NEWS : TECH (NFPC)

Hack Yourself A Super Secret LCD Monitor

Say you have some paint thinner, a pair of sunglasses, a box cutter and and old LCD computer monitor. Quick, what do you do? I'll tell you what. You go all MacGyver and make a super secret privacy monitor that makes your secret agent computer sleuthing invisible to the naked eye.

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That's right, no need to take your obsolete monitors to the Salvation Army just yet. An Instructables' user recently showed how to hack an old LCD to make screen content only visible to those wearing special glasses. Those without the glasses see nothing but a white screen. Here's how you do it:

DNEWS VIDEO: COOL JOBS: HACKER

The monitor is made of two layers of film -- polarized and anti-glare. Take you box cutter blade and cut along the edges of the monitor to remove the films. Peel off the frosted anti-glare coating because it's not needed. Same goes for the polarized film, but save a piece because it's the secret ingredient to making this hack possible.

Next, get your paint thinner, or any other solvent, to soften the adhesive that remains on the glass. You may need to experiment with solvents and methods, however the user who came up with this idea, dimovi,  suggests putting paper towels on the screen, soaking them in paint thinner and letting them sit. After you're done scraping the glue off with plastic or wood, reassemble the monitor.

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Now take your sunglasses -- or any other frames for that matter -- and pop out the lenses. Then take the scrap of polarized film and craft yourself some new lenses. Voila!

The polarized film is normally used to to filter backlight from what's visible onscreen. Without it, the monitor appears to be a blank, white screen. But put on your new shades and all of your secret agent computer work is revealed.

 [Via GizMag]

 Credit: Instructables user, dimovi

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Urinal Lets You Pee 'N Play

 

What’s the best way to avoid weird eye contact and unintentional glancing while standing at a urinal? Play a hands-free video game. (After all, hands are otherwise occupied.) Captive Media’s hands-free video game was first shown off at the Exhibit Bar in South London. It’s a 12-inch LCD screen with integrated sensors mounted on top of a urinal. When not in use, the screens display ads until someone walks up and unzips. Once he does, the urinal switches to game mode. Users by steering and adjusting their flow.

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When they're “relieved,” the screen displays a score and compares it to other players. Captive Media has even set up an online score center where codes from gameplay can be entered and guys can brag about their scores on Facebook and Twitter. Check out the video below to see some enthusiastic British guys (and girls) talk about the game and get a virtual peek into how it works. Speaking of girls, don’t worry ladies, Creative Media is designing a game for us, too. However it’s more geared towards getting through the long lines before you get to the stall. The company has had massive interest from over the world, including in the United States, in various venues like airports, stadiums and of course, bars. The company plans to announce where the urinals will be sold in 2012.

Via: TechWatch

Credit: Creative Media

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Bendy Bot Limbos To The Rescue

If robot limbo contests ever become popular, my money's riding on the team of Harvard scientists that just built a robot flexible enough to do the caterpillar dance under a door.

Led by chemist George M. Whitesides, the team's Gumby-like robot is the latest prototype in the emerging field of soft-bodied robots. In recent years, scientists have drawn inspiration from animals without hard skeletons, like squids and starfish, to develop bendable bots that can contort into hard-to-reach spaces, making them ideal to navigate post-disaster or battlefield terrain.

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"The unique ability for soft robots to deform allows them to go places that traditional rigid-body robots cannot," Matthew Walter, a roboticist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said in an email to Yahoo News.

The new robot is 5 inches long and took two months to build. Its four legs can be controlled separately by pumping air into the limbs, either manually or with a computer, allowing the robot to crawl and slither.

DNEWS VIDEO: MIND-CONTROLLED ROBOTS, CYBORGS AND ROBOTIC CARS

The Harvard team showed the robot's flexibility by having it wriggle underneath a pane of glass that was three-quarters of an inch off the surface, equivalent to it squirming under a closed door. Of the 15 times the robot wormed under the glass pane, often it took less than a minute to do so.

Researchers were pleased that the robot did not break since it was constantly being inflated and deflated. However, researchers would like to improve the robot's speed.

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One drawback is the robot is tethered to an external power source. Scientists would likely need to find an internal power source before it could be deployed in real-life situations.

The project was funded by the Pentagon's research department, and was recently detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 [Via YahooNews]

Credit: Robert Shepard

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Device Cuts Time in Braces By Five Months

AcceleDent: price varies by orthodontist

Having been a brace-face myself a dozen or so years ago, I know that the wait for perfectly straight teeth can be painful. (The disappointment in waiting is only trumped by the realization that the whole thing about wearing your retainer to keep them straight is no joke.) So reading about the AcceleDent system, a device recently approved by the FDA to speed up tooth movement, made me nostalgic and ridiculously jealous for the new generation of braces wearers.

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The system, developed by OrthoAccel Technologies, vibrates teeth and braces for 20 minutes a day. Clinical trials have shown that the device accelerates tooth movement by 106 percent during the beginning phases of use, then 38 to 50 later on. All in all, the device could cut time in braces by five months. So far, no adverse effects have been reported. No official word on whether insurance will cover the use of this device, but OrthoAccel plans to ship it to orthodontist by January 2012, price will vary depending on the dentist. 

Via: CNET

Credit: OrthoAccel Technology

 

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Gift Guide for the Do-It-Yourselfer: 2011

Not everyone wants to buy pre-packaged and assembled products. Some of us want to destroy what we have and rebuild it from scratch. These masters of their castle might not know plumb and level if it falls on their head, but when something breaks, they grab tools and fix it. If you need to buy a gift for one of these hard-handed heroes Discovery's Holiday Gift Guide 2011: for the DIYer contains the perfect gift ideas to keep them from breaking up your favorite bench to shim their new window frame.

No do-it-yourselfer can be without the most essential piece of equipment hanging from their ladder: a cordless drill driver. If you're looking to pursuade your DIYer to build a new bathroom vanity, or just hang up the bikes in the garage: the a Black & Decker 20V MAX Lithium Drill/Driver is a superb bargaining chip. Cordless means freedom to build without having an outlet nearby, and the lithium battery will  hold a charge for 18 months.

Plus, this premium drill sports a keyless chuck for fast bit changes, and an 11 position clutch will help them drive screws perfectly every time. If that weren't enough, this Black & Decker beauty has an LED work light so your drillmaster can see what they're doing, even under the sink. With this tool there will be no excuse for a lack of light, power or perfection.

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Attaching one thing to another is only half of the fun of a do-it-yourself project. Sometimes, he'll just have to tear stuff down. The aptly named Annihilator from the Dead On Store will help him do just what its namesake promises. Just because your builder wants to destruct rather than construct doesn't mean he can't use the proper tool.

The Annihilator is a multipurpose de-constructor referred to as the “ultimate wrecking bar.” It will quickly earn its place as a go-to tool for DIYers who want to quickly undo what some other person took great pains to build. You can put the Dead On Annihilator Ultimate Wrecking Bar in the palms of his calloused hands for only $57.

Once your favorite This Old House enthusiast has the best tools, you might want to pass her a copy of the New Complete Do It Yourself Manual. While a quick Google search might solve some questions, a book doesn't need a recharge or an internet connection, and has the best (professionally checked) answers.

Make sure you look her in the eye and tell her to read everything before she starts tearing into the floor. The Reader's Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual is only $23, and if your drywall developer needs a little extra help try 1001 Do-It-Yourself Hints and Tips too for only $14.

BUILD: Dorm Room DIY: iPhone Beer Cannon

With these three gifts your homecrafter will surely let out a powerful grunt like Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor; just make sure you keep an eye out for falling drywall. If you're still on the lookout for items to fill up a tool chest, check out the full Holiday Gift Guide 2011: For the DIYer for more ideas.

Image: Amazon, Amazon, Amazon, Ikon Images/Corbis

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Want more like this? See all our end of year stories for 2011. Gift guides, top 10 lists and some of the best of will be 2011 chosen by you!

iPhone Combusts Mid-flight

On Friday, a passenger aboard Australian flight Regional Express ZL319 got an unwelcomed landing gift when their iPhone 4 started spewing smoke and emitting a red glow while en route to Sydney.

According to the airline, this occurred while the plane was preparing for landing and it was extinguished by a flight attendant immediately and handed over to officials. There's no word yet on why it happened, but it had to have been a pretty big deal by the looks of the photo. 

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This isn't the first time iPhones have overheated or exploded. In 2009 instances of iPhones exploding in Europe happened so often that the European Union launched an investigation. There were also reports of iPod Touch overheating, exploding or shattering its screen in France.

You'd think something that could survive a fall from 1,000 feet out of an airplane going 150 mph could handle a two-hour flight from Lismore to Sydney. 

Via: BGR 

Credit: Regional Express 

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Poo-Powered Glowing Bacteria Light Up the House

The bioluminescence of fireflies and "Red Tide" are arguably two of nature's most beautiful phenomena, leaving us spellbound in a open field or on the shore with our mouths agape. But have you ever considered lighting your home with this kind of light?

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Dutch electronics company Phillips has. In fact, they've created Bio-light, a greener lighting system that's part of their Microbial Home (MH) system. It isn't powered by electricity or sunlight, but by glowing bioluminescent bacteria that thrive on waste generated in the average home.

The bioluminescent bacteria is housed in hand-blown glass cells, clustered together to form a lamp that could easily be displayed in a modern art museum. Each cell is connected to the lamp's reservoir base by thin silicon tubes that pipe methane gas from composted bathroom solids and vegetable scraps via a kitchen dodad that digests bio-waste.

As long as proper nutrients are supplied, the bio-light's living bacteria can be powered indefinitely. Although the light isn't bright enough to fully replace conventional lighting, it does make people conscious of household forms of wasted energy that could be tapped.

Clive van Heerden, Senior Director of Design-led Innovation at Philips Design, says drastic changes are required to reduce our environmental impact and designers must lead the way.

“Designers have an obligation to understand the urgency of the situation, and translate humanity’s needs into solutions," he said, according to Phillips Design's website. "Energy-saving light bulbs will only take us so far. We need to push ourselves to rethink domestic appliances entirely, to rethink how homes consume energy, and how entire communities can pool resources.”

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Phillips envisions their bio-light technology being used on warning strips on curbs and steps, signs in theaters or clubs, and even night-time road markings.

[Via GizMag]

Image Courtesy of Philips

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'Twine' Lets Everyday Objects Speak to Us

Twine: $99 pledge

Want your household appliances or everyday activities to be a little more chatty? Well, Twine can send out a tweet when your drier finishes its cycle or when your basement is in danger of being flooded. This 2.5-inch jelly-ish blue square has WiFi connectivity and can last for months on two AAA batteries.The device monitors vibrations and temperature with its internal thermometer and accelerometer, and can detect moisture.

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External sensors for monitoring other movements, like a magnetic switch, can be plugged in and controlled as well, sans programming. Its accompanying app, Spool, allows users to control the device by setting up rules for messaging. For example, you can type “WHEN moisture sensor gets wet THEN text “The basement is flooding!”  When it senses something within the rules, it can contact you via text, email, Twitter and even by a configurable HTTP request (if you’re cool like that). This is yet another invention on Kickstarter. As of today it has almost $115,000 pledged with 838 backers. A $99 pledge gets you Twine with built-in temperature and motion sensors and a gift card for another one. It also includes free shipping in the United States. 

Via: Engadget

Photo Credit: Supermechanical

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For the Spy on Your List: Gift Guide 2011

If you know someone who's trying to stop an evil genius or evade capture from a group of well-organized, poorly trained criminals, and you have NO idea what buy them for the holidays, look no farther. Discovery's 2011 Gift Guide for the Wannabe Secret Agent offers suggestions that will please even the best secret-agent-wannabe on your list.

All good spies know how to capture video or pictures of the enemy. Without evidence, how will they escape the frame up? Luckily, the gift guide includes several options to secretly acquiring images.

Consider the worlds smallest camera by Hammacher Schlemmer, which is the size of a marble, weighs only half an ounce and can take 2-megapixel photos and video at 30 frames-per-second. It has automatic focus and only one button for simple operation in the field. Hopefully, it doesn't get too dangerous, because the camera comes with a lifetime guarantee. It's priced at $99.95.

Even smaller is the digital video pen-camera from The Sharper Image while infiltrating the embassy. Record your target's next meeting and get it on YouTube before he releases the poison gas. Piece of mind for $99.99.

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If it's a document hoard your spy has uncovered, he will need The Sharper Image's portable scanning wand, too. Much less bulky than the average scanner/printer/fax machine at the office, the wand is only six inches long and, with a wave, can scan documents or photos, saving up to 16 GB worth of documentation. It's also $99.99.

Once the covert data is stored on a safe-house computer, your agent will want to keep the digital data from being compromised. The Eikon Solo Fingerprint Reader from AuthenTec goes beyond password protection, providing access to computer files only to the person whose fingerprint has been stored in its memory. Get it for $19.99.

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A good secret agent knows that while going under cover is essential, so is looking good. A bulletproof jacket by Miguel Caballero (alias: "Armani of bulletproof clothing") will keep your spy looking suave -- and free of holes. This bit of sexy protection is available as a vest, jacket, button-down and even a t-shirt.

Being prepared for that last-minute trip to Berlin is crucial for the aspiring cloak-and-dagger. What better place to store small pieces of equipment than in a ThinkGeek book vault? No one will ever expect that the dogeared copy of How To Win Friend's and Influence People contains valuables. Available from ThinkGeek for $34.99.

For the DIY MacGyver, the Discovery gift guide even includes Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction 2. If Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction wasn't enough, why not grab the sequel? With blowguns, periscopes, catapults and bugging equipment your agent never be without the right tool for the job. Perk: everything in these hallowed pages can be constructed with household items and office supplies. The guide is only $16.95.

PHOTOS: Spies Can Hide Secret Messages in Bacteria

Once a mission is complete, every secret agent needs to make a hasty getaway. Few getaways could be more hasty than one in a Corvette Speed Boat. Marine Technology Incorporated might sound like a front company, but they're legit. The speed boat was inspired by a Corvette and looks the part. For only $1.7 million, the ZR1 sports 2,700 horsepower and an 8,000-watt audio system complete with Wi-Fi and AppleTV. In case you're balking at the price, it comes with a trailer. You supply the water.

The only thing the gift guide doesn't provide is a good pun for the moment when your agent triumphs over his or her worthy adversary.

Image: ThinkGeek, AuthenTec, ThinkGeek, Pier57

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Want more like this? See all our end of year stories for 2011. Gift guides, top 10 lists and some of the best of will be 2011 chosen by you!

Nook Tablet: A World of Media in 7 Slick Inches

Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet: $249

At a press event in New York City last week, Discovery News caught a first-hand demo of Barnes & Noble's just-released Nook Tablet -- and we're impressed. Its sharp 7-inch multi-touch screen is laminated in a way that keeps out air and reduces reflection. All we saw were vibrant colors -- although we didn't stop to count all 16 million of them -- under some bright indoor lights that might've caused glare. But where the Nook Tablet really shines is in the breadth of popular and family-friendly media that it (dis)plays.

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The requisite conjoined triplets (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora) are stocked for your movie, TV and radio pleasure. In addition to those, Nook Tablet comes preloaded with Sudoku, Crosswords, Chess, Media Gallery, Nook Friends and Email. The rep we talked with told us they've already got 1,000 apps and plan to have 2,000 by Christmas. But he couched that, stating they're not interested in churning out oceans of apps, but rather offering a "curated experience." (If you're tech savvy and happen to want oceans, look into "rooting.")

Just think of the money you'll save on protective plastic keepsake wraps with all the digital comics they offer, including the largest collection of Marvel graphic novels. They also offer the largest collection of best-selling magazines and top newspapers, which automatically pop into the device right when they're released. But the interactive kids' books are what grabbed our attention. They not only feature fun little animations and interactive activities, but also voice recording with page-by-page editing. ("Tonight, do you want to hear mommy's calm, peaceful version or daddy's silly Christopher Walken version of Goodnight, Moon?")

Aside from the content, this 14-ouncer feels like a good size in the hands -- similar to another popular tablet recently released. Nook Tablet has a microSD slot and Wi-Fi. Other fun features include the ability to move and resize icons. And its battery will give you about 10 hours to soak in whichever of its myriad media formats you desire. (Plus or minus about an hour, depending if you're reading or enjoying high-def video.)

Credit: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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