Prototypes - SlashGear

‘prototypes’ Stories

Intel Ruby gets polished up

Chris Davies, Sep 27th 2006 Discuss [0]

I'm a total Tablet PC convert, so the sight of a renovated Intel Ruby prototype brings joy to my pen-loving eyes. Ruby was a design concept by the processor firm to signpost the direction it saw its ultra-mobile, energy efficient chips heading in; a thin framed compact touchscreen tablet, the media inevitably compared it to Star Trek's PADD portable computers (which it kinda resembled) and then unfavourably compared the chunky first-gen UMPCs to it. Read The Full Story

AI Wheelchair watches out for danger

Chris Davies, Sep 21st 2006 Discuss [0]

During a senior citizen's charity barn dance last year, my grandmother was the victim of a very slow hit-and-run incident when one of the other participant's wheelchairs ran over her foot. With tragedy like this lacing our streets on an almost bi-daily basis, it's a corn-fed shock to the system that wheelchair users are not required to pass some sort of pavement safety testing scheme. Thankfully, Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) are doing something about it. Read The Full Story

Ecopod recycling bin solves cramped kitchen crisis

Chris Davies, Sep 17th 2006 Discuss [0]

Having recently moved into a flat with someone obsessed with recycling, the thorny subject of needing various bins has come up several times. Me, being of the minimalist persuasion, would prefer one simple bin - probably slender and stainless steel - whereas they would like a number of colour-coded glass/paper/aluminium/cheese bins that would take up a whole bloody wall of the kitchen. Read The Full Story

Shape-shifting home follows the sun

Chris Davies, Sep 14th 2006 Discuss [0]

Treehugger have an intriguing post about a self-rearranging home that gradually alters its configuration with the changing weather and time of day. "A small channel in the floor has stopped streaming cold water, and now appears to be releasing steam. Presumably this is was intended to add a dash [of] humidity and warmth to the room" It's not just minor features that react, it's whole walls too - shifting to maximise the sun or keep out the wind. Each change is heralded by what they describe as "small audio clues", hopefully not of the sort that trucks make when reversing. I'd love to hear some more details about this, if anybody has them? Self-Rearranging Homes That Optimize Themselves [Treehugger]

Porsche Panamera – a four door disappointment?

Chris Davies, Sep 14th 2006 Discuss [1]

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I'm thinking about starting a petition to make concept designers legally obliged to comfort members of the public upset when all their fancy promises turn out - when in the metal - to be shockingly poor. Hopefully the designer of the Porsche Panamera, the "four-door coupé" that will take on the Maserati Quattroporte and any number of sodding fast Mercedes, will not end up footing thousands of therapy bills - worryingly likely should this heavily disguised test mule be close in shape to the end product. Compared to the original sketches, the mule is lumpy and weighty around the hips. The Bentley-a-like C-pillar arrangement is just that little bit too pointy and awkward, even when you look beyond the disguising sticky-tape. My fingers are crossed to the point of causing crippling pain that further evolutions of shape are in the works. Cardisiac [via Jalopnik]

Microsoft Argo / Zune MP3 Video player

Vincent Nguyen, Jul 11th 2006 Discuss [2]

While the information provide by Engadget and Gizmodo are still rumors and unconfirmed, it's very likely and credible that the image below is indeed the Microsoft Zune (it's possible that the device also went by the code name Argo. According to Engadget’s report, the Zuno display is 4:3 ratio not 16:9. The screen size might be in the range of 3 to 3.5-inches wide. There's also a big wheel with two buttons on either side; the left seems to be a "back" and the right is a "play/pause" button. Read The Full Story

Complete Computer Control!

Benjamin Nied, Jul 6th 2006 Discuss [0]

For all of us geeks who have ever dreamed of controlling a computer without those low-tech mouse and keyboard devices. SmartRetina is the answer. This nifty little camera tracks its user's movements, thereby allowing control over a computer's graphical interface without having to ever touch an input device. While it might be designed to make life easier for users, we all know the real use of a device like this; hooking it up to a friend's computer and controlling their machine "magically." In all seriousness, the SmartRetina could represent a rather important step forward, especially in the way of computer accessibility, since most anyone can point at something on the screen. We'll have to wait and see if this technology ever finds its way to the masses; stay tuned.

Product Page [via Gizmodo]