Author: Julia Herrick

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Lifestyle

CoordiMate helps math lovers coordinate their Cartesians, stamps graphs neatly

An important part of any math curriculum is learning about graphs. The Cartesian coordinate system is taught so that kids can learn all sorts of important facts about algebra and dimensions. However, drawing endless graphs can be annoying and yield sloppy results.

CoordiMate was designed for just such situations. This tiny tool is a self-inking stamp that seamlessly places a perfect Cartesian coordinate on any piece of graph paper. To use, just push down on the center for a neat graph. The ink dries quickly so that pencil mistakes can be easily erased without any smudges. This product is made from recyclable materials. It’s plastic and looks like a cross with a little face in the middle.

CoordiMate is a great tool for kids learning about math. The company should really consider marketing their product to schools so that kids can buy it directly at school. There’s no mention of how long the ink lasts or if there’s any way to refill it, a definite drawback. Still, for their own, backers can donate $15 for delivery in April 2015. Coordinate hopes to raise $25,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Home

Dolfi ultrasonic laundry device uses good vibrations to wash out bad stains

The only way to wash delicates and other fragile material is by doing it by hand. This means filling a sink with water and trying hard to work the soap through the fibers. However, the gentle nature of hand washing usually means that the job isn’t ever done well.

Dolfi promises to change all that. This little device shaped like a bar of soap uses ultrasonic technology to wash clothing. To use just fill a sink with water, clothing and detergent and place Dolfi inside. It vibrates providing a gentle way to clean clothing for 30 minutes. Dolfi plugs into the wall, so let’s hope the cord is properly insulated.

As the campaign states, this tool is great for travelers and for those who like to take good care of their unmentionables. Interested backers can have their own for a donation of $89 with delivery in August 2015. Dolfi is hoping to raise $100,000 with the help of Indiegogo.

Categories
Imaging

Sidekick GoPro light attaches to camera, sheds some light on cool activities

Everyone knows that the best way to get adventure shot is with a GoPro. GoPros come in many shapes and sizes with different attachments making it possible to videotape or photograph any cool activity. Going bungee jumping? Attach that camera to your helmet. Rock climbing? Have it sitting on your shoulder for a cool view.

Any photographer knows that a photograph or video is only as good as its light. That’s why Sidekick was invented. This product is a companion light for the GoPro and provides a powerful 600 lumen flood beam to get a great shot. It mounts right next to the camera and is compatible with all current GoPro mounts. Sidekick has a rechargeable lithium battery with a run time of up to four hours and is waterproof down to 60 meters under water.

Backerjack has seen many products that have piggybacked off of the GoPro series’ success. Sidekick is one such product, but is quite useful and well-designed. It’s light weight and ease of use differentiate it from similar products, like the Triclops, and make it just the thing for any extreme backer. This product is looking to raise $50,000 on Kickstarter. One will cost backers $80 for delivery in March 2015.

Categories
Fashion

Hook Me Up provides scratching relief for those with weaves

Many women weren’t born with the luscious locks of, say, a Farah Fawcett type. As such, there are many options for taming that do’ including braiding, chemical straightening, wigs and the ever-popular weave. A weave, for those who don’t know, is when the original hair is tightly braided and pieces of fake hair are woven through these braids to create a longer, straighter look. Weaves look great, but can be itchy, somewhat painful, and hard to remove without professional help.

The Hook Me Up is a tool for those women who sport a weave. On one end is a small hook, slightly resembling a crochet hook. With this end, women can undo their weave on their own and remove the thread holding everything together. It also features a razor inside of the hook that can cut through thread if need be. Removing the hook unveils a small straight metal rod. This can be used to scratch underneath the weave without damaging the quality of the hairstyle.

The other side of this little tool is a two-pronged fork. This is for the knot starting each weaved row, which, according to the campaign, is the tightest and most difficult knot to undo. By wiggling the fork in there, it becomes much easier to undo the knot.

For the scores of women with weaves, this little tool is just the thing. It’s small and completely portable. Not to mention that it provides relief for the common itching problem that goes along with weaves. One can be had by backers for a donation of $150 for estimated delivery in July 2015. Hook Me Up is hoping to raise $13,500 on Kickstarter by mid-February.

Categories
Apparel Health and Wellness

Cold Shoulder vest burns calories with cold exposure, gives fat the heave-ho

As those winter pounds have stuck themselves to many waistlines, everyone wishes they could lose some weight. Ideally, that weight could be lost by sitting around and watching TV.

The Cold Shoulder promises to do just that. This vest uses NASA cold exposure techniques in order to burn calories. While it looks like any normal vest, it lives in the freezer, not the closet. To use, put it on when in a room where the temperature is comfortable. It’s only meant to be used in times of rest, not while exercising. However, if it’s hot or if one is exercising, the vest won’t burn calories, but will serve to cool the wearer down.

The basic premise behind cold exposure is that the body produces heat in order to stay warm and the only way to produce heat is by burning calories. In the Kickstarter campaign, the creators compare the effects of their vest to swimmers. Swimmers burn more calories than other athletes because they are in the water and, therefore, have lower body temperatures while they work out. Their bodies burn extra calories to keep them warm and comfortable.

Cold Shoulder is an interesting concept and one that does seem to be backed by actual science. Its claim that it burns one pound of fat per week seems a little far-fetched, but, who knows, it may actually work. The vest isn’t the most attractive thing around, especially for women. However, the campaign acknowledges that and aims to produce vests that flatter the female figure as a stretch goal. One will cost backers a donation of $100 for an estimated delivery month of April 2015. Cold Shoulder is looking to raise $13,500 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Sports

Revolution Hybrid Magnetic Golf Tee improves drives, gives way under pressure

Golf tees are an essential part of getting the best drive. However, their simplistic design hasn’t been update in quite a while.

The Revolution Hybrid Magnetic Golf Tee puts a new spin on the traditional golf tee. This product consists of a base that sticks into the ground and a magnetic tee that holds the ball. Since the base is always stuck into the ground the same way, the tee remains at the same height, making it easier to hone those driving skills. In addition, the tee gives way when the ball is hit, cutting down on resistance so that the ball goes farther.

As with many sports devices, the real question is always: does it actually work? The argument that the ball will go farther is a little doubtful, but the consistent tee height should be enticing to golf enthusiasts. Backers can have their very own on Kickstarter for a donation of $13 with estimated delivery in April 2015. The Revolution Hybrid Magnetic Golf Tee (whew!) hopes to raise $10,000 in its campaign.

Categories
Toys

Playpress toys help kids build things, gender neutrality makes it fun for all

Kids love using their imaginations to build fun worlds in which they can play. That’s why building toys are so popular with children. These toys give kids the chance to make their own rules and discover new ways to have fun.

Playpress is one such building kit. This kit features flat pieces that fit together to making buildings and cars. Each set comes with different people too for children to play with. Playpress boasts that it’s gender neutral so it’s fun for all kids to play with. These toys are made from 100% recyclable cardboard.

This product is one of those toys great for younger kids. The materials aren’t harmful and the kits make it easy to build specific things. Those who enjoy Playpress may also want to check out WoodyMac. One Playpress building kit will cost backers a £13 (~$20) donation with estimated delivery in February 2015. This building toy is hoping to raise £7,500 (~$11,300) on Kickstarter.

Categories
Automotive

Easy Breeze car cooler keeps parked cars the coolest during summertime

Getting into the car on a hot sunny day can be torture. The air of the car’s interior is impossibly hot and the leather seats and seatbelt buckles can burn. Some opt to crack a window, but that doesn’t always do the trick for ventilating the car while it’s parked.

Easy Breeze is a way to keep the parked car cool. This ventilation system runs on a battery that can be charged through a USB cord. Each charge lasts for about a week. Included in the system is a vent, a powerful LED light and weatherstripping for the doors. Easy Breeze is designed to pull the hottest air from the roof out through a crack in the window to cool things down. The product itself looks a little bit like a black mailbox. For extra convenience, the battery pack can also charge any smartphone with a USB cable.

Easy Breeze is a cool product for a number of reasons. First of all, it cuts down on A/C usage when back in the car saving on gas and helping out the environment. Second of all, there have been a number of recent products, like the Babeep, that combat leaving children behind in hot cars. While it’s never advisable to leave a child alone in a car, Easy Breeze is a product that can fend off the heat if this mistake is made, keeping the child safe.

With its ease of charging and convenient uses, Easy Breeze is surely a product most will want come summertime. One will cost backers $38 at an early bird price for estimated delivery in June 2015. Easy Breeze is hoping to raise $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Home

Sun Petal shading system keeps the sun out of the house, lowers A/C bills

In the summertime, the only way to stay cool is with the A/C. However, energy costs run high and, sometimes, the A/C has be switched off in order to save money. Some rooms just can’t keep cool without central air because they get too much sunlight.

Sun Petal is a modular shading system that aims to combat this. This shading system can be mounted over a number of different-sized windows. Its lattice design keeps direct sunlight out of the house. This way, those rooms that get sun all day will remain cool. The shade itself is white and attaches to the side of the house. It’s designed to withstand high winds. In addition, Sun Petal can be left up all year round because its design allows rain and snow to pass through.

The campaign claims that installation is easy. However, it doesn’t really go into detail about what’s involved in that process. The campaign also shows photos of Sun Petal at work, but each features a house with traditional siding. Is Sun Petal compatible with stucco or brick houses? A question the campaign may like to address.

Despite the confusion about installation, this product is certainly a neat one. Many awnings that exist now really can’t be used during inclement weather. While Sun Petal can’t be retracted, a definite drawback, it still has many uses as there’s always one room in the house that simply gets too much sun. For their very own, backers must donate $199 for an estimated delivery month of July 2015. Sun Petal is hoping to raise a ridiculous $750,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Fashion

Smooth and Shape tames heinous manes with no heat necessary

Any curly girl knows that straight hair is more or less a fantasy without the help of a professional stylist. Hair straighteners and hot rollers can help tame the frizz, but many warn that the use of too much heat can damage the hair or even cause it to fall out.

Smooth and Shape is a new way to straighten hair using little to no heat. The system consists of boards and clips, both made of plastic. To use, section out wet hair and smooth hair over the board. Take one clip and attach at the top by the root of the hair and the second clip attaches to the bottom of the board. This way, it’s possible to adjust the tension. Then, it looks like the hair can either dry naturally or be helped along by a blow dryer.

The campaign features a video comparing the results of braiding the hair to using the Smooth and Shape. The creator, an African American woman, shows both results and demonstrates how her product produces more consistent results for an afro-type style that won’t shrink over time.

The videos showing the Smooth and Shape at work don’t really do much to convince that the product straightens hair very effectively. As its name would suggets, it seems to more smooth rather than full on straighten hair and does so a bit awkwardly. Still, this product isn’t a bad one for those with unruly manes. Backers can donate $30 for a starter kid of five boards and 10 clips with estimated delivery in May 2015. Smooth and Shape is hoping to raise $45,000 on Kickstarter.