Gizmodo: h2o

Digital Water Pavilion at Zaragoza World Expo Inaugurated (Verdict: Wet)

AddyDugdale — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:10:00 EDT

Remember the Digital Water Pavilion I previewed last year? Devised by a bunch of MIT brainiacs, who described it as being rather like an inkjet printer controlling droplets of falling water, it was finally inaugurated last week at the Zaragoza World Expo in Spain. Although the video is only short you can see the brazilliant effects of the water. Most interesting, however, is what the pavilion needs to make it go.

The DWP consists of 3,000 digitally controlled solenoid valves, several dozen pumps, 12 hydraulic stainless steel pistons, and a digital control system that uses open source software. The roof, 400-mm thick, is the only solid part of the building, and it moves up and down on pistons, depending on the weather conditions.
This is the opening ceremony. Very son et lumière, doncha think? Despite the cameraman's best efforts, you can see the time and effort put into the pavilion. I only wish I was still in Spain, then I could check it out for you all. [Building Design and YouTube]

H2O Audio's iPhone Case Saves Your Phone From Toilet Blunders

Jason Chen — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:40:04 EST

It's rare that people are clumsy enough to take their phones close enough to a pool to drop it in, but accidentally slipping it into the toilet is another matter. If these people are iPhone owners, then they need the H2O Audio iFR Ruggedized Case, which wraps the phone in a water-resistant seal that protects against drops, shocks and scratching. Even though their previous products have been waterproof, we're not sure if this particular one is completely sealed or just water resistant. Either way, it beats having to fake-cry to the Apple Genius for them to fix your phone. [PRNewswire]

iSave Faucet Water Counter for your Green Conscience

Addy Dugdale — Thu, 10 May 2007 07:18:24 EDT

The iSave is a rather simple gadget that has just clinched the runner-up prize in Metropolis Magazine's 2007 Next Generation Awards. Attach it to either your sink or a showerhead and it will show you just how much water you are using for your morning's ablutions/scrubbing last night's taco melt off your plates. Designed by Reamon Yu, it's not going to save any water, but it will make you conscious of just how much is used/wasted, and hopefully will push you to further reduce your consumption.

The iSave is powered by a small turbine embedded in the waterflow, so greenies among you need not worry about expending any more energy than you have to. It's not available as yet, but fingers crossed and faucets tight. – Ad Dugdale

The 2007 Next Generation Design Competition Winner and Runners-Up Announced [Metropolis Magazine via Inhabitat]

Return of the Water-Powered Clock

Jason Chen — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 18:00:43 EST

For those who want a water-powered clock without having to insert wildlife—what am I, a florist?—this water-powered H2O clock survives for two months on one "charge" of water.

Fill the transparent tubes with tap water—canine saliva should work—and watch as the non-backlit time ticks away the minutes to your eventual retirement from the circus. It's only $12, which is about as much as you'd expect to pay for a travel clock that isn't backlit, doesn't have an alarm, and whose only notable feature is that it can be powered by fluid from my body. And when you send yours to me to charge, please have a self-addressed, pre-paid return box and specify what type of bodily fluid you wish for me to use. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Select Solar via Crib Candy via Oh GIzmo]

H2O Audio Waterproof iPod Video Case

Jason Chen — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 19:00:29 EDT

Watch and relive Jessica Alba's new cinematic masterpiece Into The Blue on your iPod Video with the H2O Audio waterproof iPod Case. Compatible with the $39 H2O Waterproof Headphones H2O Waterproof Headphones, this case has the "Commander Scroll Wheel" designed to let you use all the iPod click wheel functions even when underwater. It also comes with an armband to keep your music close, because the last thing you want to say is "a shark ate my iPod!"

Available now for $89.95. – Jason Chen

Product Page [H2O Audio]

Now You Can Watch Movies Underwater [Personal Tech Pipeline]