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| Posted: 23 Sep 2008 04:22 AM CDT Hey you! I bet you like going really fast on water huh? Check out the KTM Barracuda - developed for circuit races. It’s the equivalent to the RC8 and the X-Bow on water. The combination of front wing flaps and the vector thrust from the propeller allows for enormous agility and maneuverability. Unlike conventional speedboats, the Barracuda keeps water-contact at all times. The self-stabilizing design doesn’t require special training and has a low learning curve to use. As the boat speeds up, the hydrofoils lift the main body out of the water, eliminating a large amount of drag. With this lift, the boat reaches higher speeds while reducing fuel consumption. The Barracuda’s hidden frame allows the conventional supercharged combustion engine to switch to alternative engine at any point. All components are mounted to a frame underneath the hull, similar to the construction of a race bike. Foam-filled floaters surround the interior components to help prevent sinking in case of accidents. With the Barracuda’s modular architecture, the wings and the propulsion chain can be easily dismounted by unlocking a few bolts and retainers. At only 2.4 meters wide, the Barracuda is easy to service, transport and maintain. The Barracuda: a hydrofoil boat that’s just READY TO RACE. Designer: Christoph Albiez & Thomas Perz        |
| Posted: 23 Sep 2008 04:17 AM CDT OASIS is a water purifier, air purifier, and humidifier all in one. The idea loosely biomimics how nature cleans, recycles, and balances air and water. Water is naturally filtered into clean drinking water. Whatever you don’t drink is given to the plant which in turn cleans the air and balances humidity. The concept is a bit esoteric but if you break it down to its simplest form, it’s quite clever. Designer: Yura Lee        |
| Posted: 23 Sep 2008 04:13 AM CDT Peter Thuvander was so excited over his new iPhone that he designed an induction powered yo-yo charger for it. It charges its lithium ion battery using an OLPC crank. 30 “yo-yo” cranks is all you need to juice up your iPhone which sounds almost too good to be true. Check out the video after the jump. Designer: Peter Thuvander [ Via: Core77 & Gizmodo ]        |
| Logitech’s MX Air Wants to Fly Posted: 23 Sep 2008 12:00 AM CDT When we found out an ordinary computer mouse won an 2008 IF award, we were intrigued and had to review it. Logitech was kind enough to supply us with a model and let me start by saying this is no ordinary mouse, not surprising since I later found out it was designed by Marcel Twohig. The man currently designs for Design Partners and worked with LG prior to that. The MX Air combines laser optics for millimeter point accuracy, touch controls for parts of its interface, and Freespace’s innovative motion sensing technology to track hand gestures. If you’re a little confused by that last bit, just like the box says, the MX Air works both on the desk and air. Similar to the way people use a remote to control a television, when holding the MX Air mouse, you can now lean back and relax while navigating the computer and enjoying media content. If you’ve played with Nintendo’s Wii, the technology is near identical. Aesthetically the MX Air is sleek and unlike any other Logitech mice. It’s devoid of intricate curves for thumb rests and the like. Instead, it follows the “less is more” mantra. The aerodynamic slope makes the MX Air appear to fly, which is the point since it contains gyroscopes to work in the air. The top surface is made of shiny plastic; the belly is plated in metal. There’s an on/off switch just above the optical sensor to conserve power and the whole thing is wireless. In use, the MX Air performs like most other Logitech mice. It’s accurate and smooth. It comes with Logitech’s SetPoint software to program a myriad of buttons. It can navigate web pages, launch applications, and control your music player with dedicated play/pause and volume buttons. The left and right mouse buttons are tactile and the scroll bar is touch based. Perhaps the coolest part is the ability to pick up the mouse and use it like a pointer or remote. It’s not the first gyroscopic mouse on the market but Logitech is hedging its bet on design and multimedia users. My favorite feature are the volume controls. Hold the mouse like a remote, press the volume button and flick your wrist to the right and left to raise or lower the volume. I didn’t like the scroller at all. The simulated clicking sounds are a nice touch but I found it to be hyper sensitive. By moving the finger up or down, the user is actually scrolling the document up or down at a speed proportional to the finger movement speed, while a very quick finger movement will "spin the wheel" and scroll the document abruptly in the desired direction. It does work but usually wildly. I couldn’t get the right customized settings to make it comfortable. In the end I would have much preferred a traditional scroll wheel or perhaps a 360ยบ nipple found on the Apple Mighty Mouse. What we liked
What could be improved
My only other experience with gyroscopic mice is with Gyration’s Go Air Mouse. Both are comparable in features but the Logitech MX Air gets more winks and stares for its glossy looks. The Gyration mouse is also significantly heavier which is subjective by taste. At $149 the MX Air is expensive so this really is a case of form over function. After a week using the MX Air, I’m pretty happy. Aside from the few complaints I had, the MX Air is more than capable of controlling the multimedia centers of my life. Designer: Marcel Twohig & Design Partners [ Buy It Here ]        |
| Tea is Drunk to Forget the Din of the World Posted: 22 Sep 2008 10:55 PM CDT I’ll have what the swan is having. Adam Hammerman presents a strangely elegant take on England’s favorite bit of kitchenware, the teapot. It would be a strange feeling drinking from the mouth of this beautiful animal, but in-between tips we’ve got a wonderful work of art to lay the eyes upon in Tea Time bliss. From designer Adam Hammerman: “Cigno is a form development project working around the framework of a teapot. The form is meant to give viewers a feast for all senses: sight, touch, emotional response.” Tea Time for the design conscious, but not too wanky Brit. Designer: Adam Hammerman        |
| A Piggy Saved is a Piggy Earned Posted: 22 Sep 2008 04:39 PM CDT Teaching children early about saving money is important, especially in today’s world. What fun for the children to learn this concept by using The Mini Pogo and Pogo Stool Toy. Designed by Joel Escalona, The Mini Pogo is a combination of a toy and a modernized version of the Piggy Bank that will hold the coins the children place inside encouraging them to save their money. The larger Pogo is a functioning stool and a toy. Both Pogo versions are available in shiny plastic or cork and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Designer: Joel Escalona        |
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