Technabob » fountain

Osaka Station City Water Display Draws with Water

Range — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:00:17 +0000

Did you ever think that a fountain could be used to tell the time or to display pics? Well the Japanese sure did and this latest kind of display is pure awesomesauce, as it can even display artwork.

This mesmerizing water display was created by Koei Industry and it’s located in the South Gate Building in the Osaka Station City shopping mall in Japan. Flowing sheets of water act as a shimmering canvas, as the display is part waterfall and digital printer rolled into one. The water streams are lit up to display an ever-changing array of patterns and designs.

This looks pretty cool. I wonder if they’ll end up making HDTVs that will fit in water fountains someday.

[via NOTCOT]

Tapi: Turning Faucets into Fountains, One at a Time

Hazel Chua — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:00:46 +0000

I think it’s perfectly fine to drink water straight from the tap, but I know a handful of people who have objections because they’re under the impression that tap water is dirty. Maybe it’s because of how the tap looks or maybe it’s all in their heads, but something that might be useful to those who do drink from their taps is the Tapi.

Tapi is a tap attachment that fits right over the spout of your tap. Instead of a steady stream of water flowing downwards, Tapi redirects the water and spouts it out in a trajectory when you squeeze it at the bottom. Ta-da - instant fountain!

Tapi won a Red Dot Design Award last year and is now for sale from Dreamfarm for just $6(USD).

[via Oh Gizmo!]

Incredible Fountain Made from Fabric and Water

Technabob — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:30:22 +0000

I missed this cool display when it first turned up back in Japan in 2009, but it’s cool enough that I thought it was worth a mention regardless. Basically, what you’re looking at here is a unique sign that creates words using perfect beads of water.

The sign was built using an extremely water-repellent material called Monat from Japan’s Unitika. The fabric predictably beads water off its surface, resulting in a dramatic display of droplets coursing down its face. It’s best explained by watching this video the guys at DigInfo.TV shot:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The word “SENSEWARE” at the top of the display is formed using tiny beads of water which are secreted through pinholes in the fabric. When the beads reach just the right size, the droplets slide down the face of the slightly tilted fabric, then recirculates back to the top, and starting the show all over again. It’s pretty spectacular, especially when you realize that this entire show is basically done using a sheet of fabric, a water pump and some tubing to circulate the water.

[Thanks for the tip, Christopher!]

Aquarain Turns Your Bath Into a Light and Fountain Show

Technabob — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 18:11:25 +0000

This gadget takes your ordinary bathtub and brings it to life in a cascade of moving water and bright colors.

The AquaRain is a battery-powered device that floats along the surface of your bathwater and sprays a geyser of constantly recirculating water into the air in a couple of different patterns. Add to that a set of three color-changing LEDs, and you’ve got yourself a serious light show in your tub.

While it might not come close to the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, it’s should offer enough of a display for most bathtubs. The AquaRain is available now from NCSX for $39.