Beautiful Things I Can't Afford: April 2007

Monday, April 30, 2007

NSX

This is a shot of me working on the Transportation Research Center's (TRCPG) Acura NSX.
It perfectly defines "Beautiful Things I Can't Afford" maybe some day I'll find some rich friends =)

Both the ultimate experience in 1st person shooter video games and a military training device, this "VR Ball" allows the user to enter the game. The hamster like ball senses your movement and imputes it into the game. If you want to jump, run, walk, turn, or crawl you just do it, no buttons to push. You carry a weapon to take on opponents and wear 3D vision gogles to look around the virtual world you've now entered. David and David give it 5 thumbs up.

(Extreme motion in the room made this a very blurry picture)

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Robobar

Talk about the ultimate appliance; I encountered this robotic bartender at Wired Magazine's Nextfest 2007. This amazing machine can mix any drink you desire to the perfect proportions every time. Plus you can program in any face and voice you desire. Is your dream for Rachel McAdams to serve you a rum and coke? The Robo Bar can make it possible!

Spaceship 2

Virgin Galactic's spaceliner program releases it's newest bird, the Spaceship 2. In the near future private tours of outer space will be possible by buying a ticket aboard this out of this world craft. Wouldn't it be nice to talk a lunch break to outer space!

Einstein

Now here's an invention I could really use. This fully functional AI robot wears the face of Albert Einstein for good reason. It carries just as much, if not more intelligence that the real man. As a fully interactive and thinking robot, this guy can do far more than the usual beverage delivery and vacuuming services. You can ask it any question, give it tasks, or even have it remember your conversations. Wouldn't life be easy with this ultimate assistant.

Dolphin

For the ultimate in personal watercraft experiences, how about a hybrid wave runner submarine, capable of 70 mph, that moves and looks like a dolphin. You can travel up to 50 ft under water and the surge to 10 feet above, all while traveling at greater than highway speeds. Sounds like fun to me!