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August 30, 2007
Frenchies Like It Hybrid Too
While America and Japan have jumped onto the hybrid bandwagon, Europe held steadfast about diesel being a better alternative. Peugeot decided to have the best of both words. Debuting at this years Frankfurt auto show, the 308 Hyrbid HDi is a shining example of a car that will shut up both camps.
The 308 HDi looks just like the regular 308 but underneath the hood is an engine(s) that gets 69 mpg while producing only 90 g/km of CO2. That's like super super super low emissions. The awesome thing is it's no concept. It goes on sale 2010.
So here comes the bad part. Peugeot hasn't had a presence in the U.S. since the 80's. There are rumors they're coming back but take that with a grain of salt. The other bad news is timing. The Japanese and American auto companies plan to have all electric and fuel cell vehicles on the roads by then.
On another note, why is it that all Peugeots look like baleen whales? Hit the jump to see the hybrid status screen.
Posted by tranism at 8:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
August 28, 2007
Brix And Other Brix
The Brix concept is a touchscreen cellphone with one added bonus, you can combine multiple Brix together and increase screen real estate. So if you and all your friends have a Brix, just put them together. Suddenly you have a nice sized TV. Genius right?
More at Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
August 23, 2007
Light Emitting Wallpaper
Industrial Designer Jonas Samson is on to something here. He's found another way, a more 21st century way, to breathe life into boring dull walls. Even amazing wall color goes stale after sometime. Your eyes gets used to it and that's only one step away from hating it. What Mr. Samson has created is a light emitting wallpaper. Intricate displays of lights, patterns, silhouettes can be created to really change the look and dynamic of a room. When turned off, there's no evidence of any light source.
Hats off to you Jonas Samson, and to you as well Gizmodo.
Posted by tranism at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
August 21, 2007
Japan Plans To Build The Tallest Structure Ever
The XSEED 4000 is currently on the drawing board for construction and if it receives the green light, will be the world's tallest populated structure at a whopping 13,000 feet. Just to put that into perspective, the current reigning champ is Taipei 101 at a mere 1,671 feet.
Not only is it destined to be the tallest but also the largest self-sustaining structure. Designed to look like Mount Doom Mount Fuji, the XSEED 4000 represents the Japanese view of a utopian society. The building will be powered by solar energy and can house up to 1 million inhabitants. As the Japanese islands become more crowded, engineers are finding new and extreme ways to build up. The whole project is estimated to cost anywhere from $300-900 billion U.S.
Seriously, did you really think the Japanese would just sit this one out? They are going big and if anyone can do it, the Japanese can. My only question is, how long will it take me to get from ground level to my apartment way up top? Check out the additional renderings after the jump.
via Inhabitat
Posted by tranism at 3:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (80)
August 13, 2007
Loremo Concept Is Real
When the Loremo concept made its rounds on the interweb months ago, I chose to ignore it because it uses diesel. Now I totally understand diesel today is not the same diesel 20 years ago and with the advent of bio-diesel, we're talkin' cleaner burning fuel than petrol with the mpg of a hybrid. However I personally don't see diesel as a long term strategy but it's great for the "transitional phase" the market has to go thru in order to progress to fuel cells or all electric. Now that the Loremo is real, it's exciting to see this sleek car that gets an average of 117 miles per gallon may hit the streets soon.
Live pics after the jump.
Posted by tranism at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
August 10, 2007
When Is A Wii Not A Wii?
The Piss-Screen - a pressure-sensitive inlay set within urinals, enabling users to play while they pee. They installed this newfangled creation in male restrooms across Frankfurt, teaming up with a variety of bars, clubs and cafés. The game itself was displayed on a screen above each urinal, and would automatically start as soon as someone began to pee. The player could then control the car whilst relieving himself – if they wanted the car to go right, they simply peed to the right (and visa versa).
The overall design of the driving game was similar in style to that of Need for Speed, requiring relatively quick reactions. Obviously the more drunk you are, the slower your response, reinforcing the effects of alcohol to the gamer. The game ultimately culminates in a shocking crash-sequence, leaving the viewer with little doubt as to the repercussions of driving while drunk.
Check out the video here and NO you won't be seeing any exposed wangs.
Posted by tranism at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Big Girls Have More Fun
Remember that giant airship I blogged about called the Aeros? Well seems it's reality, tho I'm not sure if this one is by the same company. It certainly looks like it and even tho I'm a firm believer in "more cushion for the pushin", this is one fat airship.
The Aeorscraft ML866 will take its maiden voyage next month and you can be sure I'll keep an eye out for it. I mean, how can you miss something that fat in the sky?
via Gearfuse
Posted by tranism at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Amoeba Lamp
No it's not actually called the amoeba lamp but it certainly looks like one to me. What you have here is shattered tempered glass coated with silicone lined with LEDs. The resulting texture and lights give it an almost organic if not a sentient feeling. The idea is you can bend and fold the lamp however you want playing with the reflections of light cast by the embedded glass. More pictures after the jump.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
August 7, 2007
Cut-Outs Help Slow Down Traffic
Realistic, life-size cardboard cut-outs of children are being used in a Northern Ohio neighborhood to slow down speeding cars. It all started with one man and his prints of grandchildren for their grandparents but they appeared so real that they quickly thought of the idea to use them to slow down traffic.
The inventor is now selling these to various people, even police stations caught on the idea and are having life-size police men holding their lazer guns printed.
Simple yet a pretty cool idea, though this particular kid above looks pretty scary. Doesn't he remind you of the kid from "The Pet Cemetary"?
Posted by diverseawareness at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
August 3, 2007
Your Own Personal Moon
Crescent style that is. Ever longed to be bathed in the soft white glow of the moon only to be hindered by those pesky clouds? Want no longer because you too can have your own personal moon. Of course having the moon right next to you like this guy might be bad for your retinas. Check out where else you can place your personal moon after the jump.
P.S. It's Russia only.
Posted by tranism at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Touching Time
Ironically Daniel just posted about how Zebra fish stem cells may cure blindness in people. Until then, the Swatch Sens clock may help those with vision problems do something most of us take for granted - tell time.
Designed by Arnaud Lapierre, the Sens project was designed for Swatch with some real production possibilities if the market is right. The ceramic device has a 12 hour marker written in braille to indicate which way is up. The upper ring denotes what hour it is simply by its distance from the 12 hour marker. Beneath that ring is another one set for an alarm. Feeling out the difference in distance between the alarm ring to the hour ring in relation to the 12 hour marker tells you how much time you have left to sleep. When the two rings line up, the alarm rings.
They had me at ceramic. More pictures after the jump.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 3:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Hyposurface Is A 3D Wall
It may be old (2003) but the Hyposurface wall is still mesmerizing people every time it's demoed. Words fail when I try and describe it so just imagine a wall of lights that dynamically changes shape, like a sentient organism. Their website also has a couple quick videos. I implore you to watch.
via Core77
Posted by tranism at 3:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
AU KDDI Concept Phones Possibly A Reality
AU KDDI is by far my favorite Japanese mobile provider. They're not afraid to push the envelope with design and features. Now word on the street is some of their concept phones such as the beautiful Actface may make it to market. The flip phone is dominated by two huge touchscreens that can adapt to whatever application you're currently in. Simple and beautiful. Gearfuse has a few more pics and while you're at it, check out this video of the Actface in action.
Posted by tranism at 3:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)