Technabob » concept

Marvel Should Steal This Avengers Helicarrier Blu-Ray Case Concept

Conner Flynn — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:32 +0000

Avengers is a massive box office hit, having already grossed over a billion dollars worldwide. People really love superhero flicks – so much so that some people are already thinking ahead to the Blu-Ray release. And for a hit movie like this, you know they are going to have a special collector’s edition.

Amazon.com already has a placeholder for a Limited Edition Collector’s Blu-ray Set which is rumoured to be a 6-10 disc set. Sadly it won’t be nearly as cool as this concept from Dave Delisle.

This is NOT official concept art for a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Avengers set, but this is everything we would want from such a set. Dave’s concept envisions a giant 26″ long model of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s flying Helicarrier, with storage for not just the current Avengers flick, but extra disc trays for future releases. In fact, Dave says the Helicarrier could hold somewhere between 30 and 50 discs when fully outfitted.

Each engine/wing would even snap off to provide access to a subset of the discs. If only this were the set that we were getting. Oh well, we can dream. Anyway, I’m sure this would cost a fortune. Still, I know that I would be willing to pay.

[via Geeks Are Sexy]

CordLite Illuminated iOS Cable: A Simple Solution for a Very Simple Problem

Lambert Varias — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:30:07 +0000

This is how much technology can coddle us: someone’s come up with a charge and sync device for iOS devices that has built-in LEDs to make it easier to plug it in in the dark. I usually just use my iPhone’s own light or feel which end is which, but why go through such arduous processes when you can buy a solution right?

But even though I think the CordLite is overkill for its intended purpose, I see its value if I treat it as a Swiss Army cable. It’s a cable and a flashlight!

Pledge at least $30 (USD) to CordLite’s Kickstarter fund and you’ll be one of the first to own one if it goes into production. I suggest you order a backup CordLite for when you can’t find the first one.

[via Zagg]

Ö Case Winds Earphones and Cleans Screens

Hazel Chua — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:00:57 +0000

Most iPhone owners have two pet peeves: not having some sort of earphone winder to keep their cords and earbuds in order, and a screen cleaner to keep the touchscreen free of greasy fingerprints.

This is the reason why I think the Ö Case concept design by Löytö Esineiden is such a good idea. It’s probably going to be a huge hit, too, since I know a lot of people who are looking for something exactly like it.

Aside from keeping your phone safe and secure, it comes with a screen-cleaning slider that will get rid of all those annoying fingerprints and grease marks, just by swiping it up and down the screen.

It also has two slots at the bottom where you can hook your earphones through it after you wind it over your device, so you can finally say goodbye to messy and tangled earphones. Pretty neat, huh?

[via Yanko Design]

Instagram Socialmatic Camera: If Instagram and Polaroid Had a Love Child

Range — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:00:01 +0000

I use Instagram all the time, and I’m not the only one. This is one of the reasons why ADR-Studio came up with this unusual concept gadget, the Instagram Socialmatic Camera. It reminds me of a Polaroid camera, designed specifically for sharing photos on Instagram.

ADR-Studio hypothesized since Instagram was recently bought for a billion bucks, it might have enough money to come out with its own branded camera. This square concept camera looks like an oversize version of the Instagram logo, and snaps square pictures. The camera would have 16 GB of storage, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a 4:3 touchscreen, 2 different lenses, webcam applications as well as QR code scanning.

It also would offer optical zoom, an LED flash, as well as an internal printer, capable of outputting Post-It like sticky photos annotated with the Instagram user’s nickname and a QR code you can scan to follow them.

What do you guys think? Would you buy a camera like this? I’m not sure it’d be anything more than a novelty, but the design is kind of cool.

[via Thaeger]

Gravity LCD Watch Concept: The Time is Falling

Range — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:54 +0000

Gravity affects everything, but this is the first watch that I’ve seen that implements gravity in its display. This concept timepiece will throw numbers all over the place until you really want to know the time.

The Gravity LCD watch concept was created by Sam Jerichow. The watch has a small internal tilt sensor that will measure the orientation of the watch. This in turn will make the numbers tumble all over the place as you move your wrist. The numbers will fall back into place once the watch face is touched. A longer touch with half of your finger will activate the backlight, so that you can tell the time in the dark.

The design is quite minimal and sparse, but I like the overall look. This cool watch concept is currently up for voting on the TokyoFlash Design Blog and if it gets enough votes, it might be made into a real watch.

Social Media Shoes: Like and Tweet on Your Feet

Technabob — Sun, 06 May 2012 20:00:17 +0000

Social media is everywhere these days. You can’t watch a TV program, enter a store or pass a billboard without being asked to “Like” or “Follow” these entities on Facebook, Twitter or other social networking websites. So what’s next? Social media wearables, I suppose. We’ve already seen some concepts for websites as dresses, so why not finish your outfit off with some matching shoes?

These social media concept Keds were created by designer Lumen Bigott, and include designs for Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Wikipedia as well as Dribble (never heard of ‘em), and the now defunct Google Buzz (though they could just rename them Google Plus shoes at this point.)

I particularly like the Fail Whale on the Twitter shoes, as well as the polkadotted Flickr design. Unfortunately, these shoes are only concepts, but I suppose with a little fabric paint and some patience, you could create your own pair for your favorite site. Personally, I’d like a pair of Friendster boots to wear with my MySpace tuxedo.

[via Bored Panda]

Gunshot Doorknob: Pull the Trigger to Open

Hazel Chua — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:00:10 +0000

Most people probably won’t hold or fire any guns in their lifetime, except maybe when they’re in the military, if they’re actors, when they’re playing video games, or if they’ve got one of these Gunshot Doorknobs.

Trigger happy folks will probably want to replace their regular doorknobs with these. Unfortunately, they don’t really look like much like guns attached to your door, like those Bang Bang Doorknobs did. That takes away points for aesthetics, but the design does make mass producing it easier – if it ever gets picked up by a manufacturer, that is.

But just like the latter, all you have to do is pull the trigger – and then the door – to leave or enter a room.

The Gunshot Doorknob was designed by Hyunwoo Park.

[via Yanko Design]

Telescopic Raincoat Concept Turns from Raincoat to Bag in Seconds

Hazel Chua — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:00:28 +0000

There are shopping bags that double as helmets (in the form of the Grappa) and now we’ve got raincoats that turn into bags after use, in the form of the Telescopic Raincoat. You can’t use them in their bag form, though, unless you want to get your stuffff wet.

The Telescopic Raincoat features a strategically located drawstring that folds the entire raincoat in so you can stuff it in itself and turn it into a bag.

Imagine walking in from the rain, taking the coat off, and just pulling it into one neat, little bag in one swift motion. It’s pretty convenient and makes the entire process less messier.

The designers behind this cool concept are Jia Shenghui, Zhao Qiyun, Fan Jianjun, Zhou Hailun, Chen Jian, Chu Yuhui, Hong Yonghui, and Zhang Yichi.

The Telescopic Raincoat is so cool, that it was even one of the 2011 red dot design concept winners.

[via Yanko Design]

Bandra Ohm is the Coolest High-Rise Ever

Hazel Chua — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:00:31 +0000

You might have already read it from the title, but let me repeat it for emphasis: the Bandra Ohm is the coolest design for a high-rise for a building ever!

As you can see, the design gets its name from the shape that inspired it: the Ohm symbol. The Bandra Ohm is a design by James Law Cybertecture, and the residential high-rise incorporates thirty stories of architectural delights and features terrace pools on select units of the structure.

The design concept of the tower is inspired by the ripple effect generated by water droplets, which is also known as the capillary wave. The image of the ripple emphasizes fluidity and this idea is reflected in the tower’s design. The outline of the tower demonstrates the fluidity and dynamic nature of the ripple.

The design is supposedly for a location in Mumbai, India, but it’s unclear if it’s actually being built as of yet. If it ever gets built, I’d want to get a unit for myself.

[via Geekologie via Dvice]

Bloom Chips Packaging Fixes the Pringles Can

Hazel Chua — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:00:07 +0000

You know those cylindrical canisters that Pringles come in? The ones that always seem like such a hassle because you can’t get more than a handful of chips every time you push your hand down the tube?

That’s exactly what the Bloom Chips packaging concept looks like, except that it comes with a very smart and useful feature: it’s also a serving bowl. Bloom Chips stretches from a canister to a bowl in seconds once the paper sleeve that keeps it closed is removed. Ingenious, right?

The designers behind the Bloom Chips are Kwon Do-hyuk, Kim Seok-woo, Seo Dong-Han, In Sung-hoonm, and Lee Bum-ho. The design was so clever that the concept won them a Red Dot Design Award.

[via FastCo.Design via Gizmodo]

SleekSpeak Wireless Speakers Will Help You Bike to the Beat

Lambert Varias — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:00:55 +0000

Whether you’re a prize-winning cyclist, a hipster or just a human being who loves to ride bikes and does not fit a niche or stereotype, it’s not a good idea to wear earphones while cycling. They impair hearing and can get tangled, causing you to be distracted and perhaps die a horrible death, albeit one with a soundtrack. Better go with something like the SleekSpeak.

Despite its unusual appearance, the SleekSpeak is simply a Bluetooth speaker, optimized for bicycles. It has a shock- and water-resistant rubber case, a silicone rubber strap, and an internal battery that lasts for 12 hours and is charged via USB.

Inventors David Meisenholder and MK Li claim that the SleekSpeak can output audio at over 80dB. It probably won’t have decent bass, but 80dB is pretty loud. Meisenholder told backers that he’ll be uploading a demo video of the speaker soon, but for now have a look at their pitch video:

Bike on over to Kickstarter before May 9th, and pledge at least $69 (USD) to have a chance to own one of the first SleekSpeaks. If it becomes popular, you can say that you had one before it was cool. Not that anyone will care.

[via Freshness]

Grabit Unlocks Only If It Recognizes Your Fingerprint

Hazel Chua — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:00:34 +0000

Security is a big deal these days. And if you think normal and traditional locks just don’t cut it, then here’s a concept that I’m sure you’ll find interesting: the Grabit.

It’s basically a door knob with an integrated fingerprint scanner. The door will only unlock if it recognizes the fingerprint of the opener, so it keeps unwanted and unknown people out. The scanner is positioned just right so you can have your print scanned as you turn the door handle.

Grabit is also equipped with a LED indicator that will blink red if it’s not closed properly to remind the person to shut the door right.

Grabit was designed by Donguk Seo.

[via Yanko Design]

Have Dinner and Sleepovers on the Same Piece of Furniture

Hazel Chua — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:00:37 +0000

This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen a convertible piece of furniture (remember the Land Peel?) Anyway, designer Matali Crasset’s “Sweet Talk and Dream” is more straightforward and conventional, though.

It looks like an extra-thick folding bed, with two huge differences: it has two small foldable areas instead of the usual one that folding beds have, and it’s also got a round slot in the middle where the table is supposed to go in.

Fold the two ends up, and the whole thing transforms into something that resembles a booth at a restaurant. Fold them back down, and you’ve got a bed.

It’s fun to see furniture designs like these that give you a whole lot of options, even if the space that you’ve got is limited.

[via designboom]

Wacom Realism Stylus Samples Colors from the Real World – If Only It Were Real

Hazel Chua — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:00:39 +0000

I went and bought a stylus a few weeks ago, when I got hooked to OMGPOP’s Draw Something game. The craze has since subsided, but I still use my stylus a lot to doodle and just draw simple sketches on my tablet.

The game set me off on a course to find the perfect, if not the best tablet stylus out there, and I’ve settled with this one from the Wacom Realism project. Sure, it’s not real (yet!) but it’s impressive and packs on features that make it stand out from the rest.

The coolest feature of the Realism stylus is that it comes with a color sensor that can instantly scan colors from real-world objects and then output it on your display the next time you make a stroke. This is similar to Jinsu Park’s Color Picker pen concept, but seems much more useful built into a stylus.

The Wacom Realism project stylus was designed by Majel Korytar, and at this point remains only a concept.

[via Yanko Design]

Pebbles Carpet Lets You Walk on Rocks in Comfort

Hazel Chua — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:00:21 +0000

I recently visited this spa that was literally full of rocks. Rock treatments, rock decor, and a rock-covered pathway. I don’t know what it is about walking on rocks, but it was kind of relaxing and therapeutic. And you can get the same experience every time you walk across your living room with the Pebbles Carpet.

The carpet incorporates actual smooth stone pebbles sewn in between two layers of synthetic fabric, so it feels soft yet hard at the same time. It might not be the best carpet for accident-prone people or for those who are into rich and lush carpets, but it does have that added therapeutic factor.

The Pebbles Carpet was designed by Neora Zigler.

[via Yanko Design]

PowerPot Thermoelectric Generator Charges your Gadgets Using Fire

Shane McGlaun — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:30:45 +0000

There are a number of backup emergency power generators on the market that allow you to charge your iPhone or other smartphones without a traditional power source. Most of those involve consumables such as fuel cells or use solar panels that may or may not work depending on the environment. A new charger prototype has surfaced that will charge devices while you cook or boil water.

Working on a similar principle to the BioLite CampStove, the PowerPot also will generate power for USB gadgets using thermoelectric power. There are three different versions of the PowerPot, offering from 5W up to 15W of electricity for charging. All three concept versions put that power out through a USB port.

In theory, all you need is a heat source of any kind from a fire to a grill and you can generate electricity to recharge your gadgets. The pot also needs to be filled with water or watery contents to work. This would be the perfect thing for emergency preparedness kit for campers. The PowerPot could also be a very useful new source of electricity in developing parts of the world.

Check out the video below to see the PowerPot prototype in action:

The PowerPot is currently raising funds over on Kickstarter. A pledge of $99(USD) will result in the donation of the 5W model to someone in a developing nation. $125 or more gets you one for yourself, while $199 buys the 10W model, and $500 will get you and a family in need the 15W model.

[via EverythingUSB]

Collapsible Toaster Concept: For Extremely Cramped Kitchens

Lambert Varias — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:30:36 +0000

I don’t think finding space for a toaster has ever been, or would ever be a prevalent problem, but that’s because I’m fine with placing appliances on the floor if I have to. But if you live in a tiny apartment or room and have a sense of decency you might appreciate the idea of a collapsible toaster.

Imagined by the Quirky hive mind, the toasting slots on the Crisp toaster can be folded into its body when not in use, reclaiming valuable inches of space. It also has a removable tray at the bottom that collects crumbs.

Since the Crisp is still a concept, you can weigh in on its development at Quirky. While you’re there, tell them that the toaster would make much more sense if it could run on batteries, that way you can take it outdoors or when you travel. I think its gimmick would make much more sense if it was portable. Of course, you’d need some serious batteries to generate enough heat to toast bread – maybe they could go with the same ones used in the new iPad.

If they want to start from scratch, they should make an accordion toaster that is compact when collapsed, but unfolds into a formidable appliance that can toast two loaves worth of bread at once, releasing the toast in the air in a fountain of brilliantly burnt bread. Or or or a toaster that has a slot in the middle for sandwich spread so you have the option to collapse the toaster to combine the two pieces of toasted bread on either slot and boom: sandwich. I know, I shouldn’t be giving these away for free, but I can’t help myself. Please, stop applauding.

[via The Green Head]

Pressed Chair: Flatten and Fold Out Your Own Paper-Thin Aluminum Seats

Hazel Chua — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:30:35 +0000

I don’t really get what pipe cleaners are for. I mean, I know that they’re for cleaning stuff from smoking pipes, but most people I know just use them to organize wires and bunch other stuff together. For some reason, I was instantly reminded of pipe cleaners when I first saw the Pressed Chair.

These chairs are made from pressed aluminum that initially ships flat. What you’re supposed to do is fold them out and bend the projections into various positions so you can end up with a chair. The Pressed Chair redefines ease of portability because, really, where’s the difficulty in transporting flat furniture?

The man behind the Pressed Chair design is Harry Thaler, who definitely pushed the boundaries of minimization and material with this unusual seat.

[via Design Milk via Chair Blog]

OneSense Headphones Concept: No Distractions Allowed

Range — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:00:29 +0000

I like to listen to music on my headphones in the dark, but this concept by Joe Doucet takes headphone immersion a step further. The OneSense headphones were designed to discourage other people from interrupting your listening session by blacking out the world around you.

The OneSense headphones block of sights and sounds of the outer world to focus the listeners attention to the music that he is hearing. The spikes are supposed to be taken as a warning, clearly signaling to passersby that the listener wants to be left alone in his or her personal music bubble.

I’m pretty sure that these headphones won’t get made, but you can probably jury-rig something yourself, using a blindfold of some sort. Either way, the concept is interesting.

The OneSense headphones will be on display at the Meet My Project design show held in Milan, which runs until the end of April, and in NYC during Design Week, held at the end of May.

[via Hypenotice]

Star Wars Condoms Safely Wrap Your Lightsaber

Conner Flynn — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:30:03 +0000

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. “I’m a nerd and have absolutely no use for Star Wars condoms aside from collecting them and displaying them next to my carded action figures.” Well, nerdlings, you never know. You may meet a girl one day who loves Star Wars as much as you. And if you do, it’s good to be safe. You don’t want a bunch of little padawans in the house before you are ready.

These Star Wars condom designs by Benedetto Papi will help keep your lightsaber out of trouble, even during human-cyborg relations according to C-3PO.

Sadly you can’t buy these, but you can admire the design and wonder what it would be like to use these with an actual woman. And no, it won’t be Leia or Padme. Though if you’re lucky, you might just land a Twi’lek dancer.

[via Obvious Winner]