THE TECH-LICIOUS

3D-printing gives Normal earphones a tailored fit

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The earform cap of the Normal earphones are 3D-printed to provide a snug fit" height="359" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/normal-3d-print-earphones.jpg" width="640" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you enjoy music on the move, there's a very good chance that you've been troubled by earphones popping out of your ears just as you're getting into the groove. There are high-end earphones or professional in-ear monitors available that require the buyer to pop along to an audiologist and go through an uncomfortable custom fit process to ensure the buds won't keep falling out as you run through the park or jump around the stage. Or you could look into having a custom set of earphones made. This is precisely what Normal founder Nikki Kaufman did, but the significant cost and long shipping delay she encountered prompted her to find another way. She came up with a way to tailor each pair of earphones to the wearer using a free mobile app and a 3D printer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The process by which one obtains a pair of tailor-made premium earphones appears pretty straightforward. Using the Normal iOS/Android app, buyers line up each ear for a photo using a smartphone's camera. A coin (a US quarter) is placed near the ear so that the Normal software can determine scale. Then it's time for personalization of the earphones themselves.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/normal-tailored-3d-printed-earphones/32890/pictures#1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Using a free app, buyers snap a photo of each ear, customize the earphones and then purcha..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/normal-3d-print-earphones-0.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="529" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The company reckons that there are over a thousand possible configurations, including a choice of colors for the earform caps. Once an order is placed and sent over an internet connection to Normal's "ear magicians," the company prints out the custom caps, adds a soft-touch coating, assembles the components and ships out the personalized units in as little as 48 hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The ABS/PC alloy driver housing is designed to face the concha, while the 3D-printed earform cap hooks under the antihelix, in a similar way to theBose StayHear tips. Normal says that a "personalized fit means the earphones stay comfortably in place, guaranteed." It's backing that up by offering to produce another set free of charge or refund payment if a customer is not completely satisfied with the fit or audio quality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Normal says that users can look forward to top notch sound quality, though we'd have to hear them for ourselves to comment further. What we can tell you is that the earphones feature 14 mm neodymium dynamic drivers, have a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 109 dB per mW sensitivity, a total harmonic distortion of less than 1 percent, and 32 Ohm impedance.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/normal-tailored-3d-printed-earphones/32890/pictures#2" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Normal founder Nikki Kaufman with a pair of 'one-of-a-kind' tailored earphones" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/normal-3d-print-earphones-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The 1.13 m (3.7 ft) or 1.6 m (5.25 ft) cable includes a three-button device controller that's said to work with any smartphone (to play, pause, adjust volume or answer a call), and there's a gold plated 3.5 mm jack to plug into your audio player of choice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Normal earphones are priced at US$199 a pair, and come supplied with a laser-etched carry case. They're available in the US only for the moment, but international shipping is being considered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can watch the somewhat creepy promo video below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Source: <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/normal-tailored-3d-printed-earphones/32890/" target="_blank">gizmag</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="298" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8tmhdOfIEqU" width="530"></iframe></span></div>
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3D-printing gives Normal earphones a tailored fit

If you enjoy music on the move, there's a very good chance that you've been troubled by earphones popping out of your ears just...

Rocketskates let you walk or "motor"

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Rocketskates are worn over regular shoes " height="358" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/rocketskates-3.jpg" title="Rocketskates are worn over regular shoes " width="640" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Back in 2010, we first heard about inventor Peter Treadway's concept for powered wheeled footwear
 that also allowed the user to walk under their own power when desired. 
Two years later, the concept was the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, 
in the form of spnKiX
 motorized skates. Now, Treadway has returned to Kickstarter with an 
improved take on the original idea, known as Acton R Rocketskates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Like spnKiX, Rocketskates are designed to be strapped on over regular
 footwear. When you want to let each skate's two hub motors do the work,
 you just tip your feet back so that only the rubber wheels make contact
 with the ground. Should you need to do something like climbing stairs, 
however, you tip forward and walk on the balls of your feet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Unlike spnKiX, however, Rocketskates aren't controlled via a remote 
control unit. Instead users start by picking a "lead" foot (the one that
 goes in front), turning both skates on, then waiting for them to 
wirelessly sync up with one another. Once they're synced, the user 
accelerates by tilting the lead skate forward, and decelerates by 
putting their heel down. The motors of the non-lead skate simply copy 
whatever those in the lead one are doing.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/rocketskates-let-you-walk-or-motor/32879/pictures#2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The user accelerates by tilting the lead skate forward, and decelerates by putting their h..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/rocketskates.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Their maximum speed is 12 mph (19 km/h), and the range depends on the
 model chosen. The R6 will get you around 6 miles (9.7 km) or 45 minutes
 of use, the R8 is rated for 8 miles (12.9 km)/70 minutes, and the R10 
is reportedly good for 10 miles (16 km) or 90 minutes. For all models, a
 full charge of the lithium-ion batteries takes 1.5 hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Users can also do things like monitoring battery life, tracking routes and checking total mileage via an accompanying app.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If they seem like your cup of tea, a pledge of US$249 will get a pair
 of R6s, with the R8s going for $499 and the R10s for $599 – when and if
 they reach production. Treadway's Acton company, incidentally, also 
brought us the collapsible electric M Scooter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Rocketskates can be seen in action, in the pitch video below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Source: <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/rocketskates-let-you-walk-or-motor/32879/" target="_blank">gizmag</a></span><br />
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Rocketskates let you walk or "motor"

Back in 2010, we first heard about inventor Peter Treadway's concept for powered wheeled footwear that also allowed the user to walk...

The future of birth control and drug delivery: Remote controlled implants that last for 16 years

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Microchips, drug dispensing implant contraceptive thing" src="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/drug-dispensing-contraceptive-chip-640x353.jpg" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">An MIT spin-off in Massachusetts, backed by the Gates Foundation, has developed a small, remote-controlled drug-dispensing implant that sits just under your skin. To activate the drug dispenser you simply press a button on a wireless remote control — and press it again to turn it off. Such an implant could be used to dispense a whole range of useful drugs — but in this case, one of the first commercial applications will be the contraceptive hormone <span style="color: black;">levonorgestrel, which is already used by a number of female birth control methods. A single implant can apparently provide enough levonorgestrel to be effective for 16 years; currently, no implanted contraceptive works for more than five years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The implanted device, developed by the rather unimaginatively named Microchips in Lexington, is 20mm (0.8in) square and 7mm thick. Contained within the device is a microchip (thus the company’s amazing name) that contains a series of drug reservoirs. This is where the magic occurs: Each reservoir is gated by a special titanium and platinum seal that temporarily melts when an electric current is applied, allowing the drug to seep out. Apparently the reservoirs are large enough to carry a 16-year supply of the hormonal contraceptive <span style="color: black;">levonorgestrel. </span></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/technology_infographic.jpg" style="color: #b1700a; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Microchips implant drug dispensing infographic diagram thing" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-185874" height="504" src="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/technology_infographic.jpg" style="border-style: none;" width="384" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If 16 years of continued contraception wasn’t cool enough, the implant can also be activated and deactivated wirelessly. So, the implant would continue to provide birth control — until you press a button on a remote control, in which case it would be turned off, and you could then get pregnant again. Sadly, exact details on how the implant actually works — most notably the wireless connectivity and the magical melting/re-forming seal — are fairly hard to come by. But, considering it’s based on tech that MIT pioneered way back in the late ’90s, and now the involvement of the Gates Foundation, presumably it all works as advertised.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So far, the Microchips implant has been successfully used to dispense drugs to osteoporosis patients. Now, with the Gates Foundation getting involved, the new contraceptive version of the implant is being developed. The current plan is to begin testing in 2015 and have it on the market by 2018. (Remember, the Gates Foundation is all about improving the quality of life for people living in developing countries, and reliable contraception is key to such an endeavor. Last year we wrote a fantastic story about the Foundation funding the creation of an impenetrable graphene condom…)</span></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_185875" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px; width: 650px;">
<a href="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/microchips-implant.jpg" style="color: #b1700a; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Microchips implant" class="size-large wp-image-185875" height="897" src="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/microchips-implant-640x897.jpg" style="border-style: none;" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; line-height: 15px; padding: 10px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">An older Microchips implant (I think it measures around 5cm on the longest side.)</span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The obvious advantage of such a drug-dispensing implant is that it removes a large portion of the potential human error. Rather than having to take a pill every day, or visit a doctor for an injection every few months, the implant just sits there, dutifully dispensing drugs for 16 years. If you decide it’s the right time to get pregnant, just push the button. There’s no mention of it on the Microchips website, but presumably a male version could also be developed (though male hormonal contraceptives aren’t quite as developed yet as their female counterparts).</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As with any medical implant, my mind readily races towards possible flaws and misuses of the Microchips technology. Obviously the wireless remote control is only useful if it remains in the hands of the woman with the implant. You also can’t rule out the possibility of outside actors remotely hacking the implant to turn it off — so the woman might think she’s protected, but isn’t. The possibilities get even scarier when you consider that these implants might eventually be used for other drugs, too. It was almost three years ago that we first discussed the lethal wireless insulin pump hack.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Imagine a future, where everyone is equipped with a range of drug-dispensing implants that lay dormant until they’re needed. Feeling the onset of ‘flu? Just push a button to dispense some drugs. Got food poisoning? Push the button. Feeling down and need a quick boost of serotonin? Mmm, warm and fuzzy button. Need to kill someone quickly and remotely? Hack one of their drug dispensing implants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">SOURCE-<a href="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/185871-the-future-of-birth-control-and-drug-delivery-remote-controlled-implants-that-last-for-16-years" target="_blank">EXTREAM TECH</a></span></div>
</div>

The future of birth control and drug delivery: Remote controlled implants that last for 16 years

An MIT spin-off in Massachusetts, backed by the Gates Foundation, has developed a small, remote-controlled drug-dispensing implant that...

iPhone 6's 4.7-inch sapphire crystal display tortured on video

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<a href="http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/57933-image/iPhone-6s-4.7-inch-sapphire-crystal-display-tortured-on-video.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="iPhone 6's 4.7-inch sapphire crystal display tortured on video" border="0" src="http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/57933-image/iPhone-6s-4.7-inch-sapphire-crystal-display-tortured-on-video.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Earlier today, we showed you a video that seemingly confirmed the screen size of Apple’s next-generation iPhone (most likely called iPhone 6):
 4.7 inches. Now, two other videos showed up, this time allowing us to 
see that the alleged 4.7-inch iPhone 6 front panel is very durable, 
being made with sapphire crystal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br />Previously, we heard that Apple would use sapphire crystal only for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6, but it looks like this isn’t true, and the 4.7-inch model will get the same treatment. <br /><br />As
 you’ll see below, the first video comes from MKBHD, and reportedly 
shows an iPhone 6 front panel that's been taken from Apple’s assembly 
line (so it’s not a dummy unit). The panel was tortured with a knife and
 some keys, and no scratches were found after that. The panel has also 
been bent, and it looks like it’s really flexible. The second video was 
posted by well-known Apple insider Sonny Dickson - who, in fact, seems 
to have provided the panel seen in MKBHD’s video, too.<br /> <br />Apple 
will probably announce the new iPhone 6 in September. What do you think,
 can this ultra-durable, flexible sapphire crystal front panel be one of
 its key selling points?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5R0_FJ4r73s?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">SOURCE-<a href="http://www.phonearena.com/news/iPhone-6s-4.7-inch-sapphire-crystal-display-tortured-on-video_id57933" target="_blank">PHONE ARENA</a></span></div>

iPhone 6's 4.7-inch sapphire crystal display tortured on video

Earlier today, we showed you a video that seemingly confirmed the screen size of Apple’s next-generation iPhone (most likely called iPhone ...

Aquila electric surfboards promise high-speed cruising, carving and freestyling

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Aquila has launched three new electric surfboards" height="358" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/aquila-surf.jpg" title="Aquila has launched three new electric surfboards" width="640" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">While they may not yet be a common sight on the world's beaches, powered
 surfboards have been cropping up on a fairly regular basis since Gizmag
 first covered the PowerSki JetBoard
 a decade ago. Now, Spanish firm Aquila is planning to launch a new 
range of zippy electric-powered boards, each designed for different 
surfing styles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Aquila is spin-off from Bizintek Innova, a product development and 
engineering company that specializes in electronics. It initially began 
as a project to develop an electric propulsion system for use in 
water-sports.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"We were training on low voltage power electronics, motor control and
 LiPo battery management systems to get the know-how needed to offer 
development services for electric vehicle customers," explains Aquia CEO
 Iñigo Sobradillo Benguría. "We searched for an application to test and 
thought that trying to get a board planing over the water would be a 
great challenge. When we tested the first prototypes on the beach, 
people were impressed and came to ask where could they get one. At that 
time we realized that there could be an opportunity for a product."</span><br />
<div class="article_img" style="height: 385px; width: 530px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/pictures#2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The three different boards are designed for beginners or cruising, carving and freestyle r..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/aquila-surf-13.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Made possible as a result of improvements in battery technology in 
recent years, the boards use a completely integrated electric-powered 
jet propulsion system and produce no noise or emissions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"It gets some water from the bottom part of the board and pressurizes
 it through the nozzle on the tail giving the board the thrust needed," 
explains Benguría. "Thrust is regulated through a wireless remote 
control and to turn it works like a surfboard. We have a high current 
Mosfet drive system with a microprocessor that controls the brushless 
motor and some other electronics for safe operation of the system."</span><br />
<div class="article_img" style="height: 289px; width: 530px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/pictures#3" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The boards are called the Manta, the Carver and the Blade" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/aquila-surf-7.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">According to Benguría, the water pump was, in fact, the most 
challenging part of the design. The Aquila team was unable to find a 
suitable and efficient solution on the market, so ended up designing its
 own. The result, he says, was a lightweight, high efficiency and 
completely integrated system.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The battery packs that are used to power the boards are replaceable, 
meaning that they can be swapped out and recharged while a fresh battery
 is swapped in to continue powering the board.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The company is currently evaluating interest in the three electric 
board designs and seeking investors. The aim is to enter production in 
2015.</span><br />
<div class="article_img" style="height: 289px; width: 530px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/pictures#5" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The top speed of the fastest board is 70 km/h (44 mph)" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/aquila-surf-0.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Three board types are available. The entry-level Manta is aimed at 
beginners and those who enjoy relaxed cruising over flat water. Its top 
speed of 33 km/h (21 mph) is the lowest of the three options, but it 
also has the longest battery life at 30 minutes. It measures 230 x 98 cm
 (91 x 39 in) and will retail for €2800 (US$3800).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Carver is designed for high-speed slaloming across the surface of
 the water. At 245 x 68 cm (98 x 27 in), it's the longest of the three 
boards and is aimed at giving the user control for turning. It has a top
 speed of 71 km/h (44 mph) and will cost €3300 ($4485).</span><br />
<div class="article_img" style="height: 289px; width: 530px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/pictures#4" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The boards have an average battery life of about 20 minutes" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/aquila-surf-10.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Aimed at freestyle riders, the Blade is the smallest and lightest of 
the three Aquila boards and is designed to provide optimal 
maneuverability. It measures 185 x 60 cm (73 x 24 in), weighs 18 kg and 
has a top speed of 53 km/h (33 mph). It is to be priced at €2900 
($3942).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Most of our team does or has done some watersports and we are very 
conscious that each person needs a different board," says Benguría. "We 
have developed a system that fits easily on different configurations and
 this way we are able to produce boards for different programs and 
different riders."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The video below shows the Aquila Carver in action.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Product page: <a href="http://aquilasurf.com/en/" target="_blank">Aqulia</a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="article_video">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="298" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fExvAtgiF4o" width="530"></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">source-<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/aquila-electric-surfboard/32830/" target="_blank">gizmag</a></span></div>

Aquila electric surfboards promise high-speed cruising, carving and freestyling

While they may not yet be a common sight on the world's beaches, powered surfboards have been cropping up on a fairly regular basis ...

3D Printing Houses With Drones

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The application of 3D printing is becoming more varied with each 
passing day.  I mean, disabled children are getting a new lease of life 
with 3D printed tools
 to assist them in their daily life.  Designers are able to 3D print 
their creations to get a better feel for their products and construction
 firms are now using the 3D printer to make parts for buildings.</span><br />
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_16979" style="width: 718px;">
<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired4.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="minibuilders. mixing drones with 3D printing" class="lazy size-full wp-image-16979 data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired4.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="531" src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired4.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="708" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">minibuilders. mixing drones with 3D printing</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But the time is not too far away when you will actually be able to 3D
 print your own house. Not with a regular 3D printer, but with a drone. 
 As we have already seen, the concept of 3D printed structural design is
 not a new one. But the massive 3D printers that are needed for large-scale construction projects are rather impractical.  Which is why <a href="http://sasajokic.com/" target="_blank" title="Sasa Jokic">Saša Jokić</a> and <a href="http://www.petrnovikov.com/" target="_blank" title="Petr Novikov">Petr Novikov</a> thought that adding drones into the mix will make a 3D printed construction project more achievable in much smaller spaces.</span><br />
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_16978" style="width: 718px;">
<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired2.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="minibuilders work inside tight spaces." class="lazy size-full wp-image-16978 data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired2.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="531" src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired2.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="708" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">minibuilders work inside tight spaces.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The gadgets are called <a href="http://iaac.net/printingrobots/" target="_blank" title="Minibuilders">Minibuilders</a>. These
 small sized drones made by Saša Jokić and Petr Novikov, are robotic 
concrete mixers, which can deposit layers of liquid construct 
substance. As with regular 3D printed products, there is a need for a 
core to construct the rest of the project around. This core consists of 
two large cylinders of liquid synthetic marble. The liquid is then 
forced through extended tubes by a specialized team of three robots, 
using inflatable syringes.  Next a sensor-equipped Minibuilder will 
follow lines that are marked on the ground, for the foundation of the 
construction. The Minibuilder positions the first 20 layers of construct
 material in a singular, looping spiral.</span><br />
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_16977" style="width: 718px;">
<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired3.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="minibuilders to help construction projects" class="lazy size-full wp-image-16977 data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired3.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="531" src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired3.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="708" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">minibuilders to help construction projects</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To finalize the process, a human construction engineer then braces on
 an additional “grip robot” to the foundation so as to dispense the 
material.  This material is durable enough to 3D print roofs and 
supplementary suspended constructions, to create the building. What do 
you think? Are the next generation of bricklayers and dry-wall fitters 
out of a job?  Personally, I don’t think so, just yet. [Images via: <a href="http://www.wired.com/" target="_blank" title="Wired">wired</a>] </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">SOURCE: <a href="http://news.filehippo.com/2014/07/3d-printing-houses-drones/" target="_blank">tech beat</a></span></div>

3D Printing Houses With Drones

The application of 3D printing is becoming more varied with each passing day. I mean, disabled children are getting a new lease of life ...