Design Workshop

December 17th 2010

Introducing Word Lens

Word Lens instantly translates printed words from one language to another using the video camera on your iPhone. No network delay, no roaming fees, and no reception problems.

Word Lens is a dictionary — evolved. It looks up words for you, and shows them in context. You can use Word Lens on your vacations to translate restaurant menus, street signs, and other things that have clearly printed words.

Word Lens has its limits. Sometimes the translation will be hard to understand, but it usually gets the point across. If a translation fails, there is a way to manually look up words by typing them in. Word Lens does not read very stylized fonts, handwriting, or cursive.

Posted by ghuber at 11:22am

Future Augmented Reality Product iPhone App

September 25th 2010

Future Appliances Think Big by Going Small →

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By 2050, three of every four people on the planet will be living in crowded mega-cities, the UN says. That doesn’t leave much room for a backyard, let alone kitchen or laundry room.

So this year, organizers of the Electrolux Design Lab contest challenged young designers to come up with space-saving, space-age appliances that take advantage of new and emerging technologies.

From a virtual reality kitchen where your thoughts are transferred to food-prep robots to a combination closest/nano-tech water-free washing machine, the results are intriguing.

“We don’t want to replicate things that exist already,” said Tom Astin, a spokesman for the Stockholm-based appliance luxury appliance manufacturer. “But to have some basis in technology with an eye toward the future.”

Posted by ghuber at 10:49am

Future Product Ideas Technology

September 19th 2010

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