TOTW: Necomimi Cat Ears Show Emotions

0
12 years
by in TOTWs

The trouble with having a cat is interpreting what mood it’s in. It’s hard to tell whether it is happy, or you touch it and it rips your arm off.  Usually, you can tell its mood by its ears. The designers of Necomimi wanted to bring that to humans.

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Necomimi is a headset that shows your emotions through cat ears. If you are focused, the ears will spring up, if you are interested, the ears will move side to side, and if you are relaxed, the ears will go down. All these motions are part of the complex goal to help you be able to better comunicate your emotions without talking. And what a better way to do it than cat ears.

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In case you don’t fancy Necomimi’s standard white ears,  The company came out with alternatives that you can easily replace. For instance, if you are feeling particularly evil, you could get the devil horns, which could also double as a halloween costume. Still, Necomimi is more of a fun party accessory because you would look absolutely ridiculous wearing one of them out in public. But, even though it is a fun, somewhat ridiculous headset, it uses a rather sophisticated technology, developed by NeuroSky.

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How does Necomimi work? Glad you asked. Necomimi uses the little microphone-looking sensor on your forehead to take in your brainwaves, and translate them into ear motion. It works because your brain’s neurons give off electrical charges when they work. All the headset does is convert those signals into ear motions. Still, that’s pretty complicated.

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Necomimi is not just a cool accessory, it is also a good developer tool. For instance, Ruggero Scorcioni designed a system that reads if you are focused or not, and blocks calls if you are busy, called “Good Times”. Good Times are basically a Necomimi headset with a little bit of extra coding put in. Even though Good Times isn’t really practical, you can still see that the possibilities are endless (including that you just wear the headset for fun).

 

 

 

FastNews: April Fools Day 2013 Roundup

0
12 years
by in FastNews

April Fools Day is about celebrating fools. People who are so gullible, they’ll believe everything. April Fools day have almost become a tradition for people in America, and big companies have caught on to it to. Here is a round-up of everything that happend on April 1, 2013:

 

Google Nose

If you’ve searched the web this morning(April 1, 2013), which you probably have, you might have noticed Google’s new addition to its browser, Google Nose Beta. Google Nose Beta allows you to smell anything, from wet dogs to the inside of an Egyptian tomb, right from your browser. It unlocks infinite possibilities. Google have already started working off it, making AdScent Beta, advertising with smells, Foodles, Google Doodles with smells, YouTube Nosed Captions, comments with smells on YouTube, and Scratch and Sniff E-books.

 

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Google Nose “uses” a high-tech inter sound-wave system that temporarily aligns molecules to let you smell whatever you want to smell. But say you want to smell a rose. Or a ghost. Google’s Aromabase has it. With over 15 million scentibytes, Google’s Aromabase has tons and tons of smells. And if you have an Android phone or tablet, you’re in luck. Android Ambient Odor Detection allows you to detect a scent, and send it to whoever may like/dislike what you smelled. As Google said “Your internet, smellier.”

 

YouTube Spotlight

Ever since YouTube started, their main goal was to find the best video in the world. So far, millions of videos have been uploaded and the contest has gone from a small question to a internet sensation. Many companies and events get information off YouTube. People post funny, cool, interesting, or just crazy stuff on YouTube. The original contest was forgotten. But, this morning(April 1, 2013), YouTube made an announcement that will change everything.

YouTube announced that at midnight, they will no longer be accepting videos, or even let the public look at previously uploaded videos. They will move on, and go back to they’re original question: What is the greatest video of all time? I know, most of you reading this will say, “Gangnam Style” without hesitation. But the judges are trying to make it as fair as possible. Still, they have to look through all the 2 million+ videos, so give them a break. It will be interesting what they will come up with, so stay tuned for my follow-up article when YouTube does announce the winner in 2023.

 

Gmail Blue

Ever get tired of the plain white and red of Gmail? Well, the Gmail team thought of that to. They even went as far as to making the beautiful, fast and powerful Gmail Blue.

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Gmail Blue is the exact same thing as Gmail except…. wait for it……it’s all blue. The compose button. The word compose. The compose window. It’s all blue. You don’t have to set it blue. It just is. But why blue? Well, the Gmail team went through lots of colors, like yellow, green, brown, red, but found blue the most fitting. Blue also represents nature(well, green really represents nature but…). They wanted to show that nature is great, but not even mother nature could match the fastness and smoothness of Gmail Blue.

 

Google Treasure Maps Mode

Treasure is always something pirates leave behind. Captain Kidd, one of the more successful pirates, is soposed to have left a giant treasure hidden around the world. And recently, the Google Street View team found Captain Kidd’s maps at the bottom of a coral reef. Tons of them. All the maps they found are partially not decoded, meaning you have to hold the map a certain way or be at a certain place for the map to work. The Google team knew they couldn’t do it alone, so they decided to make Google Treasure Maps Mode.

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Google Treasure Maps Mode is a virtual scan of all the maps the team found, but still with the special unlockable features. And guess what? Anyone can use it. All you have to do is go on Google Maps, and go to the place you usually go to change the type of map, and Treasure will be there. Hit that, and the virtual map will be there. Over time, the treasure map will be decoded by the world, and all we will have to do is find the treasure. Who will get the treasure is another story entirely.

 

Virgin’s Bottomless Plane

It’s not what it sounds like. The plane is not really bottomless, but it does have a glass bottom. I know it sounds absolutely crazy, but Virgin says tourism will never be the same. Still, it would provide a beautiful ride for everyone, not only the person with the window seat. But, if you are afraid of heights, I recommend you stay away from it.

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April Fools Day is always a laugh. Wether it is food coloring or clock changing, it is always fun to watch someone be tricked. Led by Google, lots and lots of companies have followed that suit, and have made fake products or services just for laughs. It is one day of the year where designers, analysts, CEOs, product managers and most everyone else gets to have fun. But, some of the things they design are actually pretty cool, and would be awesome to have in the real world. I mean, how cool would it be to fly on a see-through plane while looking up what a wet dog smells like. Then you get a blue email telling you to look out the window, and find out you are above a clue to Captain Kidd’s treasure! In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these ideas do get into the real world someday. And I’m not kidding.

 

TechSpot: SkyTran Hovering Public Transportation

0
12 years
by in TechSpots

Public transit is always an issue when discussing a highly populated city. Whether it is buses or taxis, trains or subways, they all pollute a fair amount. Some cities have started to change, such as the popular bicycle system in Paris and other European capitals, but many other cities haven’t bothered. SkyTran, a NASA funded project, is a public transportation system trying to help the pollution, not only in China, but all over the world. Not only could it help the environment, but it is also very fast, lightweight, efficient, cheap and cool-looking.

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The pollution is so bad in Beijing, many put their hands out in front of them because they’re worried they’ll hit something… or they’re doing Tai-Chi.

SkyTran uses magnets to hover in the air, reducing friction, making the pod go really fast. The aerodynamic shape and size help it fly through the air. It might be a little fast for some people (almost as fast as a roller coaster), but the passengers can adjust the speed. Still, speed is important, because if you have been on a bus or train, all those stops really slow you down. On a SkyTran, since you and two other people are the only ones in the pod, you can choose the stops. That makes for a fast, energy efficient commute.

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If SkyTran does become a reality, the plan is that the pods will all come out from stations, much like chairlifts at amusement parks. The pods would be magnetically floating near a metal rod, supported by relatively thin metal poles. That way, cars can still drive under it, unlike trains. More space, more convenient. Sounds good, right?

Designed by NASA Ames laboratory in Silicon Valley, California, with the help some start-ups, the SkyTran is a great help to everyone. Whether you are always late, or are worried about the environment, SkyTran is a fascinating transportation idea. Using its solar power, it barely uses any real fuel. Plus, because it is so lightweight, it is really cheap, even cheaper than a bus system. Just imagine, zooming across the city at up to 100mph, going just to where you want to go, no stops. You’ll never have to worry about being late again!

TOTW: A Credit Card? That’s so 4 months ago. PayTango Makes Paying Easy And Secure

0
12 years
by in TOTWs

The first thing you think of when you leave your house is often “Where’s my wallet?” or “Where’s my phone?”. Those two objects are such a part of everyday life, that you can’t leave home without them. Your wallet/purse is even more important, because it holds your extra cash, credit cards, and ID. But what if you didn’t need a credit card? That’s where PayTango comes in.

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PayTango is a new way of biometric paying. Biometrics have been bursting in many fields, such as smartphone authentication. PayTango is hoping to harness the power of something everyone has and is unique for everyone: your fingerprint. Imagine taking all your cards, such as your debit, credit and ID cards, and associating them all with your fingertips, bearing a wallet obsolete (unless you have extra cash).

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Security is another big issue that PayTango takes care of. You could even leave you credit cards at home. Everyone knows that your fingerprint is unique, so unless the thief has compete access to your fingers, he’s out of luck. For some things you would have to keep your credit card with you, like using a ATM (which, sooner or later, may integrate PayTango technology) and associating your fingers with your cards at the start. But most of the time, you won’t even need you credit cards. And if most of the stores in your area embrace PayTango, credit cards wouldn’t be needed at all. That’s what biometrics offers. Biometrics help make things easier, safer and faster. Just imagine walking into a shop, picking out what you want, and in 1 second, checking out. Lines would go by faster than the cashier could say, “That would be $5.99.” The future of shopping is bright.

 

Speculations: Is it an M Class, Spock?

0
12 years
by in Speculations

If you’ve ever seen a sci-fi movie like the Star Wars or Star Trek series, you noticed the abundance of aliens.  From humanoids like Vulcans, to more bizarre creatures like Ewoks, aliens always add spice to the films.  It’s not easy to make a good space-faring movie without a few aliens!

But how likely is it that if another species (or many, in the case of Star Wars) of aliens contacts us, they will have a human oid form?  Well, some scientists think it is as high as eighty percent, yet many take the other side.  I will try to summarize both arguments:

Argument 1: Why Aliens Will Most Likely Be Like Humans 

To evolve, creatures have to be fit for their habitat. When put under selective pressure, only the slightly faster, more agile, or generally better fit ones will survive.  So over time, fitness determines the evolution of species. In our (human) case, we happens to be just fit enough to survive, while also being smart, but intelligence doesn’t have to be paired with being fit.  Take the jellyfish for example.  It found its own way to survive, while at the same time, appearing about as smart as a floating plastic bag.  Yet to contact us, most likely the most clever creature on the planet will be needed.

So, we can expect two things. The first creatures to reach us will likely be fit and smart.  Scientists have discussed three specific factors that contribute to evolutionary intelligence: opposable thumbs, spoken language, and a decently-sized brain.  Thumbs, to work, write, build, and do a lot of other important things; a language, to communicate; and a big brain, to hold all the information you get from having a language and knowing how to use thumbs.

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Being fit is another thing entirely. The creature may have to be able to move relatively fast, which would require two legs, four legs or wings to fly.  But, on earth, wings have only evolved on different paths, birds and bats.  So, out of all the types of limbs, wings may not be high on the list.  Four legs, on the other hand, is more likely, because it evolved many times.  Still, two legs are arguably the most efficient, since then you have two “legs” left over to evolve into arms.

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Also, to be able to tell where everything around you is, you need your senses. Unless the creature has developed a different way of seeing or hearing like echolocation, they will most likely have ears, eyes, a mouth and a nose.  Again, echolocation is relatively rare on earth, (e.g., with bats and dolphins), so could be less likely on other inhabited planets as well.  To hold all those senses, you need a face, with a back and a front. Most all animals have that, plus it just seems logical.

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So, this is what we’ve got so far: a 2 or 4 legged animal with a back and a front. A face with eyes, a nose, a mouth and ears help determine which is which. It has thumbs which it uses to build, write using its language, and do many other things. Also, to hold information, it has a big brain which makes it’s head very prominent at the top. Sounds like anyone you know?

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Argument 2: There is No Chance That Aliens Are Humanoid

On the other side of the case, there are the mathematicians and lots of scientists. They say that earth had a unique turn of events starting with the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. Then, there happend to be a decently smart creature now called “monkeys”, which because of their environmental particulars, evolved into us, human beings.  Everything happening just like that, they say, is absurdly unlikely.  

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Whether the alien is humanoid or not, we still have to take into account how likely it is for an alien to contact us at all, seeing that they haven’t for the 250,000 years of humanity.  Why they haven’t is a problem called Fermi’s Paradox. Here are some solutions scientists have come up over time:

  • They just prefer to stay at home.
  • Their civilizations die out before they get a chance.
  • We’re too far away and it would cost them a fortune.
  • They do, but they keep it a secret.
  • Earth is too far or too close to the sun.
  • This is just my thought, but if they look at us from a really strong telescope, they will be seeing us as we were a very long time ago. Even if they are in our next door neighbor galaxy, the Andromeda Galaxy, they would be seeing “us” two and a half million years ago. One look at our human ancestors and their basic stone tools and the aliens might have ruled us out.  And we certainly weren’t broadcasting any TV shows for them to watch back at home!

 

Even though aliens haven’t contacted us yet, we are almost completely sure they are out there somewhere. In fact, Dr. Frank Drake, head of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), estimates 10 – 100,000 intelligent civilizations in just in the MILKY WAY ALONE. We are certainly not alone, according to Dr. Drake. It wouldn’t really make sense if we were alone, if you think about it. Here we are, in a oasis of life, with thousands and thousands of species of animals and plants. Can all those other planets be completely be inhabitable? Not likely. So if you meet an alien, whether it is humanoid or not, tell it hi for me.

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TechSpot: Google Car On California Freeway

0
12 years
by in TechSpots

Self driving cars are the future of automobiles and Google Car is the first prototype to actually be allowed to test drive in a few states, including California. And guess what? I spotted one ON THE FREEWAY and the Google Car pulled up right next to us, so I snapped the picture below:

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When you look at it closely, it’s just a Lexus with a special camera system strapped to its roof. But when you see the person has no hands on the wheel, it really blows you away. It just seems unnatural. Unfortunately, for half the time I saw it the car was most likely being driven, because it was seemed to be speeding. Still, it show how close we all are to “driving” a self driven car.

 

TOTW: Nokia Lumia 920

0
12 years
by in TOTWs

Nokia is one of the biggest mobile phone producers in history. You may be more familiar with Apple, Samsung or BlackBerry, but from 1998 to 2011, Nokia topped the charts for most smartphones sold. With their newest Windows 8 bering smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 920, that streak is likely to continue.

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Hardware wise, the Lumia 920 is disappointing. It’s slippery coat and squared shape makes it slightly hard to hold, and the roundness of the body doesn’t help. Still, the flashy design and color scheme will definitely stand out with all those black and white iPhones.

Software wise, the Lumia 920 is pretty much the same as other Windows 8 phones. But incase you’re not familiar with the setup, here are some of the killer built-in apps.

  • Office

Office is one of the most useful apps on the Lumia. Wether you are a student, analyst or CEO, you are most likely always getting sent documents. With Office, you can quickly open up the document, and even edit it. Plus, if you are running late, you can always find time to quickly write whatever you need to do in Office.

  • Nokia City Lens

Nokia City Lens is the closest thing to a augmented reality device that is available right now(besides for Google Glasses).  It allows you to hold up your phone, and through it, see all the restaurants, stores, or whatever kind of building you choose, along with it’s costumer rating. Sometimes it can be unreliable, like showing a restaurant that closed, but most of the time it is pretty good. Unfortunately for all you HTC or Samsung Windows 8 smartphone users, Nokia City Lens is only on Nokia phones.

  • Nokia Music

Nokia Music, Nokia’s version of Apple’s iTunes, is actually very good for music lovers. You can stream any music for free, and even make you own channels like Pandora. So if you are feed up with having to pay $1-$2 for every song on iTunes, Nokia Music will greatly benefit you. And again, like Nokia City Lens, Nokia Music is only available on Nokia phones.

  • Photos

Photos is a place to store your photos taken by Nokia’s PureView, their new point-and-shoot camera. With different lenses like black and white, vintage, fisheye and more, you can get perfectly customized photos in a flash. You can even edit the photos right from the app. And when your done, you can easily share, email, post on Facebook and tag to a contact. With Photos, your smartphone camera is really the best camera you’ll need.

  • Messenger

Messenger is somewhat similar to Apple’s Messages. It doesn’t really have anything special about it, but it does do it’s job of a texting app. It is also integrated into apps like Skype, your contacts and other apps.

 

  • Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is a scrutinized web browser, formerly just on the computer. On the mobile it is a little faster, but not by much. There are some third-party browsers available, but big ones like FireFox or Google Chrome haven’t adapted yet.

  • XBOX

If you have an XBOX at home, you know you can buy games, music, movies and more on the console. With the app, you can get all you pre-bought stuff right on your phone. How cool is that.

  • Outlook

Formerly known as Microsoft Hotmail, Outlook is Microsoft’s new email. And I have to say, it is awesome. It has a formal looking style, with a messaging bar on the side. Just like Messenger, is is also integrated into other apps to get a full experience.

  • People Hub

The People Hub is the ultimate contacts hub. Straight from it, you can make a email, text or send pics to anyone. You can even make a group of people, say “Family”. You can pick which people go in that group, and within that group, you can share notes, pics and calendars. You can even have a group text. “Family” will also show up as an app, so you can easily access it. Brilliant.

  • Store

Just like any other phone, there has to be a app store. It has that. The store has tons of games, lifestyle apps and more. It is also developer friendly, so you can submit apps like on iOS.

  • Games

The games hub is perfect for mobile gamers. It comes with lots of free games, which is also useful when thinking about how much you spent on games on the iOS App Store. But, if you aren’t satisfied with Games’ selection, you can always purchase games in the Store.

 

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The setup of mobile Windows 8 is very interesting and innovative. Instead of the roomy setup of iOS, all the apps on Windows 8 are square and put together like Tetris. It also is just one long scroll of apps instead of pages of app. Some people may think of that as disorienting, but you’ll get the hang of it. But to help you even more, Windows 8 has a solution.

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To customize your phone, all you have to do is hold down the app, and it will pop up. From there, you can do 2 things. One is move the app around. If it is important, you can move it up to the top. The 2nd thing you can is resize the app. There are 3 sizes of apps: rectangular which takes up a row of the screen, a large square and a small square. By moving and resizing apps, you can completely customize your phone. You can even change the color of the apps, to make sure that no 2 phones are the same.

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WiFi charging is another boost to the Lumia 920. When you buy a Lumia, you get a little stand for the phone to charge in. But, you don’t need any cords. It just sitts on or very near the charger, and automatically gets charged. For anyone with an Apple phone, you know that cords can be a big pain, and not having to worry about them is a big relief.

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Overall, the Nokia 920 is a cool phone for someone who wants lots of features and free games and music. The design is a little off, but that’s not that big of a deal. Price wise, the Lumia is very cheap for $0-$20 with a plan. An iPhone is $200-$300, so you’re saving a big amount on not a big downgrade. I mean, the innovativeness of it just stands out from the crowd.

 

TechSpot: Jamstik Mini Guitar, The Future Of Mobile Playing

0
12 years
by in TechSpots

For a very long time, pianists have been layering sounds and synths to get the perfect sound. Guitarists, to get the same mix, have to have a complicated set of wires. Jamstik helps that, while also making mobile playing easy, comfortable and seamless.

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Jamstik, a Ukelele sized guitar, is made out of only 5 frets, a part to strum and a control button on the side. Jamstik, made for iOS, wirelessly connects and records your music on to your iPad using apps like GarageBand, Animoog and other music apps. Take GarageBand for instance. If you have ever played around with the iOS version of GarageBand, you know that you can virtually pluck strings and play the keys of different instruments, such as the piano, bass, guitar, and other forms of those 3(ie. upright bass, acoustic guitar, hard rock guitar, ect.). But if you have tried to make a good, complex song using the virtual instruments, you know it is extremely hard. Jamstik allows you to play comfortably on real strings and frets, while also taking advantage of the other sounds. Yep, you read it correctly. Say you’re playing the Jamstik, and you are not happy with the regular electric guitar sound; you want a electric piano with a little synth in the background. With Jamstik, you can get that.

To get the piano-synth, you would use two apps: GarageBand and Animoog. Animoog is basically a music-making app that uses colored lights to show you visually what the notes are, and to change the notes you use dials. But instead of this approach, you can use your Jamstik to directly play the synth sounds. But, remember, you don’t want synth sounds. To mix the sounds, all you have to do is easily set up both apps and play and Voila!, you get your sound.

At the Engadget Expand conference, I got to hear a example of what a mashed sound would sound like to the tune of Here Comes The Sun. It sounded great. It makes me almost want to learn the guitar, just to play around with the Jamstik. It just so happens that Zivix(the company that makes Jamstik) thought of that. So, they made a great learning app to go along with Jamstik called Jamtutor. Jamtutor makes it fun to learn guitar by adding in Guitar Hero like games in with the drills. Jamtutor is not the only app they are making, so the Jamstik experience will be complete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jkd-IywG-60

Jamstik is a perfect way to compose music on the move. The WiFi just makes it easier. With Jamstik, you can make hi-quality music on road trips, on the plane, even on the bus. Unfortunately, Jamstik will be on the market by the 3rd or 4th quarter, so we will have to wait. It’s also not overpriced like some new products are at $250 – $300. So if you are always trying to squeeze your guitar into your car, or you are just beginning, Jamstik could be for you.

TechSpot: zSpace 3D CAD System

0
12 years
by in TechSpots

CAD (Computer-Aided Design) systems are key tools for hardware design. They make it easy to view and virtually manipulate the object you are designing. Think of Google SketchUp.  It is the most basic design software available, but you can still use it to make intricate designs. zSpace takes CAD to the next level.

While attending the Engadget Expand conference in San Francisco, I was lucky enough to try out zSpace on one of their animations.  zSpace really immerses you into your animation. You can move things around, virtually pick things up, disassemble items, turn them over and view them from all directions, using a stylus you hover in mid-air. Unlike 3D movies and TVs, if you turn your head or look at it from a different angle, it doesn’t get distorted. There’s less need to view it from different angles, because you can virtually rotate objects. But if someone comes up and wants to view the design in 3D (with lightweight glasses), they can look at it as well and the object won’t be distorted, it will just appear at a different angle, like in real life.

zSpace if also developer-friendly. You can get the SDK (software development kit) and design your own apps for it. There is even a contest where you design an app using zSpace’s Access Center’s system. If you win, you get a your very own zSpace system! If you do get a zSpace, applications extend across many fields.  zSpace is the start to the future of engineering, graphic design, product design, and lots of other occupations. zSpace also has apps for medical needs like a 3D human body, and they encourage doctors and medical students to take part in their developer program.

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zSpace is currently on the market for around $4,000, a pretty hefty sum. But, for what you’re getting, it could be worth it.

TechThought: eVolo Skyscraper Design Contest

0
12 years
by in Uncategorized

Every year, eVolo has a competition for the most creative and ingenious designs for future skyscrapers. It’s basically where you get to go all out on the design. You can make it as futuristic as you want. They get tons of submissions every year, and this year they received an astonishing 5,000 designs. This year’s competition winners were announced yesterday (March 13), and all of them are absolutely amazing. I will review the top 3.

 

3rd Place: Light Park

Designed by Ting Xuand and Yiming Chen, Light Park (as pictured above), takes on the problem of overpopulation and pollution in Beijing. It would hover above Beijing using giant Helium filled air sacks at the top of the structure. The structure also has solar powered propellers at the bottom to make sure it doesn’t fall. This design could free up green space on the ground by elevating residences and offices.

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You may be wondering, “What are those plates sticking out of the side of it?” Well, they don’t show it in the pictures above, but they are parks, fields and other green space. They provide space to relax in the crowded city of Beijing, while also making it child-friendly. The pillar where the plates meet has shops, restaurants, and living space.

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One problem with Light Park, despite its creativity and benefits, it obviously its vulnerabilities — for example, what about tornados and hurricanes? Yes, they rarely have tornadoes and hurricanes in Beijing, but if they do, it would get hurled. Even strong winds would seem to be a concern.

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Even thought Light Park has some safety concerns to work out, it is a fantastic design. Since it runs solely on eco-friendly power, it could help Beijing’s terrible problem of air pollution. The plates also were a great idea, making it enjoyable to live in. I’m not even sure I’d ever get off it besides for vacations. It must have taken Ting Xuand and Yiming Chen at least a year to design, because they made sure every little thing was taken care of. They even designed a terrific water system that filters rain water. Ting Xuand and Yiming Chen defiantly deserved 3rd place, and if they don’t try to build at least a mini Light Park in 20 years or so, I’d be disappointed.

 

2nd Place: Phobia Skyscraper

 

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Phobia Skyscraper is a design bent on helping the urban life in Paris. If you have ever been to Paris, you know that is is one of the busiest cities in the world. Designed by Darius Maïkoff and Elodie Godo, Phobia Skyscaper is made out of mini (compared to the whole structure) blocks. Each block can be a store, house, workshop, or nearly whatever you want. Phobia Skyscraper is more of a mystery, not really making it clear how you would get around.

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What Phobia Skyscraper does make clear is that it will make much more space for paris, and shops will have lots of costumers. Also, it has something called Nuclei Centers, which are basically holes in the structure that make a sort of community center. It won’t be as “green” as Light Park, but it will be a place people would meet up. Big events like weddings, boxing matches, small fairs, exhibitions, and lots of other events would be held in the Nuclei Center, and it would become a fairly crowded place overtime. In the Nuclei Center, there are big screens that show messages, news, and other information like that. The Nuclei Center would most certainly be the most populous place, so stores will likely be place near there, making it a lot like a shopping mall.

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Phobia Skyscraper would definitely change Paris, adding shops, living space and much more. It could also help Paris ecologically. It has a rain water filter system that would not waste energy on filtering and shipping water from unnecessary places. One problem is that some people may think it is ugly, and not want it in the amazing city of Paris, but if it does get into the city, there could definitely be some benefits.

 

1st Place: The Polar Umbrella

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Like Light Park, the Polar Umbrella takes on a environmental issue: global warming. Placed on the top of the North Pole, the Polar Umbrella would help cool the icecaps down and rebuild the layers of ice. It takes in the salt water, cools it down using a high-tech system, and spreads it out over the water. This design could help preserve the icecaps, which is greatly needed.

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The Polar Umbrella isn’t just a ice producer, it also serves as a research lab and tourist spot. It isn’t primarily meant for a tourist destination, so there aren’t many rooms. The rooms they do have are small, but the fact that you are on the North Pole will make up for it! Researchers and conservationists would also find the Polar Umbrella very helpful, because it also has a viewing deck and helicopter pad.

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The architectural design of the Polar Umbrella is amazing. It integrates scientific equipment along with a great design for research. When you look at it from far away, it looks very small. But when you put it vertically, it actually matches the height of the Empire State Building. Thats a lot of ice being made. Designed by Derek Pirozzi, the Polar Umbrella is a environmental masterpiece. It completely deserves its 1st place medal. As I said before, it would very greatly help the North Pole, and absolutely should be explored as a concept.

 

eVolo’s(which incase you didn’t know, is a architecture magazine) annual contest bring up lots of designs that spearhead different problems. Hunger, global warming, pollution, and lots of other problems could partially be solved if at least a couple of these designes are built. Plus, who wouldn’t want a brand-spankin new high-tech futuristic looking skyscraper in their city?

(If you found this interesting, I recommend getting the $150 book eVolo Skyscrapers, a commemorative book with 300 designes submitted over the years.)

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