Back when the WowWee Rovio was first announced we knew it would prove to be a popular platform for modders and robotics fanatics to adapt. The three-wheeled remote WiFi camera-bot has only been available for a few weeks, and already we’re seeing the first hacks come in. Today, it’s the turn of Rudolph at RoboCommunity; a straightforward tweak, perhaps, but a sensible one – adding LED lights to the remote-controlled webcam “head”.
Prior to today’s Apple event, there was a lot of speculation about what products specifically would be announced. We heard a rumor of a $899 MacBook. That rumor didn’t pan out today. What did, however, was a 24-inch Cinema Display.
LEDs might not be used just for light in the near future. In fact, they could be used as WiFi “access points” if a group of researchers at Boston University have anything to say about it. The group is being funded by the US National Science Foundation with a $18.5 million grant and it could mean wireless connections for everyone.
Wow. This is one big LED screen. In fact, it is to be the world’s largest LED screen and Tameer, a UAE development company will be getting this screen, which is meant to bring a little light to Dubailand city.
Sharp have been demonstrating a solar-powered HDTV at CEATEC 2008, capable of operating solely from the power generated from sunlight. The 52-inch set uses an LED backlight and other energy-efficiency technology so as to reduce it’s power requirements to just 220kWh; coincidentally, that’s the same amount as the solar panel generates.
If you like to ride your bike at night or are just a generally happy person, this LED accessory is certain to brighten up your riding experience. Or at least attract some funny looks.
Oh, how I loved my Lite-Brite as a kid. I mean, I could kill hours with that thing and still find it fun. And though the light toy has since faded, Bandai has come out with the Luminodot, which very much captures the essence of my old beloved possession.
Take 4096 LEDs, 64 RGB microcontrollers and four Atari joysticks, throw them (with some degree of accuracy) at a coffee table, and you might get this: a four-way Pong table. The whole top surface of the table has been turned into an LED array, the result of a two-year project by SparkFun Electronics.
Check out the video of the LED Pong coffee table after the cut
The Spark Lamp, designed by Beverly Ng, is a really cool concept that turns your lamp into a self-sustaining device that can tell you just how much power you’re using. Using LED light, the lamp can be flipped over during the day to recharge itself using solar energy.
Delta Electronics have announced their first full-HD 1080p DLP projector using LEDs. The technology apparently allows them a broader color gamut, together with a longer lifespan than traditional bulbs: the LED unit is rated for 20,000 hours use. It’s one of the first commercial systems to use PhlatLight rather than metal halide bulbs.
SlashGear Japan
