NEW YORK, 4:59 PM, TUE MAY 13 | 53 POSTS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS | tips@gizmodo.com | SUBMIT A TIP | RSS
UK | FR | NL | IT | DE | SP | JP | AU
Posts Tagged “

Infrared

robots

Toshiba's ApriPoko: a Remote Controller Companion Robot

Toshiba's new robot pal is basically a voice-operated infrared universal remote control, heavy on the cuteness. Programmed to be fairly smart, he'll wait until you use a controller for your electronics, then ask you what you were doing: the next time you want to perform the same action, you just have to tell ApriPoko to do it for you. He'll then wave his IR transmitter arm and *bing*, on goes your TV. He's even equipped with a camera to identify users, presumably to learn their habits. For now he's just an R&D demonstrator device, and is limited to simple commands. We hope we're right in expecting the technology to make its way into consumer gadgets soon. [Robot Watch]

medical

Infrared-Beaming Helmet May Battle Alzheimer's

Despite looking like a freaky PC case-mod for your head, researchers say this helmet may serve as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. It directs low levels of infrared light at the skulls of Alzheimer's sufferers in order to combat the disease by stimulating brain cell growth. More »

gadgets

Japanese Infrared Revamp Transfers at Gigabit Speeds

While IR is still quite useful for certain things, transferring data between devices is something very few people still use it for. Japan's KDDI R&D labs, however, have managed to increase the transfer rate 250 times to 1Gbps with a semiconductor laser that blinks incredibly fast. Although 1Gbps is fast, it doesn't quite transfer a full CD of music in less than a second (which is 650MB). Point is, if they can manage to put this into cellphones, we'll finally be able to get our contacts over really really fast. [Digital World Tokyo]

news

IR Hacks: Some Perspective

While much of the internet may be up in arms over Richard Blakeley's recent IR-induced video stunt, a 14-year-old boy from Poland allegedly took an IR hack to more tragic proportions this week, and has been accused of hacking a standard TV remote to override track switching at rail junctions in the city of Lodz. Four trams were derailed and (luckily) only 12 people were injured with none killed. The youth in question was described by teachers as an "electronics buff and exemplary student," according to The Register.

The lesson? From here on out, Blakeley takes a cab. And he stays the fuck away from our train set. [theregister via boingboing] [image]


cars

Night Vision For Any Car: FLIR PathfindIR

The Bottom line: Remember that urban tale of the drug running lambo doing 200mph runs using merely night vision? FLIR, used to making commercial nightvision systems for law enforcement, marine, and airborne vehicle has trickled the tech into civilian hands. The PathfindIR is their first infrared night vision adaptable for any car, although they'll be demo'ing at CES in a BMW. The camera (below) gets mounted in a grill, and the AV output hooks into any LCD and even some dashboard nav systems. The video looks to be a relatively low res 320 x 240, with a wide 36º H x 27º V field of view. The best news: the IR system lets cars see 5x further than high beams.
The catch: Staring at a LCD on your dash sounds dangerous. Demo video after the jump. More »

gadgets

Brando's Infrared Thermal Patch is Just a Lousy Heater

We've been lucky enough to not have to deal with carpal tunnel, but those of you who do might be interested in this Brando "Infrared Thermal Patch." We're not sure which part of it is infrared, or which part of it is a patch, but it's just a little plastic plate you place on the affected area that will warm it up to relieve stress at temperatures up to 40~45 Celsius. Or, you can just wipe your ass with a twenty and two ones and be done with it. [Brando]

getting hot in here

USB Infrared Heating Pads

The USB Far Infrared Pad is pitched as a solution for those aches and pains that are the natural byproduct of working sitting at one's computer. We don't know the $21.99 pad actually adheres to skin, but once stuck to carefully balanced upon the area of pain, 1.2W of USB juice heats the pad to between 104° and 113° F. We'd be more interested if the pads served a more interesting function, like electrified nicotine transmission to help us start smoking. But go ahead, pick one up for the crazy hypochondriac at the office (and send in a picture when they use it). [usbfever via ubergizmo]

biometric mouse

Fujitsu Launch Palm-Vein Scanning Mouse, Finally

This press release from 2002 shows a Fujitsu mouse that could authenticate logins by scanning vein-patterns in a user's hand. By taking an infrared scan of a person's hand, the system can get a clear picture of their veins - the pattern is then used to authenticate users. Five years later, they have finally launched the product. So what have you been doing for 5 years, Fujitsu? More »

geek furniture

The Wave LED Coffee Table Provides Motion-Seeking Light Show

Here's an interactive LED coffee table that refuses to simply table your coffee—it twinkles and sparkles, reacting to movement. The Wave uses 32 near-infrared sensors which observe the space above the table and any motion detected is mimicked with trails of light and color from 480 LEDs. More »

digital cameras

Fujifilm IS Pro Digital SLR Camera Has Predator Vision

Forget the visible light spectrum, any camera can hack that. The Fujifilm IS Pro is the most recent camera in Fujifilm's pro lineup that can shoot in the ultraviolet and infrared spectrums as well. Tooled for professional snoops, it also has such gumshoey features as one-touch black-and-white Live Image Preview, post capture face-detection that identifies up to 10 faces per image and Mirror Lock-Up and Shutter Delay to reduce image blur in a long exposure. It's simply the choicest thing to accompany your coffee thermos and box of doughnuts on those long overnight stakeouts. Jump for the details, right from the horse's mouth. More »

upgrading man's best friend

Windows XP RobuDOG Plays Ball And Takes Pictures

The Windows XP-running RobuDOG is part robopet, part photographer. The dog's colorful noggin is packed with all sorts of goodies, including infrared sensors for guidance and an "intelligent, programmable" color camera. So, while using its 17 servo-powered joints and articulated ankles to run and kick a ball around—something it's supposed to be better at than your average dog—the RobuDOG will also be able to take snaps of the action.
More »

travis loves booze

Infrared Wine Thermometer, Corkscrew

I am a bit of a wine snob, if I do say so myself. Every time I am ready to crack open that bottle of Boone's Farm I have to make sure I know it is the right temperature for consuming. That stuff is pretty classy at $3 per bottle, and I wouldn't want to ruin a bottle by compromising its flavor. Checking wine temperature is even easier with this device. It uses infrared technology to check the temperature of the wine and if it is ready for drinking you can flip out the corkscrew and get drinking. It also includes a bottle opener if you want to know your beer is the right temperature and also a knife so can temperature-check that fish before hacking it open. Haven't you heard the proverb: "Those who hack a cold fish go home a warm duck"? $130. More »

are you hot or am i pointing this at your retina

Infrared Thermometers Give You a New Pickup Line

Although it's not specifically used for wine, like the Nuvo Vino, there's nothing technically stopping you from taking temperatures of your drinks with these infrared thermometers. More »

gadgets

Infrared Soap Dispenser Makes Your Home Like a Public Toilet

Really savor the feeling of using sinks in public bathrooms? Now you can get halfway there with this infrared soap dispenser. All you need to do is add 4 AA batteries, pour in some liquid soap, spray some pee around and below the rim of the toilet, smear poop in the wall next to where you wrote your phone number in Sharpie, and voila, you're good to go. More »

gadgets

I.master Intelligent Wastebin - Smart Garbage Can for Smart People?


The Wastecan i.Master Wesco is definitely much smarter than your trash can. It features an invisible infrared sensor at the top that senses when your hand is near, filled with stinky trash, and automatically opens the lid without the need for involvement from you other hand or your foot for that matter. More »

gadgets

Nuvo Vino For Winos

Like the Vinturi, this Nuvo Vino is only designed for people who really like wine. Why? Because who else would spend $45 on a IR Wine Thermometer that's designed not to touch the wine when taking its temperature. More »

digital cameras

Fujifilm Finepix IS-1 10.7x Infrared Zoomer

The Finepix IS-1 is a specialized shooter that lets users take infrared photos without the need for complicated DIY modding. Just use an infrared cut filter and you're good to go. More »

gadgets

PervModo: CVS Nightvision Edition

Want to peek on your step-sister in the dark but don't have enough allowance money to buy real night-vision goggles? Build your own goofy-looking contraption with a CVS camcorder and some elbow grease. More »