A certain member of my household likes buying candles. We have boxes of candles that never get used. It is almost that the act of buying a candle (signifying the intent) somehow fills part of the total needs / wants / action of using a candle. I get this as I have the same thing, but with wooden canoes and paddles. Sadly owning more boats doesn't mean more boating, just like owning more candles doesn't mean more romantic dinners.
The latest addition to the growing candle collection are battery powered LED candles. Aestetically they look like candles and give a soft 'candle-like' glow. They are surprisingly good lights for camping as LED camp lanterns are usually bright and white - perfect for looking around a dark campsite, but not as nice for soft lighting in a tent. The lack of flame also makes them much better suited for camping (and for life in a 120 year old timber house).
What about life in space? Being in an environment where air quality is computer controlled open flames are probably not a good idea. But what about romantic dinners? What about birthday candles? We would lose a long standing human ritual of candles on a cake. Could an electronic birthday cake candle replace, or even enhance the experience?
Stand it up in the cake to turn it on.
Sing to make it grow brighter.
Cheer "Hip Hip Hooray" for colour changing light effects.
Blow on the candle to turn it off.
What about sport. Can we change boxing?
Smart gloves could include pressure sensors and offer real-time feedback through sound and light.
Perhaps a light up hit and pressure display on the wrist?
Lots of hits are good.
Hard hits are bad.
Expanding on the Wall E hover chairs, what about a buggy that races around a track with the speed control being linked to the actions of the 'driver'. This could be any action. Personally I'd like to see the sport of Drum Racing at least once. The driver is seated at a drum kit, mounted on a buggy. The faster the drummer drums, the faster the car goes. Certain drums control different wheels so that drumming patterns turn the buggy left and right. It needs work but reality TV is surely running out of new ideas.
In a future space-world without living pets, yet abundant in 'smart devices' the future may well be in robot pets. Hasbro's Furby, Sony's Aibo, and the Anki Vector are all stepping stones along the way to this end.
One of my real life dream pets is a miniature mule where the mother is a donkey and the father is a shetland pony. The biggest benefit of making a 'connected' robot version inspired by one of these animals that it could be branded as a 'Smart Ass'.
The latest addition to the growing candle collection are battery powered LED candles. Aestetically they look like candles and give a soft 'candle-like' glow. They are surprisingly good lights for camping as LED camp lanterns are usually bright and white - perfect for looking around a dark campsite, but not as nice for soft lighting in a tent. The lack of flame also makes them much better suited for camping (and for life in a 120 year old timber house).
What about life in space? Being in an environment where air quality is computer controlled open flames are probably not a good idea. But what about romantic dinners? What about birthday candles? We would lose a long standing human ritual of candles on a cake. Could an electronic birthday cake candle replace, or even enhance the experience?
Stand it up in the cake to turn it on.
Sing to make it grow brighter.
Cheer "Hip Hip Hooray" for colour changing light effects.
Blow on the candle to turn it off.
What about sport. Can we change boxing?
Smart gloves could include pressure sensors and offer real-time feedback through sound and light.
Perhaps a light up hit and pressure display on the wrist?
Lots of hits are good.
Hard hits are bad.
Expanding on the Wall E hover chairs, what about a buggy that races around a track with the speed control being linked to the actions of the 'driver'. This could be any action. Personally I'd like to see the sport of Drum Racing at least once. The driver is seated at a drum kit, mounted on a buggy. The faster the drummer drums, the faster the car goes. Certain drums control different wheels so that drumming patterns turn the buggy left and right. It needs work but reality TV is surely running out of new ideas.
In a future space-world without living pets, yet abundant in 'smart devices' the future may well be in robot pets. Hasbro's Furby, Sony's Aibo, and the Anki Vector are all stepping stones along the way to this end.
One of my real life dream pets is a miniature mule where the mother is a donkey and the father is a shetland pony. The biggest benefit of making a 'connected' robot version inspired by one of these animals that it could be branded as a 'Smart Ass'.
As far as features go it could really do anything, but it should only respond to requests if you scratch it behind the ears and give it a good pat first.
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