100 dollar laptop a little closer to reality.
The smart $ 100 laptop seems to have come another step closer to becoming a reality. MIT Chairman Nicholas Negroponte presented a sitrep with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the UN Internet Summit in Tunis, Tunisia, recently. The plan is to have the laptops ready by late 2006. The final configuration, shown for the first time, includes among other things a low-energy display for both color and b/w, supposed to run for 40 minutes after one minute of turning the charging crank. The machine is also to sport a 500MHz processor, 1GB of memory and will probably be run under Linux. The color of the case will be lime green, yellow and black. For playfulness, Negroponte said, but we do reserve the right to differ. It seems to us that a computer looking a little less like a "My First Sony" toy would command a little more respect. All obstacles have not been cleared, though. Among the remaining are negotiations with the countries that are supposed to buy the OLPC laptops to give them away for free to their schoolchildren. Thailand and Brazil are said to be among the most interested, but many yet remain. Getting manufacturers and component vendors to keep their prices down is another point yet to be resolved, it seems. The goal of $ 100 per laptop is in jeopardy. The more likely price tag will be somewhere around $ 110 - 115:-. A third concern is how to avoid the forming of a second hand market for these laptops, since the temptation for families to earn maybe ten percent of their yearly income by selling the laptop, may prove to be too great for many in developing countries. One possible solution is to make the computer disable itself, unless it is logged in on the net regularly. Read more on the project at their own site via the link. $ 100 laptop via C|net and Prylfeber.
17 November 2005
James, the party plate.
For all who remember the little plastic clip you were supposed to attach to your plate, and then hang your glass from, here is an alternative. Here is James, the party plate. Instead of the old clip, the James plate has an indentation that fits most (we suppose) stemmed wine- and champagne glasses. The glass has to have a stem, or it will of course not work. But don't you you think it is pretty clever? From German design firm Sternform, with designers Andrea Großfuss and Olaf Kießling.
17 November 2005
Popular Science lists best inventions of 2005.
It is beginning to get to the time of year when the annual summaries pop up. First to bat (we think) is Popular Science, who lists smart innovations in different categories. Browsing the list we discover that we have managed to post news on no less than five of these during 2005. We think that is not half bad considering this is our first year:
• Michelin Tweel. The truly flat-free tire. More...
• Charge2Go. Charge your cell with standard batteries. More...
• 360° Electric. The power outlet that spins. More...
• Nemo Equipment Sako. The inflatable tent. More...
• Shift Bicycle. Training bike sans the training wheels. More...
16 November 2005
Pocket size tool kit.
Our steady readers know that we love these things. We just have a hard time resisting them. This is the Palm Pal, a smart tool that integrates fourteen (unless we are mistaken) different wrenches in one handy pocket sized package. It weighs just 16 oz. (some 450 grams) and measures 3,25" (about 8 cm's) but it can help you handle nuts and bolts in dimensions from 3/8” to 3/4” and 8 to 19 mm). The inches on one side and the mm's on the other. Will set you back USD 14:95 at Herrington. Via Book of Joe.
16 November 2005
Scotch-Brite from recycled soda bottles.
3M, the makers of the Scotch-Brite brand cleaning pads, at least in Holland has a pad made from PET soft drink bottles. We have not seen this particular pad in this country, or rather, we have not been looking for it. Anyway, the pad is made of recycled plastic and filled with biodegradable soap for easier cleaning. If this means that this pad is less scratchy than the others, it sounds just brilliant. We are going to look for one to-morrow. From the University of Delft, and their exhibition on recycling, Re-f-use.
15 November 2005
Tooth brush that can't be made into a weapon.
In the US there is apparently a problem with inmates killing each other with various home made weapons, among which the sharpened toothbrush seems to be a popular choice. We thought this only happened in movies (preferably ones featuring Danny Trejo). Anyway, in an effort to reduce the tooth brush related deaths, Securitas, Inc. of Richmond, Virginia, has developed this special toothbrush. They call it the No-Shank Toothbrush, and it is made from one piece of translucent open ended plastic, to make it impossible to hide contraband inside it. It is claimed to last as long as ordinary tooth brushes, and possibly it will also contribute to letting some inmates last longer. We found it at the University of Deft (Holland) and their new Re-f-use exhibition and web site on eco friendly products. Via Treehugger.
15 November 2005
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