Testicles That React With Human Touch
Jason Krugman, Stella Kim and Ben Chao have created a set of huge testicles, hung from the ceiling, that react to human touch. The Teste Touch, as it is called, has a built-in temperature sensor that responds to heat as real testicles do. When it comes in contact with something cold the “balls” shrink upwards and when heat is applied to them they simply go downwards.
Additional feature to this New York University exhibition item (ITP showcase) is the tickling sensation in them. When tickled or touched the sac moves and produces giggles.
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Smart Bathroom Knows Your Habbits
Toto has created Neorest, the smart bathroom, destined for all those that want that extra luxury feeling. The Neorest is a bathroom that gets to know your habits and your daily routines. The preferred temperature and how you want the water to flow creates a unique bath experience. Even the Lavatory is packed with sensors and a novel cyclone flush system yo make your life simpler. All this technology in conjunction with the detailed design will becomes an interactive experience that defines luxury.
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Theremin: Don’t Touch, Just Play
[photo jonhurd]
Leon Theremin created in 1919 one of the first electrical instruments and the first that does no need to be touched in order to produce sound. Its function is based on two sensors that can locate the players hand position. One sensor controls the frequency and the other the volume.
All the player has to do is to shake his hands around the Theremin and music can be played. I had seen this instrument before but I never knew its story.
See in the video a song “Elvis - Falling in Love” performed from an experienced Theremin player from Sweden.
Terrorists Bee-have!
Vapor detection instrumentation is used to detect anything that leaves an odor such as explosives, drugs, cancer etc. Where do bees fit in all this you might ask…well the answer is simple. A company in the UK called Inscentinel trains bees, much like the same way we train dogs, to stick their tongs out (and expect food as a reward) when they smell a “dodgy” chemical compound.
The bees are strapped on to a holder, that is harmless to them, and a camera/image recognition system alerts the operator when they stick their tong out. Each set of bees is trained to a specific scent and the accuracy of the system is improved by using more bees. In fact a system with large number of bees can be used to detect a range of compounds simultaneously. So using a “100-bee detector” the authorities can train 10 bees to detect Semtex, ten for liquid explosives etc, hence getting a clearer picture as to what potential terrorists might be using.
A more commercial version of this sensor system will be available from spring 2008 and may be experimentaly be used in major airports around the world.
In other words…Bee-careful someone is watching you!
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