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Japanese researchers debut wheelchair-replacing RODEM "universal vehicle"
Look out, Rascal. You may just have some new competition in the fast-moving field of slow-moving mobility -- at least if this new RODEM prototype developed by a group of research partners at Japan's Veda Center (including Tmsuk) actually hits the market. Apparently designed to be used as both a replacement for a wheelchair and as a general purpose "universal vehicle," the four-wheeled RODEM allows folks to simply lean forward slightly without the need for any back support, which the group says will let people get in and out of the vehicle more easily, and with less assistance from care-givers. Of course, no sci-fi inspired vehicle would be complete without a few bells and whistles, and it looks like the RODEM is more than capable in that department, with it packing some built-in GPS, automatic obstacle evasion control, automatic slope correction, an "autonomous navigation function," voice recognition, and some sort of vital monitoring system (all of which may or may not actually be included in the prototype) -- not to mention a top speed of 6 kilometers per hour.[Via Physorg]
Microsoft patent application reveals "VEDa" multifunction handheld with slide-out keyboard
We can't say we know exactly what Microsoft has in mind with this patent application for a mobile device with a slide-out keyboard, flip-up screen, and a numeric keypad, but apparently it's based around the idea that users won't have to understand the inner functions of a computer if provided with enough hardware controls. According to the application, "in device mode, the computing system truly assumes the look and feel of a less intimidating multi-media device, rather than that of a sometimes more intimidating computer." Similarly, the keypad lets you simply start dialing to use the phone -- all very well and good, but we've got a feeling most people would rather figure out how to use a smaller handheld than cart this monster around.[Via Unwired View, thanks Staska]
MALIBAL announces 20-inch Veda Series notebooks
After having bemusedly watched the jokesters at LAPTOP magazine struggle to operate a Dell M2010 laptop in public, we're pretty sure it's only the most hardcore of LAN partygoers who are snatching up these 20-inch models -- so it must be this small but dedicated demographic that Las Vegas-based MALIBAL is targeting with the new Veda series of desktop replacements. Almost certainly rebadges, the first round of Vedas do indeed offer some pretty impressive components, including dual core AMD Turion 64 X2 processors, up to two NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX cards in SLI pushing 1,680 x 1,050 pixels, as much as 4GB of RAM and 400GB of storage, along with integrated TV tuners, dual-layer DVD burners, and the seemingly de rigueur 1.3 megapixel webcam. Available only through MALIBAL directly, this model starts out at $2,799 and keeps moving skyward until it's too expensive to take out of the house.
