Supermarket Scanner that Identifies Products by Look Instead of Barcodes

The days of barcodes attached to different products could be over in the near future. This is because Toshiba Tec has recently presented its latest invention called Object Recognition Scanner.

The device is able to instantly identify any type of grocery just by their appearance. The apparatus does not make use of a scanner. Instead the company has equipped it with a camera that sees only objects that are brought close to its lens, filtering out the unwanted background in its picture.

With the help of pattern recognition software, the device is able to identify different fruits and vegetables, as well as packaged products and coupons. Everything is performed rather quickly. The products are scanned even if they're held in front of the camera for a very short period of time. Besides, it is unnecessary to hold the product still so it could be properly scanned.

However, probably the only thing that supermarket staff will have to work on is pre-installing a huge database of produce and some other products. Due to the fact that the look of fresh produce changes according to the season, the staff will be able to spend a full year creating the database. Currently Toshiba is improving its technology so it could read the products quicker and at various distances.

PAL-V One [Personal Air and Land Vehicle] - Flying Hybrid Vehicle

PAL-V One - a hybrid vehicle that is also a gyroplane. The name of the two-seater car stands for "Personal Air and Land Vehicle" and it allows the driver to travel by road or air. Developed by the Dutch company, PAL-V, The car is very maneuverable and quick thanks to its three wheels and a special patented "tilting" system.

In case the driver wants the car to take off, they should visit the nearest airport first and then, with the help of a single motor and propeller that opens out from the top of the vehicle, leave the ground. The transformation of the car into a gyroplane takes about 10 minutes. All that the driver has to do is just push a special button.

"Personal Air and Land Vehicle" is allowed to reach an altitude below 4,000 feet, according to uncontrolled Visual Flight Rules (VFR) traffic.

Due to the fact that the car boasts a short take off and landing capability, you can land it almost anywhere. The maximum speed that PAL-V One can reach is 112mph. While on the road, the hybrid vehicle can travel 750 miles using its gasoline engine. In the air the car can has a range of up to 315 miles.

Although currently it is powered by gasoline, the developers look forward to making versions that run on biodiesel or bio-ethanol.

An Outdoor Gym Where Your Workout Creates Power

Great Outdoor Gym Company decided to open a special outdoor gym in England. The most interesting about this gym is that it allows people to actually generate electricity while working out. Visitors can spin hand bikes, recumbent bikes, and fitness bikes, and thus produce enough energy to light the installation at night.

In addition, the gym makes it possible for people to recharge their phones and music players. The unused energy is sent to the grid. Besides, the installation can help educate children about renewable energy. Despite the fact that today there are plenty of indoor gyms that produce energy, Georgie Delaney, creative director of the firm that built the gym in a park in Hull, says that their gym is the first for the outdoors. In the upcoming months Great Outdoor Gym Company looks forward to installing more outdoor gyms, and it welcomes users to suggest their ideas.

Tata Motors to Debut Cars Powered by Air !

India-based Tata Motors has said that it has tested two cars that can run on compressed air, and that the next step is setting up the manufacturing plants to actually build them. In 2007, Tata Motors signed a licensing deal with Motor Development International, a French design firm.

Compressed air engines aren't a new idea. The first models were proposed more than a century ago, and they were used in the mining industry for decades before electric motors became commonplace. Even now, compressed air powers all kinds of tools, notably the pneumatic impact wrenches in auto body shops. A compressed air car engine works in a way similar to the internal combustion version - Fuel forces pistons to turn a crankshaft and power the car. The difference is that in a compressed air engine, the pistons are moved by air and not gasoline. Researchers in Sweden have experimented with single-cylinder engines of this type.

The only problem is power. Air compression alone only gets a car moving to about 30 to 35 miles per hour. So to supplement that, the car could take in more air as it moves faster, using an onboard air compressor. The air compressor could be electric or, more likely, gasoline-powered. But even that would reduce emissions a lot, since the gasoline engine wouldn't be running at lower speeds.

Range is also an issue. Like all vehicles, an air-powered car can drive only as far as the amount of fuel in its tank. And storing compressed air requires "fuel" tanks that are stronger than steel to contain the thousands of pounds per square inch necessary. On the bright side, compressing air in such a tank is a lot less dangerous than natural gas or hydrogen. Then there is the issue of filling the car's tank, most air compressors would take at least a couple of hours to do that.

Tata seems to be the only manufacturer that has committed to actually building an air-powered car. Honda unveiled an air-powered concept car in 2010, and a company called Zero Pollution Motors had promised to deliver one to the United States, but that was two years ago. If Tata is successful, it will go a long way toward reducing emissions in India-and perhaps freeing cars from fossil fuels completely.

Sony SmartWatch lets you read your emails and notifications on your wrist

Sony SmartWatch works with Android smartphones, and it allows you to receive text messages and notifications from your phone on your wristwatch. In addition, you’ll be able to somewhat control your Android smartphone via Sony SmartWatch, and you’ll get 60 apps for it that include Facebook, Twitter and Google Maps apps. In order to pair Sony SmartWatch with your Android smartphone, you’ll need a free app for it that you can get from Google Play store. Sony Android smartphones are expected to have this app preinstalled, so there’s no need to download it.

Sony SmartWatch will be perfect for you, if you want to read your emails and notifications without reaching for your Android smartphone. As for the price, this smart wristwatch is priced at $150. A variety of straps will also be available for the SmartWatch in different colors, with each strap retailing for $20.

New Case Turns iPad into a Mini MacBook Pro

A Japanese company named Macotakara.jp has created a case for your iPad that turns it into a MacBook Pro. The case pictured above with the attached iPad is reported to have a built-in Lithium Polymer battery that allows you to charge your iPad while it is in use. It also features a USB port, a mini USB port and Bluetooth for the keyboard to connect to your iPad.

The case is available for purchase via Japanese retailer Rakuten for 5,980 yen (about $75) so there is a chance that this interesting case lands in Rakuten’s US based Buy.com soon. The case can also be found on Amazon.co.jp and is said to be only compatible for the iPad 2.

Go Green ! Now you can breathe and recharge your iPhone !

Preserving energy and environment is rather important nowadays, and if you want to go green and recharge your iPhone without using the electricity.

AIRE Mask is a concept that comes from Joao Paulo Lammoglia, and it seems that AIRE Mask is capable of recharging your iPhone with your breath. The device itself has tiny wind turbines that turn your breath into electricity, and all that you have to do is to put the AIRE Mask over your face and connect it to your iPhone. You can use this mask at all times, when you’re performing your everyday activities or even when you’re sleeping. However this is only in the concept stage at the moment.