Sometimes the best ideas come from places of desperation or disaster. That’s the case with goTenna, a smartphone accessory that lets you use your phone to communicate even when a disaster knocks out cell towers. The idea was inspired when, in October of 2012, Hurricane Sandy wiped out cellular communications in New York and New Jersey. Daniela Perdomo was affected by the storm and subsequent loss of communication, and she knew there had to be something she could do to make sure the lines of communication remained open in any disaster – or anytime cellular communication isn’t available.

The goTenna is a pocket-sized antenna that uses VHF radio waves to communicate with other goTenna users. It works with an Android or iPhone app; in the event that cell phone communications are lost (or when you just can’t get a signal) you send a text message via the app, which is transmitted to the goTenna device via Bluetooth. The little accessory converts the message to analog, then transmits it to a specific goTenna user or a group of users.

The little antenna can be used to send your current location to friends, which is an especially useful feature when you happen to wander off of the trail on a hike or get lost in the crowd at a music festival. Although the idea for the goTenna grew from an emergency situation, it can be useful in so many more settings. It’s a lifesaver for connecting people any time that our more conventional modern methods aren’t available.

Though undeniably useful in certain situations, the goTenna won’t exactly revolutionize communications. It’s relatively short-range with a maximum reach of 50 miles, so it’s really only useful when you need to reach someone who is already kind of nearby. The goTenna is sold in pairs, one of which will run you $150. Go in on a whole bunch of them with a group of friends and you’ll always be assured of having a support system when things get rough.

The post Smart Little Device Takes Texting Analog During Disasters first appeared on Gajitz.

From the Sahara to Everest, man has struggled to conquer massive geographical structures. While some complete their trek, others tragically perish, often due to unpreparedness to the harsh environs. The V Plus, a 2012 red dot award: design concept winner, could become standard equipment for the modern adventurer.

The V Plus is a disaster relief tent for those unfortunate souls marooned in disaster relief zones. Its features are plentiful and impressive. Solar cells provide energy; LED lights embedded in the tent’s frame provide light.

One of the more impressive features (if it’s possible to outdo solar cells) is that each individual V Plus can be connected to accommodate multiple people, possibly saving entire teams in the process. Now your goal to climb Everest is…well, not quite rational but a little more doable.

The post Solar-Powered Tent Can Save Aid Workers in Disasters first appeared on Gajitz.

The Stingray is a novel single-rider water vehicle that uses recycled bottles and the rider’s own muscle power to glide around on the surface of the water. It consists of a plastic seat and a hand-operated lever handle that works as a pneumatic propulsion system, moving the device (and its rider) along by shooting streams of air into the water behind it.

Empty plastic bottles are affixed to the sides of the Stingray to make it buoyant and to keep it steady in the water. The handle is easily removable. These two features make the water vehicle easy to store and easy to carry around.

According to designer Imran Othman, the Stingray can be used in emergency flood situations as a flotation device, but it can also be used as a casual fun toy. Thanks to the fact that the Stingray is only a conceptual product, it is not clear just how well it would work to get a rider around in the water. But as a concept it’s fun and unique, which are two qualities we can definitely get behind.

The post Water Scooter Uses Elbow Grease to Glide Over the Surface first appeared on Gajitz.