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Each time I’m viewing a web page relating to gastronomy, I just feel it sad that I cannot smell the meal cooking. Thus I was quite excited once seeing the “Olly” Internet Smellit Device. However, the “Olly” isn’t something directly changing web pages into fragrance, but basically a smelly chime that releases a puff of fragrance at a predetermined event, such as the time you’re browsing Tweet, Facebook, YouTube and so on. It’s quite easy to use the device: simply insert the fragrance into a removable plastic tray, connect the device with your computer, pre-determine several web pages you frequently view, and then done!

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Recently, scientists from South Korea have achieved a transmission rate of up to 10Mbps in an experiment with human arm, rather than the conventional internet connections. The research is based on skin’s high efficiency of transmitting date. Compared with wireless devices that rely on batteries, the device could reduce the energy needs for a monitoring network by 90% or so, and that’s really a significant discovery for us to save the limited energy. Hopefully that will be soon developed into medical devices, which could reduce the needs of messy electrical wires, by monitoring the blood sugar or electrical activity in the heart. [Read the rest of this entry...]

No doubt the development of technology has greatly changed our life, and we wouldn’t agree with that more after we’ve seen the continuous improvement of LED films. Dubbed LightForm, the world’s first flexible LED lighting film measure 254mm long and 12.7mm wide, with an average thickness of less than 1mm. Moreover, it could be easily cut into various shapes, according to your different needs—attaching them onto your car or even sew them onto your clothes. Available in red, amber, green and blue colors, the LED film is priced from $ 26.95 (no battery included) to $29.95 (a battery included). [Read the rest of this entry...]

Like most conventional lamps, the Airswitch1 here is still controlled by your hands, but in a totally different way. It could sense your hands, changing its light intensity when you raise your hand vertically and switching on/off if you move your hand horizontally above the lamp. Cool! [Read the rest of this entry...]

Memory Drops—as its name implies—is something designed for guiding the users to find items easily. It works more or less in the same way as the navigation systems, but using the sound rather than images. What you have to do is to stick the small drops onto your items, and press the button on the keychain-shaped device to make your belongings sound when you’re looking for them. [Read the rest of this entry...]

While most researchers are trying to improve the touchscreen interfaces used on PC, cellphones and MP3 players, Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft have developed a touch-interface for your skin. That’s really terrific! The ‘Skinput’ includes a micro-sized pico projector, which is embedded in an armband to beam an interface on the skin. But it actually uses an acoustic detector —which would match the sound frequencies with specific skin locations—to recognize which part  you’ve tapped. The revolutionary technology also supports wireless applications like Bluetooth.

Video after the jump. [Read the rest of this entry...]

After a lengthy nine months of development, IBM has recently announced its new thin-film solar cell, which is made from cheaper materials while features an efficiency of 9.6% (40% higher than previous prototypes). The new thin film technology uses copper, tin, zinc, sulfur and selenium to take the place of traditional copper indium gallium selenide or cadmium telluride. Besides, the researchers also adopt a new kind of solvent- hydrazine, which is less costly and decomposes more easily. Instead of manufacturing the cells, IBM claims that they’d prefer to license out the new technology when the time comes. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Compared with conventional digital mouse, the “SPHEREtouch” from OreObject not only features a distinctively circular shape, but integrates a large horizontal scroll wheel and two touch-sensitive buttons, allowing you to use it more freely and easily. Finished in steel ($155), titanium ($175) and platinum ($225), “SPHEREtouch” is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac OS X Leopard version 10.4. Both right and left-handed people will find great convenience with the mouse. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Creative Factor: The digital mouse becomes an integrated part of your body.

Who has ever thought that one day we could wear the digital mouse on our hands just as we’re wearing the gloves? But that’s not merely an exciting concept and Canadian firm Deanmark Ltd has come up with a radical wearable mouse- the ‘AirMouse’. It integrates the right and left click-buttons in the palm and uses an optical laser for operation. Since every part of the ‘AirMouse’ fits the ligaments on your wrists and hands so well that the cool mouse also ensures you enough flexibility. As a result, you won’t have to be bothered by the painful rollers any more. Besides, the users could easily type on the keyboard without removing the mouse. You love it? Then you’ll be glad to know that the revolutionary mouse will be on the market by the end of 2010 for $129. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Guess what, you will hear your own voice announcing certain direction when using the GPS devices! Isn’t that amazing? The free Windows-only application takes the users only 30 minutes to record the needed directions with their own voices. Just try it. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Human Media Lab at Queen’s University in Ontario has developed these interactive OLED gaming tiles, which are surely to challenge current toys on the market. By connecting different tiles to each other, you can easily change the gaming background and participant members. And for extra fun, you can flip the tiles to create some unique effects: for example, when you flip the tile full with water to another tile, the water will flow into that tile, just as you can see from the picture on the right side. [Read the rest of this entry...]

The Boogie Board LCD Tablet may be the best replacement of paper and pen for your usual writing. It features a Reflex LCD screen (a pressure-sensitive and flexible plastic) to display images or words you’ve written on its surface with a pen, a stick or your fingers. Though claimed needing no power to activate the screen, the device still requires a small watch battery to erase the screen. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Memopad and USB seem to be unrelated to each other. But a Japanese company has successfully combined those two things together into the so-called ‘Memopad USB’. It is a 2GB USB flash disk with 100 pieces of scribbling paper for people to take down messages. Sadly the product is only sold in Japan and it is priced at 2680 YEN. [Read the rest of this entry...]

WIFI extenders are not new to us, but the BearExtender n3 is still refreshing. It is an external Wi-Fi adapter for Macs and developed by Rolan Saekow, a graduate from Berkeley. Shown in TUAW’s testing, the BearExtender could help to create stronger signals and higher throughput when used over the internal Wi-Fi. And such a device only costs you $44.97. Sounds like a good deal. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Based on the Holographic Laser Projection technology, Light Touch is an interactive projector that can create bright images on flat surfaces like the wall, the table and therefore allow the users to enjoy movies or play the game all the time. And the device takes the very name from that act. But why could the user interact with the machine? That largely attributes to the built-in infrared sensors, which can detect the users’ motion and change the projected image into a virtual touch screen. [Read the rest of this entry...]

I’m not mad about electronic gadgets, and it’s all right for me to use an old-fashioned computer for 5 or more years, that doesn’t matter. But what matters to me is convenience, for example, I could transfer documents and files from my phone to a flash disk, without needing a computer. And that’s just what this innovative gadget aims to do. Click here for a video demonstration.

Kohjinsha’s laptops the DZ series Dual Screen notebooks are accelerating the development of computers. It features a pair of 10.1-inch TFT displays, each coming with a 1,024 x 600 pixel resolution. Though it has one more screen than normal PCs, it isn’t heavy however, and weighs merely 1.84 kg. Check the video below for a sliding action. [Read the rest of this entry...]

You know what? There is a new kind of fish that looks particularly beautiful in the night. They’re not real fish, as you may have guessed, but artificial fish with built-in LEDs. So when the evening comes, a shoal of fish will swim about in the water, giving out red, green and amber light. What a splendid scene that will be! Ok, I’ll get a shoal. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Do not look down on the role Tamrac’s new ZipShot tripod can play. Exactly it is an ultra compact and light gadget when folded up, measuring 38cm long and 312g weight. But the moment it opens, the little guy then turns into a 112cm-high tripod and support DSLRs up to 1361g in weight. Well, I have to admit, both its portability and practicability are just what an ideal tripod should have. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Nintendo, PS Xbox, Wii, they’re well-known for the coolest machines, lots of new games, and an important part you may not have noticed, their personalized controllers. And here, the designer has taken those classic controllers down from the machines and uses them as ornaments, sounds interesting, right? Take your favorite one home then. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Let me tell you a new usage of the computer mouse. Spanish researchers from the University of Lleida recently declared that the optical mouse could be used to detect counterfeit 2 Euro coins. Certainly, you have to place a special sensor in the mouse before that. The sensor will capture the image of the coin and then process it using a complex algorithm. Since the main part of the detecting system is the sensor, other devices like a webcam could be accepted, too.

Those who love BlackBerry are sure to love the Allerta impulse, a new supporting device that displays all the alerts received by your BlackBerry. The device comprises a 1.3 inch OLED display, Bluetooth 2.0, a glass lens, a vibrating motor, a micro-USB port, and a 150 mAh li-ion battery. Unluckily, Allerta impulse won’t be ready to assist you with those BlackBerry affairs until February, 2010, so please wait patiently for it.

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Along with the appearance of iPhone, MacBook, iMac and Mac mini, the Apple Computer Inc has recently come up with another multi-touch product— the Magic Mouse. It is the world’s first Multi-Touch mouse, which allows you to control everything all using your gestures. Therefore you can click, swipe or scroll on the mouse to change the cursor position, browse pages and enlarge items on your screen, etc. Left-handed users can also reassign left and right click.

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It is the most portable PC we’ve ever seen. Shaped like a headphone, the new computer is built with a 2-inch screen which creates an excellent visual effect as that of a 15-inch one. Wanna learn more about it? Well, then you mustn’t neglect its powerful function of page transition, simply controlled by your head’s motion. Still, the wearable PC could act to voice commands like “zoom out” or “zoom in”. It runs Windows CE 6.0, supporting both Bluetooth and WIFI.

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It could work as long as up to 8 hours, with a standard keyboard and a 7-or-8-inch screen. But it’s not a real computer as you may think of, because it is constructed with no OS, no storage or processor. Then, what on earth is the laptop invented for? Your BlackBerry! Merely connect it to your BlackBerry or Windows Mobile handset through Bluetooth or USB, and you’ll find all the needed information in the computer. Good work！

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Have you ever expected to transmit information in a fast but more convenient way? If so, what you’re seeking is iTwine, a new flash memory disk that allows you to access all your files anywhere. Plug both ends into two separate computers, drag your files and then the needed information is transmitted from one computer to another. Don’t worry about its security, because nothing will be given away as long as you pull out either end.

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Though the classical touch design and software shops have won iPhone much reputation, the unreal feel on the touch screen is still prohibitive. Providing a solution, iTwinge has launched an iPhone physical keyboard that allows you to type with tactile keys. It could be attached to the bottom of iPhone, rather easy to use.

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Harry Potter fans must get crazy about the new TV controller, “Magic Wand”! Rather than control your TV through various buttons, you simply need to wave the magic wand, as miraculous as Witchcraft! When you wave it counter-clockwise, the volume will be adjusted while the channels will be changed if you gesture up or down.

Price: ￡49.95
Buy it here

The ‘Sign-Voice-language Translator’ is the best solution I have ever seen to solve the communication problem between the blind and the deaf. Shaped like a necklace, the device in fact serves as a translator by converting gestures into voice or translating voice into written text. Good work!

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This hanging OLED screen can help you read the fundamental information the first time you open your eyes in the morning. Besides, for lovers, they also can read the sweet words of their sweethearts. How cool! It promises to improve your life in quite a unique way.

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Started up in 2009, the eye-writer project is an important research program that aims to benefit numerous people suffering from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Tony Quan is one of the first users. In 2003, due to ALS, Tony almost became completely physically paralyzed except for his eyes. Luckily, he met up with the Eye-writer, which allows Tony to draw with his eyes. Eye-writer is composed of kinds of electrical components, such as sunglasses, a micro CCD camera, IR LEDs, custom software, a capture card, a computer, etc.

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Computer, firstly invented for military application, now has become an indispensable article to almost everyone like you and me. But, we gradually find notebooks not that convenient as we couldn’t use it freely with the embedded mouse after years of using a mobile mouse. So what about a detachable mouse? That’s just the main concept of the so-called free mouse. Wirelessly and effectively, the new product can be used as either a mobile mouse or an embedded one, all depending on your choice. Besides, when you turn on the shortcut key on side, the mouse then works as a remote controller that allows you to check emails or open the browsers. No extra charger, the free mouse could be charged automatically when you put it onto the computer.

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Made up of only multi-colored blocks, the interactive Hi-Fi system doubles a speaker and a player. Easily controlled by moving hands on its surface, the interactive interface also impresses the users with a soft touch.

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Are you a night owl that always works late with your computers? Have you ever felt that your eyes are no longer fine as before? If you choose “yes” to both questions, you are just the one our Wink Glasses designed for. It is more than a USB peripheral clipped to a computer, because it can fog up your shades to remind you of a snap whenever your wearer doesn’t blink every five seconds.

Let an angel guard you. Sounds attracting, right? It’s not a daydream, because you can own an electric guardian angel now. As a security and communication device, the gadget can contact with the emergency operator and transform a real-time video about your condition to them whenever you feel unsafe.

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As if iPhone and iPod are not cool enough, now the famous touch-pad/track-point manufacturer Synaptics has launched the ClearPad 3000 that could register ten fingers simultaneously. Quite cool! Here’s a close-up below.

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The solar sound bluetooth speaker is powered by the solar panel on its top, which will last for 8 hours with middling volume and only last for half that time when you turn on the maximal volume. Both USB and Bluetooth are available to connect it to cell phones, MP3s and computers. What’s more it contains a touch screen that means a free and easy control to your music.

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Hitachi will launch an electronic blackboard in August to optimize the product mix in education market. As it is built in two infrared cameras that individually has a viewing angle of 170°, any co-ordinates written on the electronic blackboard will be detected and fed back to the PC to update the display in consequence. The 50 inches blackboard with a traversing carriage is expected to be adopted by more than half of the schools in Japan.

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Released in Japan, the USB sharing hub enables two computers to share any USB devices such as the mobile hard disk expediently. With such a USB hub, you can share any information with your friends anywhere, even in a condition without networks.

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Digital camera, PSP, iPod, cell phone, mouse, etc, how could so much equipment spare the limited USB ports? Now you can have a better choice. With 49 USB ports integrated in one machine, the super USB hub allows you to connect as many devices as you want. Isn’t that cool?