FGadgets » Computers

Cube Browser by Ludwig Zeller

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:50:56 +0000

Cube Browser is designed with six functional screens to provide a playful way of viewing image collections online. This innovative device combines the digital technology with the easiness of conventional analog photosets that can be shown or shared easily. Cube browser diminishes the limitation of sitting in front of a computer screen and operating through mouse or keyboard, rather it gives the convenience of turning page by turning the cube itself onto space in a more interactive way. With Cube Browser, viewing images from sites like flickr.com will become easier than ever through its intuitive digital screens and easy operating.

Source: Tuvie.com

HOLO 2.0 – Bracelet Mobile Computer Concept by Elodie Delassus

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:59:06 +0000

With computer becoming an integral part of modern life, regular PCs have taken the form of portable notebooks and other mobile devices, so you could stay connected all the time. Reinventing the mobile computer, French designer Elodie Delassus has come up with a highly mobile computer concept named “HOLO2.0” that other that giving the internet access, also becomes a fashion accessory for the trendy. Worn like a bracelet around the wrist, the portable computer features the body finished in a flexible non-conductive, non-allergic and heat resistant material for a safe and easy networking. Though, we are short on technical info, the holographic device seems to emit sound vibrations for instant alerts. If you are not comfortable wearing it around the wrist, you may place in your pocket.

Source: Thedesignblog.org

Cool Leaf Debuts Buttonless Input Devices

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:14:12 +0000

Minebea in collaboration with Professor Kazuo Kawasaki has developed Cool Leaf, the next-generation flat surface which can be used for input devices. The company exhibited a keyboard, remote control and a calculator with Cool Leaf, which is flat transparent acrylic board with no gaps between parts and no keys to show. These devices (Φ-QWERTY, Φ-Remote and Φ-Calcs) are flat to the core based on a single board which leaves no spaces in between making it easier to keep the devices clean and dust free, in contrast to the traditional keyboards and remotes that have spaces between buttons which make them prone to dust.

The amazing part of these devices is the fact that when the power is off the surface seems like a mirror and when the power is on, it shows the letters and numbers on the surface, which would make these devices perfect for medical and other highly sophisticated applications.

Source: Gizmowatch.com

Microsoft Courier Specs, Pics and Stand Against the Mighty iPad

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:06:05 +0000

You didn’t think Microsoft was just going to sit there and let Apple take all the tabletmania glory today, did you? New pics have surfaced of Microsoft’s dual-screen Courier, and the book-like device seems to be dolled up a bit to compete directly against the iPad.

There are new details coming along with these pictures. It’s less than inch thick, weighs slightly more than a pound, and its two screens are about the size of a 5 x 7 photo. There’s supposedly a built-in camera. The best news? Its powerful NVIDIA Tegra 2 graphics processor will be driving a version of those gorgeous Zune HD and Windows Phone 7 interfaces of which we are so fond.

Source: Dvice.com

T3-B Multi-Touch Coffee Table

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:14:19 +0000

It looks like companies are busy trying to turn the humble coffee table into something way more interesting. Despite there already being other options and designs being worked on, Digital Touch seems confident in its T3-B table, which is a coffee table sized unit that has a built-in 26-inch LCD, as well as Wi-Fi, allowing users to browse, select and interact with various options on screen. The inclusion of an orientation switch should be fairly useful, as it allows you to view your content from any side of the table. The table can also be hooked up with an optional receipt printer, credit card reader and TV tuner, making it perfect for settings such as a hotel environment or restaurant. The T3-B is currently featured in a handful of the top 100 venues in the US, so if you’re ever in one of those posh areas, keep an eye out for such a table.

Source: Ubergizmo.com

Ball Scroll Handheld Mouse

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:38:19 +0000

Inspired by the natural palm position when rolling a little ball between the thumb and fingertip, Canadian designer Danilo Cvjetkovic has come up with a hand-held mouse concept that lets you browse on the net for long periods without straining your hand. Entitled the “Ball Scrool,” the pad-free mouse integrates three buttons and a scrolling ball for smooth and brisk net navigation. Ideal for both the right and the left hand users, the wireless mouse comfortably fits in your hand to minimize repetitive motion strain, enhancing your work efficiency, thanks to the ergonomic design derived from the palm configuration. Moreover, the radical mouse has everything (style, technology and comfort) to attract the geeks.

Source: Thedesignblog.org

Acer Laptop with Touchscreen Keyboard

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:15:53 +0000

Acer hopes to mesmerize the electronic world by introducing ultra-thin frameless notebooks that would feature touchscreen keyboards using back of the panel’s glass substrate. Scheduled to make their debut in the second half of the year, the notebooks in development would display frames by printing colors onto the back of the notebook’s reinforced glass substrate by Corning. This design idea would reduce the notebook’s size to an amazingly thin size and would also reduce material costs.

Source: Gizmowatch.com

Skin-Based Interface Transforms The Body Into A Touchscreen

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:24:23 +0000

Touchscreen interfaces have seen many transformations over time, from small displays to large ones from cellphone displays to computers; they have been incorporated into just everything. Now a new skin-based interface dubbed the Skinput will get touchscreen flashing onto a user’s hands and arms. The interface being developed by Chris Harrison from Carnegie Mellon University with Dan Morris and Desney Tan at Microsoft’s research lab uses a micro-sized pico projector and an acoustic detector which detects ultra-low frequency sounds generated by finger tapping on the skin.

The projector embedded in an armband beams a keyboard, menu and other graphics onto the user’s forearm and hand, while the acoustic detector stationed in the armband senses the icon which the user touches. The included software then matches the sound frequencies with specific skin locations letting the interface identify the skin button (the icon on the skin) being pressed. The Skinput can well identify gestures even when the body is in motion, and as we learn, can also support wireless applications like Bluetooth for connectivity with electronics. This fancy yet feasible approach to use the body as an input device would be up on display at the Computer-Human Interaction meeting in Atlanta, Georgia in April.

Other novel interface concepts that’ll make good someday:

This skin-based interface is surely a novel interface concept, which when complete would turn our own body into an input surface. But this isn’t the first unique interface concept which we will use in the days to come. While discussing the Skinput we thought it was worth bringing our memories live to the other few interface concepts which have made it to the fore over time.

Muscle-computer interface

Scott Saponas, a Ph.D. student at the University of Washington, has developed what he calls a muscle-computer interface, which along with other things allows the user to play Guitar Hero without a guitar. This lets you control the electronic devices without the need for physical touch, just like the other gestural interfaces of course, the difference here is that EMG electrodes directly sense the electrical signals in the arms to detect finger movements which mimic the button presses.

Touch-free interface

The in-air gesture input interface developed by researchers at Tokyo University is what you may be eyeing as a solution for touchscreens. The in-air movements of the finger are translated into commands by a high-frame-rate 3D camera, letting the user operate the portable device without a touch.

Microsoft’s transparent interface

The transparent glass interface from Microsoft Research lets the body to be used as a control mechanism, which recognizes inputs through touch-free gestures and eye-tracking. The content can be manipulated with the help of voice commands or some other notable hand gestures, and in case you’re concentrating too much on something particular, the computer interface can automatically enlarge the same based on the eye-tracking technology.

Pressure-sensing touchscreen interface

Using what’s called the quantum tunneling composite (QTC), that relies on a 75-micrometer technology, Paratech has developed a cost effective pressure-sensing touchscreen interface which differentiates between gentle touch and a hard poke. Paratech’s sensors placed on the perimeter of the touchscreen display very efficiently detect where — and how hard — the screen is being pressed, and thereby responds accordingly to it. The pressure-sensors need no power in a static state, and are good to respond to only 2mm response from the user.

Source: Gizmowatch.com

Sony Fusion Workstation Coffee Table

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:04:23 +0000

In this fast moving society, multi-tasking is a valuable trait, which applies to both people and objects. Fusing technology and furniture into a single object, Singapore-based designer Zyane Tan has come up with a multifunctional unit called “Sony Fusion” that apart from being used as a regular coffee table becomes a high performance desktop for the geeks. The Sony Fusion is a simple coffee table with clean structured lines, made of matte black aluminum with a sleek chrome lining, supported by arched chrome legs. At the push of the power button, the table top splits in half and elegantly slides apart to reveal a trendy touch-sensitive keyboard outlined by LED lights. The adjustable screen can be angled in different directions to allow an ideal work position to the users, while the slot-loaded DVD drive and headphone jack can be found on the sides of the table. Available in blue, white and red, the Sony Fusion when it comes into production would cost about $3000.

Source: Thedesignblog.org

The AirMouse Wearable Like a Glove Becomes an Integral Part of Your Body

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:59:55 +0000

If technology is evolving with each passing minute then why should the gadgets and accessories remain square and orthodox? Catching up the technological evolution, Canadian firm Deanmark Ltd has come up with a revolutionary computer mouse that invariably becomes an integral part of your body. Hailed as the “AirMouse,” the radical mouse can be worn on your hand like a glove, allowing easy as well as brisk web navigation. Integrating a right and left click mouse buttons in the palm, the AirMouse comes equipped with optical tracking laser that lasts for a week on single charge.

In comparison to the conventional mice, the AirMouse reduces the excessive force in a huge way, as it aligns itself with the user’s hand and wrist ligaments to keep the hand in a neutral position. Moreover, the user can type on the keyboard with ease without removing the glove. The wearable mouse will be available for a reasonable $129 by the end of the year.

Source: TheDesignBlog.org