(Credit:
Litracon)
The LitraCube lamp consists of four identical pieces of Litracon concrete.
(Credit: Litracon)And today in news about concrete...
You may already have heard about Litracon, a see-through concrete developed by Hungarian architect Aron Losonczi. Filled with optical fibers that run from one end of a poured piece of concrete to the other, these prefabricated blocks and panels effectively transmit light from one side to the other.
The material can be used for artistic purposes, or in commercial or residential construction projects, where experts predict it could reduce heat loss in buildings. Needless to say, this stuff turns the traditional concept of cold, hard, gray concrete on its side.
Well, if you're interested in innovative building materials and you happen to be winding your way through New York City between now and April 25, you can view the see-through concrete as part of an exhibit at the American Institute of Architects' Center for Architecture. Previously, this eye-catching material has primarily been displayed in Europe.
The exhibit, called Make It Work: Engineering Possibilities, highlights inventive strategies for the built environment, and the ways in which multidisciplinary research and integrated practice take ideas from seed to blossom.
(Credit:
T3)
(Credit:
Frontier)
This is the ideal iPod dock for those who carry gear such as the Hummer phone to reinforce their fragile masculine egos. Kind of an MP3 version of the Makita MR100, the 10-pound "Construction Radio" is equally comfortable in the workshop or a demolition site for a 40-story high-rise. Indeed, it looks something like a "HyperBike" for the media player, or maybe a scaled-down version of Ripley's power loader from Aliens.
It comes with a built-in spotlight, SD card slot, dual power outlets, and an AM-FM radio in addition to a fortified iPod dock, according to T3, so you can enjoy your favorite Broadway show tunes while wielding a power saw. And if you're adding the latest songs from High School Musical 3 through its USB port, we have the perfect flash drive for it.
(Credit:
U.S. Patent No. 5,205,473)
It's a good idea and whoever came up with it got a patent. I know that because the number, "U.S. Patent No. 5,205,473" is printed in neat, black text right on the sleeve. (There's actually a second patent number as well.) The reason the sleeve on my coffee cup, and most other patented products, have patent numbers printed on them is something patent lawyers call "constructive notice."
Under the law, the public is deemed to have constructive notice that something is patented if that something has a patent number on it. The idea behind the law apparently is that if one sees a patent number, one has the ability to look that patent up, read it, and maybe even understand what it says. For the corrugated sleeve, it was simple enough for me--albeit a little geeky--to take a look at the '473 patent and understand how the sleeve works to make the heat from my latte more bearable.
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Battle stations! The U.S. Navy has upped the stakes in the battle of the training simulators with the commissioning of its 550-foot USS Trayer Battle Stations 21.
The Trayer, dry-docked at a mock pier in the $82.5 million USS Iowa training complex in Great Lakes, Ill., simulates an Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer and some of the adventure and hard work that goes with sailing the Seven Seas.
(Credit:
U.S. Navy)
BTS 21 is part of a 10-year, $763 million "recapitalization" of training facilities that will set new standards in simulation technology by using video screens, smells, vibrations and sound effects to educate thousands of sailors a month, according to the Navy Training Command.
There is no mention of seasickness or saltwater showers, but the Navy still promises "horrifying realism." Scenarios from historic naval engagements and disasters like the 2000 attack on USS Cole in Yemen have been incorporated into the boot camp syllabus. The results are flooded compartments, raging fires and screaming casualties all accompanied by the thrum of engines and shaking floors of a ship underway. Trainers control the various scenarios via PDAs, while future swabbies struggle to batten the proverbial hatches.
Cobbled together with "salvaged gauges, pipes and electrical gear" from mothballed ships, BTS 21's gray plywood skin masks a "vast array of multi-sensory technology, seamlessly integrated with architecture and engineering to produce state-of-the-art simulation," according to the Navy. A range of special-effects firms led by McHugh Construction of Chicago combined set design, props, lighting, fire jets, piped-in aromas and sheer Hollywood flair to create a training experience the Navy hopes will be instructive for even the most jaded of multimedia-age recruits.
The question is: What about shore leave? We can think of a couple of simulated scenarios that might tempt us to grab the old sea bag and re-up.
(Credit:
Tech Digest)
Construction workers appreciate music on the job as much as anyone, as we were reminded recently with a Makita radio designed specifically for building sites, so it makes sense that someone would eventually come along and market a music toolbox for them as well. The "G-Tech Tune Time Tool Box" not only has plenty of space for power drills and wrenches, but it also comes with built-in NXT speakers and an abundance of pockets for digital accoutrements.
Tech Digest says the $108 bag is made of "durable double-layer 6006 polyester," which means that it would survive a steep drop off some scaffolding (though the iPod inside might be another story). Think of it as a macho alternative to the gold and pink Lifepod bags.
(Credit:
Makita)
Makita is a name most associated with such things as power tools and table saws, not usually portable gadgets. But just to show that it's not all blue-collar, the Japanese company has developed a radio specifically designed for construction sites.
Think of it as kind of the Toughbook of radios. The MR100 has a lithium battery and weather-resistant casing to survive harsh conditions, from extreme cold to hot and humid climates, Akihabara News says.
If you want one of these just for personal use for some strange reason, be aware that this isn't meant to be carried around in a backpack: It measures nearly a foot square and weighs more than 9 pounds. Which means you won't want to be walking by on the street if one of these falls off a 40-story scaffold.
Tired of waking up with the sun in your eyes? Don't bother with a tapparelle, just turn your house.
The Everingham Rotating House in Australia can be rotated at its owners' whim by the touch of a screen. The rotating ability, along with its many glass doors, allow the owners to take advantage of seasonal views and sunlight, according to Luke and Deb Everingham. The couple share details about the home on their Web site.
Instead of having hallways, the home is more or less a series of wide pie-shaped rooms. All the inner workings of the house, such as plumbing and electricity, are in the center, with the rest of the house rotating around that core.
The Everinghams have the option of enjoying a slow, continuous rotation or, to simply get the job done, can rotate the house a full 360 degrees in about 30 minutes at top speed.
As Gizmag pointed out, the octagonal-shaped home has garnered so much attention in Australia, that Luke Everingham is now looking into selling his design or building the home for others.
(Photo: The Everingham Rotating House)
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