TheFW » Gadgets

The Real Life Science Behind James Bond's Gadgets

Ruth Waxman — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:04:19 +0000

In anticipation of the upcoming release of 'Skyfall,' the 23rd installment of the James Bond franchise, we've explored five of our favorite Bond gadgets and put them to the test of reality. It's every guy's (and probably girl's) dream to have their own real life Q and his accompanying gadgets. But how many of these are accurate portrayals of reality and how many are far-flung fantasies that belong on the big screen?

Microsoft's 'Surface' Tablet – What You Need to Know

Carl Pettit — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:16:11 +0000

Microsoft has just announced its new line of ‘Surface’ personal tablets, which are going to enter the market this autumn, and go head-to-head with Apple’s iPad, among other devices. Here are a few things you might like to know about this new entry into the tablet-computing world, just in case you’re thinking about switching brands.

BlackBerry 10 Camera Lets You Go 'Back in Time' for the Perfect Photo

Mithun Divakaran — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:34:56 +0000

Ever missed a moment when preparing to snap a photo and wished you could just go "back in time" to capture it? Onstage at the recent 2012 BlackBerry World keynote address, executives at Research In Motion, the makers of the popular device, unveiled their new camera app for BlackBerry10 that lets you do exactly that.

Robotic Mobility Device Offers Paraplegics an Upgrade From Wheelchairs

Mithun Divakaran — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:09:17 +0000

While wheelchairs have been around for over a century, the most advanced versions only come motorized. The fundamentals of a wheelchair’s design has remained the same. But now a Turkish R & D company believes they have created what could be considered the future for mobility devices. Dubbed the Tek Robotic Mobility Device (RMD for [...]

Watch a Team of Old Computer Equipment Perform 'House of The Rising Sun'

Jeremy Taylor — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:18:47 +0000

Instead of throwing away his old computer equipment, YouTube user Bd594 has turned a HP Scanjet printer, an Atari 800XL, a Texas instrument Ti-99/4A, and a noisy hard drive into a four-piece “robot band” that’s able to play the classic Animals hit ‘House of the Rising Sun.’ According to Bd595, there is no sampling or audio effects [...]

Finally Someone's Created a YouTube-Playing Microwave

Jeremy Taylor — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:42:43 +0000

The uWave is a specially designed microwave that will pick a YouTube video of the same duration as your food’s cooking time and play it on the appliance’s special designed console as your dish heats. Ain’t technology grand? [via Viral Viral Videos]

First 3D Hologram Has Us Closer to Making Our Own Death Star Plans

Jeremy Taylor — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:57:11 +0000

You may have thought you've seen a 3D hologram before -- you're probably thinking of those awesome Death Star plans from 'Star Wars' -- but what you had actually been looking at was just an optical illusion on a 2D screen. This video is the first look at true 3D hologram technology, which will one day be the jumping off point in making our own operational space station.

Panoramic Ball Camera Takes Amazing 360 Degree Photographs Mid-Air [VIDEO]

Paul Ciampanelli — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:17:24 +0000

This throwable panoramic ball camera looks astoundingly fun and useful, but we remain cautiously optimistic until we see a price tag. [via Slashgear]

Apple's New Siri Technology Has a (Hilarious) Mind of Its Own

Shauna Wright — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:42:32 +0000

Apple's voice-recognition technology, Siri, has been lauded for its groundbreaking ability to understand natural human language rather than just simple commands. In the past, most people have used it for various mundane activities -- finding the nearest sushi restaurant or theater showtimes for a movie, for example.

In its most recent incarnation, you can even ask it questions ("Will it rain today?") and it'll use GPS to spit out an accurate answer. But some creative folks have tested Siri's abilities on the new iPhone 4S with rather amusing results.

Horse and Carriage Has GPS System and Stereo [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:03:41 +0000

A Romanian villager tricked out his horse and carriage with modern amenities like GPS voice navigation and a kickin’ stereo system. Check out a news report on this unusual vehicle below. [via BuzzFeed]

See the Evolution of the Zack Morris 'Saved by the Bell' Brick Phone [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:26:39 +0000

Fans of ’90s Saturday morning sensation ‘Saved By The Bell’ will remember Zack Morris’ massive, ever-present brick phone. Well, YouTube user GoSwarmIt has created a supercut that tracks the changes that Zack’s famous phone went through during the show’s run. Watch the evolution, and (slight) shrinking of the monstrosity that is Zack Morris’ brick phone in [...]

Cute Kitten Done in by Printer [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:23:58 +0000

The out tray of this printer provides a pretty nifty resting spot for a British Shorthair kitten — at first. Things take an ominous turn for the feline when the device comes to life and begins slowly spewing out paper. NEXT: Man Gets A Head Massage From His… Kitten? [via Huffington Post]

The Scary Statistics on How Much We Use Phones and Computers [INFOGRAPHIC]

Shauna Wright — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:11:41 +0000

It’s no secret that a lot of us these days practically live on our computers and smartphones — but what exactly do we do with them? According to this infographic created by Online Schools, the answer is “practically everything.” Some highlights? About a third of smartphone owners check our phones before we even get out [...]

Wearable Vibrating Device Simulates Getting Shot or Stabbed [VIDEO]

Dylan Schenker — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:50:00 +0000

Have you ever thought, “I wish I could know what it felt like to get shot or stabbed, but without the risk of death or permanent injury?” Well, a Japanese research group may have figured out a wearable way to simulate the feeling without all the actual shooting or stabbing. The sensation of an object [...]

Bomb Alarm Clock Promises Explosive Mornings [VIDEO]

Dylan Schenker — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:30:31 +0000

We're all guilty of hitting the snooze button and sleeping a little bit longer in the morning. But with this alarm clock, if you don't wake up on time to defuse it, you're in for an explosive surprise.

Turn Your iPhone Into Giant '80s Cellphone

Jeremy Taylor — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:52:58 +0000

Remember those giant '80s cellphones that gnarly dudes like Gordon Gekko and Zack Morris used to rock? Well, now you can make your iPhone into an ode to '80s excess with this new retro-style cellphone case, which is available on the Urban Outfitters website for $20.

Watch What Happens When Two Chatbots Chat With Each Other [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:18:34 +0000

The folks at Cornell Creative Machines Lab wanted to see what happened if two chatbots, which had been programmed to carry on coherent conversations with people, were instead introduced to each other. The results are pretty funny and more awkward than any human-on-human first date we can imagine. Check out the banter, which quickly takes an odd philosophical turn, below. [via Geekosystem]

Charge Your Cell Phone With Your Shoes

Jeremy Taylor — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:31:56 +0000

A shoe insert that harnesses the power of each step and can be used to charge cell phones is in development. The idea is simple enough: When a person’s heel hits the ground, it produces 20 watts of energy. Capturing that energy, however, poses serious challenges. But scientists Tom Krupenkin and Ashely J. Taylor believe [...]

Bridesmaid Attends Friend's Wedding Via iPad [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:58:50 +0000

Despite being chosen as a bridesmaid, Rene wasn’t able to make the trip to Colorado for her friend Jamie’s wedding. Thanks to technology, she was still able to take part in the big day in more than just spirit — by virtually attending the nuptials via iPad. Rene’s face was projected onto the screen of [...]

This Super-Tiny Computer Actually Works [VIDEO]

Dylan Schenker — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:50:15 +0000

With the latest Macbook Air weighing in at just over two pounds, it seems that computers just keep getting smaller and smaller — and this one, smaller than a human finger, is positively byte-sized. The coolest part? It actually works. The itty-bitty PC even has a mouse and mousepad that a giant hand comically maneuvers, [...]

Monkey Tries To Send Text Message on iPhone – Cutest SMS Ever? [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:04:27 +0000

In a clear case of monkey-see-monkey-do, this ape seems desperate to fire off a text message from an iPhone. Despite his best attempts, he is unable to unlock device. However, with a little human help, he’s in business. He just types gibberish, from what we can tell. But if, as the saying goes, a bunch [...]

'Smart Cart' Syncs with Phone Apps to Help You Shop

Shauna Wright — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:20:54 +0000

There's little more frustrating than making a trek to the grocery store, only to get home and realize you forgot something important.

Mobile service provider SK Telecom hopes to change all that with a tablet PC-equipped Smart Cart that will sync items from a grocery-list smartphone app and show you exactly what you need to get. The WiFi-connected tablet even uses GPS to display product info and discounts while you shop, and makes recommendations based on past purchases.

Alarm Clock Forces You to Play Tetris to Prove You're Awake [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:54:59 +0000

The problem with alarm clocks, as night owls will tell you, is that they can too easily be turned off or snooze-buttoned into ineffectiveness.

Not so with the Tetris alarm clock: The only way to get this baby to stop sounding is for the owner to prove they're awake and alert by completing four lines of Tetris. If a sleepyhead hasn't begun the game within 30 seconds of attempting to silence the alarm, the grating sound will return in full force.

POP Phone Turns Your Cell Into an Old-Fashioned Handset

Chip Sandalwood — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:47:19 +0000

There was once a time when talking on the phone was a quiet affair, usually in the privacy of one's own home or an enclosed glass booth. Other people's phone calls have since become an annoyance, due to the ubiquity of the cells and the fact that Bluetooth headsets make it nearly impossible to tell who's crazy and who's talking to a client. A return to classical form might not be an altogether bad thing.

Created by French designer David Turpin for Native Union, the POP Phone is a bulky, vintage-inspired headset for your mobile device, laptop or computer (Lenny Kravitz is a fan). Available in six colors for the fairly reasonable price of $29.90, you can pick up your little piece of updated antiquity today. Check out a video review below:

Friskies Makes iPad Apps for Cats [VIDEOS]

Chip Sandalwood — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:39:50 +0000

Given how popular cats are on the internet, it's no surprise that Friskies -- makers of delicious cat food (or so our cats tell us) for over 50 years -- recently rolled out a line of tablet-based apps just for cats. Featuring movements, shapes and colors tailored to appeal to kitty's sensibilities, your feline friend can now download titles like 'Cat Fishing' 'Tasty Treasures Hunt' and 'Party Mix-Up' from the iTunes App Store and Android Market (if you don't mind a couple of scratches on your screen). Watch some cats test drive the apps below:

Sense-Roid Gadget Lets You Feel the Sensation of Your Own Hugs [VIDEO]

Chip Sandalwood — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:17:23 +0000

If you've ever longed to feel your own gentle caress, long no more. Produced by the Kajimoto Laboratory at Tokyo's University of Electro-Communications, the Sense-Roid is electronic apparatus consisting of two sensor-filled jackets and a mannequin that allows the user to feel the sensation of hugging him or herself.

Slowed Down Dial-Up Modem Noise Totally Sounds Like the 'Lost' Theme

Chip Sandalwood — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:19:53 +0000

What is it about slow motion effects that scare us so? The day already brought us a slow-mo pageant girl videos and now the screeching sound of dial-up internet connection has gotten the treatment as well. Who knew that a noise that evokes memories of early internet for so many of us had the potential to sound like the score to 'Lost' when slowed down by 700%? Check it out below and then listen to the 'Lost' opening to compare: