In a world already packed with devices that need to be recharged or plugin in, this wire-and-battery-free switch saves some trouble and turns the energy of the user’s own motion into its own unlimited power source.

Developed by Panosonic, the switch generates power through users and can trigger anything around you from lights and fans to computers and music players. Imagine walking into a room or sitting down at your desk and having your devices and lamps turn on around you all automatically.

Additional functions can be activated by physically tapping the switch but moving it is not essential – even ambient surrounding activity can charge the device, like opening doors or jostling surfaces. Easy setup and installation are possible thanks to the lack of wiring and while the device is a prototype it can presumably be programmed to various functions in time and on demand.

The post Wireless Switch Needs No Batteries to Turn Stuff On & Off first appeared on Gajitz.

Sometimes you want to listen to something based on style or era, but for those who want their music to keep pace with their mood or activity, this tempo-gauging gadget lets you select for speed.

Designed by Gemma Roper, Radio Activity picks out tracks from Spotify based on beats-per-minute metrics, adjusting as you move the circular dial up and down a metronome-style pole.

“I wrote several iterations of code using a combination of programs that would allow me to access Spotify libraries, read song BPM and then translate vertical movement into data that would select correlating paced songs,” she said.

While the feat could be accomplished without using a physical device, having the object on hand makes things more intuitive and adds an element of interactivity for guests and visitors as well.

“The internal component composition is incredibly complicated, as the electrical current needed to be carried throughout the length of the rail on small brass tracks that are connected to tiny switches inside the dial all the way to an Arduino Micro in the marble base,” Roper explained.

The post Radio Activity: Device Selects Music By Desired Tempo first appeared on Gajitz.

As the tech joke goes: have you tried turning it off and back on again? Except in this case, this clever little smart plug (aka the Reset Plug) does the work for you, sensing that the web has gone dark and turning itself off then on until it works.

When your internet goes out, resetting your wifi router and cable modem is the go-to first stop to solve the problem, but requires you to get up, play with cords and plugs, wait, and hope for the best … no reason not to have a hardware solution for this simple but pervasive problem (especially if, say, you are away from home but want your smart home devices to keep working).

For 60 bucks it might seem like a bit of a luxury item, but for those where internet connections are critical or hardware hidden behind stuff in closets or basements, the convenience just may be worth it. Users can also manually trigger a reset remotely via a smart phone app. Don’t need one for your own place? Consider getting it for friends and family who call you every time when their internet goes out.

The post Smart Internet Reset Plug Turns Power Off & Back On Again first appeared on Gajitz.

The latest in active-system sportswear, Nike’s Hyperadapt 1.0 flash as the laces tighten and to indicate low batteries, but for those with disabilities (like Parkinson’s or arthritis), they could be a real boon beyond their sheer cool value.

Sensors in the shoes automatically tighten using tiny electric motors, but control buttons on the side let you manually adjust the fit as well.

The batteries are recharged wirelessly by induction, and a few-hour charge lasts weeks (the light slowly cycles from blue to yellow to red as the batteries run low).

“Wouldn’t it be great if a shoe, in the future, could sense when you needed to have it tighter or looser?” asks Nike. “Could it take you even tighter than you’d normally go if it senses you really need extra snugness in a quick maneuver? That’s where we’re headed. In the future, product will come alive.”

You could also loosen them between bursts of athletic activity, like the downtime during a basketball game, without entirely untying and retying laces. Between this and hoverboards, Back to the Future is finally becoming a reality.

The post The Future is Back: Automatic Self-Lacing Shoes by Nike first appeared on Gajitz.

Using the rhythmic compression of a tire rolling over the ground, this new product from PumpTire provides a tube that can be swapped into any tire and keep itself inflated, providing efficiency, flexibility and reliability (since pressure can be a factor in busting tubes).

A mechanism regulating tube pressure sense the need and turns on or off as required, keeping your tube at optimal levels while you ride, which means: nothing for you to worry about before or getting onto the road. Expert users can even set their own custom target pressures as desired.

The original version of the PumpTire was an integrated system, meaning: you had to use their entire tires to make it work, and when they wore down, the whole combination had to be replaced. This new version will work with different types of tires, meaning you only have to replace the tube. And, of course, it means you don’t have to buy a separate pump to inflate your tires.

From the makers: “What could be better than maintenance free bicycle tires? PumpTire inner tubes and tires do the pumping so you don’t have to. No dirty hands, no looking for a bicycle pump. PumpTire inner tubes and tires are compatible with existing tires and rims. No modifcations are necessary to add PumpTire inner tubes and tires to your current bike. PumpTire inner tubes are designed to exceed the puncture resistance of standard inner tubes and tires. Our design includes a proprietary design which resists puncture and wear more than standard inner tubes and tires.”

The post Self-Inflating Bike Tire Tube Pumps Itself Up as You Ride first appeared on Gajitz.