Coming soon, a holodeck in your home

The day is fast approaching when a holodeck in our living room is not so far-fetched after all. First demo'd at CeBIT 2008, the Fitness@home virtual training system is a first step toward a simulated reality facility, though we can hear Star Trek fans snorting at its baby attempts for now. Still, this brainchild of Berlin-based Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Architecture and Software Technology (FIRST) is the closest we've seen in conjuring up some virtual reality wizardry to place you anywhere you fancy. Mount Everest, if you plan to do some serious StairMaster climbing National Geographic-style. The Beijing Olympics, if you want to pit against China's hurdle champ Liu Xiang.

The outdoor training scenario is limited only by the program, which combines a stepper, specially designed projector and an oxygen mask that delivers individually regulated supply of oxygen and scents to create a virtual outdoor training center. In fact, the oxygen system can reportedly integrate with a range of fitness devices, from treadmills to even simulators for activities like boating, to provide a realistic and immersive experience. Even the projection system hasn't been spared. Images can be thrown onto any surface with pixel-precise accuracy up to a 4,096 x 2,048 resolution. That's almost the equivalent of the new 4K Digital Cinema technology emerging in our theaters. Ahem, computer, activate the Oahu beach, Hawaii Surf's Up program. And don't forget the Baywatch instructors...

Via Gizmag | Picture credit: FIRST

Turn your crutches into a seat

This probably isn't good for the insurance premiums, but at CNET Asia we've had at least four colleagues on crutches in the past three years, not to mention assorted bad ankle sprains, torn ligaments and a cracked tail bone. All of them involving women. Strange as this may be, it's good to know that someone out there has a heart for three-legged invalids.

Korean designer Yong-Rok Kim, who might have been a crutch user himself, has conceptualized the snazzy-looking Crutch Chair. We've seen up close how tiring it is to totter up and down stairs on those sticks, not to mention visiting the restroom. In Kim's invention, the two support arms snap together to form a temporary seat for the user, forming a nice respite from all that hobbling and wobbling. Clever, clever.

Via Yanko Design | Photo credit: Yong-Rok Kim

Going around in circles

It seems like ring flash is the rage now. We'd spotted an LED ring light for point-and-shoot cameras last week, and now we have the Ray Flash from Expo Imaging, as well as a conceptual shooter with built-in ring flash.

The Ray Flash is an adapter for your hotshoe flash unit and is currently compatible only with Canon's 580EX series and Nikon's SB800. This is clearly targeted at dSLR users who are venturing into fashion and portraiture photography. The light from the Ray Flash is soft and wraps around the subject, producing an almost shadow-less picture. The great thing about it is you still get to utilize the TTL (through-the-lens) function on the camera so your picture will be properly exposed.

Well, at a price of US$249.95 on its Web site, we think you'll be better off getting a ring flash unit from the manufacturer though.

The Ring Flash Camera is a concept camera by Lysandre Follet. Although there is no mention about its specification, it is not hard to gather from the tagline "now you're ready to become a fashion photographer" that this shooter is targeted at future David Lachapelle wannabes. Hopefully, when it's commercially available it won't go under the umbrella of Lomography.com and be overpriced.

Concept timepiece inspired by Swarovski and Signity

This beautifully crafted timepiece is the brain child of designer John Pszeniczny who drew inspiration from Swarovski's expertise in crystal and Signity's brilliance in gems. The Luna Watch is stylishly simple yet futuristic. Touching the two contact points activates the time display which floats inside the crystal, giving the illusion of a crystal ball.

While the Luna Watch is undeniably attractive, we can't help but wonder how heavy and bulky the final product will be. Just looking at the thickness of the bracelet design in the picture, one almost imagines a chunky wrist adornment that's bucking the trend for slim and sleek. And given the use of crystal, stainless steel and Spessartite Garnet (a type of gemstone) among its main materials, this timepiece is definitely not going to be your garden variety budget Timex. The good news is since it's still on the drawing board and unlikely to turn up in stores anytime soon, you'll have plenty of time to start saving if the Luna Watch is ticking your time.

Via Yanko Design
Photo credit: Yanko Design

Meet ApriPoko, a talking universal remote robot

There's got to be a subliminal message of some sort coming out of Japan with the influx of robotic gizmos the Japanese seem to be conceptualizing endlessly, not to mention giving them affectionate nicks. Just name us any other country that's so obsessed with birthing mechanical substitutes.

The latest labor of love is one ApriPoko, an 11-inch-tall talking robot developed by the researchers at Toshiba as a voice-activated universal remote control. ApriPoko is still in embryo stage, so it's unlikely to debut in stores anytime soon. But its purpose in life has been coded into its genes. It will, unlike your regular universal remote, go beyond manual programming into the realm of voice control.
Read more »

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our new blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (754)

» Digital Cameras (414)

» Notebooks (477)

» PC & Peripherals (505)

» Handhelds (254)

» Printers (44)

» Home AV (508)

» Music & Play (435)

» Gadgets (967)

» Future Tech (163)

Previously...

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Subscribe to
Crave

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads