Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

Ever since I first saw the DiveCam that NBC uses for televised events a few years ago, I wondered how the operator managed to keep the camera so perfectly synced with the diver as they plunged into the pool. Well thanks to a few different camera angles used at this year’s Olympic games I finally figured out the simple gimmick the DiveCam uses, but the Wall Street Journal has gone one step further and provided a bit of backstory regarding its development.

For those who don’t know or haven’t seen it, the DiveCam is basically a small camera contained in a tube that follows the diver from the top of the platform all the way into the water. But instead of using complex pneumatics or motorized tracks, the camera is simply dropped at the same time the athlete leaves the platform. Since gravity ensures that everything falls at the same rate, as long as the operator releases the camera at the same time as the diver, it will perfectly follow them into the water. The idea was originally thought up by NBC’s David Neal, but he contracted Garret Brown, inventor of the Steadicam (and countless other ingenious camera rigs) to make it a reality. Garret improved on the idea with mechanisms to safely bring the camera to a stop once underwater, and added remote tilt-and-pan controls so that the cameraman could always keep the diver in frame. I’ll admit that diving is not one of my favorite events, but seeing the footage that comes from the DiveCam is enough to keep me watching every time it’s on.

[ WSJ - Now Diving: Sir Isaac Newton ] VIA [ DVICE ]

By Andrew Liszewski

You might dominate the ping-pong table that’s set up in your parent’s basement, but if you have dreams of making it to the Olympic games some day, you’ll be facing some considerably more talented competition. But with a bit of practice (say, a few hundred thousand hours) you might just be ready to compete. Of course finding someone who shares your dream and dedication might not be easy, so thankfully we live in the 21st century where robots have at least reached the level where they can effectively serve you a ping-pong ball.

The Donic Newgy Robopong 1040 is designed for the “advanced and ambitious” table tennis players and is not only able to put varying amounts of spin on the ball, but is also able to place shots all over the table thanks to a built-in oscillator. That allows a player to work on their footwork as well as paddle techniques. The ball basket has a 200 shot capacity, and there’s even an optional catch net accessory that will automatically return the balls to the basket after each shot. (Increasing the amount of time you’re playing, instead of hunting down missing ping-pong balls.) It’s available from Jarvis Sports for about $740, with the catch net accessory being an additional $530.

[ Donic Newgy Robopong 1040 ] VIA [ Electricpig ]

By Andrew Liszewski

You’d think that more companies would take a hint from Apple when it comes to slick product design. And don’t get me wrong, design isn’t everything, but it can definitely make your product stand out, particularly if you’re in a crowded market. Take water bottles for example. While I’m perfectly happy with my stainless steel SIGG bottle, I’m ready to trade it in for one of these cool looking KOR ONE ‘hydration vessels’. (Which in and of itself sounds cooler than ‘water bottle’.) Besides being re-usable, the KOR ONE doesn’t use any polycarbonates (like other re-usable plastic bottles) which according to their website contains bisphenol-a or ‘BPA’ which is a known hormone disruptor. That’s pretty much the reason I switched to a stainless steel water bottle in the first place. The KOR ONE also features a hinged cap that can be opened and closed with one hand without the risk of it falling off or going MIA.

The KOR ONE will be available from the company’s website in August for $29.95, and if you think that’s expensive just run the numbers on how many bottles of water you buy in a year and I think you’ll find it quite reasonable.

[ KOR ONE Hydration Vessel ] VIA [ Uncrate ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Hi. My name is Andrew, and I’m addicted to the Olympics. Normally I couldn’t care less about sports, save for a few hours spent watching the Superbowl every year, but there’s just something about the Olympics that has me glued to the TV ’til the wee hours of the morning. And if you’re just as big a fan and would like to pick up a souvenir that’s a bit more substantial than a t-shirt, you can now order a limited edition replica of the official Beijing Olympic torch.

The torch replica is 29cm tall which represents the 29th modern Olympic Games, and is approved and licensed by the IOC. It’s made from actual steel left over from the ‘Bird’s Nest’ National Stadium, and the crystal display base features a laser-etched map showing the route the torch took all over the world. The replicas are limited to just 200,000 sets and are available from the official Beijing 2008 Olympics online store for $500.

[ The Classic Edition of the Beijing Olympic Torch ] VIA [ Nerd Approved ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I’ve seen quite a few different variations on the inline skate including the addition of larger wheels for off-road travel and even an electric motor so you don’t have to exercise at all. But the Booster Blades are definitely the most unique, and quite possibly the most dangerous set of inline skates I’ve ever seen. The easiest way to wrap your head around the crazy looking mechanism is to think of the Booster Blades as a cross between a set of inline skates and a bicycle. The rider uses a natural ’stepping’ or ‘pedaling’ motion which is translated to the rear wheels via gears, sprockets and a chain to propel them forward.

Drive is via a belt over a spiral cam, which turns a 33 tooth sprocket, from which a 6mm pitch chain drives an 11 tooth sprocket on the back axle. The back axle drives the rear wheel through a freewheel, giving forward propulsion geared up 4:1.

Braking is achieved by a specially shaped brake block, which presses on the back tyre when the boot plate is tilted back. This can only be done when the mechanism is in the down position.

Apparently the Booster Blades gives the rider more speed for less effort, but they can also be ‘locked down’ and used as conventional inline skates at the push of a button. And while previous experience with inline skates is a plus, according to their website the Booster Blades still have a bit of a learning curve that’s not unlike learning to ride a bicycle.

[ Booster Blades ] VIA [ TechEBlog ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Here’s an updated take on the classic ‘test your strength’ hammer game which is a staple of carnivals and midways all over the world. But instead of slamming a hammer down onto a target in hopes of ringing a bell (and impressing the ladies) the Kicker machine simply has you kicking a football/soccer ball to see how strong your kick measures up.

To be honest, my friends and I have never sat around a table telling stories about how strong we can kick in an attempt to one-up the previous guy, but if we did, it’s nice to know there’s now a way to settle that debate. And I imagine if you played football/soccer on a regular basis this could probably also serve as a training aid to help you improve your shot strength. As long as a stronger kick is worth about $7,960 to you.

[ Kicker Machine ] VIA [ Born Rich ]

By Andrew Liszewski

When it comes to tennis, or any racquet-based sport for that matter, it doesn’t matter how polished or perfect your swing is if you can’t keep a grip on the racquet itself. So to reduce the amount of sweating in your palms during a match, a company called Control Freek has developed a new racquet with a built-in air conditioning system. While some type of ultra-lightweight electronic fan component would definitely be impressive, the cooling system actually uses the motion of the racquet to keep cool air flowing to the handle.

On the Dominator model for example, there are two large air scoops situated just above the handle that grab the moving air while you swing. The air is then funneled out a series of smaller holes located all around the handle which keeps your palm cool and dry while you’re holding it. And while I think the idea definitely has potential, I have to wonder how you replace the grip on the handle, which will most likely still deteriorate over time from being played with. All those holes mean that simply buying a roll of replacement grip tape and doing it yourself is out of the question.

[ Control Freek Cool Racquets ] VIA [ Inventor Spot ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If you’re a professional shooter, I can’t imagine that practicing by firing off a few rounds at a paper target in an indoor range is all that realistic. And while I’ve come across a lot of high-tech simulators for hand guns over the years, this is the first one I’ve seen that’s specifically designed for rifles and shotguns. The ST-2 Shooting Simulator from Marksman Training Systems allows you to practice shooting at moving targets like live game or clay traps, and uses a virtual ballistics model (co-developed with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation) to provide valuable feedback on your technique.

The simulator can be used with most shotguns and rifles. The camera sensor that registers gun movements and shooting direction can be easily attached to the barrel of your own gun. The shooting direction is calibrated by a single shot at a calibration target. The shooting scenarios include moving and fixed targets. Starting position, trajectory, speed of the targets are parameters that can be altered by the user creating a wide variety of scenarios to practice on. Hit position and the effectiveness of the shot are evaluated according to all contributing factors: ammunition load and weight, range, target size, trajectory and speed.

And if you’re wondering how realistic the ST-2 Shooting Simulator really is, the company’s website claims it’s currently being used by both the Russian and Slovakian clay shooting teams in preparation for the 2008 Olympic games. So needless to say it will be great PR for them if either of those countries ends up with competitors on the podium.

[ ST-2 Shooting Simulator ] VIA [ Born Rich ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Even though it’s probably one of the most passive sports I can think of, there seems to be an endless supply of contraptions and other equipment designed to improve your golf game. Now I realize that it can take years to develop the ‘perfect’ swing, but unless you’re dreaming of a career in the PGA, the SensoGlove just seems like overkill to me.

It looks like your standard white leather golf glove until you notice the small computer with the LCD display on the back. This computer uses various sensors that are strategically placed throughout the glove to measure your grip on the club while you swing. Audio feedback lets you know when your grip has become too tight, while I assume the club flying out of your hand lets you know when your grip is not tight enough. The LCD also provides a visual indication of which fingers are gripping the club too tightly, and you can even adjust the sensitivity depending on what level of grip is right for you.

The SensoGlove is available on the company’s website for $119 in both men and women’s sizes, while replacement gloves are just $26.67. (You can simply transfer the small computer to the new glove when the old gets worn out.)

[ SensoGlove ] VIA [ Uncrate ]