Camera Designed for Visually Impaired

Designer Nadeem Haidary presented its new concept - a camera developed for blind people. The camera allows visually impaired people to take pictures accompanied by sound clips that are registered simultaneously. Thus blind people will be able to share their happy moments with the loved ones
The pictures could be vectorized and laser cut, which would allow creating 3D images that blind people could "see" through touch.
Researchers at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, carried out a number of tests and interviews to see the camera's possibilities. It is worth mentioning that the camera is made of durable materials.
Engineers made the camera easy to use for the blind people. To turn the camera on the user has to simply turn the main ring and to zoom in one has to pull the lens out. By pressing the button once, the user takes a picture and if the button is held than the audio clip is recorded. More images and information available.

Latest Invention: Full-color LED Dress - the Biggest Wearable Display on Earth

CuteCircuit, a fashionable technology company that operates in the fields of wearable technology and interaction design, has recently presented its new invention called Galaxy Dress and which allows its wearer to advertise different messages all over the body by making use of 24,000 colorful flat, extra-thin LEDs.
One LED measures 2x2mm. However, all of them harmoniously work together, producing a mesmerizing light show with hundreds of colors running through the flowing skirt.
The developers of the new invention thought about adding four layers of silk chiffon in order to disperse the light, creating an even more amazing effect. They also considered applying 4,000 Swarovski crystals to extend the dress' glitter when the light from the LED bulbs softens.
Surprisingly, the heaviest part of the new invention is the 40-layer pleated silk organza crinoline and not the technology used to make the dress shine, informs Ecouterre. It is worth mentioning that the silk organza crinoline is used to give the skirt its flounce.
In order to power the LED bulbs one should use only a few iPod batteries that will allow the dress to glitter for 30 minutes to 1 hour. In addition, the LED technology will not overheat the wearer of the Galaxy Dress, which is currently a prototype and can be observed at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Digital Cloud Could Fly Over London's Skies

An international group of architects decided to develop a "digital cloud" that would float above London. They plan involves building 120 meters (400 feet) tall mesh towers along with a series of plastic bubbles that are interconnected and that will serve as screens for displaying pictures and information. In addition, the construction will also serve as an observation deck and park. Initially the building was seen as the center of the Olympic village.
The designers hope to raise money for the construction of the unique structure from small donations from millions of people. According to one of the designers that work on the project, Carlo Ratti, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the size of the construction will be based on the amount of collected donations.
It is worth mentioning that the current project was submitted to a competition launched by London Mayor Boris Johnson, who has committed to construct a tourist attraction in the Olympic Park. According to a spokesman, the mayor is still to decide which project will be brought to life.
The group of architects behind the digital cloud decided to go further and publish detailed information of their building. The design of the structure was inspired from the works of Toman Saraceno, an artist who lives in Germany and is famous for his inflatable sculptures of huge sizes, reports BBC News. Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) is a type of plastic that will be used to create the spheres. It would be worth noting that such plastic was used in the construction of the Beijing Aquatic Centre. The spheres will have different sizes and each sphere would serve as an individual element - some of them will be used as habitable spaces, while others as LCD screens with information projected on them.
"We could provide a custom feed of… searches made by Londoners during the Olympics to give a real time 'barometer' of the city's interests and mood," mentioned the California-based Internet giant Google that is one of the project's supporters. Google said that it will provide the information feeds for the digital cloud. The plastic spheres will also feature information on weather, the number of spectators, race results and more. Visitors will be able to climb up the cloud using ramps, stairs and lifts.

Architects decided to use the damping technology in their construction to be able to resist earthquakes. The technology is similar to that used in Japanese skyscrapers. Professor Ratti mentioned that the digital cloud would also make use of renewable energy. There will be solar cells on the ground as well as within some of the spheres. In addition, the lift would make use of regenerative braking, with the latter being used today in some hybrid vehicles.

Latest Invention: Suma 3D Controller that Uses Squeezable User Interface Technology

Recently Cambridge Consultants have presented one of their most interesting inventions - Suma sensor controller, a prototype 3D controller that is based on so-called "squeezable" user-interface technology.
Duncan Smith, the company's spokesman, said that the new invention works by conveying the 3D deformation of a squeezed item into a software-readable form. High sensitive control is provided by finger movements and whole-hand grip; thus the user can easily manage various programs, informs TG Daily. The new invention could be used by companies that develop different products and applications, be it gaming and design or creative arts.Smith believes that till now the full possibilities of the human hand have not yet been explored. "Emerging trends like 3D displays and augmented reality are bound to stimulate interest in Suma's unique capabilities," said Smith.

Latest Invention: Thinkpad Notebooks Installed as Seats

The latest invention from Lenovo is a Thinkpad Notebook. A number of such notebooks have already been mounted in buses and tram shuttles in the form of seats. The goal of the company's latest invention is to draw the attention of potential retailers and buyers to the Lenovo Roadshows throughout Germany.
The Thinkpad Notebook represents a part of promotional campaign launched by Ogilvy Frankfurt, an advertising agency.
The notebook folding seats have their frame made of metal, which provides shockproof hard drive protection, reports directDAILY. In addition, each seat features a waterproof keypad. Visitors thus have the possibility to use Lenovo's latest invention to surf the Internet to kill time while waiting by airports and railway stations.

Japan Launches Spy Satellite to Observe North Korea

Recently Japan has launched a new spy satellite the mission of which would be to observe the military facilities located in North Korea. During the monitoring, the satellite will provide high-definition pictures for Japan.
It is worth mentioning that the optical satellite was launch on board of an H-2A rocket. It has the possibility to identify specific objects on our planet with a resolution of 60 centimeters square, which is much more accurate than its predecessor.
It would be worth noting that the Japanese government already has two similar satellites that collect data from Earth, informs Asahi.com. In addition, it operates one radar satellite that is able to distinguish objects during nighttime and through clouds.
By fiscal 2011, Japan looks forward to launch another satellite that will help set up a surveillance system. The latter will allow capturing any point on our planet every 24 hours.

Solution Units Allow You to Generate Green Power Daily

Each day people do different things and spend a lot of energy. Some part of that energy could be gathered and then used to power various devices.
With this principle in mind designers Choi Hyung-Suk and Yun Jung-Sik decided to develop devices that anyone could wear on their wrist, hands and/or fingers. Their invention collects green energy that can be later used to power other devices.
The designers called their gadgets Solution Units. Each of these units features a battery that stores energy. Then the user can remove the battery and use it to power mobile phones and/or MP3 players.
When you're at home you can insert the battery units in the so-called Application Built-in Type so they would accumulate and supply power. Users can also make use of the Application Portable Type, which collects energy when they perform heavy-duty stuff, like cycling.