Month: May 2014

Categories
Connected Objects

genshi.box could create the Internet’s first anti-social network

The Premise. Social media is becoming something of a necessary evil in most people’s lives. While the updates and changing security policies keep users ill at ease, there aren’t any better options when it comes to staying in touch with friends and family.

The Product. The genshi.box is basically a tiny web server that connects to a PC and functions as a private social network that others can connect to. With a unique URL and the ability to make content public or private, the genshi.box can store photos, videos, blogs, and any other content without reliable internet access with a user interface familiar to users of Facebook.

The Pitch. The genshi.box video is stylish and brief, criticizing social media for selling data to advertisers and for accounts being unexpectedly shut down. The rest of the campaign is similarly styled, showing the product as something cool, tech-savvy youth would find themselves behind to protect their privacy, yet simple enough for the advanced in age to make ample use of. Product creators Genshi.lab are looking to raise $250,000 to finish the product’s design and bring it to market.

The Perks. The genshi.box is available for early adopters in March 2015 for $199. Four color variants are available at the $249 tier, with full customization of colors being available for backers who pledge $599 or more. Those who can’t wait can get a beta model in January 2015 for $1000.

The Potential. genshi.box provides a hardware-based alternative for personal sharing. But what sets it apart from previous options such as the PogoPlug is the software that handles the status updates. That’s likely what will re1uire most of the product’s development time. In cutting off most of the rest of the world,. the product makes it easier to have people opt in to certain life events and photos, etc. as opposed to having to screen people out as on Facebook. What one gives up on, however, is the serendipity of seeing updates from other people and being able to easily share those as well. One key to the product’s success will be a good mobile app that will make sharing easy on the go, which is a key way that content gets added to social networks today.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Toys

Drops turns simple toy critters into augmented reality pets

Premise. If videos of babies on tablets teach us anything, it’s that mass adoption of electronics knows no age limits. While digital pets have grown more sophisticated since Tamagotchi days, it’s not easy keeping up with today’s twelve-year-old.

Product. Drops are real-life stuffed animal characters, each with a different name and very unique fun facts to accompany it. Using an app and augmented reality technology, Drops become digital pets that kids can interact with from an app on their smartphones or tablets. Regular sized Drops are plush and can fit in the palm of your hand, so they’re “easy to sneak into class” – a very attractive trait for the average middle-schooler.

Pitch. A witty and charming pitch video features inventor Lenay Dunn explaining that she was inspired to create Drops as a child when she’d imagine her stuffed animals were really alive. She envisions Drops becoming this generation’s digital pet, joining the ranks of Tamagotchi, Furby and Gigapet. So far there are seven drop characters, many additionally available in “super size” – about the size of a basketball. Among the more creatively named Drops is Meowseph, who has whiskers and also, parents that compromised on combining “Meow” and “Joseph” when naming him. The campaign is looking to raise $80,000 in a flexible funding over 30 days which will go toward creating an initial concept for Drops. Specifically, the augmented reality pieces including design and animation will be worked on, and once Drops has a solid proof of concept they will go to investors to raise the remainder of the money needed to “drop” Drops in the market.

Perks. For $9 plus $2 shipping within US, you can back Drops and receive your choice of Firework, Vampy, Dropula, PB & Drop, or Mewoseph. For $12, you can choose to be surprised or you can reserve Corny. For a $15 pledge, you may reserve a Diamond Drop. Drop perks continue on up to a $10,000 donation which allows your voice to be used as one of Drops’ final “noises”, plus you will help name and design. If $10,000 is too steep, consider donating $2,500 for the “DROPelganger” package – get Drops for you and two friends with your name, likeness, personality and voice – best-named perk ever.

Potential. While the pitch video references Furby as a toy of the past, the 2013 holiday season proved that this little guy has upped his game. Today’s Furby Boom toys come in all patterns and colors and work with an app where kids collect, hatch and raise their Furblings. Unlike Drops, there is an electronic element in that Furby requires batteries and has a certain amount of responses it can provide. Still, depending on start-up costs, Drops has the potential to be much cheaper than Furby and can provide a very similar experience. Drops’ inability to speak back or make noises may not even be seen as a disadvantage to kids, as you can argue they are mostly going to be engaged in the activities possible within the app.

Categories
Toys

ForeverSpin tops have an element of fun, fall short of spinning forever

ForeverSpinSome people like to stare at an aquarium of fish while they brainstorm, but the maker of ForeverSpin prefers a spinning top. Mirrored, brushed, and gold plated are apparently ideal when bored, stressed, anxious, as a gift to a child, or just for some spinning competition fun. But for those who consider themselves to be deep thinkers, visionaries, and / or champions with some extra cash and an interest in finding out if tops really do enhance brainstorming sessions, there are the options of copper, aluminum, and titanium. Backers can choose their favorite element beginning at $19. Expected delivery is June 2014. For those who prefer blended elements that command a prettier penny, The Lambda campaign offers a brass-aluminum top with a ruby bottom that’s been known to whirl for up to 10 minutes.

Categories
Cooking

Armadillo Colander collapses flat to take the pain out of the strain

Armadillo ColanderFinding storage space for a bulky colander (or strainer) is a common kitchen challenge, especially if a person likes to enjoy the option of having boiled foods on the road via a camper or RV. The RMDLO (Armadillo) Colander (or strainer) is a unique solution made of stainless steel sheets that fold up to 1.6cm for easy storage, and can be easily squeezed together for pouring food onto a plate. Prefer steamed veggies to boiled? It can also act as a steamer. While there are other folding colanders out there, the Armadillo’s stainless steel and steamer capability will make it more versatile, and it also seems to fold up smaller. For £20, backers get one product with an expected delivery of October 2014.

Categories
Arts Toys

SlideOScope offers fancy slide effect with printed images

SlideOScopeKaleidoscopes have been a favorite toy for visuals buffs for many years. Now, the market has the SlideOScope to offer. It’s a similar device that distorts images, but it works with printed images that you can choose or completely on its own to make abstract images. The SlideOScope works by sliding the parts apart, much like an old-fashioned spyglass. It also doesn’t have to be close to your face to use, so several people can enjoy this toy at once. This product will cost backers $45 with an estimated delivery date of October 2014. SlideOScope hopes to raise $25,000 in a 30-day Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Input

Motix ties touch screen controls to any standard keyboard

The Premise. It might be hard to realize, but a good deal of time spent doing anything on the computer is moving from the keyboard to the mouse and then back again. It’s an insignificant blip when it happens once, but it more likely will occur over and over, adding up into lost time. No amount of keyboard shortcuts can prevent this from occurring.

The Product. The Motix is a touchless, hands-free sensor that sticks onto a keyboard and reads finger gestures above the keys to enable mouse-like or touch-style controls over a computer, regardless of operating system. By simply lifting an index finger off the key and pointing it forward, simple finger motions allow for scrolling, navigation, and anything else that can be done with a mouse.

The Pitch. The campaign focuses on how much easier and responsive computing can be if only one input device needs to be used. The Motix plays well with mice, however, making it a perfect solution for things that it’s designed to do without shutting out mouse functionality. Motix creators Technology Launch, LLC want to raise $50,000 to finalize the product’s design and complete its production. If the project reaches 400 pledges for the Motix itself, the included keyboard in the higher tiers will be upgraded from a standard release keyboard to a custom keyboard with built-in Motix capabilities.

The Perks. The Motix sensor is available to backers who pledge $80. At the $185 level, the Motix Pro is available for those that want to customize keyboard and mouse gestures. These perks will ship out in November, but for those that can’t wait, an early release with API documentation is available for $1,000 in September.

The Potential. Motix is designed to keep control intuitive and uninterrupted, but unless people are skilled typists with only a few of their fingers, moving from keyboard to Motix is still a full-stop process, albeit with less arm movement. Leap Motion has already shown off this kind of touchless control in the marketplace optimized for a more immersive interface, albeit doing so in a fashion that is more about 3D space manipulation than economy of movement. At least with Motix, the hands can stay anchored on the keyboard, but for typists that don’t subscribe to home row methodologies, there may be reason to worry about accidentally setting off the motion detection and sending a mouse cursor somewhere unwanted.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

SunJack panels fold out to soak in a lot of solar energy

SunJackThey always say that it’s not good to leave your devices out in the sun. Now, it’s actually good for them! SunJack harnesses solar power to charge your iPhone or iPad. This black case comes in two wattages, 14 and 20, to charge several devices at once with only a few hours of sun. The SunJack isn’t the first crowdfunded product to harness our favorite star to charge out gadgets, but is definitely among the most powerful of these to date. The 14W version costs $100 and the 20W costs $200. SunJack has a $33,000 goal in a 33-day Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Chargers/Batteries Connected Objects

GoKey combines about every key chain e-gadget out there

GokeyMany people own a memory stick that lives on their key chains to carry around their files with them. The GoKey is like that, but on steroids. This small keychain has memory storage, a USB to charge your iPhone 5, Android or Windows phone, and Bluetooth capabilities to help locate your keys. One drawback is that, due to its small size, you’ll only be able to eek a couple of hours out of its charge. The Stiktag also helps people locate their keys, but this is a much more versatile product. A GoKey costs backers $39 at a base price; the developers seek $40,000 in a 31-day Indiegogo campaign.

Categories
Connected Objects Food and Beverage

Pizza Bite Button summons extra cheese, avoids extra effort

Pizza Bite ButtonItalian eaters and pizza enjoyers usually order pizza quite a bit. The worst part about ordering is trying to talk to your favorite pizza joint over the clanking of pots and pans and angry Italian patrons. The Pizza Bite Button is a magnetic button that, when pushed, orders a preset list of items to your favorite local pizza place. This button even pays automatically as well. Backers must shell out a whopping $100 for this product with an estimated delivery date of September 2014. Lazy pizza eaters may opt to just pick up the phone instead. The Pizza Bite Button hopes to raise $56,000 in its 45-day Indiegogo campaign.

Categories
Running

Runbell adds some ring to the exercise thing

RunbellA crowded track or urban sidewalk can take the thrill out of pounding the pavement for those who enjoy jogging. A bike bell without the bike, Runbell offers an alternative to yelling, “Get out of the way, mindless headphone zombies!!” that’s not only more pleasant, put probably also offers safer and more satisfying results. The brass bell projects a clear tone that can still be plenty annoying to path blockers when struck repeatedly, but it will also likely be construed as having the intention of being polite so that breaking into a sprint in order to gain a clean getaway from street gangs can be avoided. For $20, backers get one product with an expected delivery of September 2014.