(What's this?)
What is the EasyEdit button?
This website gets better when people like you add to it. Just click the EasyEdit button to start. (help)
Gnomedex 08 BugLabs Contest:
What is The BUG?
The BUG is a modular consumer electronic platform (ie. the lego of gadgets). It falls within the open source hardware category. It currently ships with 4 modules (GPS, LCD, Camera, Motion Detector), but you can submit ideas that require modules that aren't available today (laser range finder, weather module, thermal sensor, A/V modules, teleporter, etc).
To define an idea, you must submit:
Gadget Name:
Description:
Why You Want It:
Your Name & Contact Info:
How to Win?
Edit this wiki page (via EasyEdit button at top left) and insert your idea at the bottom of the list by Friday, 8/29. Reps from Bug Labs and Gnomedex will review the submissions, and pick the winners!
Example:
Gadget Name: GPS-enabled Alarm Clock
Description: Alarm goes off when you arrive within a specific GPS area
Why: When sleeping on a train, alarm goes off when you arrive near your destination. This works better than setting a watch alarm which doesn't take into consideration your location.
Name: some really sleepy commuter
ADD YOUR IDEA HERE:
1. Gadget Name: Wifi-enabled Bathroom Scale
Description: A bug that lets me step on a scale and automatically saves my weight to a website.
Why: I'd use this every day. I never have time to track my weight. If I could track my weight easily, I'd be more likely to pay attention to what I eat.
Name: Dave Nielsen, dnielsen at google mail dot com
2. Gadget Name:Wifi Enabled Weather Bug
Description:A bug that alerts you of sever weather conditions
Why:To help save lifes
Name: John @ jdills1196@gmail.com
3. Gadget Name: LifeLogger
Description: Using camera and GPS, a device that I can attach to my car, my bag, whatever that logs my GPS track, takes pictures periodically, and either stores or uploads them to a place where I can selectively decide to share them. To log my life - where I was at what time, and what I was seeing when I was there. I use Twitter for this, and show my "lifelog" on the side of my blog: http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/
Why: Some people love to log what they're doing, for posterity, for their friends, or for whatever reason. Witness the popularity of Twitter, FriendFeed, geotagged photos on Flickr, lifestreaming apps, etc. This would automate/take it to another level.
Name: Josh Bancroft, jabancroft at gmail (was at the conference, in the front row :-)
4. Gadget Name:GPS enabled school bus
Description:GPS on a school bus alerts parents and students of impending arrival.
Why:Keep kids off the streets and out of the weather while waiting for the bus, document the routes for those districts who don't already do it.
Name: Jane Roberts aka MissM, janeroberts at gmail (dot) com
5. Gadget Name: Portable Vocal Joystick
Description: A standalone device with an LCD screen and microphone that can be trained to recognize a voice (c.f. Jon Malkin's Vocal Joystick presentation at Gnomedex), plugged into a PC (Linux, Mac, Windows) and be recognized as a standard HID class mouse device.
Why: Allows people who need to (or wish to) use such a device for an interface to work with multiple computers without having to install software and train it on different computers.
Name: Aryeh Goretsky (goretsky gmail)
6. Gadget Name: Light Sensor
Description: A gadget that would detect amounts of light. This could detect a fire, tell between day and night. You could even make it detect if someone try's to use your computer.
Why: This could be use for so many things. It would also be very fun, just because the so many things you could do with it. Anything that gives off light or reflects light could be use with this.
Name: John @ Kronix904@gmail.com
7. Gadget Name: Accident / Bad Driver Video Recorder
Description: Constantly-recording device that saves 15-30 seconds of video when triggered by button or accellerometer.
Why:To make the world a better place, especially the road.
Name: Sean Canton eighteyes at gmail
8. Gadget Name: Kid/Baby Monitor
Description: Use motion detector and camera to detect restless kids and alert via sms; send video to mac mini that is connected to my TV and embed it using picture in picture; send audio to phone, etc...
Why: Current products are all closed, and don't do what I want them to do. Endless possibilities for parental hacks!
Name: Steve Lacey, steve at steve-lacey.com
etc.
9 Gadget Name: WiFi Headset
Description: You can download software to your Wi-Fi enabled phone and use the Wi-Fi headset anywhere on the same Wi-Fi network.
Why You Want It: If you were in a Wi-Fi enabled city, you could leave your phone at home while being able to walk about the city. This would minimize the risk of phone theft.
Your Name & Contact Info: Scott Campbell scott.campbell195@gmail.com
10. Gadget Name: Location-aware information filter
Description: Location and motion sensor for setting the context of RSS / SMS / etc. filters.
Why You Want it: Social media, RSS, SMS are generating a torrent of information - we're all familiar with information overload. And of course, context is everything. When I'm walking around in my office, I want to know what's happening, and I can consume it. When I'm in my car, don't bother me with the irrelevant! Knowing where you are allows you to tune what kinds and how much information will be sent to you.
11. Gadget Name: WiFi School Bus Monitor
Description: A gps with a camera that when the bus gets to a bus stop it takes pictures of the kids that get on at that stop and sends the pictures to the parents of the kids that get on at that stop.
Why: This would stop kids from skipping school or not taking the bus when they are supposed to go to school. I know most parents want to know where their kids are at all times this would just notify them if their kids are on the bus.
Name: Alex Murdock, alexdock@nc.rr.com
12. Gadget Name: Running Man
Description: Use accelerometer and GPS modules to track the path and steps/rate of a run or walk, which could then be uploaded via wi-fi and mashed with google maps.
Why: Like an iPod+Nike on steroids, minus the music.
Name: Daryn Nakhuda, daryn@daryn.net
13. Gadget Name: i-Doorbell
Description: The i-Doorbell consists of a wall-mounted BugLabs base
with the LCD, Camera, Motion Detector, Microphone and Speaker (TBD) modules.
When a visitor arrives at the front door, the i-Doorbell welcomes them, and
takes a photo. They are invited to announce themselves and leave a brief
audio message. If someone is home, the interior doorbell is activated.
If not, an SMS message is sent to the owner, as well as an email with an embeded
image of the visitor. For homes with an electric strike lock, the i-Doorbell
can be used to scan a 2-D barcode (e.g. a QR Code) from the camera. When a valid
code is presented, the door can be unlocked (codes can be activated to limited
periods to allow visitors or vendors to have limited entry).
Why You Want It: One device can be used to replace conventional door camera, intercom, AND card reader. Yet allows much more flexible guest access and security to a home or business.
Your Name & Contact Info: Mike Koss, mckoss at startpad.org (gnomedex attendee)
14. Gadget Name: Taser Mate
Description: Senses electric field from deployed Taser or stun gun device. Records and sends time stamped location data to authorities. I imagine that this idea would require a module that designed to pick up electromagnetic interference. I'm willing to bet that a Taser or stun-gun emits a characteristic interference signal, allowing for the Taser Mate to differenciate between your cell phone and said weapons. May also connect to heart monitor.
Why You Want It: Gets help to people using Tasers for self-defense faster, or gets help to Taser victims faster. This data, as well as data from the heart monitor may be useful in court, not to mention that an iminent heart attack, as a result of Tasering can be preempted. The Taser Mate would be good for protesters and regular civilians.
Your Name & Contact Info: Kurt Padilla, kurt dot padilla at gmail dot com
15. Gadget Name: TimeLapsr
Description: A device for creating time-lapse videos composed of still images from either the built-in camera or your own DSLR. You can set up the TimeLapsr anywhere and generate a timelapse video on the fly. Device can be set to be activated by motion detector, so you only catch the good stuff. You can use the built-in 2MP camera or utilize the USB interface to take pics directly from a high-end DSLR. Once the images are taken, the BUGbase's MPEG4 encoder can create the video immediately. This gives you a one-touch solution for creating time-lapse videos but is also highly customizable using a high-end camera if desired. And why not tag the video with GPS info for fun. Can playback recorded timelapses using MPEG4 decoder.
Why You Want It: More uses than you can list- home/shop security camera, artsy timelapse video creator, observe consumer behavior in public settings, timelapse a sunset/sunrise, in-vehicle road trip timelapses, etc.
Your Name & Contact Info: Jess Martin <jess martin at gmail dot com>
16. Gadget Name: Universal Off Switch
Description: The Universal Off Switch utilizes the BugBase, and the Touchscreen, and Electromagnetic Pulse modules. Whenever you've had enough of the technology around you, just press the "Pulse" button and *poof* all electronics within a 10 foot radius of you instantly and permanently turn off.
Why: Have you ever been in a crowded bar where the music is too loud? Or that oh-so-trendy store in the mall where there are like 1000 TVs blaring? Or at a restaurant where some idiot is on their cellphone right behind you and won't shut up? Well, now you can do something about it.
Name: Daniel Bartholomew <plumcreek at gmail dot com>
17. Gadget Name: Personal Security System
Description: Motion Sensor combined with camera (with screen for later playback/review). Anytime any movement occurs, record. Place this in the car, or anywhere you want protected (your personal tree house for the local kid's club ;-). Then any detection of movement is recorded with maybe a 10-30 minute loop of most recent data stored.
Why: If car is broken into, or hit, incident is recorded and when you return to car you have captured the incident. Car is most obvious, but can be used elsewhere (like treehouse!)
Name: Jeff Thomas <thomjj@mail.com>
18. Gadget Name: Web-A-Sizer
Description: A companion unit for Webpotatoes who have a hard time leaving the couch or desk for fear of missing something. This unit can be set to either display or "read" tweets, IMs, e-mail, RSS feeds and any other bit of web info that the potato would normally need to be glued to his/her screen to keep up with. There would be several choices for voices or display fonts and the unit could sit cozily along side various exercise equipment.
Why: Installing Televisions in gyms in the 90's has proven hugely successful for getting couch potatoes off their arses and into the gym, now we need to get the army of webpotatoes moving and bring sexy back (or at all) to technophiles everywhere.
Name: Beth Goza <bethgo@gmail.com>
19 . Gadget Name : EyeTrackU.
Description: Take photos and report GPS location, send to web and map out where you spend most of your time. Send updates to tweets, read other EyeTrackU users to network in person. Build a real social network with humans.
Why: Meeting people in person and sharing idea in the same area of the country is quite difficult, but on a common system like EyeTrackU , people can meet and work together and track where their best areas to share are.
name : Jeff Norris < iscifitv@gmail.com
20. Gadget Name: BikeBuddy
Description: Today's urban biker is more often then not, eventually going to end up in some sort of accident with a car. Anyone who's bicycled around Seattle can tell you. Unfortunately, when it comes to proving who's at fault, it's often one person's word against another. The more unbiased data you can have in situations like these, the better. BikeBuddy will automatically turn itself on when in motion, and the built in camera and GPS will track where your bike is, how fast it's going, and the conditions around you. As long as it's in motion, it will take a photo every 4 seconds pairing it with GPS coordinates. It can do this by emptying it's earlier taken photos constantly as well. If you get into an accident, you would tell it to stop, and have all the most recent photos and location information at your disposal.
Why you want it: To protect yourself while you're trying to protect the environment. Imagine having a picture to prove that the light you went through was green, while the car that hit you was going through a red. Case closed. BikeBuddy FTW.
Your Name & Contact Info: Cassie Wallender, cassie{at}firewallender.com
21. Gadget Name: Automatic Vacation Scrapbook
Description: During your vacation, your BUG would constantly record sounds near it, and then save the 10 seconds before and after you took a picture. The GPS would also save your route and where each picture was taken. A lot of people now make collage videos with pictures of their vacation. This would help them so that they could make a video that mapped out their route in the Google Maps road or satelite view in the background using the GPS log while showing what pictures they were taking and what they were saying when they took it.
Why you want it: I want to remember what my family said and who pointed out that great view or cute squirrel as it will really add another dimension to the memories. Also, the GPS log will help with friends who want advice about exactly where to go and where all the best spots are.
Your Name & Contact Info: s_baar@yahoo.com Scott Baar
22. Gadget Name: Travel Security Alarm Clock
Description: travel alarm clock that automatically adjusts time based on GPS coordinates. Touchscreen allows variety of sleep and wake settings. Can set wake alarm type (beep, music wav file, sounds of nature wav file) and wake alarm type (immediate on, or slow volume increase - 15 second ramp to 15 minute ramp). Also can set music to go to sleep by (with decreasing volume). Final part is security function: Set up touchscreen side of Bug to face sleeping person, and motion activator and camera to face out to room. If motion is detected, sound alarm and start video recording
Why you want it: Great to slowly wake to the sound of gradually increasing music. Even possibility of 2nd back up alarm. Market place right now does not provide for 'gradual wake' feature of longer than 15 seconds - this would be the first alarm clock to allow gradual wake over 15 minutes, and could provide back up alarm. When traveling, time is automatically adjusted eliminating the hassle of reseting time. Finally provides security when you sleep, or when you are away from your room.
Your Name & Contact Info: James Thomas, jamm.jt@gmail.com
23. Gadget Name: Construction LoJacker
Description: Ruggedized GPS tracker, bolted or locked onto tool boxes, fork lifts, etc. Wakes up upon motion, sends distress signal if beyond a certain perimeter.
Why You Want It: Construction-site equipment theft -- including a remarkable amount of heavy equipment -- amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Since most of the equipment is rented, the contractor has to provide replacement cost.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
24. Gadget Name: Hoist Commander
Description: Floor/movement tracker for construction-site elevators (called ‘hoists’). One Bug in the elevator, one on each floor, tells which floor the elevator is on, which have called it, and which direction it’s moving. Can also send alarm based on accelerometer trip point.
Why You Want It: Construction elevators (hoists) are temporary set-ups, use manual calling system, and aren’t outfitted with the electronics familiar to office-building elevators.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
25. Gadget Name: EMT/Fire Tracker
Description: Ruggedized GPS/system information tracker, configured for each municipality’s ambulances and firetrucks, send information back to the station.
Why You Want It: Most emergency equipment is several decades old. Not only is the equipment built to last -- and doesn’t get much use -- but budgets limit purchasing of new rigs ($500k - $1M). Bugs can at least bring the communications up to date -- plus their portability enables them to be switched among vehicles.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
26. Gadget Name: Border Bug
Description: Camera-equipped Bugs with proximity detection and other trip mechanisms, solar-powered, pole-mounted.
Why You Want It: Would be far more cost-effective than building ‘A great wall’ -- not to mention more humane.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
27. Gadget Name: Truckers’ Exchange
Description: Bluetooth-enabled Bugs for exchanging information among haulers at truck stops. When they got within proximity of one another, a ‘handshake’ takes place.
Why You Want It: Many truckers are equipped with computers, even mobile Internet, and connect whenever they can. Truckers’ Exchange would enable truckers to automatically share information such as what’s being hauled, destination, etc., improving efficiencies in transport and facilitating load consolidation. No point in hauling half a load from Phoenix to LA, if someone can finish it for you.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
28. Gadget Name: 3D Camera and Display
Description: Bug with two cameras on a single side allowing for 3D images to be taken as stills or video. The images can be processed into a single 3D image or kept as two separate images. The other side of the bug could have two display units, one for each camera, or a single display with an alternating polarizing filter to be used with appropriate polarized 3D glasses.
Why You Want It: Most available 3D cameras are expensive or are just two cameras put side by side. This bug would provide an easy way to capture 3D images as well as a simple method for display of the 3D images with two displays that fit easily on the unit.
Your Name & Contact Info: B. Hanley, hanleybr at gmail dot com
29. Gadget Name: Ultimate Remote Control
Description: Where is that remote control anyway? With the Ultimate Remote Control, you don't have to worry about it -- just wave at your TV. The Motion sensor detects when you're waving and activates the remote control. From there, simple hand signals read and recognized through the camera control the TV. Raise or lower your flat hand to change the volume. Hold out your palm to mute. Move your fist to the right or left to change channels or fast forward and rewind on your DVD. Form numbers with both hands to enter a channel code, or use sign language letters to pick a channel by name. Status and confirmations are shown on the LCD. Because there's no physical remote control, everybody in the room can use it any time.
Why You Want It: We have lots of remote controls and they always seem to be lost. If they're not lost, they get fought over.
Your Name & Contact Info: Roy Leban, royleban {at} groupthink {dot} com
30. Gadget Name: Help Me Drive
Description: Help Me Drive uses the new radio module to tune in to broadcasted traffic information and combines that with GPS information to alert me of traffic conditions that I care about -- and only those -- via the new text-to-speech module. I don't need to know about an accident 30 miles away unless I'm heading in that direction. Help Me Drive uses a combination of GPS tracking and recording of prior routes to predict which possible traffic issues are a concern. For example, if I'm on 520 heading West between Redmond and 405 and a significant percentage of the time that I'm on that road, I continue past 405 into downtown Seattle, then traffic between me and downtown Seattle is highly relevant. As a bonus, Help Me Drive downloads construction information via WiFi whenever I'm near a preferred or public WiFi network. Plus, by recording traffic information over time, and correlating those with my driving patterns (it knows my speed at every point on my route), it can provide a better predictor of how bad traffic will get on my regular routes. I can also specify traffic that I'm always interested in or that I'm always interested in when I leave a particular destination, like work or home, and I can specify that I'm always interested in traffic between my current location and home or work, depending on the time of day.
Why You Want It: I hate getting stuck in traffic when I could have taken a different route that wasn't congested.
Your Name & Contact Info: Roy Leban, royleban {at} groupthink {dot} com
31. Gadget Name: Slow Window
Description: There's a famous science fiction story by Bob Shaw, The Light of Other Days, that introduces the concept of Slow Glass -- glass through which light moves very slowly, possibly taking decades to go from one side to the other. It's an awesome story and highly recommended. My slow window wouldn't be quite so slow, but the camera constantly records and plays back on the screen at a specified delay -- possibly 15 seconds, possibly an hour. 24 hours happens to be a really interesting delay. See what happened yesterday. An optional accelerometer can cause the time dilation to change on-the-fly as you move it around, a pretty cool effect giving you that "special relativity" feel. And, an optional motion sensor can make the slow window delay variable -- it's always showing interesting stuff, looping as necessary.
Why You Want It: Concepts from SF have come to life in so many ways already. I've always wanted slow glass.
Your Name & Contact Info: Roy Leban, royleban {at} groupthink {dot} com
| What is the Contest? The 4 best gadget ideas win their own BUGbundle (value $629). We will reserve at least 1 prize for an in-person attendee. |  |
The BUG is a modular consumer electronic platform (ie. the lego of gadgets). It falls within the open source hardware category. It currently ships with 4 modules (GPS, LCD, Camera, Motion Detector), but you can submit ideas that require modules that aren't available today (laser range finder, weather module, thermal sensor, A/V modules, teleporter, etc).
To define an idea, you must submit:
Gadget Name:
Description:
Why You Want It:
Your Name & Contact Info:
How to Win?
Edit this wiki page (via EasyEdit button at top left) and insert your idea at the bottom of the list by Friday, 8/29. Reps from Bug Labs and Gnomedex will review the submissions, and pick the winners!
Example:
Gadget Name: GPS-enabled Alarm Clock
Description: Alarm goes off when you arrive within a specific GPS area
Why: When sleeping on a train, alarm goes off when you arrive near your destination. This works better than setting a watch alarm which doesn't take into consideration your location.
Name: some really sleepy commuter
ADD YOUR IDEA HERE:
1. Gadget Name: Wifi-enabled Bathroom Scale
Description: A bug that lets me step on a scale and automatically saves my weight to a website.
Why: I'd use this every day. I never have time to track my weight. If I could track my weight easily, I'd be more likely to pay attention to what I eat.
Name: Dave Nielsen, dnielsen at google mail dot com
2. Gadget Name:Wifi Enabled Weather Bug
Description:A bug that alerts you of sever weather conditions
Why:To help save lifes
Name: John @ jdills1196@gmail.com
3. Gadget Name: LifeLogger
Description: Using camera and GPS, a device that I can attach to my car, my bag, whatever that logs my GPS track, takes pictures periodically, and either stores or uploads them to a place where I can selectively decide to share them. To log my life - where I was at what time, and what I was seeing when I was there. I use Twitter for this, and show my "lifelog" on the side of my blog: http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/
Why: Some people love to log what they're doing, for posterity, for their friends, or for whatever reason. Witness the popularity of Twitter, FriendFeed, geotagged photos on Flickr, lifestreaming apps, etc. This would automate/take it to another level.
Name: Josh Bancroft, jabancroft at gmail (was at the conference, in the front row :-)
4. Gadget Name:GPS enabled school bus
Description:GPS on a school bus alerts parents and students of impending arrival.
Why:Keep kids off the streets and out of the weather while waiting for the bus, document the routes for those districts who don't already do it.
Name: Jane Roberts aka MissM, janeroberts at gmail (dot) com
5. Gadget Name: Portable Vocal Joystick
Description: A standalone device with an LCD screen and microphone that can be trained to recognize a voice (c.f. Jon Malkin's Vocal Joystick presentation at Gnomedex), plugged into a PC (Linux, Mac, Windows) and be recognized as a standard HID class mouse device.
Why: Allows people who need to (or wish to) use such a device for an interface to work with multiple computers without having to install software and train it on different computers.
Name: Aryeh Goretsky (goretsky gmail)
6. Gadget Name: Light Sensor
Description: A gadget that would detect amounts of light. This could detect a fire, tell between day and night. You could even make it detect if someone try's to use your computer.
Why: This could be use for so many things. It would also be very fun, just because the so many things you could do with it. Anything that gives off light or reflects light could be use with this.
Name: John @ Kronix904@gmail.com
7. Gadget Name: Accident / Bad Driver Video Recorder
Description: Constantly-recording device that saves 15-30 seconds of video when triggered by button or accellerometer.
Why:To make the world a better place, especially the road.
Name: Sean Canton eighteyes at gmail
8. Gadget Name: Kid/Baby Monitor
Description: Use motion detector and camera to detect restless kids and alert via sms; send video to mac mini that is connected to my TV and embed it using picture in picture; send audio to phone, etc...
Why: Current products are all closed, and don't do what I want them to do. Endless possibilities for parental hacks!
Name: Steve Lacey, steve at steve-lacey.com
etc.
9 Gadget Name: WiFi Headset
Description: You can download software to your Wi-Fi enabled phone and use the Wi-Fi headset anywhere on the same Wi-Fi network.
Why You Want It: If you were in a Wi-Fi enabled city, you could leave your phone at home while being able to walk about the city. This would minimize the risk of phone theft.
Your Name & Contact Info: Scott Campbell scott.campbell195@gmail.com
10. Gadget Name: Location-aware information filter
Description: Location and motion sensor for setting the context of RSS / SMS / etc. filters.
Why You Want it: Social media, RSS, SMS are generating a torrent of information - we're all familiar with information overload. And of course, context is everything. When I'm walking around in my office, I want to know what's happening, and I can consume it. When I'm in my car, don't bother me with the irrelevant! Knowing where you are allows you to tune what kinds and how much information will be sent to you.
11. Gadget Name: WiFi School Bus Monitor
Description: A gps with a camera that when the bus gets to a bus stop it takes pictures of the kids that get on at that stop and sends the pictures to the parents of the kids that get on at that stop.
Why: This would stop kids from skipping school or not taking the bus when they are supposed to go to school. I know most parents want to know where their kids are at all times this would just notify them if their kids are on the bus.
Name: Alex Murdock, alexdock@nc.rr.com
12. Gadget Name: Running Man
Description: Use accelerometer and GPS modules to track the path and steps/rate of a run or walk, which could then be uploaded via wi-fi and mashed with google maps.
Why: Like an iPod+Nike on steroids, minus the music.
Name: Daryn Nakhuda, daryn@daryn.net
13. Gadget Name: i-Doorbell
Description: The i-Doorbell consists of a wall-mounted BugLabs base
with the LCD, Camera, Motion Detector, Microphone and Speaker (TBD) modules.
When a visitor arrives at the front door, the i-Doorbell welcomes them, and
takes a photo. They are invited to announce themselves and leave a brief
audio message. If someone is home, the interior doorbell is activated.
If not, an SMS message is sent to the owner, as well as an email with an embeded
image of the visitor. For homes with an electric strike lock, the i-Doorbell
can be used to scan a 2-D barcode (e.g. a QR Code) from the camera. When a valid
code is presented, the door can be unlocked (codes can be activated to limited
periods to allow visitors or vendors to have limited entry).
Why You Want It: One device can be used to replace conventional door camera, intercom, AND card reader. Yet allows much more flexible guest access and security to a home or business.
Your Name & Contact Info: Mike Koss, mckoss at startpad.org (gnomedex attendee)
14. Gadget Name: Taser Mate
Description: Senses electric field from deployed Taser or stun gun device. Records and sends time stamped location data to authorities. I imagine that this idea would require a module that designed to pick up electromagnetic interference. I'm willing to bet that a Taser or stun-gun emits a characteristic interference signal, allowing for the Taser Mate to differenciate between your cell phone and said weapons. May also connect to heart monitor.
Why You Want It: Gets help to people using Tasers for self-defense faster, or gets help to Taser victims faster. This data, as well as data from the heart monitor may be useful in court, not to mention that an iminent heart attack, as a result of Tasering can be preempted. The Taser Mate would be good for protesters and regular civilians.
Your Name & Contact Info: Kurt Padilla, kurt dot padilla at gmail dot com
15. Gadget Name: TimeLapsr
Description: A device for creating time-lapse videos composed of still images from either the built-in camera or your own DSLR. You can set up the TimeLapsr anywhere and generate a timelapse video on the fly. Device can be set to be activated by motion detector, so you only catch the good stuff. You can use the built-in 2MP camera or utilize the USB interface to take pics directly from a high-end DSLR. Once the images are taken, the BUGbase's MPEG4 encoder can create the video immediately. This gives you a one-touch solution for creating time-lapse videos but is also highly customizable using a high-end camera if desired. And why not tag the video with GPS info for fun. Can playback recorded timelapses using MPEG4 decoder.
Why You Want It: More uses than you can list- home/shop security camera, artsy timelapse video creator, observe consumer behavior in public settings, timelapse a sunset/sunrise, in-vehicle road trip timelapses, etc.
Your Name & Contact Info: Jess Martin <jess martin at gmail dot com>
16. Gadget Name: Universal Off Switch
Description: The Universal Off Switch utilizes the BugBase, and the Touchscreen, and Electromagnetic Pulse modules. Whenever you've had enough of the technology around you, just press the "Pulse" button and *poof* all electronics within a 10 foot radius of you instantly and permanently turn off.
Why: Have you ever been in a crowded bar where the music is too loud? Or that oh-so-trendy store in the mall where there are like 1000 TVs blaring? Or at a restaurant where some idiot is on their cellphone right behind you and won't shut up? Well, now you can do something about it.
Name: Daniel Bartholomew <plumcreek at gmail dot com>
17. Gadget Name: Personal Security System
Description: Motion Sensor combined with camera (with screen for later playback/review). Anytime any movement occurs, record. Place this in the car, or anywhere you want protected (your personal tree house for the local kid's club ;-). Then any detection of movement is recorded with maybe a 10-30 minute loop of most recent data stored.
Why: If car is broken into, or hit, incident is recorded and when you return to car you have captured the incident. Car is most obvious, but can be used elsewhere (like treehouse!)
Name: Jeff Thomas <thomjj@mail.com>
18. Gadget Name: Web-A-Sizer
Description: A companion unit for Webpotatoes who have a hard time leaving the couch or desk for fear of missing something. This unit can be set to either display or "read" tweets, IMs, e-mail, RSS feeds and any other bit of web info that the potato would normally need to be glued to his/her screen to keep up with. There would be several choices for voices or display fonts and the unit could sit cozily along side various exercise equipment.
Why: Installing Televisions in gyms in the 90's has proven hugely successful for getting couch potatoes off their arses and into the gym, now we need to get the army of webpotatoes moving and bring sexy back (or at all) to technophiles everywhere.
Name: Beth Goza <bethgo@gmail.com>
19 . Gadget Name : EyeTrackU.
Description: Take photos and report GPS location, send to web and map out where you spend most of your time. Send updates to tweets, read other EyeTrackU users to network in person. Build a real social network with humans.
Why: Meeting people in person and sharing idea in the same area of the country is quite difficult, but on a common system like EyeTrackU , people can meet and work together and track where their best areas to share are.
name : Jeff Norris < iscifitv@gmail.com
20. Gadget Name: BikeBuddy
Description: Today's urban biker is more often then not, eventually going to end up in some sort of accident with a car. Anyone who's bicycled around Seattle can tell you. Unfortunately, when it comes to proving who's at fault, it's often one person's word against another. The more unbiased data you can have in situations like these, the better. BikeBuddy will automatically turn itself on when in motion, and the built in camera and GPS will track where your bike is, how fast it's going, and the conditions around you. As long as it's in motion, it will take a photo every 4 seconds pairing it with GPS coordinates. It can do this by emptying it's earlier taken photos constantly as well. If you get into an accident, you would tell it to stop, and have all the most recent photos and location information at your disposal.
Why you want it: To protect yourself while you're trying to protect the environment. Imagine having a picture to prove that the light you went through was green, while the car that hit you was going through a red. Case closed. BikeBuddy FTW.
Your Name & Contact Info: Cassie Wallender, cassie{at}firewallender.com
21. Gadget Name: Automatic Vacation Scrapbook
Description: During your vacation, your BUG would constantly record sounds near it, and then save the 10 seconds before and after you took a picture. The GPS would also save your route and where each picture was taken. A lot of people now make collage videos with pictures of their vacation. This would help them so that they could make a video that mapped out their route in the Google Maps road or satelite view in the background using the GPS log while showing what pictures they were taking and what they were saying when they took it.
Why you want it: I want to remember what my family said and who pointed out that great view or cute squirrel as it will really add another dimension to the memories. Also, the GPS log will help with friends who want advice about exactly where to go and where all the best spots are.
Your Name & Contact Info: s_baar@yahoo.com Scott Baar
22. Gadget Name: Travel Security Alarm Clock
Description: travel alarm clock that automatically adjusts time based on GPS coordinates. Touchscreen allows variety of sleep and wake settings. Can set wake alarm type (beep, music wav file, sounds of nature wav file) and wake alarm type (immediate on, or slow volume increase - 15 second ramp to 15 minute ramp). Also can set music to go to sleep by (with decreasing volume). Final part is security function: Set up touchscreen side of Bug to face sleeping person, and motion activator and camera to face out to room. If motion is detected, sound alarm and start video recording
Why you want it: Great to slowly wake to the sound of gradually increasing music. Even possibility of 2nd back up alarm. Market place right now does not provide for 'gradual wake' feature of longer than 15 seconds - this would be the first alarm clock to allow gradual wake over 15 minutes, and could provide back up alarm. When traveling, time is automatically adjusted eliminating the hassle of reseting time. Finally provides security when you sleep, or when you are away from your room.
Your Name & Contact Info: James Thomas, jamm.jt@gmail.com
23. Gadget Name: Construction LoJacker
Description: Ruggedized GPS tracker, bolted or locked onto tool boxes, fork lifts, etc. Wakes up upon motion, sends distress signal if beyond a certain perimeter.
Why You Want It: Construction-site equipment theft -- including a remarkable amount of heavy equipment -- amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Since most of the equipment is rented, the contractor has to provide replacement cost.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
24. Gadget Name: Hoist Commander
Description: Floor/movement tracker for construction-site elevators (called ‘hoists’). One Bug in the elevator, one on each floor, tells which floor the elevator is on, which have called it, and which direction it’s moving. Can also send alarm based on accelerometer trip point.
Why You Want It: Construction elevators (hoists) are temporary set-ups, use manual calling system, and aren’t outfitted with the electronics familiar to office-building elevators.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
25. Gadget Name: EMT/Fire Tracker
Description: Ruggedized GPS/system information tracker, configured for each municipality’s ambulances and firetrucks, send information back to the station.
Why You Want It: Most emergency equipment is several decades old. Not only is the equipment built to last -- and doesn’t get much use -- but budgets limit purchasing of new rigs ($500k - $1M). Bugs can at least bring the communications up to date -- plus their portability enables them to be switched among vehicles.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
26. Gadget Name: Border Bug
Description: Camera-equipped Bugs with proximity detection and other trip mechanisms, solar-powered, pole-mounted.
Why You Want It: Would be far more cost-effective than building ‘A great wall’ -- not to mention more humane.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
27. Gadget Name: Truckers’ Exchange
Description: Bluetooth-enabled Bugs for exchanging information among haulers at truck stops. When they got within proximity of one another, a ‘handshake’ takes place.
Why You Want It: Many truckers are equipped with computers, even mobile Internet, and connect whenever they can. Truckers’ Exchange would enable truckers to automatically share information such as what’s being hauled, destination, etc., improving efficiencies in transport and facilitating load consolidation. No point in hauling half a load from Phoenix to LA, if someone can finish it for you.
Your Name & Contact Info: J. Hilmer, dctechexec at gmail dot com
28. Gadget Name: 3D Camera and Display
Description: Bug with two cameras on a single side allowing for 3D images to be taken as stills or video. The images can be processed into a single 3D image or kept as two separate images. The other side of the bug could have two display units, one for each camera, or a single display with an alternating polarizing filter to be used with appropriate polarized 3D glasses.
Why You Want It: Most available 3D cameras are expensive or are just two cameras put side by side. This bug would provide an easy way to capture 3D images as well as a simple method for display of the 3D images with two displays that fit easily on the unit.
Your Name & Contact Info: B. Hanley, hanleybr at gmail dot com
29. Gadget Name: Ultimate Remote Control
Description: Where is that remote control anyway? With the Ultimate Remote Control, you don't have to worry about it -- just wave at your TV. The Motion sensor detects when you're waving and activates the remote control. From there, simple hand signals read and recognized through the camera control the TV. Raise or lower your flat hand to change the volume. Hold out your palm to mute. Move your fist to the right or left to change channels or fast forward and rewind on your DVD. Form numbers with both hands to enter a channel code, or use sign language letters to pick a channel by name. Status and confirmations are shown on the LCD. Because there's no physical remote control, everybody in the room can use it any time.
Why You Want It: We have lots of remote controls and they always seem to be lost. If they're not lost, they get fought over.
Your Name & Contact Info: Roy Leban, royleban {at} groupthink {dot} com
30. Gadget Name: Help Me Drive
Description: Help Me Drive uses the new radio module to tune in to broadcasted traffic information and combines that with GPS information to alert me of traffic conditions that I care about -- and only those -- via the new text-to-speech module. I don't need to know about an accident 30 miles away unless I'm heading in that direction. Help Me Drive uses a combination of GPS tracking and recording of prior routes to predict which possible traffic issues are a concern. For example, if I'm on 520 heading West between Redmond and 405 and a significant percentage of the time that I'm on that road, I continue past 405 into downtown Seattle, then traffic between me and downtown Seattle is highly relevant. As a bonus, Help Me Drive downloads construction information via WiFi whenever I'm near a preferred or public WiFi network. Plus, by recording traffic information over time, and correlating those with my driving patterns (it knows my speed at every point on my route), it can provide a better predictor of how bad traffic will get on my regular routes. I can also specify traffic that I'm always interested in or that I'm always interested in when I leave a particular destination, like work or home, and I can specify that I'm always interested in traffic between my current location and home or work, depending on the time of day.
Why You Want It: I hate getting stuck in traffic when I could have taken a different route that wasn't congested.
Your Name & Contact Info: Roy Leban, royleban {at} groupthink {dot} com
31. Gadget Name: Slow Window
Description: There's a famous science fiction story by Bob Shaw, The Light of Other Days, that introduces the concept of Slow Glass -- glass through which light moves very slowly, possibly taking decades to go from one side to the other. It's an awesome story and highly recommended. My slow window wouldn't be quite so slow, but the camera constantly records and plays back on the screen at a specified delay -- possibly 15 seconds, possibly an hour. 24 hours happens to be a really interesting delay. See what happened yesterday. An optional accelerometer can cause the time dilation to change on-the-fly as you move it around, a pretty cool effect giving you that "special relativity" feel. And, an optional motion sensor can make the slow window delay variable -- it's always showing interesting stuff, looping as necessary.
Why You Want It: Concepts from SF have come to life in so many ways already. I've always wanted slow glass.
Your Name & Contact Info: Roy Leban, royleban {at} groupthink {dot} com
2008 Speakers
2008 Partners
My Profiles
FriendFeed
- MarkCarras: Anyone else paranoid about the Friday night Showbox thing? I really hope there won't be music, because when you assume everyone likes the same styles...you know. :P (via FriendFeed)
- Scott Maentz: In Celebration of Gnomedex: Our Gnome Trail (via FriendFeed)
- Scott Maentz: I'm surprised that only 13 people have confirmed for the Thursday pre-Gnomedex party tweetup at The Alibi Room. Come join us! (via FriendFeed)
- Dave Delaney: Is there a Gnomedex aggregate Twitter page yet? Also any word on what we'll be using for geo-tracking? (via FriendFeed)
- Greg Birch: I'll be up for boating jaunts Thurs-Sat if anyone wants to spend some time on the water. (via FriendFeed)