FLORA - a platform for your wearable DIY electronics projects
by: Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine, 2012-01-23 18:24:36 UTC

A new platform for wearable electronics, known as the FLORA, was announced by its creators Adafruit Industries on Friday. Essentially a small, round, fabric-friendly circuit board that looks a little like a flower, the FLORA will, when ready, be launched with a variety of accessories and software. These will include, we gather, controllers for iPhone, iPad and Android hardware. The FLORA is ripe for wearable DIY electronics projects: announced modules include Bluetooth, GPS, 3-axis accelerometer, compass, and, intriguingly, OLED... Continue Reading FLORA - a platform for your wearable DIY electronics projects

Section: Wearable Electronics

Tags: Arduino, Electronics, Wearable

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Five-door up! joins Volkswagen’s new family of ultra-compact city cars
by: Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine, 2012-01-24 02:01:36 UTC

Volkswagen has unveiled the latest addition to its "New Small Family" series of ultra-compact city vehicles based on the first Volkswagen up! concept car that debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Since then we've seen numerous up! concept cars such as the up! Lite, the E-up! and the Space up!, and even before the production launch of the three-door up!, which hit showrooms last December, Volkswagen had already hinted a five-door model was in the works. Now the company has revealed that this new addition will be available in Germany from May, and the rest of Europe by mid-year... Continue Reading Five-door up! joins Volkswagen’s new family of ultra-compact city cars

Section: Automotive

Tags: Volkswagen

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Video: Fläpps Folding Chair by Malte Grieb
by: mocoloco, 2012-01-19 22:24:58 UTC

Video: Dreamtime Alarm Clock by Vera Wiedermann
by: mocoloco, 2012-01-22 05:16:30 UTC

Vera Wiedermann has created a very clever pendant glass alarm clock powered with water.

augmented reality ceramics by andrew tanner
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2012-01-21 17:42:00 UTC

the 'english hedgerow' chintz plate interfaces with a custom app for iOS, letting users watch as the creatures of the world represented in the design come alive.

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Superior e-bike to attract gen-next towards biking
by: The Design blog, 2012-01-20 10:16:05 UTC
Nikonian Bar:

In what could be considered as happy marriage between the academic and the practical, a diploma thesis for the Department of Industrial Design at the University of Technology in Brno (Czech Republic) and the manufacturing excellence of the Czech bicycle company, Superior, has resulted in the working prototype for an e-bike. Superior was looking out for a sporty, carbon fiber bike but they settled for a bike made of duralumin that oozes sportiness. The designer, Vojtěch Sojka, has made it look something like a cross between a BMX bike and the Specialized Stumpjumper. But this bike holds a lot more than meets the eye and is definitely worthy a close second examination.

The frame is almost entirely one single molded unit. The seat tube houses the battery which can run the bike for a comfortable 50-60 km. The fork has internal suspension but the minimalist design makes the rear rely on fat tires for a comfortable ride. Sprung saddles will further add to the rider-comfort for long journeys. To maintain the overall balance of the bike, the electric motor has been placed at the center, perfectly at the center of gravity of the bike. Thus, though it would seem easier to place it in the hub, it is located in the shell of the bottom bracket for better balance.

The part of the design that would raise eye-brows in curiosity and interest is the absence of the seat-stays. This has been done by the designer to fit in the carbon belt drive. The belt replacing the traditional chain was a great idea with a future in both style and functionality. Carbon belts cannot be broken and re-linked. An opening section in the seat-stay is necessary to fit the belt. And thus, in order to accommodate the belt in the design, the seat tubes had to be eliminated to put on the belt easily. There is still a line of thoughts that wants removable, bolt-on seat-stays like the ones found on the older Dutch bikes so that the entire weight over the rear wheel is not borne by the chainstay and the bottom bracket joint.

A tiny controller to control the motor and get a reading of its various parameters has been fitted on the handlebars. There is also a proposal to replace this intelligent controller with a cellphone to control the bike. The whole bike is much lighter as compared to the standard e-bikes and offers greater control and stability. The diploma thesis project was appreciated with the Dean’s prize and the design has received accolades through adoption by Superior company. Sojka’s bike comes as a whiff of fresh air among the hundreds of concepts that are springing regularly.

Two In One: Transformer Furniture Piece is Both a Table and Two Chairs in One Simple Design
by: TreeHugger Design, 2012-01-19 14:45:38 UTC
A structure made of pipe and acrylic in a simple and functional design by Uruguayan designer Claudio Sibille.

Versatile Sofa With Storage Is Made From Recycled Wooden Pallets
by: TreeHugger Design, 2012-01-20 14:00:00 UTC
With the addition of a coat of paint and some neat features, this recycled pallet sofa looks sleeker than the usual pallet furniture.

Video: Fläpps Folding Chair by Malte Grieb
by: mocoloco, 2012-01-19 22:24:58 UTC

Armadillo and Lodge Chair by Baltasar Portillo
by: mocoloco, 2012-01-18 15:13:52 UTC