Month: September 2014

Categories
Aquatics Health and Wellness

Oar Inspired teaches you the right way to row, row, row your boat

As activity trackers have given way to digital workout coaches, each sport has begun to receive tools that are priceless in improving one’s technique and form. To handle this task for the sport of rowing, there’s now Oar Inspired. Oar Inspired is essentially a fully-featured suite of devices designed to measure every aspect of the row and then report it through the on-boat computer that is easy to attach and is protected from the environment on the open water.

The RowCom display of the computer displays this data in real-time, meaning that not only can things be improved for next time, but adjustments can be made in the middle of the race to right the ship. Also, this data is fully customizable, so that whatever metrics are most important can be displayed where they are easy to read and interpret. Australian inventor Des Jacobsen is asking for $70,000 AUD (~$60,000 USD) to release Oar Inspired. The complete Oar Inspired set starts at $990 AUD (~$850 USD), though if single components are desired instead, those are available at lower tiers, shipping in February 2015. It may be a niche, but ultimately all fitness coaching devices fall under this umbrella. Passionate rowers will love Oar Inspired.

Categories
Automotive

Dudad alerts trick napping truck drivers when it’s safe to dock and roll

The Premise. In some ways, it seems like the occupation of truck driver could be a pretty sweet job. No crabby co-workers, no real office politics, constant change of scenery, listening to favorite radio programs while working, and perhaps the list could go on. But one of the downsides would be the lack of sleep.

The Product. Dudad is a wireless notification device for truck drivers that allows them to take advantage of downtime between the unloading and loading of freight, which can take hours. Upon the arrival of the trucker and after checking in with the person in charge of the warehouse, the trucker can set Dudad’s notification receiver and catch some sleep after a long drive. He or she is then awakened by an alarm clock type noise once the freight is unloaded and it’s time to collect signed paperwork and head back out on the road. This allows the trucker the benefit of uninterrupted sleep, and everyone else on the road the benefit of safer road.

The Pitch. The video for this $50,000 campaign gives a great explanation of what the product is and its purpose. It’s not exactly clear how it works, but the viewer is led to believe that every truck driver who has had the chance to see the product and hear about it is rather excited to be able to purchase one for their own use.

The Perks. There are multiple tiers from which backers may choose. For $120, backers get one Dudad, and if they specify that they’re a driver or will be giving it to someone who is a driver, extra effort will be put forth in making sure that it is received before Christmas of 2014.

The Potential. Every truck driver probably appreciates the opportunity to get a good night’s sleep. And every commuter appreciates friendly truckers that will graciously allow them to change lanes and even exit the highway on the way to work or other activities. It seems that companies could offer the common courtesy of alerting a sleeping trucker when freight has been unloaded or loaded, or that veteran truckers might even have a sense of how long it is going to take for repeat customers, but these things aside, the product seems like it may be rather useful to and even appreciated by those who drive a truck for a living.

Categories
Tools

The Next Level offers pointers on how bubble levels are vial

Next LevelTraditional levels are apart of every household and workman’s toolbox. The bubble that shows evenness, however, can be frustrating at times because it’s never quite in the right place. The Next Level uses a different method for measuring flat surfaces. Instead of the bubble, the Next Level uses two pointers that, when lined up, signal a level surface. While this is definitely an interesting way to redesign the traditional level, it doesn’t seem as if it’s really that much more innovative. However, improvements on a traditional product are always welcome and the Next Level has a pretty awesome name as well. One Next Level will cost backers $49 with a Kickstarter campaign goal of $49,550.

Categories
Displays Tech Accessories

DuoScreen is your laptop’s better half for productivity and gaming

Laptops are great for getting things done on the go, making productivity a constant no matter where the work is located. But when the workstation of choice is set up with an expansive, dual-monitor display, moving to the single screen of a laptop can be prohibitive, frustrating, and a hindrance to productivity.

DuoScreen is a solution to bring a second screen to laptops in a way that’s never been done before. By attaching a housing to the bottom of the laptop, DuoScreen raises and tilts the laptop forward slightly for ergonomic purposes, and has ventilation to keep notebooks from overheating, but that’s just the extra features. The DuoScreen holds a second screen, powered and connected through a solitary USB port, that slides out, flips up, and is supported by the laptop’s weight so that it doesn’t take up any extra desk space.

The 15.6” LED screen supports resolution up to 1920×1080, meaning there’s no sacrifice when it comes to display quality. Additionally, the screen can be rotated up to 180 degrees, perfect for an impromptu presentation or collaboration session. The DuoScreen holds laptops in place on its base with elastic straps, meaning there’s no risk of damaging the case of the laptop, and that it can fit many different models and sizes. The inventors at Nomadz have their target goal of $100,000 to pay for production. Anyone looking to add a screen to their laptop can grab a DuoScreen for $239 in May 2015.

The crowdfunding product space is proving that adding a second screen to laptops is an issue that needs addressing as soon as possible. While DuoScreen may have just a little too much size and thickness to make it practically portable, the amount of extra little touches could make it a great option for certain laptop power users, much like the similar Packed Pixels.

Categories
Camping Cooking

Ace 1 biomass stove makes the world your kitchen

The Premise. It’s nice to be able to cook a meal on the grill or in the great outdoors when on a camping trip. But finding material to make a campfire can be a hassle and leave you smelling like smoke. So what might a modern option look like for those who enjoy camping but detest the hassle that can come with mealtime?

The Product. Ace 1 takes the old Bunsen burner idea and gives it an eco-friendly twist. The ten pound cooking stove uses both bio mass and solar energy, so it burns cleaner to the point of eliminating smoke. Another nice feature is its speakers that provide dinner music for added ambience. And later on, campers won’t be left in the dark with the included solar chargeable LED light with built-in battery. The light will certainly come in handy for when the spooky stories get the kids freaked out. A USB and DC port are also built in to this cooking tool for those who just can’t stand being separated from their gadgets.

The Pitch. This particular cooking stove not only has campers in mind, but also those in developing countries. The initial focus appears to have been a simple but safe, healthy and environmentally-friendly cooking gadget that expanded its reach to the less fortunate. The €50,000 campaign also boasts of offering a product that can provide some great control over how much heat is being put out for cooking purposes.

The Perks. Backers may choose from quite a few tiers to offer their support for the development of this product, with an early bird option of €159 for one product. For an extra €10, backers may choose from their favorite of six color options. Expected delivery is January 2015.

The Potential. If one prefers cooking over a Bunsen burner type gadget to grilling their food, then this product will likely be useful. The fact that it takes nearly any size pot means that backers would be able to cook for fairly large groups when camping. There is no replacement for the savory taste that comes with grilling or roasting over an open flame, but this product does have some nice conveniences that are likely to delight campers and it would make for a nice addition to camping gear. Other camping stove campaigns backers may want to check out include The Sun Juicer, Charby, and Campfire in a Can.

Categories
Lighting Music

LumaPlay Speakers do the wooing for you with fly beats and soft lighting

LumaPlayTo set the mood, it’s necessary to combine sound and good lighting for that special someone. Now you can control both with one easy product: LumaPlay Speakers. These speakers allow you to play HD music as well as control light shows from your smartphone. The LED lights can change color and always go along with the beat of the song. For $399, backers can enjoy these decked out speakers. For diehard music and lighting fans, these speakers may just be the way to go, if you’re willing to spend the money. LumaPlay hopes to raise $75,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Games

Divorce! card game brings out your inner selfish ex

The Premise. Large gaming companies can make a game out of anything. Whether it’s becoming a princess, going to war or even living life, gaming companies love to make light of anything mundane or even depressing.

The Product. Divorce! The Game is a card came based on, you guessed it, divorce. With two players, this game takes only about 20-40 minutes. Divorce! centers around the splitting of assets, custody battles and lawyer involvement that most divorces entail. To play, one player draws two cards, one which they keep and another that they must give to their opponent, soon-to-be-ex. The cards either gain the player money or loses them money. The goal of Divorce! is to finish the game with the most stuff. Cards include winning custody of a child, worth $80,000, winning the house, or getting the boat. Other cards include lawyer involvement which allows the player to move assets off-shore, burn down the house just won by an opponent or even steal stuff back.

The Pitch. The campaign video shows couples playing Divorce! while swearing and yelling at one another in a strangely gleeful way. It really makes the game look like good, dark fun. The creators then explain the game, different cards included and call divorce “America’s pastime”. The rest of the campaign shows examples of cards in the game. Divorce! The Game hopes to raise $5,000 on Kickstarter.

The Perks. For only $20, you can get a Divorce!, quite the bargain. Higher tiers offer couple sets and the highest at $10,000 will get the backer a trip to NYC and a chance to repossess one item from the creator’s house. Totally weird, but in good keeping with the theme of the game. Estimated delivery for Divorce! is set for January 2015.

The Potential. We all know the old favorites like the game of Life and Monopoly that deal with the mundanities of everyday life and make them fun. It’s much more thrilling to lose money in the game world than it is in real life. Divorce! is a fabulous addition to this tradition. The campaign video alone will make you want to own this game. It’s too bad that only two players can enjoy this at once, however, the rules are nice and simple unlike other popular games. The game makes light of a typically serious issue and its cheeky, over-the-top scenarios are guaranteed to make you laugh.

Categories
Home

Hot-Tubes help reduce heating costs by recirculating the heat

Hot TubesJust in time for the cold winter months comes an idea for intercepting the tracks of the iceman who cometh to steal the warmth out of humble homes. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic. However, Hot Tubes seems to have a seriously good idea for helping people save on heating costs. The tubular fan system works to bring heat that collects near the ceiling down to living space level so that, take note gentlemen, there can finally be a little peace in connection to the battle of the thermostat. And much to most ladies’ delight, no tools are required for instillation. Backers get one 11” tube for $35, with an expected delivery of December 2014.

Categories
Announcements

LAST DAY: Make your invention idea a reality with Backerjack and Edison Nation

Update: The product search submission period has now ended.

Backerjack is a leading source for people to learn about the latest products being brought to market through crowdfunding and pre-orders. Unfortunately, though, many product ideas don’t make it to market because the inventors lack the expertise, funds or other resources to see them through. Sometimes, products don’t win enough support from the community. And sometimes, even successfully crowdfunded products hit roadblocks that prevent them from ever coming to market.

Continue reading “LAST DAY: Make your invention idea a reality with Backerjack and Edison Nation”
Categories
Connected Objects Sensors/IoT

VERVE2 lets you assemble your own Internet of Things like LEGOs

The Premise. The Internet of Things is garnering a lot of attention and excitement, and rightfully so. Just as getting people connected online revolutionized communication and information, connecting objects online stands poised to change what people expect from their appliances and tools.

The Product. VERVE2 is an easily programmable, highly customizable family of sensors that allow users to give any item a degree of online functionality. Detecting touch, light, heat, or motion, VERVE2 can be clipped or affixed to anything and then programmed to interact with computer programs or Web sites to create new and exciting functions.

The Pitch. The very first words for the VERVE2 campaign call it the “LEGOs of the future,” and this sort of do-anything approach is what the video and campaign material strive to portray. In the video, viewers see everything from a DIY burglar alarm to a greeting card turned into an automatic tweet whenever someone is thinking of a loved one and touches the card. VERVE2 creators inXus interactive are hoping to raise $10,000 for manufacturing and assembly. At $50,000 dollars, backers who get at least 7 sensors will also receive a sheet of Velostat to make touch panels of any shape or size.

The Perks. Getting started with VERVE2 only takes a pledge of $45 to get one connecter cable, the hub, a light sensor, and a flash drive with the required software. A pack with seven sensors goes for $89, with a light sensor, button, touch sensor, turn sensor, motion sensor, DIY sensor, and magnetic sensor. Finally, the $160 tier level includes 2 of each of the aforementioned sensors, plus temperature sensors, force sensors, and loudness sensors. All perks are expected to deliver out in November.

The Potential. Just by how easy the VERVE2 system is to set up and tweak to accomplish different tasks, it’s an incredible way to bring the power of connecting objects to the Internet to even the most average end user. That being said, from a practicality standpoint, the system may not be as flexible as promised, offering a lot of options to use, but not a lot of outstanding features that would be intuitive to many. The creative and curious will derive a great sense of joy from getting their hands (and fingers, and voices, and lights) on VERVE2, but for the person who just wants something they can plug in and use to make their lives easier, VERVE2 might not be the right buy. This sort of real-world physical programming has been put out before with products like Ninja Blocks, but being able to turn any object into computer input is what makes VERVE2 an exciting alternative.