Technabob » cylinder

Rotor Digital Camera Concept: Look Ma, No Buttons

Range — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:00:07 +0000

Paris-based designer Charlie Nghiem has come up with a new interface for using digital cameras. For his Rotor digital camera concept, Nghiem got rid of all of the buttons and used a stack of cylinders to operate the camera’s key functions.

The cylinder has got rotating sections, allowing users to adjust each of the settings of the camera. Instead of having buttons all over the place, this simplified interface makes it easy to find the right setting and to change it without getting lost in a bunch of menus.

It makes you wonder if we’ll see something like this on cameras pretty soon. From what I’ve seen, the trend has been to remove all buttons and go for a touchscreen interface, but I still think physical buttons are needed for key functions you want to operate without having to look at the screen.

[via designboom]

Recycle Your Old Batteries by Putting Them Inside Another Giant Battery

Technabob — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:49 +0000

Here in Chicago, we just got started with a city-sponsored neighborhood recycling program. While they’ll collect and re-purpose much of your post-consumer waste, electronics aren’t on the pick-up list. But if you’re a gadget addict like me, you probably go through batteries like they’re going out of style. So while I can’t recycle my discarded batteries through the city, I still need a way to gather them up until I figure out a good way to recycle them around here.

This clever battery recycling box by Luckies of London looks like a giant cousin to those batteries you were just about to throw in the trash. Just load up the cylindrical metal container with your deceased batteries, and once it’s filled up, head on over to your local electronics recycling center. By recycling your old dead batteries, you’ll be doing something good for the earth, as throwing them out in the regular trash can leak hazardous heavy metals into the soil as the exterior shell corrodes.

You can grab the battery recycling box over at UK gift shop Prezzybox for £6.95 (appx. $10 USD). And wheneve you can, try and use rechargeables – you won’t have to throw them out nearly as often

Chameledeon LED Lamps Offer Colorful Illumination

Technabob — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:04:47 +0000

Look at these cool led lights, designed by Jörg Schieber for German company chameledeon. Minimal and elegant, they work with a remote switch and cycle through 16 different colors, so you can set the mood in your living room without having to get up from the couch.

Besides the colored series, a single color white version is available too. All the pieces are available in 71, 102 and 139.5cm heights (about 28″, 40″ and 55″). See more of the collection and find a dealer near you on chameledeon’s website.

[via puremodern]

Gais Lisire 2.1 Aluminum Speakers Are Totally Tubular

Technabob — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:32:12 +0000

Looking for some compact speakers that don’t look like all the others? Then check out this funky aluminum audio system from Gais.

The Gais Lisire Series 020 is a complete 2.1 channel sound system featuring distinct cylindrical styling. The Lisire’s aluminum covered ported subwoofer tube measures about 12-inches wide and is flanked by a pair of matching round satellite speakers.

The sub is powered by a built-in 6-watt amp, while the satellites output 2.5-watts per channel. While that certainly won’t rattle any windows, it’s probably just fine for a small bookshelf stereo or to provide sound for your PC.

Initially available only in Japan, the system is now being brought to the states by gadget importer AudioCubes for $199.99.

Stainless Fireplace Adds Drama Without Construction

Technabob — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:50:52 +0000

One of the latest trends in the interior design world is fireplaces which use modern ethanol-based fuels. While they don’t give off a tremendous amount of heat, they look amazing, are virtually odorless, and don’t require external ventilation. The latest standalone fireplace from Blomus really caught my eye.

The Blomus Chimo cylinder fireplace is designed to be placed in the middle of your living room instead of against a wall. The whole thing is built on a rotating base, so you can turn the fire to face whatever direction you’d like. Its sleek stainless steel finish looks great in a modern space or helps to bring a touch of modernism to a traditional room.

It measures in at a manageable 33.1″ tall by 11.8″ in diameter, so it’ll even work in smaller urban dwellings. (Although I’d bet it would be against the rules to have one of these in your college dorm room.)

The Chimo cylinder fireplace is available from Unica Home for $1872.