In today’s iGRIND, we have a Batmobile designed by a Formula 1 for the European “Batman Live” Show, a blood pressure monitor that you can use with your iPhone and a shirt that charges your smartphone with soundwaves. Check ’em out and enjoy!
What: Batmobile
Made By: Gordan Murray
What It Does: Drives and shoots lasers!
For its “Batman Live” stage show in Europe, DC Comics commissioned former Formula 1 designer and McLaren maestro Gordon Murray to make a new set of wheels for the caped crusader. Gordon Murray’s F1-style, hydrogen-powered Batmobile Other features front-mounted lasers, sonar and “virtual wheels” — diodes in the wheel that would create a high-voltage field lifting the car 40mm off the ground. Take a closer look after the break.
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Crazy Batmobile in action.
Blueprint of Batmobile.
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What: iPhone Blood Pressure Monitor
Made By: Withings
What It Does: Monitor your heart rate or blood pressure via your iPhone/iPod touch
Price: $129
This iPhone-connected blood pressure monitor is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. You start by connecting the monitor to your device’s dock connector which then launches the Withings app. An on-screen start button inflates the AAA-battery powered cuff and presents your results about 30 seconds later. Colored circles indicate a possible health issue, and an FAQ screen helps to explain your results. Results can then be sent to and shared on health sites like Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault, or directly to your doctor. Look at the blood pressure monitor in action in a video after the break.
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What: Sound Charge T-Shirt
Made By: Orange
What It Does: Charge your smartphone with soundwaves
Orange proposes that the Sound Charge t-shirt can power a smartphone completely, just by harnessing soundwaves while watching a musical act. Orange has explained how it works below.
“The eco charging device uses an existing technology in a revolutionary way; by reversing the use of a product called Piezoelectric film, allowing people to charge their mobile phones whilst enjoying their favorite headline act at Glastonbury. Usually found in modern hi-fi speakers, an A4 panel of the modified film is housed inside a t-shirt which then acts much like an oversized microphone by ‘absorbing’ invisible sound pressure waves. These sound waves are converted via the compression of interlaced quartz crystals into an electrical charge, which is fed into an integral reservoir battery that in turn charges most makes and models of mobile phone. As the ‘device’ is worn, a steady charge is able to be dispensed into the phone via a simple interchangeable lead which fits most handsets.”
The electronic materials in the shirt can also be removed to wash the shirt.
