1-2-KNOW: Razer sharper MechWarrior

More than a decade ago, the game MechWarrior for the PC certainly blew my mind away, as computing power (back then) caught up and managed to depict those mechanised behemoths in greater detail than just using our imagination.

Battlefields could be viewed in different modes with wireframes running around being my favourite as you could  tell at a glance just which part of your opponent had been damaged the most before you dealt the coup de grace.

Fast forward to today: Gaming peripherals manufacturer Razer has come up with the new Razer Artemis concept controller which was developed to cater to the next installation of the MechWarrior franchise known as MechWarrior Online.

This conceptual controller will up the ante in terms of realism, where you feel as though you were controlling the mech from a cockpit itself, boasting fully-programmable, fine-tuned controls in an ergonomically adjustable form factor.

There is still much work that needs to be done before the Razer Artemis is perfected, but I do hope it will arrive sooner rather than later - without being gimped in any way, of course.

Details at www.razerzone.com

Press to make the bed

SOME of us are blessed enough to have a maid at home to make our beds as well as run the household, especially if both parents live out the daily grind at the office. How about an autonomous bed that is capable of making itself?This is what the Ohea Smart Bed is all about. When activated, a lid on each side of the bed opens up while a mechanical arm with a couple of rollers emerge on each side at the foot of the bed. Once the lateral cord that holds the duvet between the two rollers have been positioned in place, the arm will get to work by pulling the duvet up to the head of the bed. When the cord is fully extended, the arm will make its descent, followed by the lid closing. Pillows  on the bed will be straightened by cords attached to the pillowcases. Following that, the panels will rotate to elevate the pillows so that the upper coverlet can be stretched to the head of the bed, before dropping the pillows in place again.

Good to know that the Ohea Smart Bed has a safety feature which prevents the mechanism from working should it detect someone on the bed. The total amount of time it takes for Ohea to make your bed? 50 seconds.

Details at www.ohea.eu/index.php/eng/

No more spoilt milk

Recently, I heard an interview with one of the top brass from Dutch Lady on a local radio business station, who mentioned that Malaysians do not drink enough milk.  

I am discounting the fact that the milk in our teh tarik is not the kind of milk that Dutch Lady has in mind. For those who want to keep tabs on the milk in the fridge, then you might want to keep your fingers crossed that the smart milk jug, known as the Milkmaid, will be able to be mass produced and made available here. Basically, this unique home appliance will notify you with a text message should it detect that there is not enough milk for your next bowl of cereal or that the milk has gone bad,  thanks to built-in sensors. The  smart milk jug also comes with a GSM radio module, an antenna, a SIM card slot and of course, a rechargeable battery.

Details at www.gereports.com/this-milk-jug-passes-the-smell-test/

Smart TV converter

There is the possibility of upgrading the idiot box in our living room to a smart TV,  thanks to the Infinitec Pocket TV. Just what is the Infinitec Pocket TV? It is basically an Android 4.0-powered HDMI micro-computer which, when plugged in, will transform your HDTV into a smart TV. It is said to be one of the world’s smallest computers, which  can operate as a fully functioning micro-computer and is no larger than the size of your thumb. Despite the size, it carries enough processing power to enable you to enjoy the Android platform on your TV. Sure, it is not exactly a super large touchscreen tablet, but at least you get a whole lot more viewing real estate on it. You can also hook up a video camera to perform Skype video-calls on your TV there and then. The Infinitec Pocket TV is a Kickstarter project which can be pre-ordered for a limited pre-order price of US$99 (RM315.23).

Details at www.infintec.com

A more immersive way to play

The bed that makes itself

The smart milk jug

From dumb to smart TV

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