Gizmodo: Kite

Nereus Kite-Powered Water Pod Racer Can Dive

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:25:00 EDT

The Nereus is a kite-powered watercraft which looks like the product of an orgy between a hammerhead, a manta ray, a Japanese bike and a Storm Trooper. Inspired by kite-surfing, the designers of this water pod racer say that it will "achieve relatively high speeds on and under water." We don't know how high speed diving can be possible with the sea dragging you, but we know how you make it work.

According to them, you would be able to control the Nereus by just turning the handlebars, like using any bike. The handlebars are attached with strings to the kite, employing the same principles used in kite-surfing. To dive, you only have to push down, and the Nereus will dive for a few seconds before emerging again because of the kite dragging it out of the water. Sounds crazy, and we want one. [Behance]

Biokite: Is Flying a Kite Indoors Weird?

Sean Fallon — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:20:35 EST

There is something a little bizarre about the idea of flying a kite indoors —but in reality, that characteristic makes the BioKite ideal for the disabled.Thanks to a super aerodynamic structure and extreme light weight of only 10 grams, the BioKite can fly in completely windless environments. It can also be accurately controlled using the fishing rod and reel attachment. Just don't expect this sort of cutting-edge kite technology to come cheap. Available for 11,000 Yen or $100. [Product Page via Japundit via InventorSpot]

Keyring Kite

gizmodo.com — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 12:58:18 EST

A lot of the little gadgets that we post about are chosen because they're just so pointless that they must be lovingly mocked in a public forum, but we think the Keyring Kite, a fully-functional kite that folds into a pouch so small it fits into your pocket, is a thing of beauty. If you live somewhere the weather sucks all the time, like Seattle or London, carrying this around on your keychain is like carrying around a little piece of hope that one day it might just be sunny enough for you to use it.

Keyring Kite [I Want One Of Those, via Seihin-World]