Journalism | Nicole DiGiose

London’s red phone booths are becoming green charging stations

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

Smartbox provides a quick and free battery charge for your smartphone or tablet

Although many manufacturers emphasize all-day battery life, watching your handset slip away to a measly 0% before the day’s end is still a common problem. In an effort to provide one of the world’s busiest cities with a carbon-neutral energy source, two graduates of the London School of Economics developed a solar-powered charging station for phones, tablets, and other devices.

Created by Harold Craston and Kirsty Kenney, the Solarbox is a modern version of London’s iconic red telephone booths. With a fresh green paint job, they’re now being installed with 150-watt solar panels and are outfitted with USB and phone charging outlets. The first six kiosks were opened on October 1 in the Tottenham Court Road area, which is one of the city’s main shopping districts, and it was reported that 85 people used the charging stations in just a day. Read More

High-tech paper airplane sets record with 82-mile flight

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

A cardboard paper airplane flew 82 miles from Kankakee, Illinois, to Rochester, Indiana in two hours and seven minutes

Equipped with a GPS tracker, an HD video camera, and temperature and barometric pressure sensors to take measurements, an airplane made of paper board was launched from a helium weather balloon at an altitude of 96,563 feet, which is just over 18 miles high. Made in the traditional design that every child would recognize, the plane had a 14-inch wingspan and weighed just about one pound.

A member of the US Fox Valley Composite Squadron, Illinois Wing, Civil Air Patrol with the high-tech paper airplane. Image via Gizmag.

Built by members of the U.S. Fox Valley Composite Squadron, the local unit of the Illinois Wing, Civil Air patrol, the airplane soared 81-miles and 5,179 feet, starting from Kankakee, Illinois, and ending its trip in Rochester, Indiana. The flight took just under two hours and seven minutes. Read More

iPhone 6: The phone that bends

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

Watch out – the new iPhone 6 can come with an unexpected design flaw

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a problem: the iPhone 6 bends. Claims of the excessively flexible phone have been reported across numerous tech blogs and mainstream media. Apple addicts aren’t pleased, and so far, the company hasn’t said a thing.

So what’s causing the beloved iPhone 6 to be bent out of shape? Trouser pockets. For those shoving their phones into their pockets and going about the day, that’s what’s causing the phones to become warped. Apple is marketing the iPhone 6 and the larger iPhone 6 Plus as the thinnest smartphones it’s released — both models are less than 0.3 in. thick — so there’s only so much the phones can physically handle. Because they’re both made of machined aluminum, they possess the quality of ductility, making them pliable but not breakable.

Bent iPhone 6. Image via CNET.

Out of the millions of units already sold, only a handful of them have been reported to be bent, but that doesn’t mean the issue is something Apple should ignore. Read More

Drink in History: Tom Collins

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

There’s nothing in the world that refreshes like a Tom Collins. This cocktail is sweet and tangy and comes with a little mischievous sparkle. It’s a classic so good that it even has a glass named after it. But where did this famous drink get its start?

According to National Brand Ambassador for Tanqueray, Rachel Ford, the history of the Tom Collins perfectly demonstrates how information would have spread back in the 1800s.

The refreshing Tom Collins cocktail. Image via liquor.com.

“As the tale goes, individuals would seek to get a rise out of one another by inquiring if the other had seen Tom Collins, a man who was rumored to be running around town speaking what I like to call ‘Colonial smack’ about him,” said Ford. “The affected party would naturally become agitated and pursue this Collins character with a vengeance.” Read More

High-tech pill box reminds you to take your medication

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

Liif makes monitoring the medicine routines for yourself or a loved one simple

Now that it’s easy to take the Internet and a plethora of electronics for granted, it’s safe to say that the future is officially here, especially with the introduction of digital medication management. The Liif pill box from Tricella was created to remind you to take your pills and it will also keep tabs on the doses you’ve taken and the ones you’ve missed.

The space-age-looking box is supplied with much more than meets the eye. It’s equipped with Bluetooth-NFC and sends data to your smartphone — simply tapping the box to your phone will set-up the pairing of the system.

Once you’re using a paired Liif box, you can view your medicine schedule, what you’ve already taken, and when the next dose is needed. Read More

Solar-powered tent can charge your electronics

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

Stay connected to the digital world while you’re outdoors with a Bang Bang Tent

If you’re headed out to a festival or a camping trip to enjoy the cool autumn weather, you might want to take a peek at a flashy alternative to your ordinary outdoor gear. Bang Bang Tents, as they’re called, are eye-catching solar-powered tents that will keep you connected to the digital world.

With a 5W solar panel, a lithium solar storage bank, and mobile phone/USB charging adaptors, the cozy four-person tent can keep your devices charged and ready for whatever your adventures might bring. Whether it’s your phone, laptop, camera, or speakers, just plug it in and you’ll be on your way to a full battery.

Each tent comes with a solar panel that slides into a pocket located inside the rear of the tent. To get charging, make sure the solar cell is facing into direct sunlight, and plug the solar panel into the power bank and let the natural light trickle down for a constant source of power. Read More

For less than a dollar you can buy a microscope that folds like origami

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

Foldscope brings microscopy to everyone

We’ve seen pocket watches, pocket cameras, and now with smartphones, we have pocket-sized computers. But how about pocket microscopes for students, scientists, and doctors? A research team at Stanford University created a foldable paper microscope to help equalize science education for less than a dollar.

Just imagine the possibilities for this small origami-based microscope, called the Foldscope. Even doctors and scientists in the poorest areas in the world could use the pocket scope to diagnose common bacteria and pathogens such as malaria. Read More

Bionic eye restores vision

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

Eyes aren’t the windows to the soul; they’re the windows to the brain

Biotechnology has become one of the fastest-growing areas of scientific research in the past 20 years, with new devices quickly going into clinical trials. We’ve seen successful bionic arms and legs, but how about a bionic eye? The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System provides sight — the detection of light — to people who have gone blind due to degenerative eye diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Both diseases damage the eyes’ photoreceptors, which are the cells at the back of the retina responsible for perceiving light patterns to pass along to the brain. The bionic eye implant takes the place of these photoreceptors.

How does it work?

The system has three parts: a small electronic device that is implanted in and around the eye, a small video camera attached to a pair of glasses, and a video processing unit that’s worn or carried by the patient. Read More

Drones are coming to Disney World

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

Disney is imagining ways to use unmanned aerial vehicles in its entertainment productions

Drones here, drones there, but drones flying around Disney World? Yes, even the self-proclaimed happiest place on Earth is looking to get its hands on unmanned aerial vehicles. Though it seems like something that can only exist in a movie, Walt Disney World is envisioning flying robots that could animate giant puppets, carry projection screens, and act as floating pixels, called “flixels,” in virtual fireworks shows. Earlier this month, the company applied for the three drone-related patents.

One of the patent applications describes a system in which helium-filled, blimp-sized Disney characters could be tethered and controlled by a fleet of synchronized drones. Sounds a bit frightening, doesn’t it? Well, this way Disney doesn’t have to worry about getting puppeteers to do the job — and it gets better: Check out the illustration of a drone-enabled blown up puppet of Jack Skellington from the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas” below.

Image via Disney.

According to Disney’s inventors, the unmanned aerial vehicles that light up with their own display screens could act as single pixels in a digital light show Read More

Electronic bracelet can charge your mobile devices

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Nicole DiGiose

Charge your devices with style using the QBracelet

Wearables are all the rage lately, tracking your life and making things easier, but now they’re on to something greater: charging your mobile devices. The sleek and shiny electronic bracelet, called the QBracelet, promises to do just that.

Although it looks like nothing but a nice piece of jewelry, within the QBracelet you’ll find a micro USB connector for Android devices and a Lighting connector for the iPhone. Depending on the device that’s being charged, the company behind the bracelet, Q Designs, claims its internal lithium-ion battery will deliver a charge of up to 60%. It takes nearly 90 minutes to charge, and lasts about 30 days in standby mode.

To charge their devices, users can simply pull open the bracelet to access the USB connector. Read More