Virtual Cane Helps Blind People Move Around with Voice Prompts

Last year we saw a robot cane for visually impaired people that warns its user of obstacles with an audible alert. The Virtual Aid for the Visually Impaired or VAVI by grade 10 student Roman Kozak is an even more convenient prototype for a high tech cane. It lets the user search Google Maps and be guided towards his or her destination by voice prompts.

VAVI is not actually a cane but just a short cylinder; instead of direct contact it uses an ultrasonic sensor to detect objects in the user’s path. A vibration motor and a buzzer alerts the user if there’s an obstacle in his way. As for the location search, Roman wrote an Android app that taps into Google Maps. When the app is open, the user can order it to search for a location by saying “go to _____.” The app will look for the destination and will then provide voice prompts to guide the user as he walks.

The app also accepts voice commands for placing a phone call, sending the user’s current location to someone else and for finding VAVI. For that last feature, the app will reach out to VAVI through Bluetooth and activate its motor and buzzer to make it easier to find. Roman also made it so VAVI can be charged wirelessly via induction so the user won’t have to bother finding an adapter and an outlet.

For all its capabilities, Roman estimates that VAVI only costs about $70(USD) to produce. Check out Roman’s website for more on his invention.

[via Hack A Day]

LEGO Titanfall Weapon Replicas: Anti-Minifig Guns

Flickr member, LEGO enthusiast and Bionicle pilot Nick Brick made life-size scale models of some of the weapons in the hit FPS Titanfall. Nick made the EVA-8 Shotgun, the Smart Pistol MK5 and the R-101C Carbine.

Nick’s replicas may not be exactly the same as their virtual counterparts – Nick made the pistol and the rifle months before Titanfall came out – but they still look awesome and even have a few moving or detachable parts.

Have a closer look at Nick’s arsenal in these videos:

Call in a browser and head to Nick’s Flickr page for more shots of the weapons.

[via Slash Gear]

2D Desktop Interface Embedded in Virtual Reality: VVNC

Just because virtual reality displays let us interact with 3D interfaces doesn’t mean there isn’t room for the ol’ two-dimensional view inside of them. Oliver Kreylos, a developer who’s been working with 3D software for nearly 30 years, recently demonstrated a Virtual Network Computing (VNC) client that sends a 2D feed of a desktop computer to a 3D virtual reality environment.

Oliver’s VNC client allows him to open and interact with any number of 2D desktops on a virtual reality environment. Why would you want to do this? Well for one, you can reverse telecommute: imagine working in an island paradise environment while you’re actually in the office. Because you can (theoretically) open multiple desktops at once, the setup also supercharges multitasking and group meetings. You can watch a video walkthrough while playing a 3D game, look at a hundred fullscreen documents at once, have multiple large video chat screens like they do in science fiction flicks and more.

As you’ll see in Oliver’s demo video, developers can also make 2D applications that interact with the 3D environment. In his demo he measured a table that was in his virtual space and then used a Razer Hydra to send those measurements to Microsoft Excel on his 2D desktop.

We really don’t know how far the rabbit hole goes with this one. Note that the video below may cause dizziness because of the constant change in perspective. It almost made me throw up to be honest. I’m ill-equipped for the future.

Head to Oliver’s blog for more on his custom program. I wonder if you can emulate this feature on the same computer that’s running the VR environment. That would be more useful, although it would probably take a beefy computer to pull it off. Also, watching Oliver’s demo, I can almost – almost! – visualize a four-dimensional space, where you can fit infinite 3D environments. Now I’m really dizzy.

[via Fast Co. Design]

Tron Light Cycle VR Game: Enter the Grid

We can’t enter the digital world like the Flynns did just yet, but thanks to the Oculus Rift, you may be able to experience what it’s like to duke it out in a light cycle. Custom video game machine maker Luis Sobral aka The Arcade Man made an arcade game featuring Tron’s famous vehicles based on the virtual reality headset.

Luis calls his project RiftCycles, a game where players take part in an “immersive virtual reality light cycle battle, fighting in an arena with their bikes until “deresolution”.” To make the experience more authentic, Luis also built two light cycle models out of cardboard and metal for players to ride on.

Watch out for CLU and head to Luis’ website for more on RiftCycles.

[via Gadgetify]

The Walking Dead Beach Towel Is Perfect for Vacations on Dead Island

The winter was long and cold in many parts of the country, but thankfully it’s almost over for most of us. If you are gearing up to hit the pool, lake, or beach sometime soon you may need a new towel to take with you. Fans of The Walking Dead will be hard pressed to find a cooler towel than this.

This is a Walking Dead officially licensed towel that says “Don’t open, dead inside.” It has chained doors and zombie hands reaching through to eat the yummy meat sack on the other side.

The towel is made from cotton and no walkers were harmed in its construction. It measures 59″ x 29.5″ and can be purchased for $19.99(USD).

I’ve always wondered why no one set up camp on a beach since you wouldn’t have to worry about Walkers sneaking up behind you. The beach is a good idea unless Walkers can swim or creepily walk across the bottom of the ocean and pop out unexpectedly.

Chocolate Zombie Bunny: Happy Bloody Easter!

If I am being honest, I can’t see a bunny without thinking: “There’s the beast!” “What, behind the rabbit?” “No, IT IS the rabbit!” Monty Python and the Holy Grail if you didn’t know. With Easter coming soon, you may be looking for some cool candy and gifts to give the geeks on your list. They would love to find the Easter bunny left this behind.

It’s called the Chocolate Zombie Bunny. It’ looks like a deadly beast that would chew out your neck in a second, but it’s actually quite docile. Despite the green color, exposed ribs, and blood leaking from the mouth of the bunny, it’s actually made from white chocolate.

This was apparently a past April Fools’ product at ThinkGeek, and it has now turned into something real you can buy for $9.99(USD). Even better, spend $25 on other stuff and you can get one free while supplies last. Now get out there and lop its head off before it gets you with its nasty, big pointy teeth.

Tech Deals of the Day: Friday, 4/11/2014

Our friends at TechBargains.com compile a list of daily deals to help you save money. Keep in mind that as with any good deal, products are limited in quantity and can sell out quickly – so don’t hesitate to check them out now.

If you’re looking to buy a product from a specific store, save money with updated and verified coupon codes here.

Computers & Peripherals:

• TP-LINK TL-SG108 8-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch $23.99 plus free shipping (normally $60 – use code: EMCPFWW62)

• AData Premier 64GB Micro SDXC Flash Memory Card (UHS-1/Class 10) w/ SD Adapter $29.99 plus free shipping – normally $55 – use code: EMCPFWW46)

• PNY XLR8 SSD9SC240GMDA-RB 2.5″ 240GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive $99.99 plus free shipping (normally $190 – use this form)

• Brother DCP-7065DN Monochrome Laser Multifunction Printer/Copier/Scanner $97.99 plus free shipping – normally $190)

Home Entertainment:

• The Last Of Us Game (Playstation 3) $25.19 plus free shipping (normally $50 – use code: VGMADNESS1)

Personal Electronics:

• Wacom Bamboo Create Pen and Touch Tablet $129.99 plus free shipping (normally $239)

• Refurbished Soul by Ludacris Pro SL150 Hi-Definition On-Ear Headphones (WHITE) $35.95 plus free shipping (normally $100 – use code: SPRING10)

• Samsung Galaxy Reverb Smartphone $49.99 plus free shipping (normally $200)

• New in Open Box Apple iPad Mini 16GB 7.9″ Tablet w/ Wifi $239.99 plus free shipping (normally $299)

• Garmin nuvi 50LM 5″ GPS Navigation w/ Lifetime Map Updates $79.00 plus free shipping (normally $109)