kickstarter

The commercialization of space travel is well on its way. That means you can't just pop over to NASA and borrow a space suit for your private space flight, which leaves room for some upstarts to get in on the space-clothing action.

Final Frontier Design is working on a lightweight, relatively inexpensive space suit and is looking for $20,000 on Kickstarter to boost the project. The company has already built two generations of suits but is looking to improve the design with a retractable helmet, better gloves, a carbon fiber waist ring, and higher operating pressure.… Read more

Scanbox, created by Australian design company Limemouse, works as a miniature studio in a box perfect for scanning documents (up to A4 size), receipts, 3D objects, or even a page from a book.

At first glance, the $15 Scanbox may appear like some sort of strange geometric shape, but the peculiar design optimizes lighting conditions for the perfect shot. It only takes a few moments to set up the device, as the user simply aligns a few high-strength magnets built into the box.

A stencil of a smartphone with a square hole sits on top so that the user knows exactly where to place the camera lens every time. When the photo shoot ends, the Scanbox folds back up into a flat shape for easy transportation. … Read more

Eminent science fiction writer Neal Stephenson wants to get real about swordsmanship, and he's passing the helmet to get it done.

The author, perhaps best known for his novels "Cryptonomicon" and "Snow Crash," is seeking donations on Kickstarter for a new video game called Clang that promises to provide a more realistic representation of steel-on-steel swordfighting. Working with Subutai, the goal is to create a game based on two-handed longsword combat that will play on game controllers already on the market, he writers in a blog explaining the project:

Several other blogs have already highlighted a new Kickstarter project, Twig, a Gumby-esque iPhone docking cable, but I thought I should also throw some props its way as well. … Read more

Paul Anderson, an inventor based in Oregon, has created an iPhone accessory called the Daylight Viewfinder, which blocks out stray sunlight and improves your ability to see images on the screen when framing your shots.

The device is made up of two components: an eyepiece attachment and a dedicated camera app. Users first need to launch the app, and then affix the eyepiece attachment to a specific part of the iPhone screen via a suction cup. … Read more

I had the opportunity to check out the Trygger iPhone Camera Case for iPhone 4/4S firsthand a couple weeks ago in Portland, Ore. Its co-creator, Joel Kamerman, and I sat down to test the prototype and I was immediately blown away.

As a fashion photographer in my spare time, the benefit of having the Trygger case secured to my iPhone was easily apparent. With a solid and sturdy case structure that maintained a slim feel to my iPhone, the Trygger case adds great functionality without the bulk. … Read more

You'd be surprised at the number of people who crave spider-like robots.

Boston-based ArcBotics is gathering funds for its Hexy kit robot, billed as a low-cost, completely open-source critter that is easy to program.

It has six legs instead of eight, but Hexy can walk, dance, bang some keyboard keys, and do whatever else you can imagine.

It comes with a few installed moves, too. It's so cool, it even plays electric guitar. … Read more

Think of all the things you can do with a tea candle. You can light a jack-o-lantern, set some mood lighting, or keep food warm. Soon, you'll be able to use one to recharge your iPhone or other small electronic device.

The tPOD1 stands for "thermoelectric power on demand." It's a Kickstarter project from Tellurex that aims to turn tea candles into a handy source of electricity for those times when you're off the grid or the power goes out. … Read more

Ever missed a photo-worthy moment because you were too busy setting up your tripod? We may have found a workaround in the form of a Kickstarter project called the Maxis 360. It's basically a camera mount that allows you to attach your shooter to metallic surfaces, giving you the ability to rotate your camera in 360 degrees.

How does it work? First, screw on the camera attachment -- this seems to adhere to the spheroid magnetically. You will then be able to tilt your camera about 90 degrees forward, backward, or sideways, much like a tripod ballhead. The magnetic base on which the spheroid sits comes with a rubber protector that allows you to mount your camera on polished surfaces such as your car's hood without scratching the paint. … Read more