About a virtual reality suit and freshly brewed coffee, a folding electric scooter and a smart glasses module, a simple accessory that can replace an expensive on-board computer and a magic wand that will replace the usual computer mouse …
Every developer and every inventor secretly dreams that his device will be used by millions of people around the world. And every buyer somewhere in the depths of his soul is sure that it is sales that show how necessary and high-quality this or that thing is. A fashionable and popular device can be forgiven very, very much. After all, if it is bought, then it is needed for some reason? With a device that did not show any special sales, everything is more complicated, here the buyer immediately begins to expect some kind of catch.
On the one hand, in some cases it is really possible and necessary to focus on the sales volume and popularity of the device. If you are not very well versed in this category of technology, then, indeed, it is better to buy a popular model from a well-known company, and not a device found in a Chinese online store from an unknown manufacturer. So the chances of running into an unpleasant surprise are much less. At the very least, the item you just bought won't fall apart in your hands.
On the other hand, each person has his own life, his own needs and his hobbies. Which are not at all obliged to divide the remaining 7 billion of the world's population. And if some idea has not gained widespread popularity, then this does not mean that it is something bad. Niche products have exactly the same right to life as any other. And in order to find their buyer, they do not have to come out with a billion copies.
A good device does not have to be interesting (or even simply understandable) to everyone. And he does not have to claim the laurels of the most universal or ultimatum solution either. Actually, even the practical use is not always important, because all kinds of games and toys are bought no less willingly than useful equipment in everyday life. Including toys for geeks.
Teslasuit
Virtual reality is a favorite topic of many science fiction writers. One of the rather striking examples is the dilogy (or is it already a trilogy?) 'Labyrinth of Reflection', written in the late 90s by Sergei Lukyanenko. The novels take place in a virtual world that is simulated on a computer like the levels of a normal game. However, unlike the world of online games we are used to, it was perceived by users as absolutely real and felt no different from the ordinary world. The effect was achieved with the help of a kind of hypnotic program that made the human brain believe in the reality of what was happening, at the same time thinking out all the missing details.
And yet, the designers quickly realized that just the picture on the monitor screen is not enough for these purposes, the sensations from falls or bumps also need to be conveyed somehow. And to control a virtual character, it is better to come up with something more modern than a mouse with a keyboard. For these purposes, the book used special virtual helmets and special suits, which, firstly, made it possible to read all the movements of a person, and secondly, they could simulate the sensations of a light blow or touch of an object.
Actually, with the project of such a suit, the developers from Tesla Studios went to Kickstarter. Several NMES modules (electrostimulators) are built into the suit, which have long been used in medicine, in particular, in sports rehabilitation. At the right time, they force the user's muscles to contract, allowing him to feel the impact or impact. Or touching another person.
To begin with, support is announced for several popular game engines, from Unreal Engine to Unity, and even the first game with Teslasuit support has been created. And although we can appreciate the gameplay only on video, the players themselves could literally feel it on their own skin.
Does Teslasuit have a bright future? Hard to tell. On the one hand, many serious VR projects started out with Kicstarter. For example, the same Oculus Rift glasses. On the other hand, in fact it was not so much fundraising as a kind of advertising campaign. Here, the scale is somewhat different, and it is not yet clear whether something worthwhile will come of this idea. And the players will be seriously interested in something like that only after a couple of years, when virtual reality glasses will become the same familiar attribute of a gaming PC as a gaming mouse or a powerful video card. Now all this talk about the future of VR is perceived by the majority as an abstraction. And there were also some kind of revolutionary projects that were nothing more than a soap bubble on Kickstarter.
Project page on Kickstarter
Mojoe
It has long been known that good coffee is never instant. But often coffee lovers do not have much choice and have to make compromises. In the office, one can only dream of coffee made in a Turk, and not everyone has coffee machines. On a hike or on a picnic, everything is even worse, here either drink instant, or do without coffee at all. Of course, you can always buy a mobile coffee machine … but either it turns out to be by no means so mobile, or the quality of the prepared coffee will not differ much from the instant one.
Another popular option is the pre-brewed coffee thermos. Or rather, even a thermo mug, from which you can drink your favorite drink on the go. Alas, this is not an ideal solution either – coffee still cools down, especially if you pour it into such a mug with a margin. By lunchtime, you no longer have to dream of drinking a cup of strong, hot, freshly brewed coffee.
Mojoe is the solution for those tired of compromises. If, of course, you believe the description of the project. This is a kind of hybrid of a teormokruzhka and a compact coffee machine, which can operate both from the mains and from the built-in battery. With it, you will have fresh coffee made from natural beans anywhere and anytime. And, unlike any capsule coffee machines, no restrictions on the type or manufacturer of beans are laid in it – although over time branded bags with ground coffee will appear on sale, the user is free to use any beans to his taste.
Technically, the Mojoe is a cross between a capsule and a vacuum coffee machine, while it can work with any shake (for example, it can be thrown into a backpack without any problems) and with water of any temperature. In addition, the device can be used for making tea.
Project page on Kickstarter
MAD Glass
Smart glasses are a rare case when an initially exciting idea managed to bore potential buyers even before implementation. Google was too quick to show the public prototypes, and many companies rushed to copy a completely crude idea even before they realized what it was and why. As a result, there was a lot of talk about “smart” glasses, but there were no concrete successes, and no.
The main problem of the first generations of Google Glass is the lack of compatibility with standard glasses. Yes, theoretically users have some choice of frames and medical (corrective) lenses, but in practice it's not that simple. And even if I had a Google Glass prototype in my hands, I would absolutely not be ready to give up my current glasses. Moreover, at the moment this is not a device that really makes sense to wear every day. Especially when you consider their rather specific appearance. Now it is rather a fun technical toy that can help in some specific situations, but not a device for widespread use.
While Google is trying to perfect its Google Glass and figure out how to get customers to wear them instead of regular glasses, the Chinese company Dragon Creative decided to do it easier. Their MAD Glass is a separate detachable module that turns any glasses into 'smart' glasses exactly when you really need it.
The functions are mostly standard – a navigator, an interactive translator, the ability to record videos, and so on. There is support for notifications from a smartphone and several special interactive games.
The manufacturer is not trying to convince you that MAD Glass simply needs to be worn 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Moreover, they do not assure that their device will completely replace your smartphone. Rather, it is a kind of analogue of a headset, which is used only when it is really needed. And in this form, this idea really has the right to life.
Project page on Kickstarter
HUDWAY Glass
But the question of whether it is possible to use smart glasses while driving is still open. Indeed, if desired, they can be equated both with smartphones, which only distract the driver from the road, and with navigators, which are not prohibited by anyone. And while Google and other manufacturers of wearable electronics will clearly try to convince everyone that it is completely safe, how it will all end is unclear. Especially when you consider that there have already been fines for using Google Glass while driving.
On the other hand, there won't be much sense for drivers in such glasses. After all, they may well be replaced by a modern on-board computer, which will display information directly on the windshield. One problem – while such devices are only in very expensive cars, and their counterparts also cost a pretty penny. So at least for now, most drivers prefer to use smartphones. Someone uses the phone as a navigator, someone to send SMS, and some unique people even manage to view the latest news while driving.
Although the driver is distracted by literally a couple of seconds each time, in some situations, these seconds can be decisive. Especially if it happens all the time. According to research from the HUDWAY campaign, for one kilometer, a driver drives 60-70 meters 'blindly' while looking at the speedometer or phone.
HUDWAY decided to look at the situation from a slightly different angle. And instead of trying to come up with some safe (and very expensive) replacement for a smartphone, they decided to teach him how to display an image on the windshield. Or rather – on a transparent screen, which will be located at this very glass. The result is exactly the same – all the necessary information is always in front of the driver's eyes, check the readings of the navigator or find out who wrote him an SMS, without taking his eyes off the road.
In theory, HUDWAY Glass can work with any smartphone and any application, the main thing is that it has support for the corresponding mode.
In my opinion, we are facing just that case, when one simple idea can be much more useful than hundreds of high-tech devices. Especially when you consider that the price for carelessness on the road can be life. Both your own and someone else's life.
Well, at the end I will note two more points. First, the developers are our compatriots. And secondly, you can download the HUDWAY application even if you don't want to buy a docking station. True, in this case it will work only in the dark or on tinted glass, otherwise the information will simply not be seen. More details can be found at hudwayapp.com or on the app page in Google Play or AppStore.
Project page on Kickstarter
SoundBrake
Many people enjoy working to music or listening to podcasts while walking. And everything would be fine, but it is very difficult to shout to them at this moment – you either have to shout really very loudly, or come up and clap on the shoulder. And walking with ear plugs is not always safe. In any case, a person who crosses the road wearing headphones and a low-cut hood cannot be called anything other than a suicide … and such a sight in cities is by no means uncommon.
SoundBrake is a device that will help you stay aware of everything that is happening around, even while listening to any song or podcast. As soon as the noise level around you exceeds the average value, the gadget will decrease the playback volume, allowing you to react in time to the noise of a car or a colleague's phrase.
In words, everything sounds great, but how it will work in practice is a big question. The line is painfully thin here – on the one hand, not to irritate the owner-music lover, on the other, not to let him miss important information for him. And very few will be ready to hook extra devices to their smartphones, but if it was possible to achieve the same effect using software methods, it would be great.
Project page on Kickstarter
Gestor
The Gestor is a classic 'geek toy'. Useful in some situations, but otherwise just a fun invention.
The main purpose of the Gestor is to replace a computer mouse when it is inconvenient to reach for it. For example, while watching a movie from your computer together. Or showing a presentation.
Developers Gestor Devices Inc. declare that their invention is as easy and convenient to use as a pencil or pen. You just need to get used to it, and everything will start to work out by itself. Perhaps this is really so, without having tested the device personally, it is difficult to say something. In words, everything is very cool – cursor control, support for right and left 'clicks', zoom mode and so on. And all this – with the help of a thin thirteen-centimeter stick.
And it should also be very fun to play with Gestor in the company of friends – any simple shooter will play with this 'magic wand' with new colors.
Project page on Kickstarter
ZAR
In recent years, people have somehow sharply recalled the existence of scooters. In any case, such a picture is observed among my friends and colleagues – in the summer, many began to ride them from the metro to the office. To be honest, I myself did not understand the meaning of this action, but people like it.
Apparently, it was for such people that Crazyfire Technology presented the ZAR electronic scooter project on Kickstarter. It was created primarily for urban residents: it weighs little, easily folds, accelerates up to 20 km / h and allows you to drive up to 20 kilometers on a single charge (it depends on the specific model).
There is support for Bluetooth 4.0 and the function of recording routes. Optionally, you can share your location with your friends.
Project page on Kickstarter
EVO
At the end of the release – another smartphone accessory from the all-in-one series. According to the developers, the EVO will replace your charger, portable battery, memory card and a bunch of other things.
One of the 'chips' of the device are programmable buttons that can be assigned to any action. For example, they can be used to switch tracks in the current playlist or remotely control a smartphone camera.
On the one hand, the idea seems to be a good one – the device turned out to be very compact and it is quite possible to carry it with you just in case. After all, situations when a smartphone suddenly ran out of free space, when the battery charge sat down at the wrong time, or when the phone's charging got lost somewhere, are common to everyone.
On the other hand, everything here depends on the quality of performance. The problem with cheap Chinese batteries is that they can die after the second or third charge. And the plug built into the body for the American outlet will be of little use if there is no adapter for it. And there are always a lot of such questions to such gadgets. A rainy day device makes little sense if it will let you down on that particular day.
Project page on Kickstarter
