Technabob » feet

K-TOR Power Box Charger: Pedal to the Metal… or Whatever Your Gadget Is Made of

Lambert Varias — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:00:29 +0000

Hand-powered generators are pretty common nowadays, but this is the first foot-powered model that I’ve seen. Developed by K-TOR, the Power Box has a two-bladed socket, so you can charge or power almost any device while working up a sweat. Lance Armstrong can probably charge his phone in 5 seconds using this device.

The Power Box measures 4.5″×4.5″×8.75″ and weighs less than 2lbs., so it’s a very portable charger. Generally speaking, our legs are more powerful than our arms, so it should be easier to produce power on the Power Box than on a hand-powered generator. Add that to the fact that it has two pedals while most hand-powered generators only have one crank and you have a more useful and practical gadget. Its only weak point is that it doesn’t have a USB port. Instead, it’s just got an (ungrounded) outlet on top. Also you can’t use it while you’re running away from zombies. Hand-powered generators win that one.

The Power Box isn’t available for order yet, but K-TOR did say on their Facebook page that they’ve already “ordered production parts and tooling” for the device. The company’s hand-powered generator sells for $50 (USD), so I’m guessing the Power Box will be significantly pricier than that.

[K-TOR via The Gadgeteer]

Guy Completes Super Mario 64 Using Only His Feet!

Range — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:00:24 +0000

Even if you thought that your footwork in your favorite dancing game was awesome, it probably pales in comparison to Vicas3, who managed to complete the entirety of Super Mario 64 on the N64 using only his feet. That brings a whole new meaning to tapping your toes.

In the video, you can see Vicas3 grabbing every star in a level without using his hands at all. The only time he can touch the controller with his hands is so that his feet can reach the Z button.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You’ll also notice that he plays with his socks on, so you won’t have to worry too much if you are playing right after him.

[via DVice]

Super Mario Bros. Beaten on a Dancepad

Technabob — Tue, 11 May 2010 04:03:20 +0000

Now I had enough trouble beating the original Super Mario Bros. with a game pad, so when I saw this clip of a guy beating the game with his feet, my jaw about dropped to the floor.

The man with the golden feet stomping around the Mushroom Kingdom? Nick Hagman. After 14 false starts, Hagman managed to finish the entire game with just a DDR dancepad and his bare feet.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Of course, I won’t really be impressed until he beats Ninja Gaiden on hard mode with only his left toe.

[via Giant Bomb via Joystiq]

First Step in Becoming a Cyborg: Bionic Feet!

Range — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:27:12 +0000

The one concept of Cyberpunk that I’ve always enjoyed is bionic limbs. In that near future universe, people could have cybernetic limbs. For years, this concept was relegated to science-fiction. However, there has been progress to make these sort of replacement limbs a reality.

A lot of people lose limbs in warfare, disasters and accidents. The need for these cybernetic or prosthetic parts is real. Designed by engineers are the University of Michigan, these new feet are actually powered and can return some of the impact energy that we generate while walking. This makes it easier for the patient to walk.

The design is said to be 30% more efficient compared to traditional prosthetic feet. Check out this high-speed video of the bionic foot in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[R&D Mag via Make:]

Massage Your Feet While You Play Wii Fit

Technabob — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:45:37 +0000

So now that the new year has passed, are you finally carrying out your resolution to get in shape by playing Wii Fit? Well just because you’re gonna spend countless hours standing on that Balance Board doesn’t mean that your feet have to hurt afterward.

Thanks to these cushy silicone covers for the Wii Fit Balance Board, your tootsies will get a serious massage while you get your workout.

Just slide this form-fitting silicone cover over your Balance Board, take off your shoes, and enjoy the massaging acupressure dots under your feet. As an added bonus, the bumpy silicone surface should reduce the chance that you’ll slip and fly off of your board as you do your exercise routine. (Although it won’t prevent you from throwing the Wii-mote at the cat.)

You can get your hands erm, feet on one of these over on Amazon for just $9.99 (USD). You feet will thank you.

Orbitwheels Turn Rollerblades on Their Side

Technabob — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:19:31 +0000

In the beginning, there was the roller skate, then came the skate board and later the Rollerblade. So what’s the next conveyance that we’ll be strapping to our feet to roll around the street?

Orbitwheels move sort of like inline skates, but a wheel rotates around your feet, instead of under them. The large donut-shaped wheel whirls around sideways, letting you do all sorts of crazy tricks and spins with relative ease.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Unlike Rollerblades or skates, you just step into the Orbitwheels, so you don’t need to tie any laces or fasten any buckles to get going. Of course with any sporting good that has you hurdling down the sidewalk willy-nilly, protective pads and a helmet are a probably a good idea unless you plan on breaking some bones.

Orbitwheels are available for pre-order now from NewDaVincis for $159.99 a pair.

Giant Keyboard Requires Massive Fingers (or Toes)

Technabob — Thu, 29 May 2008 01:28:18 +0000

If you’ve ever complained that the keys on your computer are too small for your fingers, have I got a keyboard for you. This ginormous keyboard is so big – How big is it, Bob? – It’s so big that in order to type on it, you need to walk almost 20 feet to get from one end of the keyboard to the other.

Built by electronics hacker Maurin Donneaud, the huge keyboard rug rolls out onto the floor, and lets your type with your socks on. In order to make the larger-than-life keys work, Maurin had to punch hundreds of individual holes under each letter to ensure that the conductive switches beneath the fabric would trigger when walked on.

The whole thing kind of reminds me of the giant piano keyboard that Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia stomped all over in Big.

[Flickr via Ladyada via Hack a Day]