The world’s first ever wave farm went live at the end of September in Agucadoura, off the coast of northern Portugal. Three wave energy converters resembling Soviet submarines generate electricity with hydraulic rams driven by waves. The farm was designed by Pelamis Wave Power, which hopes to increase the farms productivity by adding an additional 25 wave energy converters that could potentially power 15,000 homes.

Waves powering homes? Remarkable, but how does it work?
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Not every kid can swim like Michael Phelps, though every kid ought to. Parents, we understand. Sometimes you just don’t feel like sitting around watching the kids splash the water from the safety of dry land. After all, if they aren’t winning Olympic gold, what’s the point? That’s exactly why you bought the Safety Turtle Wireless Pool Security System for $167, effectively putting a price tag on your child’s life. Now you don’t have to worry about your kids drowning in a pool just because you were too busy doing the latest New York Times crossword puzzle.

It’s easy to use, too. Just plug the base station in and it will work in all directions up to 200 feet away. If the turtle sensor is submerged, the base station let’s out a wail that painfully reminds you of what a negligent parent you are. The creators of the Safety Turtle are not liable for any loss of life due to your lack of practice with CPR.

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I never really thought about implementing an idea like this but thankfully, Speedo and iRiver have already done the hard work for us. The Aquabeat Waterproof MP3 player has both an appropriate name and look. It can go up to three meters underwater and has a mind-blowing 1GB of storage. Then again, how much music are you gonna need underwater?

With everything being waterproof, I tried to think of how you could possibly use this thing while swimming in the ocean. Then it hit me that this is the perfect MP3 player for your boat or jet ski unless you have an Otter Box or something similar. Oh, and it floats like a turd in case you lose it. Seems like a sure win for $145.

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We’ve seen robots of every variety. Chances are, if something is badass, there’s a robot-form of it. The Nonlinear Dynamics and Control Lab of the University of Washington have turned a dissociated group of robot fish into a communicative school of robot fish.

Using low power, low frequency sonar, the fish are able to transfer information between one another while underwater. Although only half the information was received successfully, the robot fish were programmed in a way that they’re still able to accomplish their tasks with little information given to them, much like an actual school of fish.  This technology could eventually be used to explore the oceans and study oceanic-life, opening the door to new aquatic applications.

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I must admit, I was a bit skeptical of a man living in the clouds watching mankind like a lousy Nick at Night sitcom. However, news of a remote controlled floating tray that delivers refreshing beverages is proof that there is a god and that he isn’t a dick.

Like the floating speaker, relaxing by the pool just got a bit more - well, relaxing. This remote controlled float can hold up to five drinks and has a center bowl perfect for nachos. Just don’t shit in the pool. Like a shitty raft, it’s just begging to be sent down the Nile. You know, like Moses.
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No one is sure why Sangmin Bae designed the Rhythmfish system. Perhaps he got lonely and didn’t have anyone to talk to, so he built this device that records the movement of fish and the currents generated by them. The flow sensors inside the tank collect enough data then translate it into an audiovisual response, which is then displayed through a mounted LCD and speakers.

Sangmin Bae says:

“even if the fish can’t speak and express its feelings in a human way, it has an energy and communication skill in its own way. Vibration is the medium of interaction, and I chose it for its universality in the physical, emotional, and spiritual realms.”

While this isn’t true communication with fish, one thing is for certain: You can make a sporadically rockin’ visual coupled with random audio of the same nature. Try getting visuals like that on your Winamp plug-in.
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