People have some strange phobias so I could see this strange aperture to be helpful who are afraid of their own feet.
Easy pull on sock aid supports compression hosier, medical stockings, socks and panty hose so it’s easy to slide your foot in and pull on with handles without having to bend down or struggle…
The hexayurt is an update on Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome and is a sturdy, affordable, easy-to-build temporary shelter. The geometry has been adjusted slightly to make it easier to build domes from materials like plywood, insulation, plastic, cardboard and more. The hexayurts are made from only one kind of triangle: an 8′ x 8′ isosceles triangle, rather than the strangely-shaped triangles which are standard for Fuller-style geodesic domes. They are not strictly geodesic, either, but it doesn’t seem to matter much in practice. The slightly stiff, angular lines look a lot like any other dome.
The most common place to see hexayurts is at Burning Man…
In space, no one can hear you scream — about the soaring prices at the pump, that is. For what will be the very first time, plans for a space-based satellite filling station have been announced, with a launch date set for 2015. It may sound like a bit of unnecessary convenience some 22,369 miles above our heads, but experts say that the gas station will do much more than make Earth a planetary truck-stop. “This is a first-time-ever, huge, huge, huge event,” says the director of the Space Protection Program — and it’s sure to make space a little cleaner, too.
Continue reading… “First Space-Based Gas Station Set to Open in 2015”
Chickflix has posted an Instructable that pierces the veil of mystery and describes how to mix your own Pop Rocks at home. The secret ingredient turns out to be pretty mundane, alas — I always assumed that they were filled with some violent, rare substance that ground its way through my guts on the way out. On the other hand, now that the secret is in the open, it paves the way for exotic Pop Rock flavors, such as French mustard, roast beef, and pineapple…
Continue reading… “How to Make Pop Rocks”
Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, has embarked on a new endeavor: craigconnect, a site that harnesses the power of the Internet to aid nonprofits organizations…
Continue reading… “Craig Newmark of Craigslist Launches Craigconnects To Aid Nonprofits”
In the summer of 2010, Foursquare’s Head of Business Development Tristan Walker and American Express’s Vice President of Global Marketing Capabilities David Wolf started talking about ways to work together to redefine loyalty for local merchants.
The fruit of their conversations is now on display in the city Austin, Texas where 60 merchants — including Whole Foods, Starwood Hotels and Stubb’s BBQ — are offering Foursquare users “spend $5, save $5″ rewards when they load the special and swipe their AmEx cards.
The pilot program started Friday and will run through Tuesday, March 15. Participating merchants have posted “Austin Unlocked” window clings to highlight their participation, and Foursquare users need only register their American Express cards to unlock this new type of special — the Loyalty Special…
Continue reading… “How Foursquare & AmEx Are Putting a Fresh Twist on Loyalty Marketing”
Melanie Romero with Karen Porte, inventor of TuGo
I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and hope to participate again next year. For the first time in my life I was the Judge rather than the one being “judged”! It was fun to see all of the different inventions and business ideas, and to talk with each participant about where they are in their process. You can see me here with a great product called “TuGo” that helps hold beverages in the handles of your rolling luggage. Pretty cool and very easy!
Continue reading… “Melanie Romero is a Celebrity Judge at DaVinci Institute Inventor Showcase”
Our pals at Backyard Brains (makers of the terrific SpikerBox kit, which allows you to study the electrical impulses of insect neurons) are developing circuitry to control which direction a cockroach walks…
(video after jump…)
Continue reading… “Remote Controlled Cockroach”
A surprisingly large number of people struggle to pour a decent glass of beer from a can. Since we can’t all afford to pop to the bar every night, recreate that well-poured beer drink sensation at home with the handy Beer Hour (Biiru Awa).
Continue reading… “Beer Can Dispenser”
Bendable graphene battery concept
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) may be on the cusp of creating something special: Bendable batteries that could have better performance than their stiff, inflexible cousins.
Continue reading… “Flexible Graphene Batteries”
If you can’t afford a Segway, what about half of one? While the two-wheeled personal transporter can set you back by $5,000 or more, a new one-wheel, Segway-inspired model called the Solowheel is due to go on sale for a mere $1,500 in the U.S., starting in March. Impress your friends, work on your balance, and most of all, watch out for bikes and people that still walk.
Continue reading… “Solowheel Reinvents the Wheel with Next-Gen Segway Unicycle”
Developed by the company AeroVironment Inc., the miniature spybot looks like a hummingbird complete with flapping wings… The ornithopter can fly into buildings under the control of an operator flying the spybot with the help of a feed from its tiny video camera. The prototype is capable of flying at speeds of up to 18 km/h (11 mph) and weighs 19 grams, which is about the same as an AA battery… The specifications given to the firm by the Pentagon included being able to hover in an 8 km/h wind gust and being able to fly in and out of buildings via a normal door…
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.