Author Archives: J. Angelo Racoma

This Turntable Can Rip Your Vinyl Records

by J. Angelo Racoma
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This Turntable Can Rip Your Vinyl Records

If you grew up in the 60′s and 70′s (and even before), you probably have a handful of vinyl records lying around in your attic or garage. Many of these are probably classics by now–some songs obsolete, but some perhaps brought back to fame due to recent events. For instance, there was a clamor for Michael Jackson’s music after his death. I should know; I know some relatives who tried to scour their attics for their much-loved, but long-forgotten MJ records from old. While newer technologies are constantly surpassing older ones in terms of quality and features, vinyl records do have some novelty in them. There’s this certain sense of Read more »

Massage Me Jacket Doubles as Playstation Controller

by J. Angelo Racoma
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Massage Me Jacket Doubles as Playstation Controller

Boys will be boys. One big problem if your significant other becomes addicted to console gaming is that he (or she) will hardly have any time for you. Good thing my girlfriend (and now wife) used to be fond of the same games back when we were younger. But for those whose significant others seem to be spending more time in front of the TV playing games than romancing you, the Massage Me jacket could be a good compromise. The Massage Me jacket is actually an interface to control Playstation games. The wearer of the jacket simply lies down or sits, while the player pounds or presses on his or Read more »

Is The Future Of Bikes In The Sky?

by J. Angelo Racoma
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Is The Future Of Bikes In The Sky?

Move over, ET! Here’s one concept that can truly put bikes in the sky. A design concept by Martin Angelov for urban transportation proposes overhead cables meant for supporting bicycles. Inspired by ski lifts, the system involves a half-pipe that supports the bike’s wheels, and support cables for balance on either side. The cables are supposed to connect to the bike’s handles through a hook. For safety, the cable has provisions for carabiners and harnesses. Biking has its advantages, indeed: you can weave through traffic, you keep fit, and you’re traveling green. But biking through busy streets isn’t exactly safe, especially with the danger of cars sideswiping you. Some countries Read more »

Cornucopia: The Printer that Prints Food

by J. Angelo Racoma
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Cornucopia: The Printer that Prints Food

We’ve talked about printers printing human organs, and toasters printing images on bread. How about a printer that actually prints food? Over at the MIT Labs, the Fluid Interfaces Group is running a project that involves what they call Cornucopia, a “personal food factory” which is essentially a three-dimensional printer that brings together ingredients to produce food. The machine stores food in refrigerated canisters, and then when food is needed, the machine pipes in ingrediets, and heats or cools these as necessary. These are then deposited layer by layer until the desired output is achieved. Cornucopia’s cooking process starts with an array of food canisters, which refrigerate and store a Read more »

Meet Roxxxy: The Sex Robot With a Personality

by J. Angelo Racoma
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Meet Roxxxy: The Sex Robot With a Personality

Trust the adult industry to be at the forefront of technological innovation. Over at the recently concluded AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, robotics company TrueCompanion unveiled its Roxxxy sex robot. The robot is touted to be as close to human as possible. [S]he … knows your name, your likes and dislikes, can carry on a discussion and expresses her love to you and be your loving friend. She can talk to you, listen to you and feel your touch. She can even have an orgasm! Roxxxy, said to have been developed over several years, is supposedly an anatomically correct robot that can respond to user interaction based on Read more »

School Uses Video Games As Teaching Tool

by J. Angelo Racoma
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School Uses Video Games As Teaching Tool

Games are thought to be big distractions to learning, especially the formal kind. I recall when I was in college, I’d stay up all night playing my favorite adventure and shoot ‘em up games. Of course by the time I attend my classes, I’d be a walking zombie, with rarely anything getting through my sleepy brain. I wonder how I ever finished my degree a semester early. Now word is that some schools are actually using video games as a tool for learning. Not only are they using video games as alternative means of teaching, they are actually using video games almost exclusively in their teaching curriculum. Popular science writes Read more »

Self-Charging Robots That Sense Wall Outlets

by J. Angelo Racoma
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Self-Charging Robots That Sense Wall Outlets

A common issue faced by any robot designer would not only be how to power the machine, but how the robot will recharge. If you’ve watched WALL-E, you’ll know that this cute little critter has to bask in the sunlight for a few moments to recharge his batteries (after which the familiar Apple-like sound would signal his “booting up”). How about other robots? Imagine having to plug in your robot at the end of each day. That would be tedious, wouldn’t it? And it would defeat the purpose of having a machine that should be autonomous in the first place. There have been research that looked into robots plugging themselves Read more »

This Weapon Can Make You Sick. Or It Can Spice Up Your Party

by J. Angelo Racoma
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This Weapon Can Make You Sick. Or It Can Spice Up Your Party

Non-lethal armaments are the weapon of choice for urban crowd dispersals and generally when you just want someone to back off. Some would prefer tasers and pepper sprays, but while non-lethal, those still have painful (and sometimes debilitating) effects. Some weapons, like flashbangs, just aim for enemies stunned. Some are truly bedazzling, like the Bedazzler. The gadget is an array of flashing LEDs that are meant to cause seasickness on the target. An added benefit is that during peacetime, you can use the gadget to flash disco-style–a surefire way to spice up parties! After attending a conference where the $1 million “sea-sick flashlight” (named “THE DAZZLER”) was demonstrated by the Read more »

Electronic Excuse Generator: A Nifty Gadget For School and Office

by J. Angelo Racoma
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Electronic Excuse Generator: A Nifty Gadget For School and Office

My dog ate my homework. That’s probably the most cliche’d excuse one would ever hear. But as someone who has overseen students and writers at certain points in my professional career, I can say I’ve heard all sorts of excuses. Some of these come off as mildly amusing, while some are definitely annoying. My computer crashed and I lost all my work. My external hard drive got submerged in flood water. These are typical excuses, and I don’t think anyone would fall for these anymore. But why not be creative while you’re at it. Gadgets like the Emergency Excuse Generator will surely bring in more novelty to your excuse-making. Now Read more »

Who Says Hybrid Cars Can't Look Mean?

by J. Angelo Racoma
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Who Says Hybrid Cars Can't Look Mean?

Sure, hybrid cars are cool to environmentalists and auto geeks like us. But to the mainstream, hybrid cars are mostly seen as slow people-movers with drab, uninspired designs. Not all hybrid owners are tree-hugging hippies, though. And for this reason, tuning and body kit companies have found a market for dressed-up hybrid and electric cars. Take for example this 2010 Toyota Prius and Honda Insight modified by Japanese tuning company Tommy Kaira. They provide carbon-fiber body kits, suspension upgrades and alloy wheels. Tommy Kaira already offers a new exhaust system with quad tailpipes, and the rest of the upgrades are expected to be available this year. I’m not sure about Read more »