Gizmodo: Concept Prototype

Umbrella Stand Uses Runoff to Water Plants

Brian Lam — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:42:03 EDT

Here's a simple concept: An umbrella stand that directs wet umbrella run off to a plant-filled tray. I one day hope to live in a modern house with modern furniture surrounded by geometrically symmetric patches of indoor lawn, so I enjoy the idea of this immensely. [what else via bigchief.it]

Armari eXtreme Concept Prototype is Liquid Nitrogen Cooled PC Beast

Haroon Malik — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:59:59 EDT

Armari's eXtreme Concept Prototype (XCP) super computer is made of some 100 uniquely designed parts, is either cooled by liquid nitrogen, liquid flurocarbon immersion or thermoelectric cooling and phase change, depending on the model's configuration and has the ability to run 24/7 without needing to shutdown. The XCP will happily function through a temperature range of -110°C to 90°C and being built on Intel's Skulltrail platform, the XCP happily packs quite some power under its Lost in Space-esque hood.

Currently, the XCP is at concept stage, but the final production model is expected to house two quad-core CPUs (3.2GHz) on a motherboard that supports four graphics cards. Nice. We understand that the uber geeks among us are probably sweating profusely in eager anticipation of the XCP. Well, you can stop now, as an expected price tag of $20,000 says this will remain a thing of geek utopia. Yes, elf sex remains therein, too. Sorry. [HEXUS]

Cerevellum Bike Computer Does It All, Including Video From Behind

Charlie White — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:18:17 EST

Soon you'll be able to set up a computer network on your bicycle that's just downright useful. The Cerevellum's main unit mounts front and center on your handlebars, and then you plug in USB modules that give you GPS capability, heart rate readings, and even the amount of energy you're expending pedaling that bike. Heck, it even gives you eyes in the back of your head.

Its digital rearview mirror feeds video onto its screen from a tiny camera mounted on the bike's handlebar plug or on the seat post under your butt. We were about to order one of these right away until we discovered this is just in the prototype stage thus far.

But wait. They've figured out the pricing, which ain't cheap. A fully tricked out system will cost you as much as a laptop, with the main unit costing a hefty $300, a speedometer/odometer (cyclometer) module is $60, $200 for GPS and then it's $800 for that power meter. Ouch.

But still, we really like that rear-view function. We're thinking by the time its designers find a manufacturer, perhaps they'll consider using wireless USB. [Cerevellum, via Wired]

Concept Rocking Chair Comes with Overhead Light, Alien Hipness

ybaranovsky — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:42:08 EDT

Looking vaguely like an alien life-form from Lost in Space, the "Rocking Wheel Chair" is a concept rocking chair created by designer Mathias Koehler. With spindly alien legs and an ever-important overhead light, the rocking chair manages to be simultaneously hip and terrifyingly ugly — which is ironically what I look for in a woman.

The chair makes a great present for your cyber-punk grandmother who could sew you up a nice pair of anarchistic pants real quick. Still, why not go further with this, Mathias — let's give it Bluetooth-capability and an engine, then we're in business. [Mathias Koehler via TreeHugger]

"On" is a Huge, Wall-Mounted Spectrum Analyzer

Brian Lam — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:32:49 EDT

This piece of art is a huge, wall-mounted electronic spectrum analyzer that displays sound from ambient noise. It looks to be made up of an array of red LEDs set up in a pattern of 8 to 32 bands. The entire device runs on batteries for 4 hours, or AC power, and is turned on by a switch behind the plate glass face. $8200 for 8-bands. I don't even want to know how much this would cost for 32-bands, but I'd bet you an NYU ITP 3rd year student could pull this off for the cost of materials and beer money. Nevermind the guy with no shirt; this thing was made in Europe.
[On via MusicThing]

Recycling Washer/Dryer Concept

Brian Lam — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:26:47 EDT

This concept washing machine by Reed Crawford saves water from one of the cleaner, later rinse cycles for use in a future wash. Smart, but only if there is an override that I can activate when washing soiled underwear. I mean, hypothetically.
[Yanko]

Blank Phone Concept One Giant OLED Touchscreen

Brian Lam — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:25:34 EDT

I still dream of it about once a week, but I know a lot of you have had enoughiPhone & friends posts until June, and all that buttonless touchscreen talk. Well Mike Kwan over at Mobile Mag just wrote about the inevitable next step, in his post about the Blank phone. The concept takes the now-obvious buttonless setup to obscene levels: a phone entirely comprised of an OLED touchscreen, back and sides included. Death to buttons, death to rectangular screens, death to mediocrity! Also, death to battery life, tactile feedback, and sanity. Imagine the problems with a phone that turns every fingerprint smudge into a type-o.–Brian Lam

Blank Concept [Mobilemag]