Case for iPhone
There were a lot of jokes about 'iPhones' with two SIM cards, a retractable TV antenna and Android inside. But as you know, there is some truth in every joke. If life is not nice to you without a second SIM card, support for memory cards or a capacious battery, but you want to buy iPhone, then you should pay attention to the Smartkase case. Its developers assure that it meets absolutely all these requirements.
In words, everything turns out very cool, and the design of the cover is not bad. Maybe this is not the latest fashion, but at least it will not be ashamed to get it out of your pocket. The thickness of the smartphone in such a case will increase by only 4 millimeters.
Now it remains for everything that the developers have promised to really work fine. And sometimes it happens that words differ markedly from deeds.
Project page on Kickstarter
Shuttlecock for the camera
One of the main features of drones is the ability to shoot from the air. The smartest models even know how to shoot in automatic mode, independently accompanying the subject and choosing the most effective angles. First, such videos are truly spectacular. And secondly, sometimes there is simply no other way to shoot material from a beautiful angle.
Here are just drones – expensive and still uncommon. Yes, and there are enough different technical nuances, starting from the same battery life, which is far from the best for all more or less available models.
The authors of AER offer an easier option for fans of spectacular shooting. Their 'drone' is a cross between a shuttlecock and a paper airplane. It can take off in only one way – by throwing from the hand, you will not find any propellers, motors or other difficulties here. But, despite all this, he copes with his task quite well, as can be seen from the cutting from the test clips. And to take part in such a shoot (read – to compete who is taller, cooler and more effective will launch it) should be extremely funny.
The 'airplane' design provides optimal speed and flight trajectory for shooting, as well as protects the camera from shocks and prevents it from drowning in the water.
Project page on Kickstarter
Grandpa R2D2
If drones are a common thing in general, then you can't say the same about robots. Especially when it comes to something more than a robot vacuum cleaner.
But if you think about it, there is nothing unusual about them. Even the most ordinary Android smartphone is capable of recognizing voice commands, faces of owners and surrounding objects.
The home robot BIG-I could well turn out to be the great-grandfather of R2D2, if the latter could speak human language, and not just beep stupidly. Otherwise, the similarities are evident, from the bucket-style design to the overall concept.
The robot knows everyone at home by sight, distinguishes by voice and remembers how and with whom to behave. In addition, it is endowed with the ability to self-learn and, over time, will adapt its algorithms to the habits and needs of its owners. In general – a sort of cross between Google Now and a curious pet.
If you believe the developers, then you can talk to him almost like a person. For example, here are some example commands:
– BIG-I, I lie down to sleep, turn off the light when you see that I snap my fingers.
– After I leave for work, order the robot vacuum cleaner to clean my room.
– Let's play hide and seek, as soon as I count to three – start looking for me.
And the robot itself, judging by the video, expresses itself in quite a human language. And without unnecessary prodding, it will warn you that you forgot your phone in the next room, did not hear the doorbell, forgot to take an umbrella with you, or forgot about an important meeting.
True, before dreaming about artificial intelligence and the technical revolution, I advise you to try talking to a voice assistant on your smartphone or computer. In theory, they also perfectly recognize spoken language and can do a bunch of useful things, but in practice you will get tired of this lesson in 15 minutes.
Project page on Kickstarter
Holographic display
The Holovect holographic vector display is another reason to remember Star Wars. Especially the classic trilogy, where the special effects were simpler.
This is exactly how the image from Holovect looks like, even though the size of the virtual 'screen' there is still a little more than ten centimeters.
The project still has room to grow, all that we see now is just the first steps in this direction. This is rather the first prototype of a device of the future than a commercial product.
Although even in its current form, Holovect can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, it is perfect for evaluating a layout before 3D printing, showing a 3D model of an object to students, and so on.
Project page on Kickstarter