Siafu computer

Nowadays many scientists try to find a way to return vision to blind people. If they succeed, it will be one of the greatest achievements. Meanwhile PC producers, taking into consideration the fact that blind people can not use modern technologies, decided to create something that will improve and diversify their everyday life.

Given gadget named Siafu represents a personal computer designed to give people with vision loss a more intuitive computer experience. The designer of this wonderful device is Jonathan Lucas. It looks like a flat tablet that allows the user to fully interact with it by simple touching. The surface of the device utilizes a conceptual material called magneclay or magnetized liquid. This material has the ability to morph upward into any shape via a controlled electromagnetic field enabling the device to create a Braille (a system of writing for the blind consisting of raised dots that can be interpreted by touch) surface for reading and even pictures in 3D relief.


The main technology used in Siafu - Magneclay - represents an oil based synthetic agent that possesses limitless morphing capabilities. It has a loose molecular structure but can be infinitely rearranged when acted upon by electrical and magnetic charges. As long as the charges acting upon it remain stable, the magneclay will hold its structural rigidity, allowing it to be touched without deformation.

In addition to that Siafu’s magneclay surface can generate full spread Braille layouts, allowing users to enjoy reading digital content in a large book style relief. The surface of the gadget can form a working 9-button Braille keyboard. The Braille output allows the user to conveniently review what they just typed.

Moreover Siafu possesses a built-in microphone, which provides an alternative to typing. Its high performance voice recognition software allows the user to simply speak into the microphone, and the words are instantly appeared on the screen Braille relief.

But that's not the half of it. Given gadget also has the ability to display screen images such as web pages. It can even go one step further and convert all the active text on the screen into translated Braille relief. Device utilizes 2D to 3D image conversion technology to process screen images. It then generates a 3-Dimensional digital wire frame which is then processed through electrical currents into the magneclay. The end result is a highly accurate 3-Dimensional representation of the image.

Unbelievable gadget, isn't it?

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Bit Torrent downloader gadget

If you are connected to the Internet and use it often, you probably heard of Bit Torrent technology. It makes downloading big files, such as movies or games, much faster: you download file not from server, but from every user who already has this file. It became very popular, and almost any recent movie or TV episode can be found in Bit Torrent network right after its appearance. Still, you will need to reencode downloaded files and burn them to aDVD to watch them. But this nuisance can be avoided now, with help of this cool gadget!

MyKa is a nice looking white boxy, which is capable of removing the need in reencoding videos you downloaded to watch them - you will be able to watch them on TV right after they finished downloading! It has a full set of AV out ports from composite and S-Video to HDMI, and users can connect to this gadget via Wi-Fi or LAN either. Two USB ports at the back give you the ability to expand its storage capacity, if built-in HDD of 80, 160 or 500 GB are not enough for you.


Bit Torrent software is already installed, and the box runs completely on Linux. Moreover, of course it can hook up with the PC to be able to access downloaded content from your computer.

This gadget can be used not only for video playing function, it can do a huge help when you want to download a whole season of "Lost" or "Prison Break" but don't want to sleep with your PC on. It will quietly do its job, and will be able to broadcast it when it is finished downloading. In addition, you will never have to worry about your share ratio - just keep MyKa working and your ratio will always be in good state.

The only question left is legitimacy of Bit Torrent networks, but let us leave it out of this article. The price for this gadget is set from 299 dollars to 459 dollars

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Pen-shaped wireless mouse

There is no need to explain the importance of a mouse as a controlling device for any PC user. It's hard to imagine that there may be an alternative to this well-known device that we've got accustomed to. Yet, it's not the fact that the traditional shape of the mouse is the most convenient and efficient one. Thus, some designers think that there is a possibility to change the way mouse looks.

The proposed gadget being a wireless mouse looks like a standard pen. Actually this unique device functions as a simple pen as well enabling you to put down everything you want, but when you detach the receiver and insert it into your USB port, the pen turns into a wireless mouse. So functionality and portability of the concept represents its key advantages in comparison with a usual mouse.


It has three buttons positioned on its side in the row. So the user can still have the three buttons to use. However, it does not have a scrolling wheel, which reduces its usability.

I have no doubts that this gadget is great for casual browsing; however, if you deal with graphics design or something like this, you will probably encounter some problems, at least at the first dash. No information is available about refillable cartridges, but I hope that the pen comes with them, because otherwise it would be a waste of money to purchase a new unit each time you need one. Nevertheless it is quite a decent idea that most likely will have its proponents.

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Wi-Fi Detector Laptop Case - Useful Combination

Wi-Fi detectors became very popular nowadays. Many devices already have Wi-Fi capabilities and number of free hot spots increase every day. There are so many variations of detectors; it is hard to mention all of them. Detector pens, t-shirts, glasses... Unfortunately, they are not connected somehow with Wi-Fi device, so you can simply forget to take the detector with you while seeking hot spot with your laptop or PDA. Detector must have a needed usage so it will not be forgotten at home... And this laptop case is a good example.

Soyntec Wiffinder is a line of laptop bags, which will help their owners to detect free hotspots and know the level of Wi-Fi signal without having to take your laptop out of case. It is a very bright idea, because almost every laptop has Wi-Fi capabilities, so keeping it in this kind of case has two advantages: first - laptop is easily transported and safe while it is in the case, second - this bag will tell you when Wi-Fi signal is detected, so you can take out your laptop and get online. The Spanish Soyntec company offers four different Wi-Fi detector enabled bags to choose from.


If you prefer sport style, Wi-Fi finder backpack will suit your tastes; if you need something more serious then Wi-Fi finder suitcase will be more appropriate.

This is a good example of good and useful combination of useful and needed functions. You will always know whether this area has Wi-Fi signal or not, without taking out you laptop. So when you find a Wi-Fi signal, laptop will always near you to quickly connect to the Internet. The price for this bags are from 62 dollars for backpack or shoulder strap bag to 101 dollars for a trolley suitcase.

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iRecorder - video recorder for PMPs

While many modern gadgets can play video, not everybody knows how to convert his favorite TV show into special format that is recognized by his gadget. It can be a real pain to do it right, and you will need to capture video from the TV first. Why would you buy a new episode of Lost preformatted for your iPod when you can do it yourself? Not without some help though. This recorder gadget is created to simplify the process of recording new videos to your mobile devices, such as iPod, and make this process more enjoyable.

iRecorder looks just like an overgrown Shuffle with big circle that imitates Click Wheel and has a set of control buttons on it. This gadget is a media device which you must connect to whatever video source available: TV, cable, set top box, satellite receiver box, DVD or your Camcorder. You'll only need to check, if there is an RCA jack output from your source. If it has one then you'd be able to connect it to this device's AV-IN jack. It also has AV-OUT to preview recorded media on the TV. iRecorder will precisely capture any video signal into a format that is easily played by most multimedia gadgets out there - MPEG4.


And more to say, it will even transfer it directly to the device itself, so you won't even worry about getting the converted movie out - all is done by this recorder. This vide transfer function is compatible with iPods, Nano (3rd generation), iPod Classic or any other media device that can play MPEG4 video.

With help of this device, you will be able to transfer any DVD or recording to your portable media player, without having to read all those freakin' manuals, which is usually meant to be understood only by technicians. And by the way: its cost is 200 dollars.

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USB mini digital camera

At present there is a great deal of different digital cameras that can easily meet any wishes. Quite a significant amount of them have as many functions as possible. But sometimes people want to possess something simpler and smaller, because often they don't need to make photos that look like professional ones.

Imagine a tiny USB camera with no viewfinder, no LCD screen, and no buttons except one. Such a camera was designed by Sungwoo Park who decided to exclude all the functions except the main one. This gadget represents a mini USB digital camera that combines the feeling of not knowing how your shots turned out with the ease of USB transfer.


Thus, in comparison with usual digital cameras and cell phones no additional cables, card readers and so on are required. You just insert your camera into USB port. As regards the size of this concept it's almost the same as that of a usual USB flash drive. Despite the fact that no information is given about the quality of the pictures taken by this camera we can conclude that it's quite poor. It's hardly possible to supply such a small device with all the elements that enable taking high quality pictures.

Taking into consideration all the facts mentioned above it should be emphasized that this gadget helps to make the process of photographing easier. Yet the only buyers of such USB digital cameras will be people who like compact things and do not need professional photos.

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An "edible" message

Sometimes we feel the necessity to leave a message to the members of our family in order to remind about something, give some instructions or just say endearing words. In such situations everybody finds different solution: some use just a sheet of paper and put it on the place where it can be easily seen, others buy special tables, which are generally attached to refrigerators or walls, and etc.

Yet, a new method, which helps to make your message more original, has been recently found. The given gadget is designed to write messages on toasts. Quite an unusual message, isn't it? Moreover, the process of writing itself becomes more pleasant and interesting. The only thing you have to do is to take a special pen and to write on the toaster whatever you want. After that your message will be printed on the toast. That's it.


Thus, this gadget can be considered as a very useful one, because you prepare food and write messages at the same time. Besides that, children will love it for sure. It will be a sort of amusement for them. However, it should be mentioned that the size of the message is very limited, preventing you from writing "poems". Though, it can be used for fun.

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