NEWS : TECH (NFPC)

Star Wars Icons Made into Origami: DNews Nugget

Star Wars Icons Folded into Origami: Software engineer Martin Hunt, who lives in London, has found a way to fold Star Wars ships, droids and other characters into origami. He started when he was studying math at Southampton University. He has created 20 designs already, which you can see on his website, Starwarigami, and has planned a list of 83 more designs which will be coming from a galaxy far far away.

In October, Hunt showed some of his paper versions at the London MCM Expo and Comic Con, and currently he's seeking a publisher for a book. via Wired

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Credit: Martin Hunt

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Solar Panels Light Up the NFL

 

The next time you sit down to watch a NY Jets home game, take a minute during those overhead shots to look at the MetLife Stadium's ring of colorful lights. Those are solar panels, part of a renewable energy push from the NFL to make stadiums more energy efficient.

The 1,350 panels change colors from green to blue, depending on who is playing. The panels aren't just for looks, though. They generate 350,000 kilowatt hours of power, about 10 percent of what the stadium needs on a typical game day, and 25 times the electricity needed to power the LED lights that illuminate the stadium.

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According to National Geographic, the power sector-focused company NRG Energy is responsible for this effort and many other renewable energy projects in sports. This includes a solar canopy still under construction at the New England Patriots' sports complex called Patriot Place and the 8,000-panel project in the parking area of the Redskins' FedEx Field in Maryland.

David Crane, CEO of NRG Energy, told National Geographic that projects like these are a good way to bring attention to sustainable efforts and building fan's team pride. He said that he understood fans weren't going to football games to look at rooves, but that when they do see the panels “fans will look at them and say, ‘my team is doing the right thing.’ It’s really about raising awareness with the fan base.”

via National Geographic

Credit: NRG

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Life-Like Sculptures Made Of Paper

Being that they look like severed heads mounted on a wall, I think I'd have a hard time displaying one of these in my home.

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But even if Bert Simon's uber-realistic sculptures are a little creepy, there's no denying his artistry. And the best part about them? They're made of paper. So maybe I would like to hang one of these on my wall. As long as I keep reminding myself: They're just paper. They're just paper.

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Simon, a Dutch artist, used sophisticated face-tracking technology to map his models. Data was then fed through special computer software to create printed pieces of paper that could be cut, folded and glued into three dimensional sculptures.  

To complete one paper figure, it takes Simon about about three days.

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The question I keep asking myself is, if I were to have one of these on my wall, what person would I choose? It would have to be some wild-haired poet warrior with a protective and encouraging presence -- someone I would want looking over my shoulder. However, because I wouldn't want the mounted head of a living person on my wall, the person I'd choose would have to be dead (assuming there's a way to make a 3D replication with old photos and sculptures.)

I got it. He'd be perfect: Walt Whitman. What person would you choose to make into a mountable, paper head? Let us know in the comments below.

via Inhabitat

Credit: Bert Simon

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Uplifting Device Stands and Delivers For Paraplegics

Either the uplifting soundtrack to this video has worked its magic on me or I truly believe in what I'm about to say: this next device is not only awesome, it just might totally transform the lives of millions of paraplegic people living around the world.

Better yet, it could finally make obsolete a clunky and limiting piece of equipment that was invented possibly over 1,500 years ago: the wheelchair.

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It's called the Tek Robotic Mobilization Device. Not only does it offer those who can't walk a more independent range than ever before, it also helps them stand on their own accord.

Invented by Turkish scientists, the device operates like a much sleeker and less-dorky Segway, only with the ability to hoist people to their feet. As the video below shows, the device enables a person to move around more freely than they might in a wheelchair.

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To use the Tek RMD, users put a thick padded strap around their hips and with a gentle pull on the device handlebars, they're able to hoist themselves up to a standing position. For people who've lost movement in their legs, standing is a an important exercise for maintaining good health and strength. Cardiovascular disease, brittle bones and pressure sores can all develop from a lack of standing.

Yet probably the most crucial element of the Tek RMD is its ability to provide the operator eye-to-eye contact with other people. On a psychological level, this may be the device's best attribute.

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Makers of the device say it's the most compact of it's kind, making public navigation less of a hassle. Ramps are still needed, but Tek RMD could eliminate the need for public facilities, such as special bathroom stalls, that reserve space for cumbersome wheelchairs.

The device comes in five sizes and will go on the market this week in Turkey for $15,000. The company is currently looking for outlets in Europe and the United States for distribution. Check out the uplifting video:

via Gizmodo

Credit: Tek RMD

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Dish Soap Helps Slide New Bridge Into Place

Who knew that dish soap was the secret ingredient to bridge building?

Engineers from around the United States, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and its partners all gathered on Tuesday to watch something truly remarkable. Two bridges on Interstate 15 near Mesquite were replaced in a matter of hours using hydraulic jacks, metal beams and cleaner of greasy casserole dishes everywhere: Dawn dish soap.

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Traditional bridge construction can take anywhere from eight months to a year, but this new accelerated method for bridge replacement reduces construction time exponentially. In fact, construction crews said they only had to detour traffic for 56 hours.

The overpass slabs were built on metal frames right next to the bridges being retrofitted. Hydraulic jacks and cranes were used to lift and slide the slabs onto Teflon rails lubricated with dish soap. Each slab slid about five feet at a time until secured into place.

But don't work yourself into a lather over the technical details of this method, because as you can imagine, there's no real engineering guidelines for sliding a bridge into place with dish soap.

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"It’s kind of an art at this point," Marty Strganac, NDOT's resident engineer, told the Las Vegas Sun.

The bridge slide is part of the I-15 West Mesquite Interchange Project, a $14 million endeavor to improve the interstate's connectivity.

Along with NDOT, W.W. Clyde and Company, Horrocks Engineers and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada contributed to designing and building the bridges.

More than six bridge slides have been performed in Utah, where the design companies are based. This was the first bridge slide in Nevada.

[Via Las Vegas Sun]

Credit: Julie Duewel, NDOT Photographer

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Modular Office Almost Makes You Want to Work

For some people, their "shed,” is where they keep lawn and gardening equipment, or might be a retreat from household duties. But for others -- especially if they have a Tetra-Shed -- the shed is their office. If you want the look and feel of a eco-friendly hipster office setting without all the, well, hipsters, this your thing.

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At first glance the modular Tetra-shed resembles a dark lump of coal, but after opening the door and windows, it becomes slightly more attractive. The designer, David Ajasa-Adekunle created the structure so that it would connect to others like it, making it possible to assemble a whole mess of them to create a school or a retail space. Anyone who decides to get one has the option of having it constructed with copper, zinc, corten steel or finished with any color of RAL finish. It’s supposed to be available for purchase in January, but no price has been listed yet.

Via: DVICE

Credit: Tetra-Shed

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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.

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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!