bowling ball on wheels. Or maybe the Dark Helmet that Rick Moranis wore in Spaceballs.

Yanko thinks ROCK might be some kind of interactive…

DARPA’s Self-Explanation Learning Framework (SELF) program “seeks to construct systems that can participate in their own construction.” Imagine a robot helping build itself. Who or what runs DARPA these days? Are there still humans in there? Things are moving too fast folks. Let’s look at the matchup for a sec: Human fetus – looks cute/scary/funny, probable source of clones and…

Yes, whereas Neil Armstrong had to walk on the moon to get to say his famous quote, this robot only had to open doors and plug power cords and voila – Robot Armstrong. How unfair is that. Seriously though, robotics company Willow Garage are on to something here. No matter how fast they can think or how many things they can…

Newly formed company Smartfish Technologies teamed up with the New York-based Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) to come up with a wireless mouse designed to prevent and alleviate wrist strain. The result? A bobblehead mouse. Well, not exactly but the TRU:MOTION mouse’s “thing” is that it pivots and conforms to the direction and angle of your hand’s movements, so that…