Complex Blog » Tech

Speed Vest Clocks MPH For Everyone To See

Joe — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:27:16 +0000

You know those signs at like airports and road construction sites that read “Your Speed” and give electronic readings of how fast cars are going in an effort to shame people into slowing down? Yeah, they mostly serve to make people speed up in order to jump the readings (dumb sign makers: don't they know America has no shame. Well now a design and engineering team have constructed a vest that allows bikers to show off how fast they're going.

Designer Brady Clark and engineer Mykle Hansen put together the speed vest using a wheel speed sensor, a wearable numeric display, and an open-source mini-computer. Seems like a cool idea to us'you and your friends could get a few and have a race, or, better yet, when we're cruising by you in our ride, we'll gun the motor and figure out the speed differential it takes to knock a cyclist over. Check after the jump for a short clip of the vest in action.

[OhGizmo]

Skateboard Sail Harnesses The Power Of Wind

Joe — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:24:31 +0000

We've always been fan of simple, D.I.Y. thinking, so we have to give it up to David Guillot, who created a hand-held land sail that can be used to propel your skate or snowboard.

While David is selling them for $59.99 each, he also posted a guide about how you can create your own using materials like duct tape, plastic tarp and some fiberglass poles. MacGyver would be proud. Watch a video of the sail below.

[Sail Skating via Didn't You Hear]

British Film Crew Helps You See Sounds

dscott — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:44:31 +0000

We’ve all heard Skin Graft P go on and on about synesthesia and how N.E.R.D was so blown away by it that they decided to title their third LP, Seeing Sounds. Now, here at Complex the jury is still out on whether or not we believe you can actually see sounds'unless you’re tweakin’ on that good kush'but it did get us thinking. What if you really could see sounds? What would they look like to you? British film collective Semiconductor has a couple ideas.

For their short film, “Magnetic Movie” Semiconductor members Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt created a series of animations to bring to life a bunch of audio recordings they made of magnetic fields. The result is pretty crazy and not just because we think on an, um… higher level. The movie won Best Film at Cutting Edge at the 2008 British Animation Awards. Hit the jump to watch “Magnetic Movie” and head over to Semiconductor’s site to check out more of their short film works.

[DVICE]

Carry Less Of A Load With Live Luggage

Joe — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:39:11 +0000

Sure, 21st century technology hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations, with all the lack of flying cars, robots, and Jetsons-style space living, but this motorized Live Luggage PA Series suitcase might just jump-start innovative thinking.

The revolutionary power assisted baggage has electric motors in each of the wheels and sensors that react to your pulling with its own automatic acceleration. Frail jet setters will also enjoy the “anti-gravity” handle that places 85% of the weight onto its back wheels (which also act as generators), making it seem like you're schlepping around less of a load. The price tag of $1,365.25 is steep, and some would argue caring that much about luggage calls for the forfeiture of your balls, but it just might give you that ice-breaker that lands you a technophile in coach. Check for more shots after the jump.

[Oh Gizmo]

Hype Check: Eric Gordon, CBGBs & Batman

treats — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:20:26 +0000

The media shoves so much down our throat these days that it’s hard to know when to believe the hype. Can you help us out? Each week we’re going to be asking you, the readers, to vote on what’s gonna live up to expectations and what’s gonna flop.

Will Eric Gordon smash the NBA? Will Bobby Brown’s son find his own perogative? Will the new John Varvatos store in CBGBs piss off or please punk rockers? Will Batman: Gotham Knight bring John Wayne back? Let it be known after the jump.

Now that the Final Four is over, all eyes are on 19-year-old phenom Eric Gordon. Will the Indianapolis guard be the NBA’s number one draft this June?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
————–

Can Bobby Brown’s son follow in his dad’s footsteps as the “King of R&B” on MTV’s Rock the Cradle?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
————–

Will John Varvatos’ new store at CBGB carry on the legacy of the punk rock landmark?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
————–

Could Batman Gotham Knight be the best animated adaption of the franchise ever?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Technology That Sees Into Your Soul

treats — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Big Brother really sees all. Jim Dwyer from the New York Times reports the rising trend of Biometrics technology'a way for high-powered cameras to compile information based on a person’s facial expressions

“Below the image, a meter displayed each emotion that the computer had detected: Happy. Sad. Angry. Surprised. A trace of a smile triggered the happy meter; a raised eyebrow sent the anger meter skyrocketing.”

So just think happy thoughts and you’ll stay out of trouble. Click here for the full article.