An all-in-one, self-service solution for creative people who want to paint themselves permanently, this device puts the power (and pain and risk of mistakes) in your hands, for better or worse.

Developed by Jakub Pollág of the Royal College of Art, the Personal Tattoo Machine was inspired in part by the innovative ways prisoners create their own do-it-yourself machines with limited resources behind bars.

In the creator’s own words: “Personal Tattoo Machine democratises the tattoo industry. It puts a tool used only by a limited group of people into the hands of enthusiasts, who are seeking an alternative and unique way to permanently mark their meaningful memories onto their skin.”

For some, tattoos are about recording experiences or self-expression, not about a perfect image drawn by an artist. For others, they would rather take the risks and responsibilities on themselves instead of putting them in the hands of professionals.

Currently in a prototype phase and using 3D printed parts, the device has already been used for dozens or works on dozens of people. When it comes to commercial production, the kit will include sterile needles, tubes and inks as well as gloves, antiseptics and other health-related accessories and instructions.

Unlike most commercial equivalents, he offers only one (smaller) size, emphasizing that this is about the process – people can build up what they want over time rather than laying it on thick to begin with. “This machine is not aiming to replace tattoo parlours. It’s there to offer a more personal option. If you want a realistic portrait of your, let’s say, cat, you should still go to a tattoo parlour and not use this machine.”

The post DIY Tattoo Machine: Trust Yourself for Your Own Body Art? first appeared on Gajitz.

Breaking down the Internet of Things into a set of user-friendly building blocks, this kit lets you make your own internet-connected creations right out of the box and without any coding experience, all thanks to SAM.

A set of physical modules compliment a software package that make it possible to link inputs and outputs with the cloud and apps, things like buttons, pressure sensors, thermometers tied to lights, buzzers and motors. Each block has its own wireless connection and battery and can thus operate independently as needed and completely wirelessly as well.

Bluetooth conveys sensor-captured data to your device, which then communicates demands and tasks back outward. You could program your doorbell, for instance, to prompt an unconnected camera to take a picture of your visitor. A lot like ‘If This Then That’, you can create simple or more complex chains of consequences for actions and responses. Expert users can also peel back the wrapper casing to reveal the electronics within in order to better understand (or hack) them.

From its creators: “There was no really easy way to create a product, an app, or a piece of art using electronics and coding. I thought this was crazy as it basically meant cutting off the majority of the designers who haven’t had the luxury to have a technical education.”

“[The Internet of Things] is becoming essential. The boundaries have blurred between the world of physical and digital products, and the potential to connect one thing to another is huge. This doesn’t just mean physical objects talking to one another but talking to broader services and experiences, which might only exist digitally.”

The post DIY IOT: Toolkit for Creating Your Own Internet of Things first appeared on Gajitz.

Cycling enthusiasts usually take a lot of pride in building (or at least partially building) their own bikes. Finding just the right pieces and fitting them together correctly is probably very satisfying, but most casual bike riders don’t really get to experience that joy. A build-it-yourself (BIY) bike frame kit called Bamboobee brings the satisfaction of bike building to everyone.

The Bamboobee has been available as a pre-assembled bike since 2013. Its handcrafted, lightweight, sustainable bamboo frame has been a hit with bikers. But designer Sunny Chuah wants cyclists to feel the pride of building their own bikes from scratch – thus the BIY Bamboobee Bike Kit.

Chuah is raising funds on Kickstarter for the launch of the kit. For a pledge of $169-$179, you’ll get a kit that will let you get your hands dirty (figuratively) making a bike that is uniquely yours. There are three available frame sizes to match the rider’s height.

You don’t need any special skills or knowledge to build the frame. Everything you need (except for easily-sourced epoxy, thanks to shipping regulations) is included in the kit: bamboo pieces, hemp fiber, hardware, and instructions. The process takes three days, a timeframe that matches the slow, sustainable, zen-like quality of the kit and the project itself.

From there, it’s just a matter of attaching the moving parts. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, there are instructional videos online or, even better, visit your locally-owned bike shop and ask for their help. You’ll have your own completely custom bike that you can say with pride you built yourself.

The post Sleek, Sustainable, Simple: DIY Bamboo Bike Frame Kit first appeared on Gajitz.

A classic kit-of-parts solution with modular twist, this conceptual bicycle is designed to be disassembled on the spot for maximum mobility, able to be shipped with ease, carried onto public transit or taken with a traveler indoors rather than locked up outside.

Lucid Design envisions this full-sized bike as something you learn to break down into its 21 constituent parts and pack to go with ease.

The frame is composed of hollow aluminum components that twist and lock together with a unique key making the completed cycle harder for a would-be thief to take apart. Aside from an aluminum frame, the bicycle features cork handles for easier grips and steel wheels for a sturdier ride.

The design is not yet at a point where it has been prototyped and potential critics have already pointed out some of the difficulties it might face in terms of balancing robustness with portability. Still, as an idea and the beginning of a design investigation, the product is certainly compelling.

From an interview with Dezeen, “Conventional bikes are awkward in every way except when you ride them,” says the company’s creative director Amit Mirchandani. “The Kit Bike was designed to make problems of shipping, traveling with and commuting with a bike, a thing of the past.”

The post Micro-Cycle: Kit Bike Packs Up into Portable Backpack Case first appeared on Gajitz.