Skully Helmets P1 Heads up Display Gives You Eyes in the Back of Your Head

Posted on 16/10/2013 by Shane McGlaun

A company called Skully Helmets has unveiled a new and very cool helmet called the Skully P1. This helmet is notable because it has an integrated rearview camera that shows what’s behind the rider on a small heads up display in the visor of the helmet. That rearview camera provides a 180-degree view of what’s behind the wearer.

The helmet is also able to pair to smartphones and offers voice controls for calls, music, and turn-by-turn navigation directions. The helmet uses the something Skully calls their Synapse HUD, which appears to float 20 feet in front of the rider’s field of view. The overlay is persistent and has two views for the rider to choose from. One of the views is a standard rearview camera mode and the other offers detailed turn-by-turn navigation.

The helmet runs on internal battery good for nine hours of use per charge. The helmet is powered by the Android operating system and the company plans to launch an SDK next year allowing developers to make apps specifically for the helmet. In addition to all of it’s high tech chops, the helmet meets DOT and ECE safety standards. Pricing and a release date is unannounced at this time.

[via Wired]

Global Positioning Systems: Much More Than Navigation

Posted on 16/10/2013 by Paul Strauss

It wasn’t all that long ago that GPS technology was a rare commodity. These days, nearly every handheld device has GPS-powered navigation and tracking technology built into it. But now global positioning systems have the potential to impact our lives in ways we couldn’t have dreamed of 10 years ago. The data provided by today’s GPS satellites can pinpoint the location of people and objects down to just a few meters.

gps satellite

This information can be used to power numerous improvements to our lives and safety. Here are a few examples of how accurate GPS coordinate data can be used to make the world a better place. GPS technology can be used to help do everything from improve delivery service, to preventing loss of property, to keeping our skies, roadways, families and pets safe.

One area in which GPS technology is making everyday life more convenient is in the area of delivery services. The technology can be used to not only ensure that drivers are following the most efficient route to their destination, but also can now be used to provide real-time data on the location of deliveries to both companies and their customers. One such example is the GrubHub food delivery service.

grubhub food gps

This local food delivery aggregator allows participating restaurants to share location data for delivery orders via an Android or iPhone app, so consumers can know exactly where their food is and when it will arrive at its destination. No more wondering if or when your meal will show up – all thanks to GPS tech.

Of course, global positioning data isn’t just for things like finding out where your pizza is. GPS data is frequently used by emergency responders to quickly find their way to victims of disasters, crimes, and accidents. Today’s Enhanced 911 emergency response systems are backed by GPS data.

911 call center 2

These public safety systems leverage GPS and cell phone tower location data to try and instantaneously locate the caller, speeding response and ensuring accurate response location. Can you imagine being in an emergency situation where you can’t speak, or don’t have the time or focus to be able to report your location? Thankfully, GPS tech has got you covered.

Location coordinate data can also be used to track down lost personal property, but even more importantly can help find lost pets and children. One such application of this technology is the FiLIP, a forthcoming device that combines an emergency phone and GPS-based locator for children in a special wristwatch.

filip gps watch

This gadget looks like an oversize watch, but it allows parents and guardians to not only track the location of their kids, but to be alerted if they leave a pre-set “safe zone” – such as school or a park. You can also call or message your child. The watch can even dial a tree of emergency contacts and record ambient sounds when its emergency button is pushed. Having this always-on connectivity to your child certainly can ease parent’s minds, and can definitely help save children from precarious situations. But it’s having accurate location data that’s the most critical component of such devices.

These are but a few innovations which depend on GPS location data, and the future remains bright for the application of global positioning technology. You can be a part of it by contributing your own ideas over at The Air Force Collaboratory in their “Launch of GPS IIF” project. This project will help the Air Force launch its own GPS satellite into the GPS Constellation, and is just one of three recently-launched projects which encourage the general public to participate in the conceptualization development of new technologies which can improve Air Force safety and efficiency, and contribute to the general safety and security of humankind.

Thank you The Air Force Collaboratory and Technorati for being sponsors of this article. All opinions expressed here are my own and the products mentioned are not endorsed by the U.S. Air Force.

Explore the Lamborghini Museum Using Google Maps

Posted on 16/10/2013 by Shane McGlaun

Google Maps has been adding an ever-increasing amount of Street View imagery to its service allowing you to actually see the streets you’ll be driving, biking and walking on when you’re going somewhere. I think most of us probably use Street View imagery more to see our own houses or to see if we were caught on the Street View cameras more than anything else. One of the cool things that Google has been doing is allowing some businesses to offer interior views to prospective customers.

Lamborghini has announced that it has teamed up with Google Maps to offer an exclusive interior view of its museum located in Sant’Agata Bolognese. You may not ever get to travel to Italy and see the museum firsthand, but you can explore both floors and all 1500 square meters virtually from your smartphone, tablet, or web browser.

Inside the museum, Lamborghini has all sorts of famous cars from its street-legal car line, as well as prototypes, limited editions, and racing cars. One of the coolest features is that you can actually check out the interior of some extremely limited edition Lambo models including the Reventon, Estoque, and Sesto Elemento.

Click this link to check out the full 360-degree view.

Garmin D2 Pilot Watch: Aviation + GPS on Your Wrist

Posted on 14/10/2013 by Range

While commercial pilots might not use this kind of watch to replace the computers they work with in Jumbo Jets, frequent travelers and private pilots might enjoy the goodies features on this latest Garmin watch.

The Garmin D2 Pilot Watch has everything you’d expect from an aviator watch, with the added bonus of Garmin GPS tech. It has the ability to load a flight plan and view it in real time on the watch face. Its dedicated NRST button can also guide you to the nearest airport. There’s also a compass, horizontal situation indicator, ground speed indicator, and altimeter. The watch can also be used to set timers and vibrating alerts for in-flight tasks. It can even be used to wirelessly control Garmin’s VIRB action cameras.

All these features don’t come cheap, as the watch will cost you $449(USD), but if you’re into aviation, it’s an impressive amount of tech packed into a wrist watch.

Moves: A Standalone Activity Tracker that Really Works

Posted on 13/10/2013 by Range

I kind of like tracking all of my activities, especially since I tend to run alone so I need the motivation to stay on target. While apps like RunKeeper and others work well to track runs, a simple pedometer is something good to keep track of every single move you make in a day.

Moves is a simple app that works in the background of your phone’s OS. It will track your movements automatically. There’s no need for any external devices or plug-ins.

Unlike pedometers, or fitness tracker bands, the Moves app doesn’t require anything but a smartphone to make it work. The app will also track your movements in cars, motorcycles, and public transport. From time to time, it mislabels my movements on my motorcycle as cycling, but otherwise it’s been pretty awesome. Keep in mind that with Moves running in the background, it will consume some added battery, though its makers claim you can still get a full day of usage of your phone with the app enabled. Of course, your mileage may vary.

It can be quite motivating, at least in my experience, when you realize how much you can walk, run or cycle in a day. I’ve found that I want to beat my previous day’s movements almost every single day, or at least keep it at the same level.

There’s an iOS version that’s been around a bit longer, and the Android version was released just a few weeks ago. The best part is that it’s free.

LoungeBuddy App Unlocks the Mystery of Airport Lounges

Posted on 12/10/2013 by Hazel Chua

You don’t have to be a frequent traveler to gain access to some of the poshest airport lounges in the world. Many travelers tend to shy away from these lounges when they come across them because they assume that only frequent fliers can get in.

That might be true for some lounges, but it’s definitely not the case for all. That’s what the LoungeBuddy app is here for: to give you insider information on how you can gain entry to that lounge and wait for your flight in comfort.

After you download the app, you’re asked to fill out a profile that includes your itinerary, frequent flier membership programs, and types of credit cards you have. LoungeBuddy will go through its database and then point you towards the nearest lounge, along with a list of its amenities. It’ll also let you know about any fees you might have to pay to use the lounge – but also points you to numerous free lounges, based on your credentials.

LoungeBuddy is compatible with 60 of the world’s busiest airports, so it more or less has you covered. It’s available for free from the iTunes App Store and is coming soon to Android.

[via C|NET]

FiLIP GPS Watch Keeps Kids Safe and Parents in the Know

Posted on 08/10/2013 by Shane McGlaun

Every parent on the planet wants their kid to be happy and well-adjusted. That means at some point early in the kid’s life you have to give them the freedom to roam and play. The problem for parents is that giving children the freedom to go places and visit friends by themselves can be very nerve-wracking. This is especially true if you’re the sort that imagines all the horrible things that could possibly happen to a child in the world alone.

To help allay some of these fears, AT&T has announced an exclusive partnership to distribute a new product that will help parents give their kids more freedom called the FiLIP.

The device is a large and colorful smart watch that has a built-in phone and GPS functionality. The watch allows parents to set zones where the kids can roam and if the child goes outside that zone, the watch will remind them that they can’t go. All of this information is available to parents via a remote smartphone app as well. The watch also has a built-in mobile phone that connects to standard cellular networks and holds five personal contacts.

The watch can dial any of those five contacts and those numbers can also call in to talk to the child. One of the best features is the emergency button that a child can press for three seconds to automatically send out a distress message to all five contacts with their GPS location. When the emergency button is pressed, the first contact is automatically called and the watch records all sounds around it. If the first contact doesn’t answer, the other contacts will be dialed.

There’s no word on exactly when you can buy the FiLIP, but you can sign up to be notified about its launch over on their website.

[via Engadget via Dvice]

Adafruit DIY LED Watch: Pixel O’clock

Posted on 04/10/2013 by Lambert Varias

Adafruit continues its wonderful marketing campaign with another fun and functional gadget that you can build using the company’s products. This time it’s a wristwatch that uses LEDs to display the time or point North or to a preset destination. The exposed circuitry serves as its detailing.

The main components of the watch are the FLORA Arduino-compatible platform and the NeoPixel Ring, which houses the LEDs. You can switch between watch, compass and GPS modes using a button that you’ll place behind the watch. To use the GPS, you’ll alter the code that Becky Stern wrote and save the coordinates to your desired location. You can only save one set of coordinates though.

Head to Adafruit for the full how-to and parts list. The parts cost about $110 (USD) in total, so you might want to make a protective case for the watch as well. The great thing about this watch – aside from the fact that you built it yourself! – is that you can recycle or repurpose its parts for your other projects.

[via Laughing Squid]

How OnStar is Using Technology to Make You Safer (Sponsored)

Posted on 25/09/2013 by Paul Strauss

It’s good to know that we live in a day and age where technology is increasingly making our lives safer. When you’re out on the road, OnStar keeps you ready for anything – from turn-by-turn directions to hands-free calling. OnStar is a powerful built-in technology available in most GM vehicles that connects drivers to a real person, 24/7. OnStar can even help out with almost any situation on the road, whether it’s a crash, medical emergency, or even a flat tire.

Now there’s a smartphone app that connects drivers to their vehicles. The OnStar RemoteLink Mobile App lets car owners control their vehicles from just about anywhere. When installed, the app allows drivers to do things like lock the doors, check on fuel levels, or even start the engine.

Check out this video to learn more about how OnStar can help, and visit http://www.youtube.com/OnStar to see what other incredible features are available.

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” Technabob received compensation for writing it, however, we only recommend products or services we find interesting or have used personally, and believe will be good for our readers.

MIT SkyCall Uses Drones as Tour Guides

Posted on 15/09/2013 by Lambert Varias

Nowadays, we often hear about unmanned aerial vehicles aka UAVs or drones in the news as next generation weapons of war. The researchers at MIT’s SENSEable City Lab want to dispel that notion and show people that this new technology can be used in more positive ways. For example, as tour guides.

skycall mit senseable city lab uav drone quadcopter

The SkyCall project uses a Wi-Fi network, a mobile app and quadcopters equipped with GPS, a camera and other onboard sensors to create smart tour guides. A prototype of SkyCall is already being tested at the labyrinthine grounds of MIT. To summon a drone, the user uses the call feature on the SkyCall app. When your friendly guide arrives, the user enters the alphanumeric code for his destination (I don’t know how he gets the code in the first place though). The guide will then start moving at a leisurely pace.

The drone will even talk about landmarks along the way and can be stopped by the user through the app. The drone also uses GPS to detect if the user has fallen behind a certain distance and will wait and then alert him through the app.

The SkyCall: why ask people for directions when you can build a sophisticated network of satellites and robots to guide you through life? As someone who is socially inept, I’m only being half sarcastic. I’d love to have a drone buddy to guide me around and perhaps even protect me.

[MIT SENSEable City Lab via Dezeen]

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