Thinking of new toys again :P

While we spend a lot of time in discussing IPad2 and latest gadgets, there are so many wonderful thing in the past that we should not miss. This time I am fallen in love with vintage typewriters. Actually, I have been attracted by these acient machines for long time especially the Olivetti Valentine. But I cannot persuade myself to get one till now simply because other than decoration, it is no use to me.

So, someone brings up an idea http://www.usbtypewriter.com/, and I decide to build one myself. Now, I have a good excuse to own a vintage typewriter as a usb keyboard to interface with my ipod/ipad!! what a reason.

Here comes my favourites





















Another brilliant machine. Very hot!

first trial

Seems working well and good progress

New tool arrive from Germany

A micro CNC kit!! for a mini robot

show off day

new DOFs really make cool & attractive pose.

The 23rd DOF

This is not an easy move and I definitely need proof of concept before I do anything to this small belly. So what would be the 24th? a. head, b. roller shoes, c. cat ears

Controller board

Please take a look

new gosh arms (pls vote)

Picture worths thousand words. Three days were wasted to build several servo adaptors and here comes two final candidates. There are two design requirements: 1. align with upper arm servo 2. make the shape compact. Each design can only meet one and there is no perfect solution. So, please vote for the design 1. on your left, 2. on your right and share your opinion.

my gosh hand

After several weeks of struggling, a pair of small robot hands is built though it is not nicely presented. Spending time in building palm and finger is not a big deal. Finding the right servo is really a painful job, and there is no off-the-shelf solution. It comes up with a lot of modification with extra effort and money spend in return. I can now move one step further to connect the hand to the arm. This will add 4 more DOF to the robot. exciting!!!

new compact camera Leica X1

Great quality and great price.

<Leica>

Jango folding bike

This is a new kind of folding bike called Janko Flik designed by Topeak. From its geometry, I prefer to call it shrinking bike. This "transformer" can fit into metro and easily be handle without carrying it as shown in the picture. That's a clever design for traveler and it can be a big hit in Taiwan as cycling is real hot in whole country.

<Janko>

dan dan dan dan - cozy home seating

These are the new seatings which were delivered just before my wife came back from abroad. Actually, I did not expect the delivery so soon and it is just a flash to me that it can be a surprise to her if she find some big things change when get back home.

Compare with my previous sofa, I intend to put a smaller two seater sofa and match with a lounge chair. This form a clear living space and the organic shape of seating neutualize the sharp and regular wood furniture. That looks more human now.

A small corner with funny planter and pottery

Pacific IF mode

Looks a bit similar to Biomega MN but with folding function. It can really fold and deserve IF design award 2009. <Pacific>

Designer bicycle

Again from Denmark, I found a good brand that manufacture bicycle with new design approach. It is so valuable that you may see it in auction house.
<biomega>

exploring bicycle design

Forget how it starts. I begins to search for folding bikes and want to learn more about cycling. During my trip to Taiwan, I notice cycling is getting hot in Taiwan and esp folding bike is rising too. My Taiwan friend told me that a lot of people love to travel with their bike and it is a trend after a movie about cycling. That is esp good at this moment when there are so many enviromental issues in our living world and for a well developed country, more people intend to use bicycle for transportaton. I know that is a big topic and there are a lot of nice bike in the market that keep me digging for more news.

Same as all other hobbies, cycling can be a deep hole to invest or it can be very economic for public. Just keep to the direction you love and you can afford. That's it.

Something to buy in Taiwan

no.1. Elecom Scope Node mouse (wireless)
<elecom>

School desk & chair

A school furniture set with excellence details designed by Arne Jacobsen. Fritz Hansen's production? I love it!!! The item is rare and it is even hard to find similar items. Maybe you can find one or two of mass production piece in flea market but that one is quite unique. Take a closer look. :P

<designaddict>

That is another piece I posted before. This remarkable piece is designed by Jean Prouvé. It looks like Standard Chair. <Architonic>

wooden radio

This radio series is not a new stuff I've found. But when I saw it in a department store, I was impressed with insistance selection of wood; not just the radio case itself, but the line jack cable, external antenna etc. Well, who will pay over 2k HKD for a radio? Maybe I can wait for a while when the sale season comes. <areaware>

minimalist style ceramic computer case

Yeah! with this computer case, no one would like to hide his computer under the desk. Instead, I would tidy up the working space for this nice piece. Or it can serves better as a media PC, matching with my Aura note CD player and Genelec speakers placing on E15 low cabinet, Yummy.  This is my first time of having an idea of ordering a PC instead of a new Macbook. Not sure if it can be ordered without motherboard, as I find the spec is too much for me. <plushdepartment> via <sub-studio>

There are more variations with artwork painted as limited edition.

Gundam in Odaiba

To celebrate 30th anniversary of Gundam series, a 18m 1:1 Gundam will be built as a status locate at a park of Odaiba. This RX78 will equipped with lights and smoke effect to make it more "realistic" in the dark. The news was first heard at robot watch and now robots dreams has the latest construction photo for sharing. Here are some samples to all Gundam fans

concept drawing

Laughing Man sitting on Pelican Chair and more!!

Supreme experience with Finn Juhl chairs in Taiwan MOT showroom.

Very comfortable pelican chairThe opposite is Poet sofa












NV-45 chair- one of the most beautiful chair ....costing over 400k NT