Google Goggles is the future. But not the ‘eventually we will have something that can do that’ future, since it already exists, but the ’10 years ago, we thought we would have something that could do that in 100 years, but now we have it today’ future.
To use Google Goggles, you just take a picture of something with your Android phone using the Google Goggles app, and it automatically searches Google for the thing in the image. For instance, snap a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge, and it will automatically show you the search results for that landmark:
You can take pictures of landmarks, books, business cards, artwork, places, wine, or even a logo, and it will do its best to figure out what you’re trying to search for. And while that’s a neat trick on its own, the future part comes into play when you think of what this could enable with a few small tweaks.
Imagine if you had a pair of glasses with a camera in the front and screens on the inside. (See the Vuzix Wrap 920 for an example.) Then imagine that the camera is connected to the Google Goggles app, so that whenever you look at something, it automatically pulls up additional information from the web and displays it right in front of you. Suddenly you’re walking around like the Terminator with an augmented reality style display giving you extra information about the world around you in real time.
That might sound futuristic, but the technology to make it happen exists today, and all that’s needed is for someone to put the pieces together and get everything to play nicely with one another. Throw in a machine gun and add some Michael Bay to the mix, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a party!
PopScopic is an interesting mashup that uses augmented reality to enhance your shopping experience.
On PopScopic, you can print out three symbols that are linked to the top ten lists for music, movies and games. Then, just fire up your webcam and put one of those symbols in front of it, and you’ll see the cover art from the top ten list projected in front of you. You can tilt the paper to change selections, and then just tap on the $ sign to visit a page where you can buy that item.
It’s not a world changing experience by any means, but it is a peak into the future of shopping, and it’s fun and easy to play around with, so check it out!
If Microsoft’s Surface PC has you dreaming about the future of computing, but the $12,000 price tag has brought you back to reality, then check out Maximum PC’s build of a multitouch surface computer that uses just $350 in parts and a bit of creative hacking.
The whole thing achieves the Surface like interface through the use of some infrared LEDs, a PS3 Eye camera, a projector, and some acrylic, and the wood cabinet gives it some class, though that would be purely optional if you wanted to keep it geek-tastic.
The computer itself is just a common Core 2 Duo, 2 gig RAM machine, and the software is all open source, so you could technically build one of your own if you were so inclined.
Just don’t let on to the price when your friends wonder where the spare Clevelands came from.
The TASER XREP, or eXtended Range Electronic Projectile, is the future of taser technology.
Designed to stun from up to 100 feet away, the SREP is a self-contained, wireless taser that fits inside of a single 12-gauge projectile, yet delivers the same ‘bio-effect’ as the standard TASER X26 stun gun.
Features include a transparent shell for easy identification, torsion spring fins for extra rotational stability, and reflex engagement electrodes that prevent the SREP from being removed once contact has been made.
Looking at the thing would be enough to stop me in my tracks, so just hope you’re not on the business end of the XREP any time soon!
When three of the guys behind the Tesla Roadster set out to build a motorcycle, you know it’s not going to be your run of the mill bike.
And you’d be right. The Mission One from Mission Motors wants to redefine the way we think of two-wheeled transportation by creating an all-electric motorcycle that performs as [...]
The Places We Live is a fascinating look at some of the poorest slums on earth.
It’s the work of Jonas Bendiksen, who traveled to Caracas, Venezuela; Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya; Dharavi, Mumbai, India; and Jakarta, Indonesia from 2005 to 2007, documenting life in these slums, and capturing images of the diversity of personal histories and outlooks [...]
