The iFan has a large computer fan at the top and it was built by Tjeerd Veenhoven. Incredibly, this isn’t a concept. Tjeerd actually built this thing. He says that it takes him 6 hours to recharge his iPhone. While this seems pretty long, if you’ve haven’t got access to an outlet – and you’ve got some wind -  it’s a clean and green way of getting a recharge.

Charging times could be reduced by redesigning the fan blade to be more efficient. It might work well in places where there isn’t much electricity, like a desert island of some sort.

[Tjeerd Veenhoven via Ubergizmo]

Just kidding. And even if the electronics on Flare are affected by water, I think the worst that could happen would be the lights shorting out. I hope.

I like how the electronics enhance but don’t overwhelm the dress. Ossevoort’s work shows that geeky fashion goes way beyond Star Wars t-shirts and video game-themed sneakers. Not that there’s anything bad about those.

[via Bornrich]

These Wind Lights measure in at just under 8″ tall, but they work just like their bigger windmill cousins, generating electricity through the power of air. Each tiny light uses a 2.4″ propeller to power a pair of bright red or blue LEDs.

And if you happen to live in London, you can check out a massive installation featuring 1200 of these Wind Lights which illuminate as the winds blow in over the River Thames. The 45-foot tall “Aeolian Tower” was created by Jason Bruges Studio part of the onedotzero: adventures in motion show. The tower will be on display in front of BFI Southbank at the Waterloo Bridge from November 13th through 16th.

Individual Wind Lights should be available for purchase from Mathmos for £12 (appx. $18 USD) just in time for Christmas.

Smule’s new iPhone app, Ocarina turns your iPhone into a fully-functional musical wind instrument. This amazing little application works very much like the real deal, combining touch, tilt, gestures and human breath to create ethereal sounds which bring out your inner Zelda.

Just place your fingers over four virtual “holes” on the multi-touch screen, and blow into your iPhone’s microphone. What’s really cool about the software is that none of the sounds are pre-generated, rather they’re built in real-time based on your exact gestures and movements.

Check out the performance videos below to see and hear Ocarina in action. First, a solo:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Now, a full orchestra of iPhone Ocarinas playing a little Led Zeppelin:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

As you play, you can share your performances live with other Ocarina users across the globe (and let them rate your musicianship), thanks to Smule’s Sonic Network technology. Smule has even provided a nifty online score generator which makes it easy to play just about any tune you want.

Sound cool? What are you waiting for? You can get Ocarina today over at the iTunes App Store for just 99 cents.

Any one of three Darth kites will darken the skies and get rid of all those pesky kids with lesser kites (Dora? A dragon? Those rainbow streamer thingies? Puh-leeze.) Then again, if you’re more into the force being with you, as opposed to against you, then you’re in luck, because they also offer friendlier R2D2, dueling Jedis, and Yoda models.

The kites are a new release from Go Fly A Kite, and you can pre-order them for between $26.99 and $38.99 at StarWarsShop.com.

[via GeekAlerts]

Fresh from Japan, Mokushise! Zenko Kutaikai!! Let’s Brass!! takes the musical gaming concept and applies it to a whole new genre. Milestone’s new music simulator game for the DS lets players play instruments like the trumpet, tuba, saxophone and piccolo simply by breathing into the DS’ microphone. By combining your breath with stylus movements on the touch screen, you can make beautiful music.

In addition to its instrument simulator modes, Let’s Brass includes a fully functional digital metronome, and a handy electronic tuning fork as well.

The game comes loaded with about 150 songs, and even lets you play wirelessly with up to three other musicians so you can form an electronic quartet (assuming you’d want an all-wind instrument band).

If you’re curious to find out if the game blows or sucks, it’s now available from game importer Play-Asia for $39.90.

Created by interactive artist Scott Snibbe, Blow Up is comprised of two main pieces. On one side of the room is an array of 12 small impellers which act as a breath-controlled input device. On the other side of the room is a wall with a dozen powerful electric fans.

The impellers are electronically synchronized with the fans, which automatically adjust to match the direction and velocity input on the tiny controller. In addition to playing real-time “amplified” wind patterns, the system stores the most recently captured breath patterns and replays them in a loop until someone breathes a different pattern.

To really understand how it all works, be sure to check out this cool video clip Snibbe recently posted.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Blow Up was commissioned by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco back in 2005. Even though it’s no longer on exhibit, this is the first time we can all see it in action, all thanks to the magic of YouTube.

The clever design even includes a giant “matchstick” which turns the candle on when struck against the side of the tubular silicon fixture. Each candle comes with its own charging base which can provide up to 8 hours on a single charge. They also come with a wall mounting bracket if you’d like to use them as sconces.

METAPHYS Lighting’s Hono 24000 LED candles were designed by Chiaki Murata, who also has the distinction of being the lead designer for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console.

All this nifty industrial design and technology does come at a price though, with each light costing ¥9,975, or about $85 USD each, you’ll be hard-pressed to cover your birthday cake with them.