Hasta La Gadget!

You know how when you’re sweeping with a broom and all those little dust bunnies get caught in your broom and you can’t get them out? Both OXO and Quirky have smartly designed products that solve the problem. They’re dustpans with little rakes. Genius! But now the two companies are getting all AppleSamsung over it. More »

Cameras being sent to the edge of space are nothing new, but it requires a bit of tinkering skills to set up the balloon and camera mount. Quirky wants to help more people send their cameras to space, which is why they made the Kepler Space Kit. They didn’t say anything about retrieving your precious GoPro though.

The Kepler Space Kit is actually a modification of the Kepler, another upcoming Quirky product. Invented by Brian Erickson, the Kepler was designed for aerial photography – it’s basically a camera mount attached to a kite. The Space Kit takes that to another level, turning this:

Into this:

Here’s a test run of the Kepler Space Kit prototype:

Here’s what the camera was able to capture (you might want to turn down the audio for this, since the audio beacon’s beep will quickly drive you insane.)

You can help dictate the price of the Kepler Space Kit by answering a few questions on Quirky. Before you beam yourself up, keep in mind that Quirky is only selling the parachute, landing legs and the camera mount itself. You’ll have to supply the camera, the weather balloon and the helium, and an audio beacon. The kit is only compatible with GoPro cameras (with the GPS module) and the iPhone 5.

[via Quirky]

We’ve featured a number of awesome geeky wall decals and posters, but if you want to see something new everyday you might want to help Wallbrights become a real product. It’s a modular stick-on multicolored lighting solution that can be controlled via an app.

The concept involves small strips or hexagons that house diffused LEDs. The modules are attached to each other via male and female connectors. The idea is to piece together as many modules as you want, with one module close to a power outlet so you can connect it to its power adapter, which also serves as a Bluetooth receiver. You can then toggle the lights on or off or change their colors using an app from a Bluetooth-enabled mobile device.

Quirky is currently conducting a survey to determine the marketability of Wallbrights. I think it’s a really cool concept, although it would be better if they could also be used to display pictures or messages.

If you ever try to use a power bar anywhere but on the floor, you’ll quickly realize that gravity will do everything it can to drag it off a table, a ladder, or anything not at ground level. That’s not the case with Quirky’s new Prop Power extension cord, though. Its six-foot cable is made with flexible wiring and a conforming plastic sleeve, so it holds its shape. More »

As a general rule, it’s usually never a good look to strap things to your noggin. That said, we’re willing to let this particular Quirky-made concept slide for two reasons: it could very well save your motorcycle-loving life and it won’t muck up your head gear. The in-development helmet light, which goes by the plain though apt Signal moniker, makes use of an elastic fiber-optic fabric known as Lumigram, thus avoiding the need for messy adhesives and, more importantly, keeping your biker fashion in check. So, how exactly does it help steer you out of harm’s way? Well, by communicating wirelessly via RFID, the attachment doubles up on signaling safety, mimicking your ride’s real-time responses for brake lights and turn signals. According to its creators, this hide-saving accessory could be “the coolest thing to happen to motorcycles since Easy Rider.” We’re not sure we (nor Jack Nicholson, for that matter) agree with that, but it should keep your body and bike free from the crush of neighboring wheels.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation

Quirky helmet concept gives new meaning to headlight originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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