MAKERBOT 3D PHOTO BOOTH CREATES PERSONAL PORTRAITS

At the official launch of its NoHo store, Makerbot introduced its own 3D printing photo booth, taking photography beyond digital. While not as detailed as the one we recently profiled in Japan, users will get a monochrome version of their head.

Amazingly, the service costs a total of $25. Customers will sit in the booth for a $5 scan and pay an additional $20 to get their face printed. This initiative was made possible by collaborating with Shapeshot, a 3D printing company focused on applications that relate to personalization.

While it is unlikely that this printing method will replace existing printing and photography methods, Makerbot is driving the forefront of a new technology that will evolve how we understand the relationship between printing and materiality.

Images via Core77

WORLD CUP 2014 STADIUM SEATS WILL BE MADE OF COKE BOTTLES

Coca-Cola has launched a recycling campaign to collect bottles to be used in the seat linings for the football event in Brazil.


Ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, partner Coca-Cola has launched asustainability project to collect and recycle plastic (PET) bottles. Around 100 collection points have been set up in Rio, which will help remind people to recycle while also getting them excited about the major football event.

Inhabitat.com reports that Coca-Cola has pledged to reduce the World Cup’s environmental footprint and increase the culture of recycling. The donated plastic bottles will be reused in the linings of 6,773 seats in the new Maracanã Stadium, the venue for the final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA’s recent public opinion tracker in Brazil found that sustainability and the environment are important topics for the population. 92% of Brazilians believe that the 2014 FIFA World Cup should be environmentally friendly, and 50% think that the stadiums should have facilities for recycling and proper disposal of waste.

VENDING MACHINE HEATS UP SNACKS BEFORE IT SERVES THEM

While conventional vending machines could only serve items in either cold or room temperature, Eatwave, a new vending machine innovation, is capable of serving and cooking pre-packaged meals, thus eliminating a trip to the nearest microwave oven.

Eatwave is equipped with an internal microwave system that can heat food in a minute or less, while cold food stays cold. This way, you can enjoy a soda, a hotpocket, and a popsicle all from the same vending machine. Eatwell has up to six customizable trays and can accommodate up to 60 selections of food, drinks for a maximum capacity of 1020 individual items.

The all-in-one vending machine is available for about $12,000 USD.

Eatwave

Four African Teens Create Pee-Powered Energy Generator

Four African teens have wowed visitors to Maker Faire Africa by creating a generator that is powered with pee. Using a resource that everyone has, the girls developed a generator that produces six hour of power for one liter of urine. At only 14 and 15 years old, the students are an inspiration for renewable energy developers everywhere!

Duro-Aina Adebola, Akindele Abiola, Faleke Oluwatoyin and Bello Eniola aren’t even college grads — the young inventors barely in their teens! Growing up in a region with little natural resources, the girls were inspired to take on the challenge of creating an alternative energy system that could be further developed to solve energy solutions in their community.

The girls’ device removes valuable hydrogen from the urine, isolating it so it can be used as an energy source. The average person produces about two liters of urine a day, so the girls’ generator can easily be operated by an individual. One liter is put into an electrolytic cell, which separates the hydrogen. The hydrogen is then purified with a typical water filter, and extracted into a gas cylinder. The hydrogen’s journey is not over yet, though; it is then squeezed into another cylinder of liquid borax, which removes any excess humidity from the hydrogen. The hydrogen, now pure, can then be used in the generator.

Although the system produces six hours of electricity, it is not a stand-alone generator, as it requires electricity to initially power the electrolytic cell. Hydrogen is also volatile, so containing any amount of the pure gas is risky. But still, it’s a pretty impressive accomplishment for three girls who aren’t even old enough to legally drive. We can only imagine the great accomplishments in renewable energy they will achieve in the future.

Rocking Chair For Technophiles

Picture it, Richardson Texas, a semi-detached town home made of bricks and columns surrounded by majestic magnolia trees. It’s a mild 75ºF and I’m outside on the veranda suckin’ on jujubes. Betwixt yelling at the neighborhood kids for being too loud and at my dog for digging in the yard, I thumb thru the latest news on my iPad rocking gently to the music of Janet Jackson. My hands tire of holding the iPad, so I place it up on a dock connected to my iRock. Yes, it’s pure genius. A rocking chair for a generation of technophiles.

Grammy gram’s rich oak rocking chair may be nice and all but my generation needs to be entertained even while sitting. The ole’ rocking chair isn’t just for geriatrics anymore. The iRock is the world’s first power generating iPad dock and sound station. Made from Swedish oak and pine, available in 5 colors, and the rocking motion provides enough power to keep your iPad juiced up. One hour of rocking provides 35% of power.

See how life comes full circle? We start out life rocking away and we leave this world rocking away. DO WANT!

Designer: Micasa LAB $1,300