I let you imagine what my wallet looks like at the end of the day. So it’s always a big deal, when I’m trying to travel light, to decide which card to take or to leave in a drawer.

One other issue is that every time one card expires, its plastic adds to the trash. So do the numerous receipts that we accumulate after swiping our CC.

But a wind of change might blow (soon?)…

The fundamental of the One Card Electronic Card is quite simple: it wants to eliminate the trash and give a break to our poor ever growing wallet (and resolve issues like identity theft via discarded expired CCs) by proposing to be this all-credit-cards-in-one device.

On one end of the gadget is a Memory Card Slot that will help the user upload their various card Details.

The other end has a turning-knob that allows one to choose the appropriate card to be swiped.

The display on the device reflects an identical copy of the card front, while the strip on the back mimics a card’s magnetic strip. Once the transaction is completed, the receipt generated is displayed on the device (no paper receipt) and the info gets stored on the memory card.

The concept is pretty clear in what it wants to achieve, namely combine all cards that a person uses under one umbrella, reduce generation of paper/plastic trash, identity security etc. The only block is the compatibility with various banks and the willingness of people to rely on a gadget for daily CC transactions. Yes, we do use online, virtual services, but something like this is quite different.

As a matter of facts this concept may one day revolution our approach to the concept of wallet itself! Imagine that this all-in-one credit card may give us the ability not only to pay our goods, but also services (a virtual e-ticket for public transportations or airplanes, social security, insurance) and feature everything from our secured personal data (passport/ID card/Driving licence) to the family picture we carry everywhere…

Of course there’s always the issue of losing it with all the critical information it carries… but it is just the same problem as loosing your real wallet. Except that we can imagine that this all-in-one wallet will be able to be deactivated remotely and thus safeguards all our data.

A very nice concept indeed.

Designer: Kim Young Suk

Equipped with GPS and a small projector, Maptor allows the user to display map on almost any surface and view their current location. It somehow reminds me the mobile phone with embedded GPS which displays arrows on the ground in “Microsoft’s vision to the future”.

Creating a concept is nice, turning it into reality is even better.

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Want more? go and visit Nokia labs

“And then the invasion slowly started, deeply burying its roots in the neuralgic points of major industrial cities, before it spread all over the World.

And there they were, all around us, before we realized it was too late.”

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To that point you are maybe wondering if this is some kind of stupid joke like the Crop Circles, a punk movement like the Army of the Twelve Monkeys or if this is real and we are under the threat of an Alien-like invasion.

“None of them” you’ll say. And you’re damn right and clever! Those weird drawings are only QR Codes.

Very common in Japan, QR Codes or “Quick Response Codes“  basically look like this:

Yes I do agree, not so attractive.

Technically speaking, QR Code can be described as a two-dimensional barcode which can be decoded quickly by cameras, especially those in mobile phones, supporting the codes.

Most cell phones * (see the list at the bottom of this article) are today able to scan QR Code and open the associated resource in the cell phone. The resource is usually a website but can also be a phone number, sms or text. Anyone using a cell phone to open websites can imagine how much faster and comfortable this method is.

I’m using this technic for the day to day business, as for instance I featured a QR code at the back of my own business cards (print and digital)

Some print publications also started to include QR codes in their magazines to provide their readers with a better experience, and every articles in the print version of this blog features a QR code so that readers are able to access them online from a mobile phone Internet browser.

If until that point you’re lost or not convinced by the good of QR Codes, this video will clear all your doubts.

A nice illustrated story by Kaywa is also available here

You got it now: a QR Code Generator allows anyone to create QR Codes easily. Websites such as Kaywa, BeQRious and QR Jumps offers this functionality. The good thing about Kaywa and BeQRious is that there is no need to register to create new QR Codes (which is unfortunately not the case for QR Jumps). Both sites distinguishes between basic and advanced QR Code and Damatrix generation. The basic form contains of course fewer options. But it is still possible to use the basic QR Code form to create url, sms, phone number, text resources and RSS feeds for mobiles!

Indeed, most Blogs or websites have an RSS feed, but content is still unadapted for mobile devices. Feed2Mobile will simply let you create a mobile version of your content and make it available to mobile visitors. For instance, by scanning the below QR Code with your mobile phone, you’ll be able to easily reach and bookmark the mobile version of of 52nd & West

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Kaywa also offers the possibility to download a 2D Barcode Reader for your cellphone. The Kaywa Reader is a 2D Barcode Reader to install on your mobile phone. Once installed, you can scan 2D Barcodes and the content of the 2D Barcode is then immediately resolved on the phone.

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The URL is certainly the most interesting type of information which can be encoded. After scanning the 2D Barcode, you get a connection to the mobile site.

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The user selects the content type at the top and enters the information below. Creating a QR Code for an url would mean to enter an url in the form. The generator will then create the QR Code image which can be created in various sizes and the two image formats jpg or png.

Easy, isn’t it?

BeQRious regularly publishes interesting news on how QR codes are used around the world. You can access them from here

So next time you see a QR code-like art in the street, don’t freak out, unless you see this…

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muuuuhahahahahhahahahah

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* Compatible OS include: Symbian 2nd Edition, Symbian 3rd Edition, Symbian UIQ 2.x / 3.x, J2me, windows Mobile 5.0 / 5.5 / 6 / 6.5, Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Palm (Palm OS / Windows Mobile) Windows XP / Windows Vista (Webcam Reader).

Online resources:

- http://reader.kaywa.com/

- http://www.beqrious.com/

Don’t have a cell phone with embedded QR code reader? Dowload a QR Code Reader for your mobile here or use an online QR Code Decoder.

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According to Engadget who managed to get a hand on it, “It’s half speaker, half cushion and 100 percent useful. Philips‘ [...] CushionSpeaker laptop stand is designed for the bedridden among us, combining a soft laptop stand with a built-in speaker for amplifying those lap-based movie sessions. Of course, this thing probably won’t do much for heat dispersion, but for those also looking for a personal heater, this thing just might be magical. The integrated speaker connects to one’s laptop via USB, which just might put off netbook owners struggling to get by with just a couple of those very sockets.”

Come on guys, it’s just a laptop cushion! And honestly, its design sucks! It looks so 1999! Okay, okay, maybe you’ll use it, find it cool to watch movies while lying in your bed, but it will eventually end-up in your closet or on eBay in even less time than it took you to make up your mind and purchase it.

To my opinion, I think that a laptop cushion per se should be easily transportable; most of the time I’m sitting in a place where there are no tables is anywhere but at home! So what’s the point here? I think that Philips really do innovative stuff. But this laptop cushion speaker seems more like a distress call saying “hey, we’re lacking innovative ideas at the moment”. I believe that it’s better not to release a crappy product than to do so to give your customers the feeling that you’re always at the forefront of innovation!

Personnaly for that price ($100 USD!)  I’d expect to get an inflatable laptop cushion I could also use as a laptop case so I could take it anywhere (with or without the speakers)!  Unfortunately most designs I’ve seen are only prototypes or just pieces of art.

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So R&D, why don’t you get to work!

And if you manage to include a built-in lap massaging engine, I’m telling you: you just won a new customer!

In the meantime, I’m going to IKEA to get my own $15 BRÄDA laptop cushion with its handle and mobile phone pocket on the side…

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A faithfull companion

Basically Nabaztag/tag is a desktop companion that utilises Wi-Fi technology to fetch information from the Internet and convey it in various charming ways. Indeed Nabaztag doesn’t have any of the boring devices a normal computer has, such as a keyboard, mouse, or monitor. No, instead your new rabbit friend lights up and speaks information from the Web directly to you. He can read you the weather, your e-mail, the news, or even your favorite blog posts as RSS feeds. He also plays music, keeps you up to date on your stocks, and acts as a musical alarm clock. Nabaztag/tag can also signal specific information via coloured lights in his belly; so you can set him to glow yellow if the weather’s going to be sunny or red if an email from a loved one arrives. A wiggling ear could signify a falling stock price and a pattern of lights accompanied by a Westlife track could indicate that it’s time to get up… and get a life.

“Upgrade me I’m famous!”
But Nabaztag is also an application programming interface (API) which gives you coding resources and samples to have fun with with your rabbit! You can custom the Smart wifi Rabbit of Violet on http://nabzone.com and use apps like Nabaztag Rock Paper Scissors, The translator Rabbit, Magic 8 Ball, Telepathy Game, Fortune Cookies, Nabgo : The Rabbit Bingo, Memory Game ‘Simon’, News, Messenger…

Last but not least, Nabaztag fully supports services in German, Italian and Spanish, and reads text messages in 16 different languages: English (USA), English (GB), Spanish, German, French, Italian, Flemish, Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Icelandic, Swedish, Norwegian, Turkish and Polish.

Save Nabaztag
For the past four years, Nabaztag has been living his quiet life, while continually monitoring the Internet to provided the services your have requested, accomplishing the tasks you have assigned, giving you real-time info and transmiting messages from your friends. A devoted companion in your everyday’s life.

But Nabaztag’s existence is today at stake: Violet, its company, filed for bankruptcy. That would mean that those little “e-rabbits” will soon fall silent and gather dust instead of enriching our lives. But three Nabaztag lovers couldn’t accept this fate and decided to do something crazy: Allow Nabaztag users to buy the company and somehow become Violet’s new shareholders! Their focus is to raise enough funds before the 4th of september. The estimated 2 Millions Euros they aim to raise is not the price of the acquisition (it could be fairly less of course) but it is the amount believed necessary to revive the rabbits and make them happy again! So far they’ve managed to gather approximatively 129,500€. But we can do better than that!

So if you have yourself adopted a Nabaztag, or if you find the concept attractive, innovative, creative and futuristic, take a moment to connect on savenabaztag.com and help make things change with a couple of euros.

To be continued!

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Want to know more about Nabaztag? connect on nabaztag.com

Want to help? connect on savenabaztag.com

Facebook “Save Nabaztag” group: here and here

Features

• Blinks, moves his ears, talks, plays music

• Reads out loud written texts in 32 languages

• Obeys spoken commands (voice recognition)

• Detects and reacts to the presence of a Nano:ztag or any other object featuring a RFID Ztamp

• Feeds off the Internet. Transmits, reacts, obeys what’s on the Web

• Gives short news with speech & colour-coded lights (Weather, Markets…)

• Reads out loud real time news from any Website (RSS)

• Reads, sings and dances messages and songs sent by your friends over the Net

• Sings and dances MP3 tunes sent by your friends over the Net

• Chat with other Rabbit owners through voice, music and ear movements

• Ability to create your own content channels and applications (API)

• Ever-expanding set of free services and content

• Easy to program through a Web interface

• Connects to your Wi-Fi network and works even when your computer is powered off

• And much, much more…

Technical specs

Technical details

• Size and weight: Height excl. ears: 16 cm / incl. ears: 23 cm – Diameter of base: 13.5 cm – Weight: 1 kg

• Interchangeable magnetic ears

• Power supply: 110-220 Volts

• Wi-Fi card: 802.11 b or g

• Encryption supported: WEP and WPA

• Built-in 2 W speaker

• Audio-out jack for outside speakers

• Volume adjustment control

• Microphone

• Ears with output/input motors

• RFID reader, ISO14443 Type-B. Includes one Nano:ztag Micro-Rabbit containing a RFID Ztamp (additional RFID Ztamp stickers available separately)

System requirements

• Broadband Internet connection and Wi-Fi Access Point

• Wi-Fi card (built-in or USB key) needed for the inital setup

• Mac, PC/Windows, PC/Linux compatible

• Compatible Mac, PC/Windows, PC/Linux

Warranty and Support

• 1 year warranty, repair & replacement

• Technical support Hotline

]]> http://www.52ndwest.com/design/save-nabaztag-because-we-dont-like-to-see-bunnies-die/feed/ 0 http://www.52ndwest.com/design/beam-me-up-scotty/ http://www.52ndwest.com/design/beam-me-up-scotty/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:56:46 +0000 Nicolas http://www.52ndwest.com/?p=849

On Time Sound headset system is a Project that looks into the future, aiming to new trends and styles. According to Pedro Gomes, its conceptor, this device “re-designs the concept of headsets as a futuristic clock-bracelet. When using it as an headset, the bracelet works as a clock and the LCD touchpad screen allows the user to see the caller id. When calling, the bracelet vibrates for a silent warning and to answer the calls, it only needs one touch on the screen and two to reject it.”

No doubt that Captain Kirk would have traded his transponder’s communicator for that one instead…

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Source: Core 77 / Coroflot

More on Beam me up, Scotty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beam_me_up,_Scotty

Here is a prototype of food container specifically designed for office workers (or urban nomads always on the go…) who do not even have time to heat their lunch in the microwave oven during their lunch break.

Equipped with a built-in heating and insulation system, the device plugs into the USB port of the computer and warms up your meal you have prepared the day before or the morning before you left to the office.

For the other co-workers who have their meal delivered at the office, they can keep their food warm in MO:BEN while they finish editing their weekly timesheets…

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Source:  Gearfuse