This concept car uses its own reconnaissance drone to spot traffic jams

The idea of receiving traffic updates on your sat nav may suddenly seem tawdry next to this more futuristic alternative dreamed up by Renault: If you’re driving along in its “KWID” concept car and you’re worried about jams up ahead, you simply launch a quadrocopter drone from the car’s roof, send it skyward using a control app on your tablet and then survey the road through its camera. Would it be distracting, trying to perceive two views at once without the multitasking skills of an Apache pilot? Whose insurer would pay out if your drone pranged someone else’s? Fortunately, these questions need not concern us, as Renault readily admits that the KWID will probably never see the light of an assembly plant. And in any case, if the technology does come about one day, the parallel advent of semi-autonomous cars and mind-controlled drones would surely make it practical.

via This concept car uses its own reconnaissance drone to spot traffic jams.

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Shelby Raptor | Uncrate

Yes, it’s exactly what you think it is. Like the company’s long-running series of suped-up Mustangs, the Shelby Raptor ($18,000 and up, not inlcuding the SVT Raptor) takes Ford’s already beastly truck to the next level. The package includes a 2.9L supercharger and a Shelby Borla exhaust that combine to boost the V8’s output from 411 to 575 hp, optional custom wheels with 35-in Goodrich All-Terrain tires, and your choice of three graphics kits, one of which looks like it was inspired by the cover of a 1990’s graphic novel. So don’t choose that one.

via Shelby Raptor | Uncrate.

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Ram Man Of Steel Truck | Uncrate

Okay, okay — so Superman doesn’t need a whole lot of help getting around. But unless you’ve gained the power to fly, you probably still need some wheels. The Ram Man Of Steel Truck ($TBA) should suffice. This one-of-a-kind Power Wagon features a Dark Ceramic Gray paint job with a high-gloss black roof, anodized red grille accents, forged aluminum, satin-black 17-inch off-road wheels, and a custom wrap inspired by Superman’s suit. Inside, you’ll find Pewter leather seats with custom mesh inserts based on the suit, and anodized red accents on the doors, steering column, radio, and seats. Oh, and Superman logos on the grille, tailgate, seats, and console. If you’re still interested, keep an eye out for an auction to come later this year.

via Ram Man Of Steel Truck | Uncrate.

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Ford F-150 RaptorTrax | Uncrate

You’ve already seen Ken Block tearing up tarmac — and his fair share of tires — in his hot Ford Focus ST, but he’ll be tormenting a different kind of surface in his newest toy, the Ford F-150 RaptorTrax. Based on an F-150 SVT Raptor, the RaptorTrax takes it to the next level with a Whipple supercharger and Mattracks replacing each of the wheels essentially turning it into a snowcat on steroids. A roll cage, Recaro racing seats in the front and bed, a winch, a snowboard rack, and a roof basket make this the ultimate way to access snowy backcountry. Now all we need is a video of Block getting this thing a little sideways.

via Ford F-150 RaptorTrax | Uncrate.

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Sign Language Ring – 2013 | concept | Red Dot Award: Design Concept

A general lack of understanding of sign language among people with good hearing can create difficulties when someone needs to use signs to communicate with them. Sign Language Ring is a translation device in the form of a bracelet with detachable rings. When worn on the fingers of the person using sign language, the rings detect and track the signing motions. These are translated to voice, which is emitted by the bracelet. The user can pre-record their signing movements and assign the appropriate words, which allows the system to be customised to the user’s particular gestures.

After use, the rings can be set into the bracelet for storage. The design was inspired by Buddhist prayer beads. The system also translates voice into text, which is displayed on a screen on the top of the bracelet.

via Sign Language Ring – 2013 | concept | Red Dot Award: Design Concept.

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These kids are so good at juggling they must be sorcerers

I don’t think I am as good at anything as these guys are at juggling. Seriously, like not even walking or sleeping or eating or brushing my teeth. They’re so good at throwing multiple random objects in the air and then catching it perfectly that they must be able to use their minds to control inanimate objects. Or be able to freeze time. It’s truly impressive.

Like does this really look like something a normal human with just two humans without the ability to control objects or freeze time can do? I really don’t think so:

via These kids are so good at juggling they must be sorcerers.

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President’s plan to bring high-speed internet to classrooms gets $100 million in equipment and tools from Apple | iMore

Apple is joining in with President Obama’s initiative to get students connected to high-speed internet, called ConnectED, donating $100 million in iPads, computers, and other equiptment. Apple joins a group of compnaies that include Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and Microsoft in donating $750 million towards improving the internet in public schools. Currently, 70% of students in the U.S. are without access to high-speed internet in the classrooms. The President wants to change that, wanting to give 99% of students in U.S. sc

President's plan to bring high-speed internet to classrooms gets 0 million in equipment and tools from Apple | iMore

hools access to high-speed internet in the next five years, according to the Associated Press:

via President’s plan to bring high-speed internet to classrooms gets $100 million in equipment and tools from Apple | iMore.

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This Simple Invention Seals Gunshot Wounds in 15 Seconds Flat

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To stop bleeding, apply pressure—with tiny sponges. A group of veterans, scientists, and engineers in Oregon have a developed a device that uses small medical sponges to stop bleeding from gunshot wounds in just 15 seconds.

Hemorrhaging is the leading cause of death on the battlefield. When a soldier is shot, medics use gauze to stop the bleeding, but it’s hard to apply direct pressure to a gunshot wound several inches deep. Tourniquets that stop blood from gushing out of arm or leg wounds are no help for pelvis or shoulder injuries, either. But the small sponges of XStat, developed by Oregon company RevMedX, expand to seal a gunshot wound anywhere on the body. Popular Scienceexplains how it works: Continue reading

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Apple says Happy Birthday Mac with a video shot solely on iPhones

Apple isn’t done celebrating the Macintosh’s 30th birthday just yet. To further mark the occasion, the folks in Cupertino dispatched 15 film crews to locales around the globe, armed with 100 iPhones to document just how far Apple has come in 30 years. The end result is 70 hours of footage culled into a minute and a half of gorgeous vistas and enough Apple gadgets to make you (or your wallet) groan.

via Apple says Happy Birthday Mac with a video shot solely on iPhones.

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AT&T Is Making Its Shared Data Family Plans Way Cheaper

Over the weekend, AT&T announced that it’s cutting the prices of its Mobile Share Value plans that are aimed at families—and it could save you between $50 and $100 a month.The Mobile Share plans will continue working in the same way: you purchase a bucket of data unlimited talk and text included to share with the whole family. Now, AT&T isn’t making the data cheaper, but you’ll pay less per line if you get 10GB of data or more a month.You can now add an off-contract handset to the plan for $15 month, down from $25 before. That may sound modest, but it adds up. Four mobiles sharing 10GB of data will now cost$160 a month; for perspective, four mobiles sharing 4GB used to cost $175. You will, however, need to think about handsets, as the deal is only open to users who buy new phones outright, bring their own off-contract, or upgrade using the Next early upgrade plan.Perhaps best of all, though, is the fact that existing users of the Mobile Share plan with on-contract phones can switch to the new pricing structure. Call AT&T, and it will switch you to a Mobile Share Value plan with 10GB of data, dropping the cost per phone from $40 to $15 per month. That’s a huge saving; what are you waiting for? [AT&T via Verge]

via AT&T Is Making Its Shared Data Family Plans Way Cheaper.

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