kinetic
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CNU's oxygen emitting robotic plants: deforestation solved
When the earth warms and the forests turn to dust, at least the robots will remain to re-oxygenate the Earth. The Chonnam National University developed robotic plant (pictured above holding a human child puppet) from Korea stands over four-feet tall; consists of a pot, stem, and five meat-eating buds; and emits oxygen, moisture, and even an aroma of human effluence, we presume. As people approach the "flower," the robot bends towards the person and begins to bloom and slightly shake in response to the startled victim's voice rising from a mute whimper to an alarmist howl. The robot also responds to music and light by dancing and opening and closing its petals in some kind of victory celebration. Project leader Park John-oh suggests building a robot garden from his creation -- sure, we'll get right on that just as soon as we get our Doomsday Machine back on-line.[Via Hallyu Technology]
Orange's Dance Charge finally makes dance meaningful
It's summer, that means music festival time for the pagans. Orange knows this and returns with another solution to keep your Glastonbury-bound portable electronics charged. Revelers will get the chance to try this prototype Dance Charge kinetic charger. Right, kinetic as in movement. With an assist by eco-house GotWind, the 4.25 x 2.5-inch / 180-gram velcro and elastic band converts your chemically-fueled, backbeat twitches into electrical current with the help of a system of weights and magnets. This in turn charges an embedded battery for topping off your portable electronics throughout the multi-day event. Add EL lighting effects and you've got yourselves a trend Orange.[Via RegHardware]
Phone or yo-yo? ModeLabs unveils new concepts
Never mind those fancy fuel cells -- just knock that phone around a bit to keep it juiced. At least that's the idea with three new concept handsets introduced by France-based ModeLabs, the same company hooking up with Levi's (to produce phones with decidedly less fancy recharging technology and more denim, we imagine). First up is the aptly named "YoYo," a puck-shaped device (pictured) designed to be worn around the neck that draws power from a combination of solar cells and the user's movement. Next up, the "U-Turn" somehow managed to eke out some electrons from the opening and closing of its keyboard, while the fitness-themed "Runaway" gets regenerated while strapped to the wrist. Of course, none of these are anywhere near production, but the folks at ModeLabs are apparently gunning to market the technology to manufacturers before too long.[Via textually.org]
Exercise without a shouting trainer [update 1]
Reuters discusses a trend of exercise games for people who want workout instruction without a personal trainer shouting slogans at them. While some of the article is overplayed and inaccurate -- DDR gets coverage and reportedly uses hands in addition to feet -- the PS2 game, Kinetic is also featured. Kinetic tracks player movements with the EyeToy camera while on-screen trainers direct the workout. Even though Kinetic was released almost a year ago, we've rarely seen it covered in the mainstream press. Anecdotally, people seem to like videogame workouts; we have friends who still use Yourself!Fitness. Maybe the exercise-game audience will expand as motion-tracking controllers become standard. We've contemplated controller-per-hand boxing game workouts. Maybe a developer will take it further with a barbell or rubber band kit for controller resistance. See also: W. Virginia to put DDR in all 765 public schools [Update 1: Thanks Sam and lolersticks for reminding us about the versions of DDR that work with the EyeToy.]
