Some interesting designs/objects

Solar Powered Laptop Case

Eclipse Solar Gear has created a hard laptop case that can actually charge a laptop! That is, if you've got full sun and a relatively small laptop computer.

The laptop case, which eclipse is readying for the consumer market, can also charge any smaller electronic gadgets. And, on top of being the first of its kind, it's also a pretty good looking product.

Home Aquarium

Water tunnel allowing fish to swim from one tank to the other. As long as the two tanks are at the same level and the tunnel is less than 10m high, the atmospheric pressure should keep the water in the tube (at the top, the pressure is almost zero, the fish may not survive! so better keep the height to a reasonable few meters.) Filling the tube would be very tricky. Like to see how it is done!

3D Printing

via Boingboing: "3D printing has come to Sears in the form of this $1800 computer-controlled Craftsman CNC machine that can "print" your 3D designs on wood and other materials, either from a direct PC hookup or a memory card."




Alternately, there is an open-source version which you can build youself.

Speaking Strips

A long thin plastic strip, about 60cm long. Along the length of the strip is a pattern of fine ridges or lines. Run your thumb nail along the ridges, and the tape speaks. However the sound needs to be magnified, so that you can hear it. One method is to hold one end of the strip between your teeth. Then, when you run your nail along the strip you hear it talk, but no-one else does. Or you can stick one end of the strip to an inflated balloon or a paper cup using sticky tape. The balloon or cup acts as an amplifier, and you can then demonstrate it to anyone nearby. Never heard a balloon talk?

Hollow celery as Bloody Mary straw

I don't need to say anything. Drink your Bloody Mary through an edible celery straw.

Cooling PC using water from Swimming Pool

from Boingboing: "PC builders decided to convert their machines to water-cooled, ripping out the fans -- and for water, they used an entire nearby swimming pool, hooking up a pump that circulates cool pool-water through their PCs and back into the pool. Thus, they get "quieter, cooler" computers and a warmer pool." It does not look like these PC can make the pool any warmer, but definitely can keep the PC running at comfortable 20+ degrees.

Swimming Pool without Chemical

Talking about swimming pool, here is a design which does not require any chemical to treat the water. My daughter's water polo club is building one in Melbourne here which uses plants to purify water. More info on Google.

Chest-pillow for gamers

You prop the bottom on your crossed ankles and rest your chin on the top, letting you look down at your tight-clenching hands for extended hours of supported gaming fun.