Jun 16 2009 The Plug Wall: Enough Holes For Anybody

The conceptual Outlet Wall by Ironic Sans is by far the most smartest thing I've seen in awhile. I mean, it's a wallmade of outlets. Plenty of room for everything. Just don't show this little power-hungry bastard or he'll be humping it for days. And you know what? So what if it doesn't meet fire code, those are just rules the man designed TO KEEP US DOWN. This is my apartment, I should be able to barbecue in here if I want, you know? Damn yeah. Now pass the weenies and throw some more books on the fire.

Outlet Wall Doesn't Want to Hear One More Word About Power Strips [gizmodo]

Jun 13 2009 Robot Hunts For Outlets, Steals Electricity

PR2 is a robot that can hunt down power outlets to recharge its own battery. Why it even exists is beyond me. Thankfully, I just jammed forks into all my electric outlets, so if he tries stealing my power, he's in for a real shock (!).

This particular run had our PR2 alpha robot navigate through eight doors, and plug its power cord into nine outlets. In this video, you can see the various challenges our robot faced, such as a crowded office environment and the abrupt appearance of a human obstacle. We nearly sabotaged the run early on. Folks around the office were eager to track the progress of the robot, so many people ran their own monitoring programs on the PR2. This caused an increase in CPU load, starving the navigation software. Nonetheless, the robot was able to continue with the run, albeit more slowly and cautiously.

Okay, so I've formulated a plan. I'm going to lure this bastard out in the open with a power strip, and then, right before he inserts his genitalia, I'M GONNA CHOP IT OFF WITH A LASER BEAM! Cut off from his power supply, PR2 will slowly die while neighborhood children throw rocks at it him I swing his severed junk around like a lasso.

Milestone 2 Reached! Now You Can Watch It [willowgarage]

Thanks to Jeremy, who once broke a child's toy robot and made the boy cry. Trust me, Jeremy, he'll thank you later.

Mar 10 2009 Hamster Jackets Harness Piezoelectricity

Finally. I say it's about damn time we fit our hamsters with little jackets that harness all the energy they're wasting when running incessantly in their little wheels. Also, we're harnessing the power of the wheel too, right?

To harness hamster power, the scientists sewed electricity-generating threads one-fiftieth the width of a human hair into a yellow jacket worn by the hamsters as they ran. A human-sized jacket, capable of powering an iPod, could be ready in as little as three years.

"This can totally be scaled up," said Zhong Lin 'ZL' Wang, who co-authored a paper describing the research in this month's issue of Nano Letters. "This is just the first step. The idea is that we would harvest energy from any body movement, from walking, breathing, from any kind of vibration."

Well shit, let's scale it up to dinosaurs then. I could design a hell of a piezo-electric jacket for a T-Rex. And, while I'm at it, maybe some intimates. I'm thinking something lacy with a few silk accents. Did somebody just say crotchless? I like the way you think!

Hamster jackets harness wheel-running power [msnbc]

Thanks to I Won't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking My Juice on the Geekologie, who can run in his wheel for hours.

Apr 18 2008 Wirepod: A Sexy Looking Surge Protector

Here at Geekologie we've seen several different products that address wiring, but nothing as wrought iron looking as this thing. The Wirepod is a bendable surge protector that adds a touch of class to an otherwise hideous device. Pretty sexy looking right? It sure is. Well, until it's got five ugly-ass power cords trailing off in different directions. Then it looks like shit.

More pictures after the jump, including one with something plugged in.

Continue Reading " Wirepod: A Sexy Looking Surge Protector "

Mar 17 2008 Intelli Panel: Something Someone Might Buy

The Intelli Panel turns off all your computer peripherals (printers, monitors, Lava Lamps, etc.) whenever you power down your computer. On average the device saves 35 watts/hour and 176 kg of CO2/year depending on the amount of stuff you've got plugged in. It costs about $56 and may not come in a North American model. Still, if you're too lazy to flip the switch on a power strip then this may be the product you need to feel a little greener. Or you could, oh I don't know, slather yourself in green interior paint and get drunk. I did it and I'm feeling mighty green. And leady. That paint was pretty old. Oh, and whether you celebrated on Saturday or you’re getting down today -- HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!

Intelli Panel - Powers All Computer Peripherals OFF/ON Automatically [likecool]

Thanks to Ben, who the ladies should kiss even if he isn't Irish, for the tip