Technabob » cardboard

IKEA Digital Camera is Made of Cardboard, No Assembly Required

Range — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:20 +0000

I’ve seen pinhole cardboard cameras before, but this is the first time that I’ve seen something like this made by a furniture giant. It was a promotional item, but it makes me think that IKEA might be working on a product like this.

This “disposable” camera uses two AA batteries and can store up to 40 photos in the built-in memory. Once you’ve filled it up, you can download the images to your computer using the USB connector that swings out of the corner of the camera.

The IKEA Cardboard Digital Camera was created as part of a press kit for the 2012 Fuorisalone, a design expo in Milan – so, no you can’t pick it up at your local IKEA store, but you might be able to do so in the near future if enough people let them know they’d like one.

[via Fancy via PetaPixel]

9 Month-Old Gets His Own Millennium Falcon

Conner Flynn — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:30:54 +0000

Kids these days get everything that they want. In this case, this 9 month-old got himself a Millennium Falcon before he even knew he wanted one. Liam’s amazing parents spent 3 months building him his very own cardboard Millennium Falcon.

I just want to say right now that I’m ready to enter my second childhood and I will gladly pay these people to be my parents. Just so we are clear, this kid is 9 months old. They spent a third of his life building him a Millennium Falcon so he can have the Kessel runs in his diapers in record time.

I just called my parents and yelled at them. Now I see how truly lazy they were. This lucky kid is off to a good start. He’s even got a wookiee co-pilot and a little Han Solo vest going on. You can check out more pics over at Flickr.

[The Pink Toque via Craziest Gadgets]

Berlin Boombox Adds a Green Twist to the Classic Player

Hazel Chua — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:30:16 +0000

Boomboxes might have gone out of style even before I was born, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate them or their place in pop culture. Sure, we might live in a world of iPods and mp3s nowadays, but there’s no reason why these retro music players can’t make a comeback – and a green one at that – in this day and age. That’s precisely what Berlin-based designer and illustrator Axel Pfaender is trying to do with producer Annie Heringer from Brooklyn.

The duo came up with the Berlin Boombox, which is a do-it-yourself boombox that is assembled entirely from cardboard without requiring the use of any tools.

It’s not strictly a boombox in the sense that it makes use of today’s technology and is compatible with most portable music players that have a 3.5mm jack. Never mind the fact that it has just a couple of small full-range speakers and just 1 watt per channel, so it’s not exactly going to be “booming.”

The project is currently up on Kickstarter. A minimum pledge of $50(USD) will get you one Berlin Boombox that is estimated to ship by June 2012. A two-color limited-edition is available for $100, and you can get one with a custom printed design just for you for $250.

[via Oh Gizmo!]

Weltunit Cardboard Gadget Stand: Just Don’t Get it Wet

Range — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:00:07 +0000

We should all be concerned about the sustainability of the products that we buy. To do their part, Berlin’s Weltunit have started making device stands made out of cardboard, which have been laser-cut for precision.

For now, they offer stands for iPad 2s, iPhones 3GS, 4 and 4S. The thinking behind these semi-durable stands is that you’ll eventually end up upgrading your smartphone, so why should your stand outlast your gadget? Often, stands aren’t compatible with the new versions of your favorite tech, so it makes sense to recycle them when necessary instead of adding more junk to our landfills.

The cardboard stands are available from Weltunit, but you’ll have to sign up for their newsletter in order to find out how to get one.

[via Bookofjoe via Likecool]

Make Your Own Cardboard Hexapod Robot

Conner Flynn — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:00:13 +0000

If you’ve ever dreamed of building your own robot, why not take a shot at a cardboard hexapod? It will cost you less than $100(USD) for the parts. I did say cardboard after all. Mike Estee is in the process of building this one here, which is still in the early stages, but looks great.

This project cost Mike $1.00 in cardboard, $54.60 in servos, and $29.95 in servo controllers. In the video he does a simple motion test and it would appear that it is looking pretty good, judging by how the bot is shaking it’s thang.

He already has his eye on some improvements that he can make now that this one is underway. You can find instructions and materials over at Mike’s website. Who doesn’t want to make a cheap robot?

[via Make:]

Cardboard Clone Trooper is a Perfect Clone

Range — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:00:47 +0000

Check out this amazing Clone Trooper Halloween costume, that was made for a 10-year old by his Star Wars-loving dad Parrster. The most amazing thing is that it’s mostly made out of cardboard and papier-mâché. It definitely looks awesome. The only missing piece is the boots!

Parrster downloaded detailed images of the Clone Trooper outfit from the web, and then started working on the costume. He started with the breastplate, and moved on to the helmet. The helmet took the longest and it really does look pretty accurate. In case you plan on trying to do this yourself, the cardboard he used is called “pasted boxboard.”

Of course, it’s not 100% cardboard. There’s some clear plastic, foam, fabric, glue and Velcro in order to hold it all together, and a blue LED in the back of the helmet’s “mohawk.” With a little patience and some TLC, you can also make your own costume for next Halloween. While Clone Troopers are cool, I’d make a cardboard Jango Fett or a retro Boba Fett.

[Instructables via Make:]

Cardboard AT-ST Walker Costume Looks Awesome

Conner Flynn — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:00:13 +0000

Check out this amazing AT-ST Walker costume. It was created by Tom Judge, who made it for a Star Wars-themed dinner party that he was invited to. Or so he thought. Once he got there, a bunch of Ewoks jumped him and he ended up getting pounded between two large tree trunks. Ewoks are clever like that.

Okay, I don’t know for sure that that happened, but I would put good money on it. This thing is made entirely out of cardboard, but looks just amazing. Tom also manages to make it move in an authentic way in the video. Those guns on the sides and in the middle all swivel and move too.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Who knows what Tom will do next. Maybe he’ll dress up as another vehicle. I would suggest a Snow Speeder since it will be getting cold soon.

[Fricking Sweet via TechEBlog via Geeks Are Sexy]

BytePac: Recyclable Cardboard USB Hard Drives

Range — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:30:23 +0000

It’s true that hard disk enclosures tend to be somewhat disposable, especially as the technology evolves. This cardboard housing is perfect to turn your spare hard disk into an external one. BytePac offers a few different kits to make assembling your hard drive enclosure painless.

Once you’re finished with this product, it can be easily recycled and will pollute less than a plastic equivalent. The cardboard enclosure kits that BytePac provides include everything but the hard drive, so they’re an interesting solution.

You’ll find the BytePac enclosures and other accessories here. Unfortunately, they’re a bit expensive for what pretty much amounts to cardboard, some cables and a power supply. The basic kit comes with three enclosures and a single SATA/USB connection kit, and costs €39.95 (~$55 USD) and there are also kits that include a hard drive of your choice.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via Ubergizmo]

Would You Like Your Computer in a Box, in a Box?

Hazel Chua — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:00:44 +0000

People rely a lot on quick fixes to get themselves through the day. Broke the frame on your glasses? There’s Scotch tape for that. The sole on one of your shoes peeling off? There’s Super Glue for that. Lost/wrecked/broke the case for your PC? There’s a–well, there’s a box for that.

Instead of putting in a little more effort and work on a modded case for his PC (like the Train PC Case Mod, which I still haven’t gotten over even though it’s been more than month already), this dude just cut some holes out of a box he probably found lying somewhere, got some markers and drew some random doodles onto it, and voila.

By all means, it doesn’t look neat (as in orderly), but it does look neat (in a weird, disheveled, messy sort of way.) So for people who’re all for quick fixes and who just don’t have time to go buy a PC case or mod one, all you need to do is find a box, a roll of packaging tape, and some markers and you’ll be all set. Until it overheats and catches fire, that is.

[via Reddit]

Suck UK’s Cardboard Radio: Easily Recyclable to Say the Least

Range — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:00:04 +0000

I’ve heard of cardboard being used for a variety of purposes, but this is the first radio that I’ve seen that made out of it. This radio is appropriately named the Cardboard Radio.

It was designed by Christopher McNicholl for SUCK UK. The internals of the radio are housed in a simple cardboard structure, which can easily be recycled at the end of the product’s life. The device itself is also pretty minimal, which is somewhat appealing from a design standpoint. It’s powered by 4 AA batteries or DC power (power adapter not included). It comes with two nice retro dials and an audio jack to allow you to play some tunes off your media player or smartphone.

The Cardboard Radio sells over at Suck UK’s store for £25 (~$40 USD).

[via NotCot]

Giant R2-D2 Proves You Can Make Anything with Cardboard and Duct Tape

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:07:05 +0000

One of my all time favorite characters in the Star Wars flicks is R2-D2. I always thought that R2 was the coolest droid in the universe because he was one of the smallest, didn’t have any real weapons to speak of, but he would throw down if he had to. C3-PO would just run the other way screaming like a little droid girl while R2 whipped out his little zapper and droided-up.

If we needed any other proof that R2 was the most beloved droid from the movies all we need to do is see all the DIY things that are R2-D2 themed. You never see anyone making a 3PO trash can, but you will find some R2 trash cans out there. The latest DIY R2 project is this gigantic 96-inch tall R2 sculpture made from cardboard and duct tape by Len Komanac (aka “DarthLen“.) R2′s dome is made from silver tape and the blue trim is made from blue duct tape.

The materials used to build the droid also included three dryer boxes, five AC boxes, four fridge boxes, and a roll of aluminum tape. Other stuff used included 52 glue sticks, a single can of white paint and a pair of sharpie pens for the detail work. I am really digging the end product, and it will be on display at the Dr. StrangeLen or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Make the Art exhibit in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada from July 16th through September 2nd.

[Flickr via OddityCentral]

Vax Ex Cardboard Vacuum: Clean and Green

Range — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 11:57:37 +0000

Think you’ll be seeing a lot of disposable appliances and tech in the future? Loughborough University student Jake Tyler thinks so. He designed this concept, and it was then picked up by European vacuum maker Vax. Their Vax Ev is a high performance vacuum cleaner made for optimum sustainability – and it’s made out of cardboard.

As you may have gathered, its case is made out of recycled and recyclable materials. The vacuum cleaner is actually made out of the box it comes in. You have to pop panels into place around the motor housing, then you can use it. There is no glue required. This is kind of cool, because producing cardboard is a lot cheaper than plastic – and it’s better for the environment.

Vax is planning on doing a limited run of this vacuum cleaner. Then, if it sells well, we’ll see a bunch of them available. I wonder how this compares to my Dyson?

[via Gizmodo via Ubergizmo]

Cardnetics Brings You Business Cards with a Twist

Hazel Chua — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:00:51 +0000

Analog cellular phones became WiFi-capable smartphones. Vinyl records became MP3 files. The abacus became a calculator, which later on evolved into the scientific calculator. But amidst all these changes, one thing that stayed the same was the business card.

Well, of course, there’s the electronic business card, but that’s not exactly something you can physically hand out to people as you meet them, right? But thanks to sites like Cardnetics, you can hand out interactive cards that will grab your prospective client’s attention (which is obviously something that you’d like to do.)

They work best though, if you’re a photographer or someone who’s offering similar services. That’s because the Iris Cards come in the shape/form/likeness of a camera with a mechanical iris that you can find in cameras. Move the lever up and down and the cardboard iris in the middle of the card opens and closes with your movements. Cool, huh?

You could also consider these business cards more of a novelty and only hand them out to high-paying (or sure) clients because they don’t come cheap, starting at $6 a pop.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You can have Cardnetics print out colored Iris cards for you or order a kit off the site and assemble the business cards yourself. Now that’s being literally hands on.

[via Oh Gizmo!]

Pizza Box Laptop

Lambert Varias — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:53:25 +0000

Finally, what we’ve all been waiting for – a portable version of the cardboard desktop computer. I’d amuse you with pizza-PC puns, but of course the guys at Reddit already have that covered.

[via DVICE]

Cardboard Gundam: Too Awesome for Words

Lambert Varias — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:19:34 +0000

Twitter user cadeson stumbled upon the polar opposite of that other cardboard Gundam:

This jaw-dropping creation is a replica of the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam from Gundam SEED. What it lacks in color it more than makes up for in detail, particularly on its head and fingers.

I don’t know who made this or if this is it’s finished state – aside from being unpainted, the right shin seems to be damaged – all I know is that I can’t stop looking at it.

I hope whoever made this also makes a replica of the RX-0 Gundam Unicorn; I think it’s Unicorn mode will also look good when given the same treatment. Check out cadeson’s Twitpic page for the full-sized pictures.

[via Tomopop via Walyou]

Cardboard Polaroid Camera Concept: 2 Pics, 1 Shot

Lambert Varias — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 17:50:53 +0000

I’m no hardware expert, but for the longest time I’ve been wondering why instant cameras are not commonplace nowadays despite Polaroid’s pioneering technology decades ago. Sure, even our phones can store tons of pics, but nothing beats sharing an actual photo. That’s why I was intrigued by the “Flutter in Pinhole” concept by designers Yoo Geun-hyuk & Yoon Bo-jung – it’s a disposable instant camera that doubles as a postcard.

As you’ll see in the presentation below, the Flutter in Pinhole camera is easy to use. Just expand the box, align your shot, and then tear off the black strip in front. The strip covers two pinholes, and inside the box are two small Polaroid sheets. This creates two identical shots. You can then use the camera’s cardboard body as a postcard – you can send one of the pictures and keep the other. Awesome.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

What do you guys think? Sounds like a great way to share pictures right? Of course the downside is that you don’t get a digital copy for archiving, but you can always scan your copy.

[via Yanko Design via Crave]

F’Ing Epic Cardboard Cubicle Prank Proves These Guys Don’t have Enough to Do

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:00:14 +0000

Back when I had a real job I worked in a hospital on the night shift and we got really, really bored. We used to play pranks on each other than involved being dusted with baby powder if you fell asleep or shocked with a muscle stimulator. I was proud when I conned someone into answering a phone that had an earpiece coated in KY.

The people that pranked a dude named Leif make my shenanigans look pitiful by comparison. The epic nature of the prank makes me wonder if the people who made the cardboard office for Leif actually did any work while he was gone or just spent all their time cutting cardboard.

While Leif was on vacation, his coworkers took everything from his office and replaced them with cardboard versions. Everything includes the desk, computers, books, food, and all. I would just keep all that cardboard stuff, it has to be cooler than the real items they replaced. Check out the video to see how epic the gag really was…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via TechEBlog]

Mac-in-the-Box

Lambert Varias — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:28:03 +0000

The guys at 1 Block Off the Grid needed a high-end Mac to run Adobe After Effects, but instead of buying an expensive Mac Pro, they decided to build their own computer. Normally that would be nothing to write home about, but the 1BOG staff really put the hack in Hackintosh. Here’s their computer:

The Mac (Pro)-in-the-box is running Snow Leopard, and has a Gigabyte motherboard, an XFX Radeon HD 5770 graphics card, a 2.66 Ghz Intel Core i5 processor, 1 TB Western Digital Hard Drive, 4GB (2x 2GB) Corsair RAM, 500-watt OCZ power supply, and a DVD burner. The ‘case’ is the Amazon box that the parts came in. Awesome.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The total cost? A little more than $800 (USD) in parts, a far cry from the $2500 price of the cheapest Mac Pro available. $2000 iMac, which as it is has a weaker graphics card, but a slightly better processor. The iMac also comes with a pretty (and pretty huge) 27-in screen, but I don’t think that’s worth $1200. Plus you can draw on the Mac-in-the-box case! Check out the 1BOG blog for more info on how they built the cardboard Hackintosh.

[via TUAW]

Racer: Wipeout Goes Analog

Technabob — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:08:12 +0000

While I always thought WipEout was about dizzying 3D computer-generated graphics, the guys working on this project have taken a decidedly low-tech approach to the game.

Devised by Malte Jehmlich and Matthes Mikysec of sputnic.tv, RACER is an analog variant of video game racers, using an old arcade cabinet, an R/C car, a wireless camera and a racetrack created entirely out of cardboard. The driver sits in the cockpit and controls the remote car as it makes its way through the treacherous track. Make sense?

Perhaps this video clip will set you straight:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

According to the guys who made RACER, the track measures in at about 23 feet by 29 feet, which definitely won’t fit inside of my PS3 no matter how hard I try.

[via Metafilter]

Nintendo 3DS Sneak Preview Video

Technabob — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:32:42 +0000

So with the Nintendo DSi XL having just hit U.S. stores this week, word is floating around the web that Nintendo is already working on a brand-new handheld that will support true 3D graphics.

While there are no images of the 3DS yet, what I have here is a video – no, not of the Nintendo 3DS. Instead, we have this humorous video of a potential design for the 3DS, courtesy of Japan’s Nicovideo.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Wow. That’s some 3D. And no glasses, either! Plus, it actually looks like it’s better constructed than my old DSi with the broken plastic hinges.

[via Tiny Cartridge]