Astoria Heights Playground doesn’t look any different from your standard jungle gym. It has swings and slides, plus plenty of benches where tired parents can catch their breath. Kids cover the ground in chalk doodles, just like they do everywhere else, and occasionally scrape their knees on the ramps. But there’s something unique about this Queens playground and no, it’s […]
Eco Friendly Playgrounds For Kids
Recycling Glass Waste Into Bricks
At 32, Aimable Mutabazi already has his own construction and brick manufacturing company — but his bricks aren’t quite like the ones that hold up so many homes. The engineer started thinking about a better brick when he was still a sophomore at the University of Rwanda, wondering if there was a way to use waste as a raw material. […]
Making Objects Smart
“Smart” internet-connected devices could indeed make life easier for us, but the things do typically have to be equipped with battery-powered electronics. That may not necessarily be the case for much longer, however, if the Wi-Fi-based LiveTag system reaches fruition. Developed by a team at the University of California San Diego, the system incorporates simple low-cost tags that can be […]
Tokyo Houses In Narrow Streets
The narrow dead-end streets that stop and start through the city blocks of Tokyo are a distinctive, if not entirely useful, part of the city landscape. Rather than closing itself off to these pint-sized cul-de-sacs, Pluszero’s recently completed House in Ouji opens itself right up. Half of the home resembles an extension of the road while serving as an owner’s […]
Get To Know Your Neighbourhood More With This App
The multi-billion-dollar real estate data giant Trulia is going hyperlocal across America this month with the launch of an enhanced digital experience for its free app. The new project is called Trulia Neighborhoods and it’s the result of a research project into what life is like in cities around the U.S. The Trulia Neighborhoods experience aims to amalgamate local knowledge […]
Regular Wifi Can Help Detect Bombs In Bags
For the last couple of decades, security measures in places like airports, schools, stadiums, and other public venues have continuously ramped up. X-ray machines, surveillance cameras, and bag searches have all become commonplace, but still concealed weapons, bombs, and explosive can slip through the cracks — sometimes with tragically devastating effect. Looking for a new way to help solve this […]
Sneaker Made From Things That Grow
We already have shoes made out of trash from Adidas, so why not footwear made out of corn from Reebok? The global footwear and apparel firm this week launched its first shoe that’s “made from things that grow.” The stylish-looking sustainable sneaker features a woven upper made entirely from organic cotton, a base originating from industrial-grown corn, and an insole […]
Cycling Computer Gets Creative
Cycling computers can certainly be handy devices, not only for tracking performance, but also for helping cyclists to find their way through the city. The new Mio Cyclo 210 offers an additional function, that could keep your usual ride routes from gettin’ old. Featuring an ARM Cortex-A7 processor, a 3.5-inch color touchscreen and a claimed 10 hours of battery life […]
Natural Preservative
There may be new hope for people who don’t want potentially-harmful preservatives in their food, yet who still want it to have a decent shelf life. Scientists in Singapore have developed a plant-based food preservative, which they claim is actually more effective than its artificial counterparts. Developed at Nanyang Technological University by a team led by Prof. William Chen, the […]
The Option Lock For Your Bicycle
If you routinely park your bike in cramped areas such as a multi-bike racks, then there may be times when you find your lock rather difficult to access upon leaving. It was with this in mind that LA-based cyclist Scott Gold created the “two-faced” Option Lock. Unlike a traditional U-lock, the Option Lock takes the form of a rectangle when […]