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Posts Tagged “

Magic

motorcycles

Magic Tricycle: Chopper Meets Big Wheel

The Magic Tricycle (horrible name) concept is designed around a reasonable idea. On the highway, you may want to drive a car. So the Magic Tricycle (horrible name) road rages through traffic with three wheels. But when you just want to cruise around town, it transforms into motorcycle mode: More »

magic chess

Alice Chess Set Features Pieces That Are Magically Transparent

Inspired by the Lewis Carroll's novel ‘Alice through the Looking Glass,' designer Yasmin Sethi developed a chess set that features pieces that "magically turn transparent" when they touch the board. In other words, when removed from the playing surface, a pawn would be opaque—nearly indistinguishable from any other piece on the board. However, when in contact with the board, the piece reveals its true identity. This effect serves to remind the player that the pieces have no value unless they are in play.

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magic water cooler

Kilmatec's AirWater Machine Can Extract 5 Gallons of Water From the Air in 24 Hours

According to Kilmatec, their Base 1 AirWater Machine can extract up to 20 liters (around 5 gallons) of water from the air in a 24 hour period. Unlike a common dehumidifier, it also makes that water suitable for drinking by running it through a carbon filter and ultraviolet light chamber to eliminate any pollutants or bacteria. It can even dispense the water hot or cold. So, in essence, the Base 1 is like a water cooler that never needs refills. More »

movie magic

Secrets of Wanted's Action Scenes Revealed

For those of you who have seen the Angelina Jolie/James McAvoy violence-fueled campfest Wanted, Wired has an expose up on how they filmed some of their craziest scenes. Russian director Timur Bakmambetov used his own Moscow-based special effects company to create the movie's non-stop, over-the-top action. At his disposal was everything from a European high-speed train equipped with hydraulics that rotated 360 degrees to scanned digital stunt doubles. Warning: If you haven't watched the movie yet and actually want to, the article contains a load of spoilers. [Wired]

mods

Your PSP Doesn't Glow (Yet)

Since my PSP generally sits on the shelf, it might as well serve a greater purpose, like as a night light. This XCM Magic Night Glow face plate for the PSP Slim could create such a night light, air traffic control signal, or radioactive PSP prank. During the day, the covers look pretty normal. (This one is a tomato-soup red). But at night... More »

magic

Visual Search Engine Coming to iPhone in June

Evolution Robotics ViPR visual search technology is coming to the iPhone this June. ViPR allows you to take a photo of any movie, CD or book, send it to a server, and automagically get an email back loaded with information and links pointing to YouTube videos or iTunes Music Store links. It will also be deployed in Japan on KDDI's au camera phones this Spring. As you will see in the iPhone demo after the jump, it works incredibly well, even when the object is partially occluded: More »

zoetrope

Batman Battles Baddies Forever in LEGO Zoetrope

Here's Batman, the Riddler and Mr. Freeze jumping around in a LEGO version of a zoetrope, a device from the Victorian-era that quickly spinned pictures to animate them. This one uses a turntable and synchronized LED flashes to produce the stroboscopic effect that creates the illusion of moving figures. The author, who is going to feature it at Maker Faire, got his inspiration from this absolutely stunning, large-scale zoetrope that Pixar built for an exhibition at New York's MOMA: More »

blu-ray magic

iPhone to Become Blu-Ray Player Remote

According to NetBlender, iPhone and iPod touch users will be able to control their Blu-ray players using an application called BD Touch. The application will use the network capabilities of Blu-ray hardware and Apple's handheld devices to transfer data, allowing you to do many different things beyond controlling movie playback. Update: we have spoken with NetBlender about BD Touch. As we imagined, it requires more than just an iPhone application:

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magic

British Navy Working on Developing Invisible Ships Using Metamaterials

Scientists at the Britannia Royal Navy College are working hard to make the idea of an invisible ship a reality using metamaterials that refract light in such a way that it "bends" around an object, making it appear as if it were invisible. This would only account for viewing with the naked eye however—naturally radar cloaking would be an important part of the equation. However, it appears that this technology may be able to accomplish a lot more. More »

cellphones

Purple Magic is Sub-$100 Linux 3G Cellphone, Not Recreational Drug

The fellows at NXP Semiconductors and Purple Labs have teamed up to put together the Purple Magic 3G cellphone. The Linux based handset will retail below $100, and if that does not have you interested, perhaps the video calling ability, incorporated MP3 player and high-speed internet browsing will have your bargain alarms hitting overdrive.
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magic carpet ride

Smart Carpet Can Help Seniors Who Fall and Can't Get Up

Yes, the Life Alert slogan is cliche, but how can you avoid it when talking about a "smart carpet" that can assist the elderly when they fall? The carpet is the brainchild of researchers at the University of Missouri, and it has the capability to electronically monitor a senior's location and sound an alert in the event of a fall. This is made possible using a new sensor that can be printed on thin, flexible sheets using equally flexible and inexpensive "organic ink." More »

marketing magic

Move Over Godzilla, The Loch Ness Monster Terrorizes Tokyo

The upcoming movie "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep" has prompted one hell of a publicity stunt in Tokyo Bay. The extremely cool effect illustrated above is achieved using a large water screen and some very well timed water fountains. In order to get the full effect, check out the video after the break. Seriously, I can't understand a thing that is being said, but I want to see this movie. Marketing magic! More »

marketing magic

Electric Mini Shoe City Complete With Godzilla...What?

Japanese footwear company Onitsuka Tiger is getting a major promotional boost thanks to this 1 meter long illuminated shoe developed by the folks at Freedom of Creation. The work is intended to "communicate Onitsuka Tiger's Japanese roots" in the form of a highly detailed city-shoe. It has everything from billboards to buildings —and if you will notice, the Onitsuka Tiger stripes represent streets and highways and a Godzilla-like monster looms over the city.


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fire

Magic Fireballs are Awesome, Not as Dangerous as You'd Think


Get ready to be the coolest uncle ever: here's a video tutorial on how to make "Magic Fireballs," which are what they sound like. Yes, small balls that you can light on fire and play with without getting burned (well, as long as you know what you're doing). They're sure to make you the most popular guy at the next children's birthday party you attend. [Home Recipes Note]

magic

Elite Portable Floor-Rising Screen is Pure Magic

Good lord, look at this Elite Portable Floor-Rising Screen that's motorized. Carry it around with you, make it rise with its magic motors, and impress all those superficial suits on your next presentation road trip. Or, keep it right at home, take off that easily-removed handle, and it looks like it's a permanent installation. Available by June, your choice of either an 84" or a 100" diagonal screen will set you back $2000. Screen sizes up to 150" are planned.

get bent

Magic Teaspoon Miraculously Shape Shifts in Hot Water

A small part of this magic teaspoon's handle is made of Nitinol, a special metal that can remember its shape. That little fact lets you play some crazy tricks, because when you heat it up, it bends to that shape that you bent it into before. So if you put this in your tea, for example, it suddenly and mysteriously starts bending. Run cool water on it, and it moves right back where it was before. This might be great for some of those Uri Geller spoon bending tricks, except this one does all the bending on its own. You better be pretty serious about this, though, because it costs $50.38. [Grand Illusions, via Red Ferret]

multidimensional magic

Loreo 3D Lens in a Cap, for That 'You Are There' Experience

Someday, 3D images could actually catch on, and if that ever happens you'll be ready with this Loreo 3D Lens in a Cap that lets you snag stereoscopic images with your digital SLR. Inside this Viewmaster-like contraption are a couple of focusing lenses that gather images from two slightly different angles. Therein lies the 3D magic. More »

gadgets

Smart Cookie is Smarter Than an Average Cookie

We are all familiar with the magic 8-ball and the fortune cookie, but what happens if you put the two together in one device? The Smart Cookie is the result; a fortune telling cookie that dispenses answers to life's most pressing questions with quirky witticisms such as; try the eggroll, answer sweet and sour, future sticky like rice and you don't wonton know. Well, lets try it out: More »