Designed by Cristian Zuzunaga, a graduate from the UK’s Royal College of Arts, Pixel Sofa is exactly what its name implies. Just imagine taking a white sofa, drawing several squares on it (the “pixels”), and then coloring each ‘pixel’ a random color. That’s what the Pixel Sofa is. Actually, it reminds me of when I zoom too close in an image in Photoshop — causing the image to look pixelated.
Honestly, it hurts my eyes, but it certainly is the most unique thing I’ve seen this week. The Pixel Sofa is being produced by Danish manufacturer Kvadrat and sold through Moroso. I tried browsing Moroso’s English website, but I couldn’t find the sofa or pricing information.
If you liked the plasma speakers post, check out Scopetris. The genius behind Scopetris is Lars Pontoppidan, an electronic engineer, who decided to go the “road less traveled” by implementing Tetris, instead of Pong, on an oscilloscope. If you aren’t an EE major, like myself, an oscilloscope, simply put, is a device that measures the wave form (i.e., the varying voltage/current signal over time) generated by a circuit. Lars uses a microcontroller and an Atari/Amiga joystick to control the game. You can read more details on the implementation over at his website.
Are you too lazy that you don’t want to walk outside to turn on the sprinklers? Or, if you’re like me, do you keep forgetting about watering the damn lawn? Well, here’s a gadget that’ll make controlling your sprinklers a little easier. Called the Remote Rain Water Control, the device comes with a wireless key fob transmitter and a receiver. Simply attach the receiver to your water source and flick the switch on the transmitter to send water to your sprinklers. To turn it off, just change the transmitter’s switch to “OFF” — no more going back and forth to the the faucet and no more getting off your ass.
The Remote Rain Water Control is powered by four AA batteries and has a range of 100 feet. It costs $69.99 at Improvements Catalog. For that price, I’d rather get a sprinkler timer. That way, I won’t have to worry about losing the transmitter or remembering to press the ON/OFF button. I’m forgetful, what can I say?
Sliding on hardwood floors in your socks is mighty fun. However, if your home isn’t equipped with wooden floors, you can experience the same fun with the Carpet Skates. The skates are made from a friction resistant plastic that allows you to effortlessly glide across your carpet. The Carpet Skates also features a foam foot pad for grip, so your feet won’t slide off the skates. Its also got an adjustable foot strap, so “kids” of all sizes can comfortably wear them.
Although, who said you were restricted to the carpet? Grinding off the sofa, anyone?
Thegadgetsite did a review of the Carpet Skates and gave it an 8.5 out of 10, touting its fun factor. However, they suggest that you try not to climb down stairs while wearing the skates. Try telling that to the kids above.
For $19.99 and free shipping within the U.S. at Simtec, this could be the cheapest fun you could ever buy…for the kids. Yeah, for the kids…
At first glance, I thought this was for real. In fact, I was kinda excited into learning how the heck they got a windup VW Beetle to work. Upon further investigation, however, it turned out that the Windup Key is a faux. It’s just a simple attachment for your car. The Windup Key comes in two shapes: circular or oval. Similarly, you can opt for your key to be free spinning (which spins freely in the wind), non-spinning, or motorized — using a 12V motor allowing 30 revolutions a minute. All models come powder coated in “sparkling silver” and consists of two pieces, allowing you to remove the key for, say, car washes. Optional colors and finishes are available. Installation requires an hour of time, a few drilling, and some screwing.
The Windup Key is compatible with most “cute” cars, including the Scion xB, PT Cruiser, and New Beetle. Pricing starts at $100 with the standard powder coat finish. Prices depend on your car’s make. Optional colors and finishes start at an additional $5.
Edit (3/28/08) - Sorry, I got the pricing mixed up. Fixed. Must admit, their ordering process isn’t that user friendly.
It is kinda funny. Can you imagine all the questions you’ll you get from other drivers?
Using a deformable skin, Shade Pixel represents information by using “shades” created by the various pulls on the display’s surface. The prototype display is 11 x 7 pixels large and is made up of a skeleton of 77 solenoids with frame holes. A layer of Spandex forms the surface of the display and through the use of iron cores, each solenoid can be triggered to pull down each core to form a concave dip in the Spandex skin, causing “shades”. These shades are what forms the image. Similarly, the solenoids can release the iron cores, returning the skin to its “flat” surface. The Shade Pixel was developed by researchers at the Design Media Lab at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Watch the video demonstration for more info and to see the Shade Pixel in action.
Jenny, from Fifth Gear, had a little dilemma. He wanted to make a Smart into a four-seater car while maintaining the same footprint of the dinky car. His intelligent solution? Take two Smart cars and bolt them one on top of the other, like a miniature double decker bus, for clowns. Unfortunately, the ‘new’ car doesn’t hold up performance wise, and let’s just say the ending of the segment was for the better. Watch the video, to find out.
We’ve all seen the “Rock Em Sock Em Robots” boxing toy before, but have you seen the Boxing Grannies? The toy is similar to the robots version, except instead of having Granny’s head pop off, the ‘elderly’ version simply has the losing Granny tilt backwards. Unfortunately, instead of using joystick-esque controls, the Boxing Grannies has two small buttons placed on the base of the toy that controls the left and right arm to throw a punch. Should still be fun though.
They should have made the losing Granny lose their dentures, because that’d would have made this toy even radder. Available now at I Want One Of Those for £9.99 ($20 USD).
Features:
* Two grannies on their boxing platforms.
* Grannies are decked out in gym slips, hi-tops and boxing gloves.
* Each arm has a control button that when pressed shoots the arm into a fierce upper cut.
* When a granny is hit hard she will tilt backwards.
* Suitable for ages 8 years+.
* Size: 19 x 11 x 10cm.
