teddy bear
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Disney experimenting with 3D printing teddy bears in felt
We're 3D printing pretty much everything these days, at least in laboratories. So why not venture out into cuddly materials? Disney Research is looking into leveraging the technique to create soft toys that children can snuggle without fear of scratching their sensitive skin. The prototype machine uses wool felt and a sewing machine like needle mechanism to connect one layer to the next. The result is a soft and pliable creation based on a standard CAD model that could be used with any other 3D printer. More importantly though, the felt can be layered around other materials to introduce stiffness, embed electronic hardware or even create moveable appendages. So you could create a completely custom teddy bear that hugs your child and speaks. It's a little early to say that Buildabear should be worried, but we wouldn't be resting on our laurels if we were them. Check out the video of the felt 3D printer in action after the break.
Google Maps on web and Android adds bus routing for Japan, guides teddy bears quickly (video)
Virtually anyone who's been to a Japanese city knows that subways and trains might be closely associated with their country, but also that they only form a part of the mass transit picture. With that in mind, Google has quietly rolled out an update to Google Maps data for Android and the web that supports bus navigation in Japan, including schedules. It's a simple addition, but an important one for those who can't always get to where they're going on rails -- like teddy bears, according to Google's video. We just want to know who makes that kawaii case for the Galaxy Nexus.
The Summoner's Guidebook: Yes, I've seen your bear Tibbers
Annie is a very popular champion in the lower skill ranks of League of Legends. This is especially true of the Classic gametypes, where she is one of the more common choices for the solo mid lane. Additionally, she is a fearsome enemy even when played by the AI. Horror stories of Annie Bot wrecking whole teams have been going on since the dawn of the game. Because Annie is so popular and deadly, she's an ideal character to spotlight on the Guidebook. She's fun, easy to play, and oh-so-very cute. When you go up against her, it's good to know exactly what to expect.
Win big in the Rusty Hearts beta giveaway
For some people, just getting to take part in a beta is reward enough. But not for you, right? No, you have higher standards than that -- you want to hit the jackpot as well! It's OK, ambition is an admirable trait, and apparently the folks at Perfect World think so too, since they're giving away an awesome prize pack during the Rusty Hearts beta. Three Rusty Hearts limited prize packs are up for grabs, each containing a Logitech G510 keyboard, a Logitech F710 gamepad and a limited edition Rusty Hearts bear. This prize pack is valued at around $170, and it can be yours by simply redeeming a beta key. Players who enter in their Rusty Hearts beta key by July 3rd have a shot at this package (specific rules are on the official forums). Don't have your key yet? We've got you covered -- head on over here to snag a key to this hack-and-slash title! Rusty Hearts' closed beta will begin on July 27th.
Fujitsu's social robot bear is the supertoy of Kubrick's dreams, almost (video)
Ah, the Fujitsu bear cub social robot. What child or elderly person should go without a "people-friendly terminal" with snuggly-soft fur and a camera in lieu of the ever-popular button nose? The little guy made the rounds briefly earlier this year, but this is our first time making acquaintances. The duo waved at us, waved with us, laughed with (at?) us, and then at some point, decided to arbitrarily fall asleep and ignore us -- just like our actual friends! The representative told us this prototype -- with a reported 300 actions from 12 actuators (three face, three neck, and six in the body), 13 skin touch sensors, hand grip sensors, a tilt sensor, and a microphone -- is a ways off from hitting the childcare / nursing home market. For now, enjoy the pictures below and footage after the break... and if all this seems eerily familiar, hey, we're with you. A wink and a nod in that direction can be found via the second video. %Gallery-104247%
Fujitsu's robot bear designed to win over the elderly, but we're on to it
Man, what is it with Japan, robots, and the elderly? We've been hearing about projects like RI-MAN and Ninomiya-kun for years now. And sure, it looks good on paper -- design an ultra-realistic (or ultra-cute) robot, stick it in a room with the unloved elderly person in your life, and forget about the lot of 'em. The problem? Apparently the aforementioned "olds" don't like it one bit. In fact, it seems that they'd prefer a stuffed animal. Not to be outdone by this admittedly low-tech solution, Fujitsu has built a prototype Teddy that features a camera for face tracking, a network of touch sensors, and a catalog of 300 responses to various stimulus -- "which range from giggling and laughing, waving its paws around, and pretending to fall asleep complete with recorded snores," according to SlashGear. Another possible use for the as-yet-unnamed bear would be for school children. Who wuvs our cuddly robot overlords? We do, don't we? Yes we do...
iPhone accessories from Toy Fair 2010
Woot.com is one of my favorite sites on the entire Internet -- not only do they offer some great deals, and not only are they witty folks, but they're from my original hometown of St. Louis, MO. They recently went to the Toy Fair 2010, and in their roundup of the best stuff they saw are a few fun iPhone-related toys and goodies. First up is this monster-style iPhone skin that you can see above -- obviously, it's not the most practical way to protect your iPhone, but it does look cool. Apparently it's not in production yet, and there's no word on price, but we'll keep an eye out. And then there's the My Ami Entertainment Holder, which is a bear with a place to put your iPhone so your kids can watch movies on it. Um, yeah. Not quite as cool as the robot iPhone skin, but a little more functional. Still, if your kids can't be troubled to hold their own iPhone, maybe they shouldn't be watching movies anyway. And geez, if we're going to have a place to set the iPhone in a teddy bear's lap, can we at least get a dock to plug it in to?
Modern Warfare 2 trailer analysis hints at perks, locations, teddy bears
If you've been straining your eyes and ears over the recently released "soundwave trailer" for Modern Warfare 2, you may want to give your weary senses a rest, and turn your attention to one of two comprehensive breakdowns of the trailer that recently appeared in our inbox. The first is a video analysis from YouTuber d4v1dm0rt, which is embedded after the break. The second, a compilation of zoomed in screengrabs from the trailer (broken down by Binge Gamer's Mike Murakami), can be viewed here.They probably spotted a few items you might have missed out on -- such as the brief image depicting five perk icons, four of which appear to be entirely new. Maybe you didn't catch the flash frame of O Cristo Redentor, which could be hinting at Rio de Janeiro as a possible in-game locale. Perhaps your keen gaze overlooked the momentarily visible teddy bear, which could symbolize ... cuddlier enemies? Yeah, we're still not too sure about that one.[Thanks, David and Mika!]
Acer's custom Aspire One netbook: Heinous, exemplified
If the Acer Aspire One netbook above makes you feel uncomfortable, even angry, then you're probably not a Japanese school-girl. Hell, even if you are we hope you have the good sense not to paste stuffed animals, taffeta, and frills to your Atom-based netbook. That's what UMPCs are for.
Caption contest: Teddy bear torture -- the photographs the FCC didn't want you to see
Hide the children, folks. We've just uncovered some atrocities, and we don't think they're appropriate for the preschool-and-under crowd. The FCC is performing unspeakable acts of torture upon this Step n' Shine "Snuggle n' Shine" bear, and we think it's time the public knew about it. More gruesome pics after the break.Chris: "We're going to ask you one more time: where is the spurious 2400MHz radiation coming from?" or "Repeat after me: Bounce has a fresher scent than Snuggles. That's all you have to do."Paul: "How about now, huh? Do you still 'wuv us vewwy much?' Didn't think so."Don: "I see you, Tickle Me Elmo. You won't get away with this!"Josh T.: "Reaction to Build-A-Bear's new competitor was mixed."Nilay: "Where is the one they call 'Teddy Ruxpin'?"Josh F.: "This was to be my final hit, but let's be clear about this. There's final hits and final hits. What kind was this to be?"
Conceptual teddy bear phone shown off in Japan, could totally sell for $199 on contract
We've seen some bizarre -- bizarre -- handsets in our day, but this one is just too darn cute to call weird. The conceptual Kuma Phone was recently shown off in Japan by Willcom, and according to local reports, the audience in attendance absolutely adored it. The GSM teddy bear, er, mobile can hold up to four speed dial numbers, boasts a built-in vibration function and allows users to answer / terminate calls by "pressing the tail." An accompanying pamphlet suggested that it would run around $500 should it ever hit mass production, which leads us to wonder if they plan on using Boyds / Vermont Teddies or something.[Via textually]
Complicated DIY project leads to Twittering Teddy Bear
Sheesh -- and we though it was something special when Teddy Ruxpin went digital. Today's mesmerizing bear just isn't remarkable unless it talks, and to make it extraordinary, it needs to vocalize your Twitter messages. The mad scientists over at 2pointhome were able to implant a circuit board, USB Bluetooth adapter, 9-volt battery and a host of other goodies into an animatronic Teddy, and after coding in a few things and pairing it up, the animal was yapping in no time flat. Head on past the break to see a video of the operation, but be warned, as it's not for the faint of heart.[Via DailyWireless]
The most adorable healer ever
Ember on the Shattered Oath (US Emerald Dream-H) forums posted a photo documentary of how she hand-made a teddy bear Priest replica. The bear represents her Undead toon, complete with Staff of Immaculate Recovery. Now, I'm not so sure that I'd cast a teddy bear in the role of an undead anything, but in every other sense, Ember went out of her way to create a legitimate mini-me. She even went so far as to cut off the heads of some Barbie dolls and spray paint them silver to make the shoulder adornments suitably lifelike (undead-like?). The staff even glows in the dark. She brands her creation with the tag Build-a-Priest, no doubt a nod to others out there. But who knows, she just might be onto something. If she'd make me a teddy bear shaman, I'd pay for it![Thanks, Gary Doyle!]%Gallery-25107%
Diagrams for wacky Wii remote peripherals
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Diagrams_for_Wacky_Wii_remote_Peripherals'; Third-party accessory manufacturers aren't the only ones coming up with ridiculous things to attach your Wii remote onto! A recent patent application posted at the European Patent Office's site reveals some of the crazy peripherals Nintendo dreamed up to explain the controller's potential, like the goggles shown above. ThinkGeek's Wii Helm seems like a respectable, thought-out product, compared to this silly idea. Wouldn't that unbalanced weight give you a sore neck after a minute of wearing this headpiece?And there are much zanier diagrams in the application document -- Wii remotes in racing helmets, bike pedals, skateboard wheels, and teddy bears! How would this stuff even work? There are also drafts for a docking station and the old shotgun-design Zapper (the GameCube and wireless receiver demonstrating the Zapper shows the artwork's age). You can check them all out in our gallery below!%Gallery-14911%[Via 22Hundred]
Navirobo guides you toward your wits' end
In the time-honored tradition of creepy robotic teddy bears usually from Japan, we bring you the Navirobo from iXs. Instead just spewing audible navigation instructions, the 9.8-inch Navirobo sits on your dash and raises his furry paw to point you toward your destination. He can even turn around and mock you by pointing at a turn you missed and then do a little happy bear dance once you arrive. Annoying? You betcha, so we understand why this prototype took a skull shot en route to Mos Burger.
Bandy the MP3-playing teddy bear
Kids love teddy bears, and kids love music, so what better way to get the little ones begging for your product than by combining two of their passions into one adorable package? Certainly not the first bear-inspired audio device we've seen, Mogoon's MP3- and WMA-playin' Bandy (not to be confused with the ice hockey-like sport of the same name) trumps most other offerings by featuring a built-in SD slot for loading up tunes or serialized versions of its fictional pre-history; 27 minutes of said history are pre-installed on an internal chip. Knowing that Bandy is bound to end up in some pretty dirty / dangerous predicaments, Mogoon also made the bear dust-proof, splash-proof, and able to withstand falls from up to two meters, ensuring at least a few days of usage before your kids manage to break it. The fun begins this fall -- in Europe, at least -- for around €69 ($88).[Thanks, Sven N.]
USB teddy bear holds data, scares children
Generally, when someone makes a teddy bear-themed gadget, his/her intention is to overwhelm bystanders with cuteness. But whoever created this little guy, whose head has to be removed in order to access the internal USB drive, must have watched one too many Tim Burton movies. No word on how much it holds or if there are any plans to make these available for purchase, but with your own bear, a thumb drive, some thread and a closet full of skeletons, you can probably make your own without too much effort.
The pink teddy bear gun
"What we have here 007: an ordinary gun, as you can see. But upon closer inspection -- put that down! Now, as I was saying, upon closer inspection it actually fires small pink teddy bears into the air, which parachute down safely to the earth. What's it for, you say? Why, it's a nascent Japanese wedding tradition of course, taking the place of tossing bouqets of flowers into the air. And would you please return it intact this time, James?"[Via Uber-Review]
