Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

We’ve all got that nagging voice in the back of our heads telling us we should make a conscious effort to use less energy, but I’ve found it’s easy to drown it out by leaving my blender running 24/7. So it doesn’t hurt to have other reminders about our wasteful ways around the house.

The SmartSwitch is an intelligent light switch that lets you know when your home, or even your local electrical grid, is using substantial amounts of power. Now it doesn’t actually prevent you from turning on the light, but thanks to a built-in ‘brake pad’ the act of sliding the switch does become more difficult during the hours of peak energy demand in your neighborhood. That way you would think twice about whether you really needed that light on, or if you could use a more energy-friendly alternative like simply opening the curtains.

The SmartSwitch was created by Peter Russo and Brendan Wypich from Stanford University for the Greener Gadgets Design Competition.

[ Core77 - SmartSwitch ] VIA [ SlashGear ]

By Luke Anderson

What is it about designers that drives them to create objects that are just plain annoying to use? I’m sure that a lot of things sound good in their heads, but aren’t actually practical when put to the test. Take this weird Eyeclock for example.

Sure, it’s kind of cute to look at. It looks like a pair of crazy eyes, but what time is it? After staring at it for several seconds, you’ll probably be able to figure out the time. However, if you’re sitting more than a few feet away, you’ll only get a rough approximation at best. Personally, I don’t want to have to stare at a clock for more than a second or two to figure out the time. Since this is merely a concept design, there’s a good chance I won’t actually ever have to look at one.

[ Mike Mak ] VIA [ GearCrave ]

By Luke Anderson

Mousetraps are usually pretty basic gadgets. You generally either find the old wooden ones with a spring-loaded bar, or some plastic one that keeps them alive. Either way, you stick them somewhere out of the way and check on them every now and then to see if you’ve caught one. Well here’s a mousetrap that goes against all conventional thinking.

First, this trap is actually a table. So you’re going to encourage the rodents to climb on your furniture.   Well once the little critter finds its way into the tube, it will trip a motion sensor that seals the door. So now you’re going to have a mouse in a tube under your table, great. Now what? Now you wait for the mouse to fall into the microbial fuel cell at the bottom of the tube. There it will find a new definition of pain and suffering as it is slowly digested over a thousand years be turned into fuel which is used to trap the next victim. This mousetrap is too cool to be real, and for now remains only a concept design.

[ MaterialBeliefs ] VIA [ Unplggd ]

By Luke Anderson

Whether you’re a Windows person or a Mac person (or even Linux for that matter), you have to admit that the folks over at Apple have style. When you look at almost any of their products, you can tell that a great deal of time and effort went into making everything look sleek, from the outer shell down to the user interface. I good example is Cover Flow, which lets you browse through your music selection by looking at the cover art of each individual album cover. Well it seems that another designer has decided to take that same idea, and move it into the physical world.

I’m trying to think of the last time that I went to a store and picked up a music CD. Whatever it was, you can bet the case is long gone. Those things are bulky and almost as useless as the disc contained within these days. However, if you’re just dying to show off five of your favorite cases, you could set them on a custom-designed shelf to look like you’re browsing them in cover flow. Thankfully this is only a concept design. First, this look could be achieved without a special shelf, those little grooves aren’t going to do a whole lot. Second, who still owns CD cases?’

VIA [ Coolest-Gadgets ]

By Evan Ackerman

Bicyclists and cars don’t have the greatest relationship when it comes to roads. While bicyclists often ignore traffic laws, cars often ignore bicyclists, and everybody gets pissed at everyone else for being selfish jerks. Unfortunately, Light Lane could very well make all that worse… On principle it seems like an okay idea, projecting a virtual bike lane around you to help keep motorists off your ass. But, if you’re trying to make a bike lane where there isn’t a bike lane, I bet the cars trying to get around you aren’t going to be amused, to say the least.

Lane Light is currently just a concept.

[ Dustbowl ] VIA [ DVICE ]

By Luke Anderson

How many of you out there live alone, or in a dorm? If you fall into either of those categories, you probably find yourself doing very small loads of laundry (or just bagging it all up and taking it to your parents’ house every month or so) which can seem like such a waste in a regular washing machine. Not to mention depending on your residence, you might have to go off-site to wash your clothes. Well if you only need to do a small amount of laundry, then the Baguni ‘hamper in’ concept would be perfect for you.

This tiny washing machine is great because it functions as a hamper for your dirty clothes. When it’s full, just add in the detergent and fire it up. Unfortunately I doubt this thing is going to dry your clothes, so that’ll be another challenge. Either way, it seems like a pretty cool concept if you ask me.

VIA [ Dvice ]

By Luke Anderson

For those of you eating your breakfast when you read this, I apologize. How many times have you gotten done in the bathroom and feel like you’re ten pounds lighter? You know that feeling I’m talking about, when you’re convinced that you can now fit into jeans that are a size smaller than the ones you’re wearing. Well have you ever been curious how much of a load you just let off into the toilet? Well what you need my friend is a Toilet Seat Scale.

This concept toilet seat (I never thought I’d ever see a concept for a toilet seat) has a built-in scale. It is supposed to be designed for those keeping close tabs on their weight. However, we all know what this thing would get used for if it got put into production. There would be running tallies between friends to see who took the biggest crap. I’m just wondering when they’re going to get around to actually making this thing.

VIA [ Yanko ]

By Andrew Liszewski

While it’s obviously just a concept at this time (and will probably forever remain that way) the Climbing UP suitcase designed by Woo Moonhyung tackles the issue of dragging your heavy luggage across uneven surfaces and even up stairs. Instead of using a single set of wheels or casters on the bottom, the Climbing UP suitcase features a set of free-wheeling rubber belt tracks that cover the entire body of the suitcase. The design not only allows you to easily pull a suitcase up a flight of stairs, but the continuous track means you can also pull the suitcase from the front or back. And since it’s not a motorized system, there’s minimal added weight or size. It’s a pretty clever idea which actually won Woo Moonhyung the 2008 red dot design concept award. So maybe the idea might actually become a reality some day.

[ red dot design award - Climbing UP Suitcase ] VIA [ I New Idea Homepage ]

By Luke Anderson

My iPhone doesn’t always last through the whole day, so sometimes I’ll need to charge it when I’m not at my desk or bed. Unfortunately this means that my favorite phone ends up sitting on the floor with a USB cord plugged into it. I generally set it somewhere out of the way, but it still worries me. Probably not enough to warrant the purchase of these Socket Deer.

These socket covers are pretty handy, as they keep ahold of your phone while it is charging. They’re made from tough urethane rubber, which should keep a decent grip on your phone. I wouldn’t really suggest using these if you have small children running around. Something about those points tells me that they’ll attract children. If you’re more excited about these than I am, you’ll have to calm yourself. They are currently only a concept design.

[ Nendo ] VIA [ FoolishGadgets ]