Flying Underwater

This video is about The Subwing which was designed by Simon Sivertsen of Norway. It's two hydrodynamic wings joined in the center that allow the divers to experience the sensation of flying underwater. 

Hanging Tents

When I was little, I was a girl scout, mostly against my will. To be honest, I hated being a girl scout. Spending one night a week with a bunch of girls and their moms just wasn't my thing. But, through the ten years I was in it, I gained a lot of great memories and one or two life long friends. The one thing that I always loved about girl scouts was the camping. I loved putting a tent up for a weekend get away. It was always great to sleep in a tent, roast some marshmallows, and lay in the grass looking at the stars.

When I found this tent, I immediately wanted to go camping in it. It's just so cool. 

It's called The Tentsile. It's a hanging tent and it can be suspended above the ground and it has enough room for up to 8 people. The fabric of the tent is water, fire, and UV resistant and the frame is collapsible. Three anchors provide tension points to create the shape and it can be accessed by a rope ladder. 

Want to know more? Check it out here.

Beauty and the Geek?

I've been called a geek and nerd most of my life from my family, friends, and those "bullies" at school. It's never bothered me to be honest. But, as a well known geek, I'm just going to say that I personally wouldn't wear these. Though, I really don't have any use for them.

These pants are called the Beauty and the Geek pants. The pants incorporate a  keyboard, mouse, and speakers into their design, and they can also communicate with a computer by Bluetooth or waist-worn cables. They were created by Erik de Niijs of Nieuwe Heren. 

I will admit they are pretty cool, but be honest, would you wear them?

Tattoos and Phones

I'm not to sure about this gadget. I mean, in theory it's a cool idea. It is. I just would never do it. I think it's kind of creepy to be honest. It reminds me of big brother for some reason.

A Finnish company has developed a magnetized tattoo that could function as an alert system for phones. It can vibrate for incoming calls, low batteries, or upcoming calender events. It's created by applying a material to a person's skin and then linking the material to a phone. The vibrations can be sent in a number of different patterns to alert the user to many different messages. 

Read more about it here and let me know what you think.

Braille

I started this blog wanting to post about cool inventions I find. Well, I guess it's become more than that. I've begun posting about ways that we adapt. My first post like this was about the mouse for your foot for those who can't use their hands or arms. I hope to keep posting things like this, because they are cool.  But, more than that, they show that we care about people with disabilities.

This is the DrawBraille Mobile Phone. It was designed by Sheffield Hallam University student Shikun Sun. This phone was designed for the visually impaired. It has a braille board and finger pads. The first rows is made up of braille buttons while the other side is sort of like a touchscreen. Battery life can be read by the row on the side of the phone.

Georgia Institute of Technology developed an app that brings Braille to a smartphone. It's called the Brailletouch app and consists of six-key keyboard. Typing on the keyboard is almost like using a Braille keyboard. 

Touch free Touchscreen

I've always thought the purpose of a touchscreen was to work when you touched it, but apparently I'm wrong. Either that, or Sony doesn't think so because they created a new screen for their new phone Xperia Sola smartphone. The screen on this phone can be operated just by bringing your finger close to the screen. 

The technology allows the user to simply hover over the screen to move the cursor and touch the screen to load. This could be nice if you have dirty or gross fingers, but I think I would end up sending a text I didn't want to send by mistake and end up forever hating the phone. 

What do you think? Is this cool or just a little too far?

Glucose meter

As you already know, my father is diabetic. If you don't know that, then it's because you missed this post, about measuring glucose through saliva. It's actually pretty cool. You should check it out.

This post is about making it easier to check glucose levels, but sorry you have to keep the needle. This is the iHealth Smart GlucoMeter created by iHealth Labs. It makes it easier to check blood sugar levels, and also keeps track of changes and trends in glucose levels through the iPhone. Actually, it can work through most devices like the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. It uses standard blood test strips and allows you to send readings of glucose levels to your doctors if need be.

Baby Monitor

I'm personally pretty excited about this gadget because I feel like I might need it soon. No, not for myself, but for my sister. My sister got married in October, so I fear sometime in my near future I'm going to be an Aunt. What a scary thought!

This is a baby monitor for the iPhone. Withings, a French company developed this gadget to help parents keep an eye on their baby. The white device pictured above is a monitor. It has a 3 megapixel camera. The camera can switch to infrared LED in a dim light, be zoomed in, and can will alert parents to room temperature and humidity changes. 

Self Healing

If you were wondering how my second phone fared after I killed the first one, this post will probably clue you in. I'm a klutz, what can I say?

Nissan has developed a new coating that is scratch resistant. They've created the first self-healing iPhone case.  The paint is made of polyrotaxane which can stretch itself to fill gaps. It takes anywhere from an hour to a week for the case to heal itself. The surface is gel-like which makes it easier to grip and reduces the chances of dropping the phone. Originally, the Scratch Shield paint was developed for cars, but this new case is the first of many new uses for the substance.

Touch and Type

Recently, my mother has learned to text. Not well, I might add, but she is learning. I have to give her credit for that. Anyway, when she does text, she always complains that the buttons are too small for her fingers. When I say always, I don't mean occasionally or sometimes, I mean every-single-time. I was tempted to buy her this little gadget, but she doesn't have a smartphone. So, no luck. 

This little gadget was developed by a Norway company ONE2TOUCH and is called the "Touch & Type" keyboard. It can communicate with most tablet or smartphone by simply downloading and installing a driver on the device. The phones can then be set on the black strip and be used to type on the phone. The keyboard also has a charging strip in the middle, is waterproof, and can fold up to be put in a purse, or pocket. 

Red X's

I received my first cell phone as a Christmas present when I was 16. I remember that morning very well, because I had been complaining to my parents for months. All my friends in school had a cell phone. In face, most of them had cell phones since we were in middle school. I complained almost everyday. When we went to the mall, I would purposely walk by the Verizon Wireless store and stare at the phones in the window. My mom got annoyed quickly, but she held out, telling me "You're too young to have a phone. What are you even going to do with it?"

I was told if I kept my grades up, kept my room clean, and behaved, I could have a phone when I turned 16 because I would be driving soon. When I turned 16 in September, no phone. I had to wait til December 25. I was opening gifts from my stocking when a bright orange pop can snuggie fell out. I looked at it. "Uh, thanks?" I said disappointed. I picked it up and realized it was too heavy for a cloth snuggie. I looked inside and a pretty little phone was sitting there. I had a big smile on my face. Mom said I was still too young for it. 

About two months after I got my phone, I dropped it in a puddle on accident while it was raining. The red X's that were on the battery were gone. It was damaged. Sure enough, I went to turn it on and it wouldn't work. First phone. Gone. I had to wait for a new one.

I bring this up, because it would have saved me a lot of trouble to have had something like this back then...

A company in California named Liquipel has developed water resistant nanocoating. It's suppose to protect smartphones from water intrusion. It's just a coating that is applied as a vapor and doesn't affect the usability of the phone or make it any bigger. The vapor penetrates the whole device and gives the phone a longer life span. Check out the video. It's pretty cool.

Do you want to know more? Do you want to get your smartphone treated? 

Check it out here.

Phone Week!

I was trying to find things to post about for this week today, and I came across a lot of phone gadgets and gizmos. So, this week is going to be dedicated to phones and the new things we can do with them. Most of the gadgets are for iPhones, so I'm sorry if you have a different phone.

Happy Shamrocks!

I wasn't going to do a post today, mostly because it's a Saturday and I don't usually post on Saturdays. But, I went out shopping and everyone was wearing green. I only have a little Irish in me, so I don't really celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I feel like it's an Irish thing, and I'm not very Irish. 


Well, I came home and started searching Irish inventions or little creations. I didn't find that much, but what I did find made me chuckle. I thought I might share some of these little things that I found.

First, I found little dog collars with shamrocks all over them. I have two dogs, so I thought they were really cute. You can never go wrong with dressing your dog up for ANY holiday. I'll admit it, I dress my dogs up. Usually, it's just a little bandanna for Christmas, New Years, and Easter, but for Halloween we go all out. Gunner is usually dressed up as a little devil, and Shiner was always dressed up as a witch. This past year we dressed Brandy up as a little punk chick and put Gunner in a little punk shirt too. They were boyfriend/girlfriend.

Next, I found this interesting contraption. Everyone knows it, St. Patrick's Day is a very big drinking holiday. I mean come on, it's an Irish holiday. I'm only 20 and not a fan of drinking, but I felt like I needed to share this. 


It's a Key Hat. Yes, a keg that is a hat. It's almost like those beer can hats, but I guess it's better because it's a keg. It definitely will hold more for you. If you see anyone in one of these, give them a high-five for me.

Here's something that will bring a new meaning to "shot gun." This is a little device that will hold a shot in it and shoot it into your mouth, or a friends mouth when you drink. This is what came up in my search, I kid you not.

Here are some Irish Inventions!
(Sorry it's so big. It's hard to see otherwise.)

Did you know the Irish invented these things? 

Have a great St. Patrick's Day!

Star Projector

This is a Star Projector. It has a rotating base with a compass. You can change the location and time of year so you can see the stars in the sky at that point and time. You can also change it to track the changes in the stars as the year passes. 

The Star Projector is not only educational but it's also romantic. It's great for kids who want to learn about astronomy, hopeless romantics that want to bring a bit of starlight on a date, anyone who can appreciate stars or anyone who wants a really awesome night light. Either way, anyone can bring the stars into their home now.

My love of stars is showing again. Can you tell?

(My first post about the stars can be found here)

The best part is it's only $22. 

Find it here

Drug Contacts

No, it's not what you think. I swear. 

Researchers at Auburn University have come out with a new way to deliver eye medicine. In place of drops, a contact lens will deliver the dose to your eye. This will allow a more controlled and thorough dosing. 

The contacts can come in two varieties. A daily disposable contact lens or a thirty day extended wear lens. The medicine is released slowly controlled by a drug memory in the lens structure. 

"cool" geek

I started this blog for a blogging class I'm taking at my college. A class about blogging? Yes. Isn't that awesome? 

Today in class, we workshopped my blog, which basically means everyone in class looks at my blog and tells me what they like and what they don't like. I was really surprised when a lot of my fellow bloggers said they liked my topic. I didn't expect it.

During workshop, we have to fill out papers to give to the blogger. Well one of the questions asks about the voice of my blog. I was surprised a lot of people liked my voice or that I even had one. One person called it "cool" geek, which basically made my night.

I just thought I would share. Have a good night!

PACMAN

Yes, I'm bringing back the heat changing mugs. I'm sorry. They are just too cool. Maybe it's because I want one myself. If I do buy one, it will definitely be this one. Why? Well because it has Pac-Man on it.

For all those gamers out there, this mug is really cool. This mug shows the arcade game Pac-Man. The game was first released in 1980 in the United States. It was immensely popular and still is. I think we can all appreciate a classic when we see one. When the mug is cold only the maze is seen but once it warms up Pac-Man and his enemies appear mid-game.

You can get it here

If you like the heat changing mugs, you can find my first post about them here

Any color, any where

In middle school, I wanted to be an artist. I would draw all the time. I would come home from school with pictures on my jeans, hands, and notebooks. Sketchbooks littered my floor. My desk drawers were filled with pens, crayons, markers, and colorful pencils. It drove my mom crazy. She would tell me, "There are no jobs in art. You are too smart anyway. Be a doctor."

    It took two years, but my mom finally convinced me to give up on my dreams of becoming an artist. What she didn't destroy though was my love for pens, pencils, markers, and all things colorful. I can spend an hour looking at pens in Office Max. I spend even longer in a craft store because there are so many different pens. I know. I'm weird.

   This is called the Color Picker Pen and it was created by Jinsu Park. It's a pen that allows you to write in any color you want. All you have to do is scan the color you want with the color sensor. You can just hold the sensor up to an object you want to scan, push the button, and then write in that color. The pen mixes the right amounts of purple, blue, green and yellow to create the right color.  

  

This pen is only a concept at the moment, but just imagine it. Who needs a box of 120 crayons when you have a pen that can make any color? I would be the envy of ever Kindergardner in the world.

Tea Anyone?

To be quite honest, I'm not sure what the purpose is of this Tea Cup. You certainty can't drink tea out of it. It's pretty darn cute though.

This is The Storm in a Tea Cup. It plays on the famous idiom meaning a small event that is exaggerated out of proportion. Inside the tea cup, a golden boat rides on mechanical waves under storm clouds. When you turn the gold handle, the waves move and the cloud reveals a lightening bolt. It's very cute, but there really is no purpose for it. Just a cute nick knack. 

I thought my friend Kayla over at Sip Worthy would enjoy it. I certainly thought it was adorable.

I even considered buying it for my Godmother who collects teapots, but then I saw the price. My love only goes as far as my pocket book I suppose.

But, if you happen to be rich, then you can find it here

Goodbye Ink Cartridges

I wake up late after spending most of the night writing a paper for class. It's due in a few hours. I walk over to my computer and pull the file up. I hit print. Then I leave my room to get breakfast and get ready for class. After going through my boring morning routine, I pack up my books for class. Before leaving, I go to my printer to grab my paper to turn in. It's not there. I frown and walk back to my computer. I hit print. Once again I walk to my printer, only to find a red blinking light. No ink. It seems like every time I need to print something, I'm out of ink.

    This is the Pencil Printer. You can take old wooden pencils, feed them into the printer, and it will use the lead to print your document. There is also an eraser in the printer, so if you make a mistake you can feed the paper through and erase all the writing. Or say you are just done with whatever is on the paper, you can feed it through the printer, erase it, and use it again. 

I'm always one for saving some trees.

 

Tweet me?

Don't forget I set up a twitter for this blog. You can find it on the left side of my blog, or you can find it by searching GadandGiz on twitter. I hope it keeps you up to date on my blog.

Germaphobe Friendly Keyboard

I have a few friends that are serious germaphobes. Let me say, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Everyone has something they are scared of or don't like. I'm deathly afraid of thousand leggers. Anyway, when I showed this gadget to my friend, she practically squealed with joy. 

This keyboard from Viogaurd uses ultraviolet light to kill harmful micro-organisms in seconds. The keyboard looks and feels the same as any standard keyboard, but it sanitizes itself. The keyboard is stored inside a box and comes out with a wave of the hand and returns once a button is pressed. 

Kony 2012

I understand this isn't about gadgets or gizmos, but I feel like I need to say something about Kony 2012

Let me first say that any video about Uganda should not show a young white american child most of the video. Then, let me say that I do not support the Invisible Children organization and I'm not writing this to get into the details of their organization. My reasons for not supporting them are my own, and I refuse to bash any organization on this blog. Saying that, this video was posted on Youtube on March 5, 2012. For those of you who haven't seen it, I suggest watching it. It's only thirty minutes long. 

This video was made by the Invisible Children, which is a non-profit organization. The video is about a man named Joseph Kony. He is the worst living criminal and he abducts children and makes them kill their own parents. He calls the children he abducts the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). He takes girls and forces them to be sex slaves. He has taken well over 30,000 children and forced them to be soldiers in the LRA. He has been doing this for over 25 years and he still is out there taking children. 1.7 million people have been displaced from their homes because of this man.

He once was primarily in Uganda, but he has moved into other parts of Central Africa. He is still out there. Still taking children and killing people. Very few people knew about him before this week.

 I learned about Joseph Kony when I was in high school. I had a teacher that talked about him and other criminals like him. I've known about him for a while, and I knew very few others did. Which is why I was so surprised when I saw KONY2012 trending on twitter on Tuesday. I'm happy that people are finally noticing this horrible man. He does need to be arrested and brought to justice for his crimes, but I don't think trending his name on twitter is going to do that.

The movie says that he is invisible to the world, and for a long time, he was. The video aims to make Joseph Kony famous, so that we as citizens of the world will demand his arrest. The video wants us to unite as a people and make a difference. It says, "We can help make a change. We can make a difference."

They are right. We can make a change. We can make a difference. I think the popularity of the video in just two or three days has shown that. People have seen this video and they are outraged. They want him brought to justice. But saying something and wanting something isn't enough. People need to do more than just post it on Facebook and tweet about it on Twitter. We as a people, need to unite and tell our governments that this isn't right, and we will not stand for it.

We can donate to groups that will work to stop him, sure that helps. But we need to do more. We need to write to our senators, to our president, to people with power. We need to demand his arrest. If everyone in this country did this, he would be stopped immediately, so why is Joseph Kony still out there. Why has he been out there for years? Every child deserves to feel safe. I've done something. Will you?

Do some research before supporting any organization. Don't let people scam you. But people like this man need to be stopped.

The Eiffel Tower Does It Again

What did it do the first time? I'm not really sure, but this time it has inspired a new type of metal-like material.

This material is a new super light material. It's as strong as metal and 100x lighter than Styrofoam. This new material could reduce material demands worldwide because it's 99.9% air. 

USB Wall Chargers

Many electronics now come with USB chargers. iPhones and iPods come with a USB cord that can be plugged into a computer or a small square to go into the wall. eReaders have the same cords. The problem with the cords they come with is that if you lose the small box to plug into the wall, you either need to buy a new cord or you have to just use the computer.

Well, Power2U Wall Outlet allows a USB cord to be plugged directly into the outlet. They are easy to install and all four ports can be used at once. The ports also only deliver as much power as the device needs to charge it. The USB ports have a little shutter that closes over the port when it is not in use to protect it.

Paper Battery

Sony has created a battery that is fueled by paper. This is awesome because it shows that there are more eco-friendly options out there and we should be exploring them. I still say save the trees. Old newspapers, magazines, and school work can be used to power these batteries, and we all know there are tons of those laying around.

The battery is powered by glucose. It's produced when the paper is broken down by an enzyme suspended in water. While this battery is still in development, it has been used to power a small fan. This is the start of new power sources.