Japanese artist Mutoh Tsutomu has created the raver’s wet dream room. The Optical Tone installation is a combination of art, technology and science. Clad with LED light spectrums in conjunction with sensors that interact with inhabitants of the room, Tsutomu uses a special algorithm to display RGB colors. This interactively examines the problems in human perception and the recognition of dynamic characteristics of light that can’t be experienced in everyday life.

The experiment could lead to further explorations for improvement in environmental light of the digital age and research on understanding of human color perception.  In turn, this will open up a new history of visual expression and communication that not even a trip on mushrooms could prepare you for.

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Unicycles aren’t commonly used unless you fall into a certain demographic. Usually 17-year-old dice-rollers (and we don’t mean gambling.) The EMBRIO Advanced Concept takes the unicycle to the year 2025, when even one-wheeled transportation can be sexy.

EMBRIO uses sensors and gyroscopes to balance up to two passengers on a large single wheel, using the two smaller “landing gear” wheels to balance the bike at higher speeds. (more…)

Bullies beware. This new robot designed by Sarcos runs on new software that allows for it to keep its balance, even with an attempt to intentionally knock him over. The new robot is an attempt from Japanese scientists to create a bot that could have a more successful time integrating into crowds.

Special software makes use of sensors in the robots joints, marking the center of gravity, and calculating how much effort is needed to keep the robot upright when it is unbalanced. And we thought if the robots ever attempted world domination, we could just push them over to stop their advance. Be scared. — Andrew Dobrow

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Much like Paro, the cuddly seal robot, Kobie is said to be the most advanced robotic pet companion in Korea, not far behind many other robotic projects worldwide. Developed by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Kobie reacts to touch and sound, and can even react to individual human feces faces.

Kobie even reacts to violence. Slap him once, and he acts surprised, keep slapping him and he’ll develop a fear of you. Thanks to complex wireless communication functions and tactile, light, audio and posture sensors hidden in Kobie’s cuddly body, he will be an accurate and friendly pet friend. — Andrew Dobrow

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Many home remedies and crappy products claim to cure the age old annoyance of snoring. Most of these products are more comparable to a drill with a low battery. The sound is still there, just dulled. The SnoreStopper claims to cure all of your snoring ills without the use of weird looking face masks or nose clips.

The SnoreStopper is worn on the wrist, much like your average wrist watch, and uses the power of holistic acupuncture massage. Using special built-in bio-sensors, the SnoreStopper can sense when you start to snore, at which point it sends a pulse of acupuncture therapy through your wrist to relieve your muscles, with the goal to teach your body to have relaxed muscles at all times during your sleep. They seem to be pretty confident about their product. They offer a 30-day cash back guarantee. Available now for $80. — Andrew Dobrow

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Just kidding. There is no car obesity epidemic. But there’s indeed a big ass treadmill that was built. That part was as serious as a brain tumor. Haas Automation has created this treadmill in hopes to improve aerodynamics of NASCAR racers. Not the actual racers, like the drivers. We mean the actual cars. Sorry for that misunderstanding. Can we continue?

Its 1 mm thick steel belt can rotate at 180 mph. The treadmill also features sensors under the track that can run diagnostics on each individual wheel. When the facility opens later this year, the treadmill will be rented out to motorsport teams and organizations. And the Jolly Good Giant is looking for a new gym. (more…)

Natural disasters leave architecture in ruins, causing millions upon millions of dollars in damages. On a Greek mountainside, plans are under way in creating a self-healing house made of nano polymer particles. These particles, when applied under pressure during an earthquake, will flow into cracks and harden to form solid material, which would greatly decrease the chance of a collapse or building damage.

The house will also sport unique load-bearing steel frames, wireless, battery-less sensors and RFID tags to collect data about vibrations, stresses, temperatures and humidity levels. The designers hope to save people not only millions of dollars, but their lives as well. — Andrew Dobrow

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2007 marks the 45th year of the mouse’s existence. As Wired shows through a documented visual archive of the history of the mouse, it remains one of the only peripherals that hasn’t changed entirely that much since its use. Add a few wheels, buttons, and optic lasers, and you have pretty much the same concept of the mouse that was developed almost half a century ago.

With the rise of the Wii and voice recognition, the age of the mouse might be living its last gasp as sensors and touchscreens become more of an everyday used commodity. In any case, congratulations on surviving this long computer mouse. — Andrew Dobrow

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Robot manufacturer tmsuk teams up with Kyushu University and the Kanazawa Institute to create Ubiko, the Smokey the Bear equivalent of office robots. The 132-lb Ubiko was originally designed to serve as a temporary receptionist, equipped with exclusive sensors to sniff out ash and smoke. When Ubiko wasn’t receptive to its bosses sexual advances, the reception duties were taken away, leaving the feline-like Ubiko to fire fighting.

Ubiko robot was tested with a series of four rooms to monitor. One containing roses, another with garlic, another with cigarettes, and one which was odorless (or so they say). When Ubiko inspected the room with cigarettes, it instantly sent a warning to security that there was a fire hazard. For now, all Ubiko can do is sense the hazard, which in a office setting, where there is likely to be heavy smokers working, is a very good thing, as they would all be sprayed. Robotics teams plan to enhance the robotic sensor to react to scents human can’t detect. (more…)

Ok, the title might be slightly exaggerated and ridiculous, and way over dramatized, but The Wisdom Door does look pretty cool and at least seem like an interesting idea. The Wisdom door is actually a prototype created by Duke University, which will act similar to a key-card door, except the Wisdom Door would open based on biometric technology.

How is this beneficial? Well, it’s more quick, of course. You’d no longer have to stop for a key card or even the usual biometric retinal scan. Nine sensors incorporated into the door are enough to determine the identification. Four of these sensors measure the persons girth and height, and four sensors to determine weight. Details are hazy on how the machine would adapt to big eating holidays such as Thanksgiving. — Andrew Dobrow

The Wisdom Door Knows You [Technovelgy]