Sharp branching into robo-vacs, grow lights, e-whiteboards to offset slow LCD sales (video)

Sharp branching into robovacs, grow lights, ewhiteboards to offset slow panel sales

Remember the Cocorobo robotic vaccum that could send you pics of your newly-cleaned carpet? Sharp is going to be doing a lot more of that kind of thing soon, if a recent demo at its research center in Nara, Japan is any indication. Since the company has been losing gobs of money on its tepid LCD-panel business, it'll soon be using some of that tech in completely different industries: for instance, converting powerful LED lighting from TV backlights to grow lamps, and touchscreen TV panels to interactive whiteboards. Sharp admitted to PC World that it needed to branch into other businesses since "rivals have been able to catch up from behind" to its LCD TV and mobile phone businesses -- and judging by the drastic actions the company's taken to stave off disaster lately, it'll need to hustle those products to market, stat. Check the video after the jump to see some of the prototypes in action.

[Image credit: PC World]

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Source: PC World

Delete Clock Erases Your Schedule as Time Passes

Regardless of how good or bad a person’s memory is, I think everyone needs some sort of a planner. Life can get so busy and hectic sometimes that you won’t be able to keep up without something like a calendar or organizer to help you do so.

If you can’t be bothered with a small datebook or your smartphone, then how about something you can hang on your wall instead – in the form of the Delete Clock?

Delete Clock

It’s a pretty neat concept designed by Li Ke, Pang Sheng Li, and Chen Yi Lin. The face of the clock has a dry-erase whiteboard surface, and it offers generous spaces for you to write down reminders or appointments on the applicable time block. The longer hand is the hour hand, while the shorter one is the minute hand.

The hour hand has two functions: it holds the whiteboard pen in place so you don’t have to worry about losing it, and it’s got an eraser on the reverse, which wipes the board clean as it moves around the clock, wiping your appointments and tasks as they pass. How’s that for killing two birds with one stone?

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Of course this probable isn’t for you if you like to keep a history of past appointments, because once they’ve passed, they’re gone forever with the Delete Clock.

[via Yanko Design]

Give Nicolas Cage a New ‘Do with Your Dry Erase Marker

I don’t always agree with the choices that Nicolas Cage makes with regards to his career, but I definitely have a strong opinion about his hairstyle – or his lack of one. Nicolas has been sporting variants of the same boring old ‘do for as long as I can remember. If it bugs you as much as it bugs me and his legions of fans and non-fans, then the good news is that there’s something you can do about it.

You won’t be able to make him change it, but you can try to convince him by showing him what he looks like with the help of a couple of dry erase markers and this handy dandy Nicole Cage whiteboard from Brandon Bird.

Nicolas Cage Hairstyle WhiteboardSo you won’t be able to use it for anything else, but at least you’ll be able to have tons of fun and tons of laughs while you unleash your creativity and share it with your bestest pals.

The Nicole Cage hairstyle whiteboard is on sale for $20 on TopatoCo.

[via Laughing Squid]

Foldable Pocket Whiteboard

folding whiteboard Foldable Pocket Whiteboard
Take a whiteboard with you anywhere with a Noteboard Foldable Pocket Whiteboard Foldable Pocket Whiteboard. When unfolded, the 27 sections combine to form a 15″ by 27″ travel whiteboard. It folds down to the size of an index card (3″ by 5″) to fit in your pocket easily.
pocket dry erase board Foldable Pocket Whiteboard
Comes with a dry erase pen and a microfiber pouch which doubles as an eraser. Great for role playing gamers, students, traveling business people, kids/parents, and pirates who need an erasable treasure map.

buy now Foldable Pocket Whiteboard

Foldable Pocket Whiteboard


IdeaPaint Transforms Any Surface into an Erasable Board

My sisters and I used to draw on any and every surface we found, much to the dismay of our parents. Some of our walls still bear evidence of our creativity, since no amount of soap or scrubbing could completely erase the marks we made.

One thing that will save your walls and keep the creativity flowing is IdeaPaint. It’s available as an opaque or clear coating that will add dry erase functionality to any surface. Paint it on your walls, on your desks, on chairs, and any other surface where you want to write, doodle, or draw to your heart’s content.

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It’s virtually odorless, too, so you don’t have to worry about airing rooms out after painting over your stuff.

IdeaPaint1

A basic IdeaPaint CLEAR kit retails for $225(USD) and contains everything you need to start transforming up to 50 square feet of stuff into dry-erase surfaces, including a roller, stir stick, can opener, and wet paint sign.

[via BLTD]


Noteboard Puts a Whiteboard in Your Pocket

Whiteboards are great for classes and brainstorming, but since they aren’t usually portable, they can’t really work everywhere – that is until now. The Noteboard is a portable whiteboard that can expand to let you brainstorm ideas almost anywhere.

noteboard dry erase whiteboard

When it’s unfolded, the Noteboard is approximately the size of 27 notecards. Once it’s completely collapsed, it can fit in your pocket. Robin Thomas, the creator of the Noteboard, states that it’s a great alternative to tablets and paper. It’s true that it can be useful, but if you’ve used whiteboards a bit, you know that you’re always left with a greasy residue and marks all over your hands from the pens. Still, it’s a cool idea.

Robin is currently sold out of Noteboards, but is raising funds to help create another batch. Stop on by his website if you’re interested in getting in on the action or if you’d like instructions on how you can make your own using simple materials including contact paper and note cards.

[via TechCrunch]