LightBeam makes any surface a projector display, and everyday objects a remote control

Pico projectors might be able to turn any old surface into a display - with varying results of course - but can they turn any old surface into in interactive display and everyday objects into a remote control? No? Well, with LightBeam they can. Developed by a team at Germany's Technische Universität Darmstadt, LightBeam pairs a pico projector with a depth-sensing camera to provide some Kinect style interactive control to projected presentations. The...

Privacy Pop bed tent provides some seclusion in shared boudoirs

Although we're social creatures, everyone needs a bit of privacy every now and then. This is particularly true in the bedroom, but whether it's sharing with siblings growing up or co-habitation with roommates at college, unfortunately not all have us can enjoy the luxury of our own sleeping space. While not quite in the same league as your own four walls, the Privacy Pop will provide some protection from prying eyes - but you'll still want to...

There’s a Simpson’s house in real life

There is a house in Clark County Nevada that is the exact replica of the house in “The Simpsons.” Built in 1997, it was the grand prize for a contest run by Pepsi and Fox. It cost $120,000. The winner could either to decide to occupy the house or take a $75,000 cash prize. The house exactly mirrored that in the show, down to every color! The winner of the contest decided not to live in the house, and it was remodeled and sold in 2007. (S...

In the Disney movie Hercules, the only character without a Greek name is Hercules.

Hercules, one of the most popular Disney movies of all time, was released in 1997. Roughly based on Greek legends, the story follows the young son of Zeus as he attempts to become a god like his father. However, what is odd about the movie is that Hercules is the only character with a Roman name! Disney named all the main characters after their Greek counterparts from mythology, such as Zeus, Hades, and Pegasus, yet refrained from naming Hercules...

Students from Hongik University, Seoul win Ferrari World Design Contest

This year's Ferrari World Design Contest award has gone to three students from Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea. Students from 50 universities worldwide put pencil to paper to compete for the award, with the Korean students being chosen over close contenders from IED of Turin, Italy and London's Royal College of Arts. ...

Universal Earphones detect left and right ear placement

The L and R labels on your headphones serve a purpose, and it isn't just about fit. The audio source - whether it's a receiver, PC or MP3 player - sends left- and right-channel sounds to the appropriate earbud. While it might seem minor, this can be a difference between a disjointed experience listening to music, movies and other video, to a fuller experience that connects sight (in the case of video) and sound - with sound coming from the direction...

Tiny Chameleons. Watch your step !

Photograph courtesy Frank Glaw Match-tip tiny, Brookesia micra (juvenile pictured) is the smallest of four new chameleon species found on the African island country of Madagascar. With an average adult length of just over an inch (2.9 centimeters) from snout to tail, B. micra is among the tiniest reptiles in the world. "In this scenario, Madagascar, as a large island, led to the evolution of theBrookesia minima group, whereas the ... islet...

The animal in Firefox is not actually a fox!

It’s actually a red panda! Slightly larger than a domestic cat, the red panda is native to the Himalayas and western China. Many assume that the animal in the Firefox logo is a fox, yet Firefox is actually the nickname for the rare panda species. Eating mostly bamboo, it is currently classified as “vulnerable” by IUCN because of its dwindling population.    &nb...

The world’s smallest guitar is the size of a red blood cell!

Developed by Cornell University researchers, this guitar is only ten micrometers long! How big is that? It would take one million micrometers to make one meter! The guitar has six strings, and each string is only about one hundred atoms thick. Made out of crystalline silicon it demonstrates new technology for a new generation of electromechanical devices. The guitar can actually be played, but it’s so small the sounds produced would be inaudible...

Facebook messenger for windows 7

Facebook Messenger for Windows officially released.   Facebook's Messenger app for Windows is now available for all to chit-chat with. Facebook has been testing the application since November as part of a private trial, butTechIT revealed the download link on Thursday. The application includes access to the chat, ticker feed and notification parts of Facebook, and only installs on Windows 7.  So, what does this application...

Lit Motors' C-1 electric motorcycle will stand up for itself

 It's a proposed fully-enclosed two-passenger electric motorbike that uses an electronically-controlled gyroscopic stabilizing system to stay upright when stopped, or even when struck from the side in an accident. So far, Kim and his team have developed an operating model of the C-1's flywheel-based stabilization system, along with a full-scale fiberglass mock-up of the vehicle itself. They are now working on a hand-built steel uni-bodied...

All-electric Tron Lightcycle hits the streets

Practicality tends to take a back seat when you combine sci-fi cult status with custom chopper building - and there's no room for a pillion passenger on the Lightcycle. We first spied Parker Brothers ChoppersLightcycle project last year when it surfaced in gas-powered form, now the company has released video of a fully-electric version of the neon-packing two-wheeler in action. The electric motor may be quieter, but this one's still guaranteed...

The Philippines has an island situated in a lake within an island within a lake within an island.

Vulcan Point is a place in the Philippines that is in Main Crater Lake, which is within Volcano Island, which is within Lake Taal, which is within the island of Luzon. It's all part of the complex volcanic system of the Taal Volcano. The volcano was formed due to massive prehistoric eruptions, and is still active today. It's a popular tourist destination not just due to the uniqueness of the Inception-esque island formation, but also because...

Underwater hotel room has guests sleeping with the sharks

We were intrigued by the Amphibious 1000's proposed floating suites and private underwater lounges, however The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort hosts the real deal! Situated in the tropical gardens on Rangalifinolhu Island, access to the resort is only by seaplane and while it may sound like any other exclusive get away, the Conrad Rangali will have you dining with stingrays and on special occasions, sleeping with the sharks. Opening its doors...