One of the primary things that currently separates man from machine – aside from the obvious factors – is the fact that, software aside, machines are incapable of growth. Oh, certainly, software can learn – quite effectively, too. But no matter how advanced the software gets, the hardware is still going to stay the same.
DARPA – the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency – is looking to change that.
I’ve always been more than a little startled by the rate at which technology advances. Just think about it: less than four decades ago, all the modern amenities we take for granted – smarthones, computers, the Internet itself – did not exist. The amount of technological innovation and advancement we’ve seen in the past few years has been quite frankly startling, and a struggle for many to keep pace with.
These days you can run dozens of classic games on a PC using emulators. If you’re good with modding hardware, you may be able to connect the right controller for the console you’re emulating. But if you’re Patrice Daubaire, you take it one step further. Patrice hacked 75 controllers to make them compatible with over 110 gaming systems.
Patrice calls his ingenious mod the Multi Video Game System 2 or MVGS 2. He managed to universalize 75 controllers – from an Atari 2600 joystick to aPlayStation controller – so that they’ll work with different gaming systems via a custom VGA adapter. Patrice claims his system has zero input lag and that the controllers weigh more or less the same as unmodified ones. Patrice was also able to add additional functions like a quick save button on some of the controllers.
To present his invention, Patrice built the MVGS 2 Dream Station, a PC with over 30 gaming system emulators. It has a nice cabinet with a built-in monitor and lets up to two players geek out. He also setup a rotating display stand for the controllers.
Pick your jaw up from the floor and head to the MVGS 2 website for more information.
[via Hack A Day]
In the aftermath of disasters, clean drinking water may be impossible to find. Now, a porous gel infused with silver nanoparticles is in development. The invention may change the way water purification happens. The gel sucks in contaminated water and squeezes out purified water in mere seconds.
Google Play is introducing two big changes to its policies that any Android app developer will need to be aware of. If you or your company has an app for Android, make sure you fully understand these changes.
While I’m sure some of you out there really enjoy hunting, it’s not really for me. Now don’t get me wrong – I can eat meat, wear leather and shoot guns with the best of them. I just don’t really have the stomach for the hands-on killing part. So while real hunters might like animal head trophies lining their walls, I much prefer these more humane wall trophies.
These 3D-printed animal heads were designed by DotSan, and come in a variety of wild animal forms, including tigers, elephants, deer, rhinos and zebras. Each one is based on an abstract 3D model of the animal’s head, deconstructed down to just its wireframe.
And if you’d rather go with something even cuddlier, you could always opt for one of DotSan’s 3D-printed kitties.
The animals can be had in sizes ranging from under 3-inches-tall for around $15 to $20(USD) all the way up to a massive 20-inch-tall deer for over $1700. The mid-sized versions are the best deal, with prices around $20 to $30 for an 6-inch-tall critters and just under $40 for a 11-inch-tall sculpture. The 4-inch-tall kittehs sell for about $16 each.
You can check out DotSan’s full menagerie of 3D-printed animals over on Shapeways.
There are seemingly a billion and one iPhone and iPod docks on the market, so how do you make one that stands out from the crowd? Simple. Make one that looks like this.
SKU Style’s custom-made dock for 30-pin iOS devices is designed to look like a DJ rig. The center dock looks like a mixer, while the left and right speakers look just like turntables. It’s really a brilliant design, and would look great sitting on your bookshelf. Each component is made from sculpted resin and covered with white paint.
Check it out over on Etsy, where you can grab it for $400(USD). Just don’t try scratching the turntables by sticking your fingers on the platters. You’re likely to puncture a speaker cone or something.
Is the world around you too darn loud? The In-Ear Amplifier from Able Planet gives you super hearing of a sort.
Meet the descendant of the all-in-one scanner, copier, printer and fax machine. The FABtotum Personal Fabricator lets you print, scan and mill objects in just one compact device. Think of it as the Dremel tool for the 21st century. It’s what makers want for Christmas.
The FABtotum prints 3D objects on an 8.3″ x 9.5″ x 9.5″ build area. Like many 3D printers, it uses PLA and ABS filament to print. Don’t have anything to print? Use its laser scanner or its digitizing probe. You can go from concept to prototype with just those two functions, but what takes the FABtotum to the next level is that it’s also a milling machine. It’s dual head spindle motor lets you carve, cut, drill, shape and more. Finally, the FABtotum is customizable. You can add another 3D printing or machining head to it and its software and schematics will also be open source.
Fabricate a browser and head to Indiegogo to support the FABtotum. Pledge at least $999 (USD) to get a ready to assemble FABtotum kit; pony up at least $1,099 and you get a fully assembled FABtotum as a reward.
Are you a shop owner looking for an eye-catching advertising platform? Perhaps you have a design firm and you want a flashy way of presenting your concepts? Or maybe you’re a genius, billionaire, playboy and philantropist who already has plans for an armored suit but not the extravagant display worthy of your grand schemes? Check out the new Holocube HC40. And give me a pair of your spare jet boots while you’re at it.
While it’s not as arresting as Holocube’s human-sized displays, the 2013 release of the HC40 boasts a number of improvements over the previous model that make it a visual spectacle nonetheless. First off, it’s got a new LED backlight display with 1080p resolution and a 178º viewing angle; the previous HC40 only had a 720p resolution. Rated at 170W, it consumes 100W less power than its predecessor, perhaps due to its switch to a 4GB CF for storage and its use of a heatsink for cooling. The previous model used a 40GB HDD and fans to keep cool.
The new HC40 is also lighter than the previous model, thanks to its sheet metal housing and synthetic optics. Its housing is also much slimmer and is finished with matte white or matte black to provide more emphasis on the hologram. Finally, Jan Vanbriel of Holocube boasts that the new HC40′s built-in 7W sound system is also much better than the previous model. Man, we really bashed the previous model didn’t we? Technology is harsh.
The HC40: a display fit for Cortana. Or at least her upper half. Fire up your omni-tool and head to Holocube’s website to order the HC40.
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