Author Archives: Ida Torres

Vintage-looking desk clock is handmade with brass and copper materials

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Time-telling has become one of those things we take for granted since we only have to look at our computer or our smartphones or our smartwatches to find out the current time. Sure there are still some places that have actual wall clocks or desk clocks but even those have become few and far between. It’s also rare now for people to collect unique-looking clocks but for those who actually do it, there is a “rare find” clock that you can find on Etsy if you can spare around $900.

Designer: Sergey

If you’re very much into hand crafted stuff that looks pretty unique and classic, the Nixei tube vintage clock may interest you. It looks like something that would have fit in during the Victorian era in a 19th century home. Its design is basically a hydro-mechanical column with manual drive and is made from brass, copper, bronze, and glass. They are soldered and threaded together and all these parts are connected by hand.

It can tell time in either the 12 and 24 hour format and has seven different colors as indicators. You can turn off the glow of these indicators if it proves to be too distracting at night. There are three buttons to control the different functions of the clock and you don’t need to be connected to a network to make it function. It is powered by a 5V adaptor and has a 24 x 29 x 11 cm dimension.

Oh and aside from telling time, it can also serve as a phone stand as there’s a cylinder shape on the side of the clock that can hold your smartphone. Of course it destroys the illusion of being a vintage piece if you put a modern device there but if you’re going for a contrast, then that’s the perfect thing to add to this desk clock.

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Portable tiny home can expand into a 364 square feet living space

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One of the most tedious things that I experienced more than once is moving houses. Well for one thing, I have so much stuff so packing them all up and then unpacking them at my new place can be such a pain. So sometimes I wonder if I could just have all of my things and furniture in just one box that I can move from one place to another if I need to not stay in one place. Well, there are now tiny houses that can do just that, provided you can fit everything you own in that space.

Designer: PODX Go

There are a lot of tiny houses already available out there but this one is truly portable and high-tech. The Grande S1 is a pre-fabricated tiny home that can be packed up in a huge box and can be transported to where you need to go. And once you’re ready to settle down in that place, it can unpack itself and expand to a 20-foot-wide living space, complete with furniture and all the stuff that you can fit in that place. Once completely expanded, it has a full width of 20 feet and 364 square feet and it’s “street legal” which is an important requirement for those that need to actually live in that house.

To open up the house, you need to fold out the awning and the stairs and lower the stabilizing posts first. After that, you just press the button and it will unfold in all its mechanical glory. Inside, you have a dining space, living room, kitchen, bathroom, home office, and bedroom. All of the furniture can be folded in and out or stowed away into compartments because, of course, you need to put them somewhere when the house will fold into itself. For example, the queen-sized Murphy bed and the office desk can be stowed into the wall while the dining table can be folded on both sides and the chairs inserted into it.

If you’re getting ready to move again, you just need to stow away the desk, bed, and dining table and then put the sofa in the front entry area while the office chair and coffee table can fit into the bathroom. Then you remove the stabilizing posts and then with another press of a button, the house will then fold itself up and you’ll be ready to move in just 10 minutes. Oh and this tiny house can go off grid as it powered by a1,400-watt array solar panels connected to a 5-kilowatt Lycan power box.

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Tallest spokeless ferris wheel to be constructed in Seoul

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Whenever I visit a new international city for the first time, I try to look if they have a giant ferris wheel and if I can, I take a ride on it to get the best view of the city. So far, the best ones I’ve been on are the Singapore Flyer and the Budapest Eye. Of course I have a lot more to go as I haven’t been to places like the London Eye, High Roller, Dubai Eye, etc. It looks like I’ll be adding something new to my list in one of my favorite cities in the world: a landmark giant ferris wheel is coming to Seoul soon.

Designer: UNStudio

The Seoul Twin Eye will start construction sometime in 2025 and when finished, it will be the world’s tallest spokeless one with its planned 180 meters high structure. Aside from its height, it has a pretty unique design as it will have two intersecting rings that will carry pods going around both tracks. It can hold as many as 1,400 tourists at the same time, with 20-25 people fitting in each of the 64 capsules. This is actually double of what the London Eye is able to accommodate and currently it is one of the largest in the world.

The planned ferris wheel will be located on the edge of the Han River as part pf a 40-meter high cultural complex which Seoul is hoping to develop as part of public spaces for residents and tourists. Not only will you be able to ride such a huge ferris wheel but you’ll also get the best panoramic views of the city. The design is actually inspired by the Honcheonsigye, an astronomical clock that represents celestial objects moving through time.

Aside from the Seoul Twin Eye, there’s a proposal to also construct a monorail to have a direct connection from the subway station to the ferris wheel site. There is also a proposed zip line within the complex for those who prefer a much more adventurous experience, although it’s unclear if it will be connected to the ferris wheel directly. One thing’s for sure, once it is launched, it will add to the beauty and charm of Seoul and will become a must-see destination for locals and tourists alike.

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Wall cladding made from corn cob waste brings sustainable construction materials

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Construction is something that we probably cannot do without as we continue to build houses, buildings, and other structures. The quest for coming up with sustainable construction is ongoing as we look for materials that are eco-friendly and the process in creating them to be as sustainable as possible. There are a lot of waste in our world that can actually be used for other purposes instead of just becoming biomass as they are mostly used now. A breakthrough in terms of interior wall cladding is now available and it comes from the most unlikeliest of sources: corn cobs.

Designer: StoneCycling and Studio Nina van Bart

CornWall is an alternative to interior wall cladding that uses organic corn cobs, subjecting them to up to 150 degrees Celsius so as to activate and create “strong bonds”. Aside from using sustainable materials, the heating process is also eco-friendly as it uses sustainable energy. The electric heating process uses the solar panels on their factory’s roof. So from the materials to the process itself, we are seeing something that will lessen or leave no carbon footprints at all.

Mostly corn cobs are left on the fields or fermented or burned as biomass. But with this process, they are able to turn them into wall cladding. It is better than the usual ceramic wall cladding that is used or even composite materials like high pressure laminate (HPL). Another advantage to this is that it is able to store more carbon dioxide because of the absorbed CO2 already in it. It is also 100% reusable as it can be removed from interiors through the demountable anchoring system.

Based on the product photos, it doesn’t look much different from the usual wall cladding. It actually looks like those cork coasters that we’re seeing now. It comes in different colors loke DarkBlue, MustardYellow, TerracottaPink, etc. Hopefully we see even more construction materials that use sustainable materials and processes so we can have an industry that is more eco-friendly.

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Korg pays tribute to classic vinyl turntable with Handytraxx Play

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I’ve never DJ-ed in my life, although I’ve touched a turntable or two in passing. But even though I don’t listen to much of their music, I’ve always found those who use that “instrument” to be fascinating since I have no idea how it really works. One of the more popular tools for DJs who wanted to be portable was the Vestax Handy Trax. Now a brand that has been producing gear for the modern DJ is paying tribute to that particular vinyl player.

Designer: Korg

Korg worked with the former president of Vestax, Toshide Nakama (who passed away before completion of the project) to come up with the Handrytraxx Play, a tribute to the original Vesta Handy Trax. It is able to bring what made the original a favorite among DJs together with Korg’s more modern features in a lightweight product that the musician can easily bring along wherever they need it.

Original Vestax Handytrax

The turntable comes with built-in 3-W speakers and you can choose to spin at either 33.3, 45, or 78 rpm. It is powered by AAA-sized batteries or if you can connect to an outlet, a USB-C cord. It also has a built-in looper that has variable playback speed, a crossfader with reverse mode, delay and scratch effects and several “unique and creative filters”. You can of course monitor playback through headphones and it also has a detachable control panel.

It looks like pretty much a normal vinyl turntable except that it is pretty portable and lightweight. A non-playable prototype of this gadget is expected to make an appearance at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show where Korg will be unveiling several other products.

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Ikea repurposes old uniforms into new lifestyle collection

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Over the past years, we’ve “stanned” brands that not only uses sustainable materials but are also able to upcycle and recycle materials to create new products. We’ve become conscious about how we consume things (well, hopefully, we’ve actually become conscious of it) and how this consumption culture affects this planet we’re living in. Ikea is trying to capture our hearts by creating a new lifestyle line created from materials that they themselves had to discard.

Designer: Ikea

The Swedish brand will be launching their newest collection called VÄXELBRUK which is uniquely made from their recycled coworker uniforms that were discarded when they introduced new attire back in 2020. So instead of just throwing these old uniforms into the trash heaps, they came up with new products that were made from 300 tonnes of these “useless” IKEA uniforms. If you’re not a fan of yellow and blue though, you might want to look elsewhere, even though they managed to tone down the colors considerably without dyeing the textile, which can be more expensive and resource-intensive.

The collection features 16 textile-based items that use the aforementioned old uniforms. This includes things like throw pillows, bags, cushion covers, and even curtains. They are not entirely made from the uniform textile though as they are blended with other recycled materials like polyester from used PET bottles. They also even included some of the “faulty” new uniforms so they will also not go to waste. The inclusion of other materials also helped to alter the colors that are normally so bright.

If you didn’t know that they were made from discarded co-worker uniforms, you’ll just think they’re normal Ikea products that use the iconic colors of the brand. But knowing there they come from makes it even more interesting. The VÄXELBRUK (which means interchangeable use in the Swedish language) collection will be released in February 2024 across Europe stores.

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Vollebak’s newest hat can protect you from all elements forever

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One aspect of ethical fashion, aside from how clothes are made, is also the sustainability of the clothing item itself. This means that the item should be long lasting so you don’t need to constantly change or update the pieces, therefore making you consume less. Vollebak is one such brand that prides itself in long lasting and “future-proof” fashion, coming up with pieces that are not just sustainably made but can last you years or maybe even forever. Their newest item is called the Planet Earth Hat V2 and it is headwear for all seasons, literally.

Designer: Vollebak

The hat is aptly named as it is able to be one with the planet when it comes to sustainable clothing as well as protect you from all the harsh elements you may encounter when traveling or going on adventures. The design is based on the boonie hat that military personnel wear but it has been enhanced with materials that can fit you whether you’re going to the jungle, desert, mountain, beach, trail, or maybe even just walking around the city. It is water repellent, fire resistant, quick drying, and is able to give you UPF 30+ UV-A, and UV-B protection.

It is made from 47% Kanecaron, a Japanese modacrylic fiber that is able to withstand fire and is also self-extinguishing. It is then woven with ultra thin carbon fibre filaments so that it gets an advanced ripstop to make the hat stronger. It also comes with a sunshield to protect your neck but in case you don’t need it, you can remove it easily and then re-attach it when needed as it uses military grade Velcro. There are also 36 vents built in and a soft, breathable mesh inside the lining so you get at least a bit of cooling feeling when in hot and humid weather.

The Planet Earth hat is probably not something you’ll need for every day use, unless you trek through deserts and other places with extreme weather regularly. But it is something that you should definitely have, especially if you believe in Vollebak’s philosophy and you’ve also tried out some of their other pieces of futuristic and future-proof clothing like jackets, pants, belts, and other hats. If you want something that will last you maybe forever and you have almost $400 to spare, then you can check it out.

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Google’s Wing drone delivery to have double the payload with new drone

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Since I live in a country where package delivery by drone is still something straight out of a futuristic movie, it’s fascinating to see how there are places where they are trying to make this the norm. Google’s parent company Alphabet is one of the early adapters with their drone delivery arm Wing, spanning three continents and more than 350,000 deliveries in those places where it’s available. Now they want to expand, literally, with a larger drone that can make deliveries even more convenient.

Designer: Wing

This new drone is still so new that it doesn’t have a name yet. But what is sure is that it will be able to double the payload of the original drone so there will be no need to use two drones to deliver larger orders. According to their data, 30% of their U.S orders require more than one drone and so there is a need for something that will be able to deliver twice what it usually can, saving on the customer’s money and the company’s logistics.

The new drone will be able to carry up to 5 pounds on 12 sm flights while cruising at 65 mph. While it has the same range and speed as the original Wing drone, this new one can carry double as the former is only able to carry up to 2.5 lbs. It will still use the combination of vertical takeoff and landing and precision hovering with fixed wings as it cruises to the delivery address.

The Wing Delivery Network will continue to expand and get more people and companies to use their service. They are now able to do computer tracking as compared to the human intervention previously so the drones can actually do longer routes. And with the still unnamed new drone, they can do heavier loads for those who may need more stuff delivered.

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Casio Baby-G celebrates 30th anniversary by getting a Hello Kitty 50th birthday design

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I still have a pretty clear memory of me begging my parents to buy me a Baby-G watch when I was still a teenager and I didn’t have any money yet to get my own. I also remember buying anything that has a Hello Kitty design that I could afford back then, which wasn’t a lot since, as I mentioned, i didn’t have my own money just yet. Now that I am a full grown adult earning my own keep, my dreams for both may be about to come true as Casio is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Baby-G and Hello Kitty is turning 50.

Designer: Casio

Casio and Sanrio have announced a collaboration for the two brands with the brand new Baby-G model, the BGD565KT which features all the Hello Kitty things that you can fit in a watch. The watch design itself is based on the BGD-565 which sports the very first design of the Baby-G model which was launched back in 1994. It still has the usual watch features including shock resistance, 100M water resistance, LED backlight, multi-function alarms, stopwatch, countdown timer, and a 3-year battery life.

But of course, the star of this model is Hello Kitty herself. The entire watch has a total of 50 Hello Kitty details so you’ll get a kitty overload. This includes the band which has printed faces of the 1970s version of the cute feline as she’s laughing, winking, and looking surprised. You’ll also see her on the LCD when the backlight is on, with her distinguishable eyes, nose, and whiskers. The dial itself has a ribbon design so you get a Hello Kitty face on your wrist.

Since we’re celebrating milestones for both brands, the watch itself has a retro design which users like me wouldn’t really mind since this is all about cute nostalgia. Even the packaging is Hello Kitty-fied as it has a cloth pouch based on the design.

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Interactive jellyfish robot responds to hand gestures

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When I visited Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium in Auckland last year, one of the most fascinating things I saw are the jellyfish. They were very pretty and captivating and looking at them gave me a certain sense of calm. I still don’t know much about them except for the fact that they don’t have the usual organs we see in animals like hearts, brains, and even eyes. It would be interesting to know more about these creatures and this project may just be something that can connect humans more to these “free-swimming marine coelentrata”.

Designer: Adonis Christodoulou

The aim of the project is to establish a sort of communication between humans and jellyfish, even if it’s not the actual animal but an interactive robot driven by machine learning. After going through several prototypes, they came up with something that has actuators with reels that are able to wrap around the “tentacles”. The sides also have holes that will keep the threads perpendicular to each of the reels. There are fours strings attached to a single level of the reels and the next tentacle is located above the previous one.

The software design is where things get really interesting. There are connected through communication channels among Wekinator, Processing, and Arduino. They teach the machine hand gestures that are then translated into “emotions” for the jellyfish robot. Raising the hand will induce a calm attitude while doing the finger heart will make the jellyfish happy. If you want to make it mad, do a fist and if you want to make it sad, do a thumbs down. Once the robot processes this emotion it triggers movements in the robot.

It’s a bit unclear how this will actually translate to understanding jellyfish more. But by the anthromorphization of the jellyfish through servos, LED, and robotic articulation, they are able to “give life” to this mysterious but interesting specie. It’s also cool to see different robotic transmutations, as long as they don’t someday overthrow humans.

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