Ambio Black

Ambio Black

Thursday, July 28, 2011

The World's Cheapest Lightbulb Is Made Of Just A Plastic Bottle

The World's Cheapest Lightbulb Is Made Of Just A Plastic Bottle: "

In places where there is no grid, houses can be dark. But a simple solution--a plastic bottle stuck in the roof--can light up a room.

bottle lightbulb

We have lightbulbs made from glowing metal filaments, fluorescent gas, and LED diodes. And now we have one made of water. There is also a virtually unlimited supply since the 'bulb' is composed of nothing more than one-liter plastic bottle, water, and bleach. The simple technology can be installed in less than an hour, lasts for five years, and is equivalent to a 60-watt bulb.

It works simply: The water defracts the light, letting it spread throughout the house instead of focusing on one point. The bleach keeps the water clear and microbe-free.

Developed by students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology focused on 'appropriate technologies,' the solar bottle bulb is illuminating poor settlements across the Philippines, where the organization Isang Litrong Liwanag ('A Liter of Light') has already installed 10,000 of them. “With the Solar Bottle Bulb project, a brighter Philippines is going to become a reality,” Illac Diaz, a social entrepreneur installing the bulbs, told a Filipino publication. You can watch a video of the bulbs in action here.

Millions of poor homes in Manila--and far more around the world--are left in the dark because metal roofs block all light and there are no connections to the electrical grid in cramped informal settlements. This simple bottle bulb, installed through a sealed hole cut in the metal roofs, provides a surprising amount of light by deflecting sunlight into gloomy interiors.

It's just one more innovation in the growing movement to design appropriate technologies for the developing world, where a little ingenuity goes further than a lot of technology.

Update: We've also learned that



"

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Shoe sole helps you retain balance

Shoe sole helps you retain balance: "

I have seen some folks wear energy pendants around their neck which is said to offer better balance – and during product demonstrations, it does seem to work wonders. Well, here is a slightly more scientific approach to helping people obtain better balance – through the SCRSA (Sponge Core Soft Rubber Actuator) that will see action with shoe soles, helping folks compensate their lack of balance (especially the elderly) by maintaining a flawless center of gravity all the time through the control of the stiffness of the shoe sole. Seems to be the perfect accessory for the elderly, but I am not too sure just whether this technology will be cheap enough to be made accessible to all and sundry. Perhaps if it is too expensive, those energy pendant peddlers won’t run out of business anytime soon.


Shoe sole helps you retain balance, By Ubergizmo. Top Stories : Xperia Play Review, Droid X2 Review,



"

ArmAssist uses video games used to heal stroke victims

ArmAssist uses video games used to heal stroke victims: "

Robot ArmWhile most of us play video games just so we can have fun, in the future some people might get to play video games to get better. Some researchers in Spain have developed a device that is said to help people with neuromuscular disabilities, such as stroke victims, regain function. It is called the ArmAssist, it is made up of a mobile-based device that is connected to the user through an orthotic that records and measures the movements of the shoulder and elbow.


These recorded signals are sent to the computer which are then translated into movements in a video game. As users play the game, they train to regain control of their arms and exercise their muscles at the same time. The ArmAssist is currently going through testing phases before it is made available to the public. No word of when that will be, but it’s great to see video games being used for more than just entertainment purposes.


[Press Release]


ArmAssist uses video games used to heal stroke victims, By Ubergizmo. Top Stories : Xperia Play Review, HTC Sensation Review,



"

Friday, July 15, 2011

Inflatable helmet pad makes your helmets safer

Inflatable helmet pad makes your helmets safer: "

Inflatable helmet pad


While helmets are required by law to be worn at all times when cycling or on a motorbike, the size and fitting of a helmet isn’t regulated by the government. And even though it is always safer to wear a helmet when riding, a badly fitted helmet can be just as dangerous as not wearing one at all. To counter this problem, some designers have come up with a concept called the inflatable helmet pad.


Used in conjunction with your regular helmet, the helmet pad basically an extra accessory that is fitted in between your head and the helmet. Once it is put on, riders can then inflate the helmet pad to make sure that the helmet becomes a snug fit. When a helmet is snug, it avoids movement or slipping of the helmet when riding and the inflated pad can also provide extra protection in the case of an accident. How’s that for simple and innovative? Now let’s see these on the market ASAP. Head over to Yanko Design to find out more about the inflatable helmet pad.


Inflatable helmet pad makes your helmets safer, By Ubergizmo. Top Stories : Xperia Play Review, HTC Sensation Review,



"

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Amniotik capsule concept lets you chillax

Amniotik capsule concept lets you chillax: "

Don’t you wish you had a hole to crawl to sometimes in life? Perhaps, as the everyday rigors of office work might end up being rather stressful for many people. Singles are better off in this aspect since they can have their personal time outs without having to meet with anyone, but those who are married or have a family will find this to be much harder to achieve. Perhaps when everyone is able to afford one of these conceptual Amniotik personal relaxation capsules, things might just change.


Coming in the form of an egg that might make one wonder whether he/she will be stepping back into the womb, Noela Leis’ concept will send you to a truly tranquil world, sporting an interactive touch screen inside that lets you choose the kind of “treatment” you would like to receive. Inside would be a gel seat, an oxygen mask and a supple feeding tube to boot. No idea if they have a version for “twins”?


Amniotik capsule concept lets you chillax, By Ubergizmo. Top Stories : Xperia Play Review, Samsung Infuse 4G Review,



"

Monday, July 11, 2011

Posture Pad tells you to sit correctly

Posture Pad tells you to sit correctly: "

Posture PadIf you’re always working in front of the computer all day, you should know how important it is to have a good posture when you’re seated. But how do you remind yourself to sit up properly all the time? Well, a group of high school kids who call themselves the Back Straight Boys seem to have a solution called The Posture Pad.


The Posture Pad is basically a device that makes use of embedded sensors and microcomputers in an ergonomically designed seat pad to gauge a computer user’s seating position and transmits the data to his/her computer to provide feedback about how they’re sitting. When a user isn’t seated correctly, the Posture Pad will vibrate or emit a tone to let the user know so they can make the necessary corrections to their posture.


Right now it’s still a prototype, however the Boys plan to hone and refine the device with the aid of a professor and occupational therapist in time for a presentation at the upcoming Human Factors and Ergonomics Society this year. It’s good to see our future generation putting their minds to good use. Who knows what they’ll come up with next?


Posture Pad tells you to sit correctly, By Ubergizmo. Top Stories : Xperia Play Review, HTC Sensation Review,



"

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: cancer experts say 'What, me worry?'

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: cancer experts say 'What, me worry?': "If you haven't already gotten whiplash from the ongoing cellphone-cancer debate, a freshly released scientific review might just do the trick. In the paper, published Friday, a panel of experts from Britain, Sweden and the US conducted a thorough survey of previous studies, before concluding that existing literature is 'increasingly against' the theory that cellphone use causes brain tumors in adults. The researchers also questioned the biological mechanisms underpinning this hypothesis, while acknowledging some lingering uncertainties, since data on childhood tumors and longer-term research are still lacking.



The results come just a few weeks after the World Health Organization released its own literature review, in which it claimed that cell phones should be considered 'potentially carcinogenic.' But Anthony Swerdlow, a professor at Britain's Institute of Cancer Research and leader of the most recent investigation, said his group's work doesn't necessarily contradict the WHO, since the latter was simply seeking to evaluate cancer risks according to its own 'pre-set classification system' -- under which things like pickled vegetables and coffee are also considered 'potentially carcinogenic.' Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that the debate will die down anytime soon, though Swerdlow expects more definitive conclusions within the next few years -- assuming, of course, that all of our brains haven't turned to oatmeal by then.

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: cancer experts say 'What, me worry?' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 06:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Textually  |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments"