Nike -A company with Vision. Literally. Contact Lens Designed For Athletes.

Nike has come out with tinted contact lens that alleviate the need to wear sunglasses for athletes! What a great idea!



In Amber:


or Grey Green:


How they work:


For a free trial offer, click here.
To view a video about Nike Maxsight click here.

If You Drink, This Nissan Won't Drive. Futuristic Sensors Detect Inebriation.

Japanese car company developing a car with built-in sensors to detect drunkenness of driver, locking ignition if needed. OPPAMA, Japan (Reuters) --

Beer-breaths, beware.

A new concept car with breathalyzer-like detection systems may provide even greater traction for Japanese efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road.

Nissan's alcohol-detection sensors check odor, sweat and driver awareness, issuing a voice alert from the navigation system and locking up the ignition if necessary.

Odor sensors on the driver and passenger seats read alcohol levels, while a detector in the gear-shift knob measures the perspiration of the driver's palm when starting the car.

Other carmakers with detection systems include Sweden's Volvo , which has developed technology in which drivers blow into a measuring unit in the seat belt before an engine can start.

But Nissan's car includes a mounted camera that monitors alertness by eye scan, ringing bells and issuing a voice message in Japanese or English if a driver should pull over and rest.

The car technology is still in development, but general manager Kazuhiro Doi says the combination of detection systems will ultimately keep an eye on who's behind the wheel.

"We've placed odor detectors and a sweat sensor on the gear shift, but for example if the gear-shift sensor was bypassed by a passenger using it instead of the driver, the facial recognition system would be used," said Doi.

Also keeping a short leash on drivers, car seat belts tighten if drowsiness is detected, while an on-road monitor checks if a car is keeping its lane properly.

Japan's No. 3 carmaker, which competes with Toyota and Honda, has no specific timetable for marketing, but aims to yoke all technology to cut the number of fatalities involving its vehicles to half 1995 levels by 2015.

Nissan's Doi says they still have to distill exactly what impairment means: "If you drink one beer, it's going to register, so we need to study what's the appropriate level for the system to activate."

Odor Sensors placed throughout the car detect the presence of alcohol and a facial monitoring system can recognize drowsy and drunken behavior.

Shift Knob Sensor:


1) A hi-sensitivity alcohol odor sensor is built into the transmission shift knob, which is able to detect the presence of alcohol in the perspiration of the driver's palm as he or she attempts to start driving. When the alcohol-level detected is above the pre-determined threshold, the system automatically locks the transmission, immobilizing the car. A "drunk-driving" voice alert is also issued via the car navigation system.

Passenger Seat Sensor:


2) Additional alcohol odor sensors are also incorporated into the driver's and passenger seats to detect the presence of alcohol in the air inside the vehicle cabin. When alcohol is detected, the system issues both a voice alert and a message alert on the navigation system monitor.

Facial Monitoring System:


A camera is mounted on the instrument cluster facing the driver to monitor the driver's face:


The system is calibrated to monitor the driver's state of consciousness through their eyes. When the system detects signs of drowsiness, a voice and message alert is triggered via the navigation system. Additionally, a seat-belt mechanism is activated, which tightens around the driver to gain his or her immediate attention.

Driving Behavior
By constantly monitoring the operational behavior of the vehicle (e.g. sensing if the vehicle is drifting out of its driving lane), the system can identify signs of inattentiveness or distraction in the driver. When the system detects such behavior, voice and message alerts are issued via the navigation system. The seat-belt alert mechanism is also activated, tightening around the driver to gain immediate attention.

This concept car was developed as an exploratory platform to showcase breakthrough technologies that could potentially be applied in future production cars, part of an ongoing program from Nissan contributing towards preventing drunk-driving.


CLICK ABOVE IMAGE TO ENLARGE.

Nissan has already launched and is developing several initiatives to help prevent drunk-driving. In June, the company introduced the "drunk-driving" message alert on its navigation system. In July, Nissan also began testing of a new on-board breathalyzer system in cooperation with several local government authorities in Japan, where an interlock mechanism will immobilize the vehicle if the driver's breath indicates the presence of alcohol above a specified level.

Nissan is taking a holistic approach towards safety that extends beyond the technology built into its vehicles. To achieve a "safe driving environment," Nissan has embarked on the Intelligent Transport System Project (ITS) in Kanagawa Prefecture - aimed at helping to reduce road accidents via the analysis of traffic data collected from on-the-road vehicles and traffic beacons. In Japan, the company's safety vision is to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.

A Fire Extinguisher That's Hot, Hot, Hot. Introducing Pinqy.

WHY PINQY®?
PinQY® is a small yet very powerful tool that comes in handy when you have the beginnings of a fire at hand.

Its unique spherical shape gives PinQY® the same extinguishing capacity (in terms of pressure) as a 1 kg extinguisher!



With its lightweight and practical design, PinQY® is simple to use and easy to handle. It takes up little space, which means that PinQY® is not only also suitable for smaller living spaces (such as student rooms), it can also be placed right in any area that runs the risk of catching fire.

As it is “lightweight” and does not require much strength to handle, PinQY® can also be used by children, the elderly and the disabled.

Its pleasing design and gadget-like nature also make PinQY® a perfect present for your children, friends and family.


Where is a good place to put/bring PinQY®?

* campsites, boats, garages/sheds, gardens (by the barbecue for example), kitchens, bedrooms, student rooms, etc.


Right now, it's only available from the following places:
United Kingdom:
PinQY UK Ltd.
18, College Parade
Salusbury Road
Queens Park
NW6 6RL London
United Kingdom
www.pinqy.co.uk

Scandinavia:
PinQY Nordic
Bivägen 13
125 58 Älvsjö
Sweden
www.pinqynordic.com

Netherlands:
PinQY Netherlands
Postbus 4326
6202 VA Maastricht
Nederland
www.pinqy.nl

but soon to be available in more places..

Design Is Blind: Beautiful, Wearable & Functional Objects With Braille

'Love Is Blind' Vase by Jessica Lertvilai, Canada




What makes this vase extra beautiful is that those are love letters transcribed in reliefed braille on the surface of the earthenware vase. The vase's narrow oval shape is ideal for floral arrangements, and unfilled it makes a romantically statuesque statement.
12" x 6" x 2", Earthenware.
Buy it here.

Raised Flocked Braille Wallpapers by Ilias:




Ilias makes actual Braille wallpaper with raised flocked dots in various colors, including one with accompanying text. All of their wallpapers are printed by hand and made in England.

Braille Wall Flats By Inhabit


Inhabit's Embossed Wall Flats are designed to expand in any direction with an automatic pattern repeat. Cover a existing wall, help disguise a not-so-smooth wall or add a modern pattern to any room setting.

They are good for the environment too, because they are made from bamboo pulp, one of the world's most renewable resources. No trees were harmed in the making of this product.

Customize them by rotating every other tile or row, mix-and-match patterns or paint them to coordinate with your decor. The rule is there are no rules and the important thing is to have fun with it. It¹s low stress, low commitment and a big payoff in the way Wall Flats from Inhabit impact a space. Wall Flats can be used to do an entire room, one wall or to create free-standing-art pieces.

Specs:
Dimensions: 18"x18" panels
Content: 10 panels per box
Coverage: 22.5 square feet
Color: Off-white paintable surface
Material: 100% molded bamboo paper pulp. No chemical fillers or additives.
Hand: Feels like a dense hardboard
Buy them here.

Dennis Lin's Braille Tiles -Totem Design



Dennis designed the tiles when he was looking for a way to express a message in a literal, but subtle, way. If the writing 'aint on the wall already, these tiles provide the perfect way to get it up there. Each 6 x 12 cast polymer tile represents a character of the Braille alphabet. To display your own tactile message, please order the total quantity of tiles you require (including blanks). Since every tiled message is different, Totem will contact you to confirm exactly which tiles/letters you require. $50/each
Buy them here.

Braille Furniture by Marielle Wichards



"Yes, I am fascinated by the fact that blind people experience forms and material in a completely different way. This fascination was born when I worked for 'het Schild', on the signposting in the building. Dealing with a physical handicap is complicated enough already, as a designer I can make things easier, more practical or more interesting. And that is very rewarding."
Read about it here.

Ingrid Lilligren's Braille Ceramics



See all her work here.

Braille Jewelry by Kim Christiansen

Buy it here.

Some braille rings from At First Sight

buy it here.

And Braille necklaces from Blugrn Design

Buy them here.

Auguste Raymond's Braille Hi-Touch Watches appeal to both the blind and seeing customers who like a functional, design wristwatch.

learn more here.

Wenger's Braille Watch:

buy it here.

Custom Braille T-shirts and Hoodies
At Primitive State, you can create custom t-shirts and hoodies you like in Braille:

above: an example of the braille translating interface at Primitive State.


Lego-Type Bricks for the Blind

A Tack-Tile® is interchangeable with any of the LEGO® -type blocks on the market.
Tack-Tiles® slates accept LEGO-type blocks; boards bought at toy stores accept Tack-Tiles® , yet differences exist. Tack-Tiles® slates are heavier and have receptor sites spaced like letters and lines of text. The receptors are rounded making placement of Tack-Tiles® easy even for many with fine and gross motor control problems. Tack-Tiles® may be pushed on with whatever force is available.



Buy them or learn more about them here.

Talk About Pissing on Religion: China Unveils World's Largest Bathroom

above: Virgin Mary Themed Urinals

Anyone who has traveled to the Middle Kingdom would agree that the country's public restroom facilities leave a lot to be desired. Well, in Chongqing, a city of 31 million people in south-central China, they've had enough. Not content with the rudimentary squat units found everywhere in China, the city has pursued some innovative ideas that are meant to make the experience not just easier, but a little more fun.

Beautiful Animated Video for Kwoon's I Lived On The Moon

This lovely animated video by Yannick Puig for Kwoon's first video, 'I Lived On The Moon' has already been viewed by record numbers of people on you tube, myspace and more. Now it's your turn to see it.

In Yannick's own words:
In "I lived on the moon", a father speaks to his son. He explains how was his life on the moon. A place filled with flying snakes, fireflies and three tailed monkeys. A beautiful place, safe and far away from the human culture. A place for imagination, a place in which you'll find the entrance only if you open your mind.






above: The actual lyrics


above: Animator/designer Yannick Puig

See Yannick's Creation of "I Lived On The Moon" complete with storyboards and more here.

Buy the CD here.
Kwoon Music

Chew on this: 700k grill for Rapper Baby

TMZ was there as the Cash Money Millionaires' singer had his $250,000 platinum/white gold plated and diamond encrusted grill replaced with a new and improved one worth $500,000.

People joke that Julia Roberts has a million dollar smile but rapper Baby literally does - and he has the bling to prove it.

The diamonds were designed by jeweler to the stars Chris Aire. Aire is the first designer to provide ascher cut diamonds made especially for use as a dental accessory.

The four hour procedure, performed by Beverly Hills dentist Dr. Daniel Durchslag, may seem bizarre to some, but Baby says he's just looking to "take it to another level."

And to keep his smile sparkling, don't expect to see him using Colgate anytime soon. Dr. Durchslag has concocted a special toothpaste that won't dull or scratch Baby's newly drilled family jewels.

Baby's extreme makeover should come as no surprise since he and the Cash Money Millionaires are responsible for coining the now ubiquitous term "bling bling." Which makes perfect sense since Baby says bling is his "passion" in life.

Besides the costs associated with the oral surgery and the diamonds, Baby also has an insurance policy on his new evil grin estimated at around $700K.

With a price tag like that, Baby's tooth fairy better have the last name Trump.

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Do It In Damask: Tons of Damask products

8 new ways to get your fill of damask.
Just click on the item below for details or to purchase.

Once relegated to Grandma's bed spread, Damask has made a major comeback as the new 'modern' pattern!

After the past few years of minimalist design in furniture and objects, Rococo, ornate and baroque have come back with a vengeance!

Don't believe me? Just looky...

See lots more of my Divine Damask products on my list at ThisNext.

Take A Hike...well, okay...A Walk.

NOTCOT(the fabulous site by my friend, Jean Aw and colleagues) did a nice feature story on this cool site, so I am reprinting it here.



Jean Aw: "Odds are if you are reading this, you PROBABLY should check the Walk Score of your current location and get walking. I mean seriously, we spend a bit too much time at our computers… well me at least. Apparently my current walkscore is well in the green, at 88% - what is that, a B+? A-? Its been a long time since i’ve thought about grades. “70 - 90 = Very Walkable: It’s possible to get by without owning a car.”

This is an interesting mashup - Walk Score uses a patent-pending algorithm to calculate the walkability of an address based on: The distance to walkable locations near an address, calculating a score for each of these locations, combining these scores into one easy to read Walk Score. More details below on how the calculate an areas walkability…"

From Walk Score:

Walkable Neighborhoods

Picture a walkable neighborhood. You lose weight each time you walk to the grocery store. You stroll home from last call without waiting for a cab. You spend less money on your car—or you don’t own a car. When you shop, you support your local economy. You talk to your neighbors.
What makes a neighborhood walkable?



Walkable communities tend to have the following characteristics:

* A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernable center, whether it’s a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.
* Density: The neighborhood is compact, rather than spread out, which brings people closer to stores and jobs and makes public transportation more cost effective.
* Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.
* Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.
* Accessibility: The neighborhood is accessible to everyone and has wheelchair access, plenty of benches with shade, sidewalks on all streets, etc.
* Well connected, speed controlled streets: Streets form a connected grid that improves traffic by providing many routes to any destination. Streets are narrow to control speed, and shaded by trees to protect pedestrians.
* Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back.
* Close schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

They even have a page of “How it doesn’t work”


www.walkscore.com