Tag Archives: counter

Geek Builds Electronic Counter to Count to a Googol (1 Followed by a Hundred 0’s)

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Think a billion is a big number? Well by most comparisons it certainly is, but a googol (10¹⁰⁰) is so astronomically large that it contains 10⁹¹ number of billions. But did its ridiculously large size stop YouTuber Look Mum No Computer (aka Sam Battle) from building an electronic counter to try to count to it? It did not. Honestly, I can’t even wrap my head around the size of a number that large. Although to be fair my head isn’t very pliable, and my wife often argues it’s hard.

Sam tried to build the counter with “as much redundancy, durability, repairability, and upgradability as possible,” with the intention of keeping it running his entire life. Which, provided he lives a long healthy one, he estimates will end around when the 14th numeral from the bottom right has changed. For reference, the total number of grains of sand on earth is around the 22nd numeral, and Carl Sagan’s estimate for the total number of elementary particles in the universe is around the 80th. Oh cool, my brain just exploded.

The farthest left digit on the third row from the bottom will tick over once every 100-million years or so, and Sam admits that by the time the counter would ever reach a googol our sun will have long exhausted its supply of energy, his machine forgotten. Eventually, it will be discovered by Jawas, who will salvage the machine for parts to repair stolen droids or sell at their next swamp meet. And that, at least for me, is a very comforting feeling.

[via BoingBoing]

A rare occasion where geometry and alcohol pair well together

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On a scale of one to ten, ten being the most popular, and one being the least, it’s safe to say that most humans would score geometric solids on the lower side, while scoring fine alcoholic spirits an average of a 9 or a 10. That being said, combining the two isn’t something that really sounds like a winning idea, but Restoration Hardware seems to have pulled it off with their Polyhedron Bar Cart.

Designed as a modernist sculptural element that adds flair to any drinking room, the Polyhedron Bar Cart is a hat-tip to mid-century Italian design principals, utilizing a faceted, geometric shape and a matte black wooden construction to complement any sort of interior space. The cabinet comes in the shape that one would technically refer to a Pentakis dodecahedron, or a dodecahedron where each pentagonal face comprises 5 isosceles triangles. The geometric minibar comes with a smoked-mirror-lined internal storage and built-in platforms/racks, while the 3 topmost pentagonal faces open outwards to reveal the libations within. The pentagonal lids also double up as countertops for pouring, mixing, and display purposes. This design layout means that the Polyhedron Bar Cart doesn’t have a front or a back. It can virtually be oriented in any way, looking identical (and remarkably eye-catching) from most angles. I hear it looks even better after you’ve had a couple of drinks…

Designer: Restoration Hardware

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Eat Healthy, Eat Safe, Eat Right.

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Google’s made some really nifty advances. Google whatever you’re eating and you’ll get a rough calorie count of your meal. However, you can’t rely completely on Google’s algorithm. Some people use too much butter or fat, some people cut down on unnecessary carbs. Google doesn’t account for that. What you then need is the Telo wristband. Armed with state of the art tech, this little bad boy makes use of a sensor on your wrist to assimilate your food and give you a fairly accurate estimate of how many calories it contains. That aside, it also warns you of any ingredients that may be allergenic. The Telo also comes with its companion app that completes the user experience/interaction circle. Loaded with features, it allows you to get the most out of Telo, and yourself too.

While some may say that an entire wristband may be a little too clunky for them and that a calorie counting app and a fitness wearable work just fine, I say this isn’t for the nonchalant-hearted. The Telo is a core-fitness device, almost crossing into the medical category. Given that, the Telo is a necessity and therefore having it on your wrist sounds absolutely plausible. The Telo is ideal for people with blood sugar/cholesterol issues, heart risks, obesity problems, or mild to serious food allergy issues. That aside, if you want to get serious about watching what you eat, watch it with this ‘watch’!

Designer: Xinbei Hu

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process book studio3 final priny

process book studio3 final priny

Kickstart This: Primer Kinetic Sculpture That Generates Prime Numbers

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Primer

You can’t deny that prime numbers are fascinating. Each one of them is unique from the other, yet similar because of that one property that they have in common. Taking prime numbers to another level is Karl Lautman, who’s behind Primer, a kinetic sculpture that generates prime numbers.

Bored with the current prime that’s on display? No problem. Just press the button and Primer will count up to the next one.

Primer is crafted from aluminum and plastic, and is mounted on a painted MDF base. Each one is handmade by Karl himself, down to the printed circuit boards used in the counter.

The counters are used, but they’re in excellent working condition. This means that your Primer won’t be starting at zero (which isn’t a prime number anyway), but some prime number between zero and a million. No two will be identical, but they’ll all be signed, dated, and numbered by me on the bottom of the base.  Each Primer will also include an international, “wall-wart” power supply.

Primer is up for funding on Kickstarter, where it has already surpassed its funding goal. In fact, all sixty Primers have already sold out, so if you want one, only the top tier where you have to back $1,120 is still open.

[ Primer on Kickstarter ] VIA [ BoingBoing ]

Physical Fliike Counter Shows off How Many ‘Likes’ You Have on Facebook

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Let people in the real world know how popular you are in real life with Fliike. It’s a physical counter that shows off how many “Likes” your page has received on Facebook in real time.

The Fliike was created by Smiirl, which is a design studio start-up based in France.

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The Fliike basically connects to your Facebook page via Wi-Fi and transmits every “like” that you’ve received onto the flipboard-like counter. Personal pages won’t have much use for it, but pages for commercial purposes might, just so that establishment can show people that they’ve got a strong virtual presence.

A limited number of Fliikes are available for pre-order for $390(USD) (yes, $390!) If you’re more popular than 99,999 likes, Smiirl can add an extra numerical column to your Fliike to accommodate your massive popularity. The first batch ships out this November.

[via C|NET]

H.R. Giger Counter is Too Creepy to Use

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Get it? It’s a Geiger Counter made to look like it was created by H.R. Giger. I don’t know about you, but Giger’s Aliens creations creep me out. Therefore I could never use this. I would be too afraid that it would eat me from the hand up. Just let the radiation kill me.

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If on the other, you hand want to check for signs of radiation on some alien world, then this Giger Geiger counter is for you. The base radioactive sensor electronics were purchased from Adafruit industries and then modded into a xenomorph by Steve D of Mad Art Lab.

It looks pretty amazing, and quite scary. And yes it does actually work as proven in the video. Now you can be safe from radiation and freak people out at the same time.

[via Nerdcore via Obvious Winner]


Beer Tracker Bottle Opener Counts Opened Bottles to Keep You Sober

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If you drink on a regular basis, then chances are you already how many bottles spells “just right” or “trouble” for you. Something to help you along when the lines start to get blurry is this awesome Beer Tracker Bottle Opener.

Beer Tracker Bottle OpenerIt basically works like every bottle opener in the store, except that it keeps track of the number of bottles that have been opened using it throughout the night. If you made anyone any promises to stay sober or if you’re driving the gang home tonight, then you need this bottle opener.

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When you’re ready to do it all over again, just hit reset and start popping the caps off of the bottles for another round.

The Beer Tracker Bottle Opener is available online for $10 over at FredFlare.

[via Nerd Approved]