Category Archives: Gadgets

Scrabble Keyboard

Scrabble Keyboard

Datamancer was commissioned to build a computer keyboard for some friends who are Scrabble fans. Most of the keys are actual Scrabble tiles, and the ones that had to be custom-made look just like the real thing.

Product Page – I don’t believe it is available any longer, but it is cool!

They now have a Diviner Keyboard which is awesome!

The Wii U, Nintendo’s new console

Coming in 2012, the new Wii U!

In addition to the new console, and updated hardware… check out the controller with the 6.2 integrated screen!  So, when your family wants to play, and you want to watch Dancing with the Stars, they can play… and you can watch, with ONE TV!  (Like anyone else but me only has one TV in the house)

The Wii U will be compatible with all current-gen accessories and software… so what you have now will work with the new unit… cool!

And, finally, the Wii is going HD!  The fact sheet from Nintendo states that the Wii U can pump out 1080p video over HDMI.  It’ll also be compatible with component, S-video and composite cables.  There’ll be “internal flash memory” of unspecified quantity, which will be expandable via either an SD card or external USB HDD. IBM is, as with the original Wii, once again responsible for providing the processor inside.  Four USB 2.0 slots are made available, while game media will be served up on “proprietary high-density optical discs.”  There’s also another, worthwhile, reminder that the Wii U will play Wii games and their optical discs without a problem.

Wii U Console

Wii U ControllerWii U Combined imageWii U example graphics

3-D Chessboard

3D Chessboard

Don’t you wish that your chessboard could sometimes be more attuned to the fantasy of an epic battle? This 3D Chessboard by Ji Lee makes your game look more like an epic massacre on a jagged mountain than a head to head clash on a simple plain.

The newly designed 3D terrain adds a completely new dimension to the already classic game of chess. The King looks even less obtainable now that he is set on his own little pedestal with his deadly wife. Totally worth getting excited over.

Do It Yourself Pong

Do It Yourself PongAs part of the ECE 476 Microcontroller Design course at Cornell University, two students have taken the game of Pong and added a new twist. This version of Pong can be played on any flat surface using two laser-sensing paddles and a laser projector that projects the Pong ball. The entire project only set the duo back $48. Hit the link below to get all of the nitty-gritty details about the game, how it works and even videos of the two designers—Adrian Wong and Bhavin Rokad—playing the game. Nice work guys.

 

Soda Stream

Home Soda Makers

Making carbonated water and soft drinks is simple! Turn tap water into sparkling water in under 30 seconds, with no clean-up. Enjoy the freshness and convenience of homemade soda and protect the environment at the same time. No heavy bottles to carry, store at home or throw away. Fizz to your taste and add the flavor of your choice to make your favorite drink. Simple to clean and reuse. With a variety of colors and silhouettes, you’ll be sure to find a soda maker to match with any decor.

Soda Stream

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Coffee Cup Power Inverter

Coffee Cup Power ConverterAssuming your car has a mug holder, it’s an unexpectedly clever and useful design. But it is also $30.

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Klingon Keyboard

Klingon Keyboard