Take a look at your home; which room would you like to modernize first? If you answered the bathroom, we've got just the thing; a toilet that plays music, warms your feet, works as a bidet, is compact in design and uses 20% less water per flush. Numi is the name of the $6,390 toilet made by Kohler. This luxury toilet provides an amazing range of features, such as heated seating, built-in deodorizer, auto-open and -closing mechanics and of course comes with a built-in database of "toilet-friendly" music. To top it all off, the whole thing is controlled by a touchscreen remote control, as it is easier to wipe off for cleaning.
The Numi is in retail in the US and Canada only, but might find its way to Europe soon.
This monday we featured the Google Glasses, where we as a footnote added, however awesome it sounds, that the idea is not really new. On this Thursday Special we take a look at reality-augmenting gadgets, some still in development, some discarded.
1. Nokia Mixed Reality
Back in 2009 Nokia released a video, demonstrating a set of glasses with inlaid screen. They were pretty similar to Google Glasses, but with a bit sleeker design and a wristband to control it by gestures.
The video in itself describes how the technology can be used for windows as well (the glass windows, not the OS).
Similar to Google Glasses, this product is not reality yet, and sadly, Nokias vision is probably never going to be. All fingers crossed for Google.
2. SixthSense
Pranav Mistry, PhD candidate and research assistant at MIT Media Lab, developed in 2009 a Wearable Gestural Interface, known as "SitxhSense". The concept was a camera, a projector and a smartphone linked to each other to create a piece of technology, that overtook any feature that the smartphone had and projected it into the physical world.
The SixthSense is very real, but plans of putting it into retail are unclear. However, Pranav Mistry put the schematics online for any developer who wanted to take a swing at building his own. The price is around $350 in hardware costs, to produce your own prototype. www.pranavmistry.com
3. The Smartphone
I know what you are going to say; "Smartphones are smartphones! You cant wear them as glasses?" and no, you can't, but even so, AR apps are already highly popular on the App Store and Android Market. Augmented Reality games are being played by thousands and some of the features as we see on the items listed above are mostly based on the smartphone's features.
For an augmented reality internet browser for your smartphone, check out Layar.
4. Video Screen Eyeglasses
On the market there are hundreds upon hundreds of products going under the term "screen glasses". Although they are common, none of them really apply as AR-capable. The closest thing is the Video Screen Eyeglasses in this video. They show video on conventional glasses, but that's about it. A lot have changed since 2008.
Question time: How would you use a pair of AR glasses? Would you use it at all?
If you get your excercise from running, chances are you easily get bored with the sound of your own hard-working body and thus prefer to run with a mp3-player, containing your favourite running playlist.
You have undoubtedly experinced wires getting in the way and earphones popping out of your ears, disrupting your concentration on what you are doing right now. And do not get me started on how earphones lowers your awareness on your surroundings! Sheesh.
If you can relate to the text above, then maybe the Sonic Walk is the right choice for you!
The Sonic Walk is part earphones, part backpack and part boombox. It's basically a soundsystem you wear over your shoulders.
What's so great about it then? First off, it's put on like a backpack. It fits ergonomically into the human body and it doesn't fall of like earphones. Secondly, the sound blends with the surrounding environment, which is definitely a better alternative to the deafining earphones.
This invention isn't new in thought, but is considered better than predecessors of its like. The Sonic Walk is ergonomic and comes in various models, built for different types of excercise and one model allows you to hear music while riding a motorbike at 60 mph. Prices start at $90.
For more info visit their website.
Take a look at your home; which room would you like to modernize first? If you answered the bathroom, we've got just the thing; a toilet that plays music, warms your feet, works as a bidet, is compact in design and uses 20% less water per flush.
