Holden and Elfin show MS8 CLUBMAN AND MS8 STREAMLINER
From Automotive
March 12, 2004 Holden showed two retro-cool V8 racer roadsters at the Melbourne Motor Show. Created in collaboration with the Elfin sports car marque, the low-slung racers are an open wheeler track machine and a smooth-bodied Le Mans style roadster respectively, and will be called the Clubman and the Streamliner. They are hand-built specials which are thoroughly modern interpretations of an earlier motorsport era. Read More
Bill Gates Outlines Technology Vision to Help Stop Spam
From Personal Computing
Microsoft Outlines Policy and Technical Proposals Aimed at Helping Contain The Spam Problem, Including the Development of Caller ID for E-Mail Read More
Australian Student wins International Award
From Inventors and Remarkable People
Australian Saul Griffith, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology doctoral candidate, has won the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for inventing a machine which quickly tests vision and a desktop machine which manufactures low-cost eyeglass lenses. These machines could dramatically improve life for billions of people in developing countries who cannot access, nor afford, prescription glasses.” Merton Flemings, director of the Lemelson-MIT Program, which sponsors the annual award for inventiveness, cited Griffith’s innovative device eyeglass manufacturing and his work creating comic strips that inspire children to learn about science and engineering as important reasons he was chosen this year. Read More
Artemis - the robot guard
From Robotics
Japanese robotics company Tmsuk has announced its latest creation, the T63 Artemis Guard Robot. Artemis will autonomously patrol a multi-story building and report back wirelessly to security HQ if it finds anything amiss. Though not yet capable of apprehending any intruders, it is armed with several non-lethal offensive weapons such as a fluorescent paintball gun and the capability to spray a cloud of mist to temporarily blind the intruder. Read More
AWOL - inhaling alcohol
From Health and Wellbeing
A new way of consuming alcohol that offers an immediate hit with no hangover the next day has been introduced in the United Kingdom.The new method is known as AWOL, an acronym for 'Alcohol With Out Liquid', and could become a hit in the global club scene due to the euphoric 'high' created when alcohol is vaporised, mixed with oxygen and inhaled. Billed at launch as the 'ultimate party toy', AWOL machines serve bar customers via tubes and could be seen as a modern version of the 'Nargile' or 'Hookah' water-pipe which originated in India and became an important part of society in Turkey and Middle Eastern countries in the 17th century, eventually becoming the height of fashion at sheik Western society parties during the late 19th and early 20th century. Read More
$195 plug-and-play Snazio turns computer into a video recorder
From Around The Home
The Snazio Pocket PVR is a miniature personal video recorder that plugs into a Windows PC and enables you to watch TV (or any other external video source), record TV programs to your hard disk in DVD quality or capture video from your video camera or VCR onto your hard disk, ready for playback and editing. All that for under $200. Read More
Razor's Electrifying Xlr8r
From Childsplay
Razor became an international name four years ago when it had a smash hit with the Razor electric scooter, took the prize home in 2000 for the wildly popular Razor scooter which also took out the Toy Industry Association's Outdoor Toy of the Year award.
Razor's evolving line of ride-on toys has been selling exceptionally well ever since, and this year it has revamped the range with two new electric-powered toys certain to go on 2004 Christmas wish-lists - the Ground Force electric go-kart, and the Pocket Rocket electric pocket bike. Read More
Kitchen in a carton
From Military
December 20, 2003 Getting three square meals a day has a whole new meaning for American troops thanks to an innovative new package which provides everything necessary to feed up to 18 troops hot food in one small package. The Remote Unit Self Heating Meal (RUSHM), also referred to as "Kitchen in a Carton," takes the hassle out of serving hot food to warfighters in far away places.Developed by the Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate at the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Centre in Natick, Mass., the latest prototype of the remote meal reduces the carton's volume compared to previous prototypes by 20 percent by reconfiguring the package, trading larger dining trays for smaller ones, and swapping paper cups and beverage mixes for new resealable drink pouches. Read More
Bombardier envisions the recreational watercraft of 2025
From On the Water
When the design team at Bombardier Recreational Products was asked to visualise the sailboat of the year 2025, it clearly had plenty of sources for ideas. The idea-driven company specialises in designing and manufacturing recreational products of almost every conceivable ilk - snowmobiles, jet skis, speedboats, inboard and outboard marine motors, go-karts, motorcycle and aircraft engines, high tech clothing, helmets, all terrain vehicles ad infinitum. Read More
FlipStart - World's Smallest, Always-Connected Windows PC
From Personal Computing
Paul Allen's Vulcan has announced the FlipStart - a miniscule fully functioning Windows XP PC with wireless connectivity to provide users with continuous access to software, email, and the Web while on the go. Read More
The Chillow - a Non-Electric, Self-Cooling Cushion
From Health and Wellbeing
The Chillow Comfort Device is a new non-electric, self-cooling cushion that's designed to provide any pillow with a perpetual "cool spot". In addition to being a sleeping aid, the Chillow is also claimed to offer a variety of health and comfort benefits. Read More
Microwave modem enables cost-effective rural communications
From Good Thinking
World-leading wireless microwave modem technology developed by South Australian company Inspiration Technology has paved the way for cost-effective telecommunications in remote and rural communities all over the world Read More
Rinspeed Splash - amphibious sportscar unveiled
From Automotive
The Rinspeed Splash Amphibious Hydrofoil Sportscar previewed by Gizmo in December 2003 was unveiled to the world at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show - the Splash is capable of 80 kmh (approx. 45 knots) on the water and 200 kmh on land. The design is yet another concept from Swiss creative studio Rinspeed, whose concept designs have graced the pages of Gizmo several times in our short history. In 2002 it was the Presto, a collapsible car which turned from a four seat convertible to a two-seater at the press of a button. Then, last August Rinspeed showed the Bedouin, an off-road vehicle capable of extending and retracting just like the Presto. In early January this year we showed the CAD drawings of the Splash and now the car has been unveiled, the tenth Rinspeed concept car and the most outrageous to date. Read More
Mathematical model accurately predicts which couples will divorce
From Health and Wellbeing
There are no general laws of human relationships as there are for physics, but a leading marital researcher and group of applied mathematicians have teamed up to create a mathematical model that predicts which couples will divorce with astonishing accuracy. The model holds promise of giving therapists new tools for helping couples overcome patterns of interaction that can send them rushing down the road toward divorce. Read More
Renault Wind Concept Car
From Automotive
The Renault Wind concept car is a 2+1 roadster with streamlined design and lively performance which will be shown at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. Read More
OddPost - the next big thing in email?
From Good Thinking
Dave Weinstein discovers a new web-based email service which offers seriously useful functionality compared to Hotmail. Oddpost looks and works like an e-mail "client" but is downloaded into any browser. It also offers great spam filtering, large 10MB attachments, news and blog aggregation and much more. Read More
MINI Cabrio Unveiled
From Automotive
The MINI, one of the great success stories of modern automotive design, is to be released as a convertible. The newly designed MINI Cabrio features some ingenious design in the roof and sunroof and the way the vehicle cleverly uses space. Another stunner! Read More
New supercar on show at Melbourne Motor Show
From Automotive
February 21, 2004 The Pagani Zonda is one of the world's most exclusive automobiles and arguably the fastest production car available in the world at this point in time. Later this month Pagani will enter the Australian market when the AUD$1.2 million machine goes on display at the Melbourne Motor Show. Ever wondered just how good a $1.2 million car can be? Read on ... Read More
Mazda Space Wagon
From Automotive
Mazda Motor Corporation heads into the 74th Geneva International Motor Show with the world debut of its newest concept vehicle, the MX-Flexa. The six-seat concept demonstrates one possible direction Mazda could take in creating a future space wagon. Read More
Polar Weight Management Watch
From Sports
If the human body can be regarded as a machine, the motor would be the heart. Given the mission-critical nature of the human body, and the expense and inconvenience of down-time, the latest offering from Polar Electro is worth a look - it's a weight and health management system based around a wrist receiver, a transmitter belt and ongoing access to an interactive website.The only solution for permanently successful weight management is to take in less energy than you expend and Polar Electro's new personalised guidance system looks to be the most logical development in an industry renowned for reducing intake but doing little about output. Read More
