2023 JANUARY 08 / BUFFALO HORN, QUBITS, TATAMEL
Good People, For all of you with inquisitive minds : this is a small set of conversations that have occurred this week in the world of design, technology, business, human endeavour and human interest. best, hemmant
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MODERN MOBILITY
ICOMA TATAMEL
"Given the Tatamel’s nifty folding nature, it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that the company’s founders used to work for Takara Tomy, the Japanese maker of Transformers toys. Not only do the wheels and handlebars fold up for compact storage, the whole folded package measures just 27.2 inches by 27.2 inches by 10.2 inches. Then there’s the way the the bike itself can act as a workshop on the go. Optional side panels can fold out to become tables. There’s power on board to charge your phone and light, and you can option it to put out up to 600 watts of AC power for charging tool batteries."
COLOR CHANGING CAR
"...the car’s body is capable of taking on millions of potential color schemes. Driven out onto the stage at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week, the car first appeared bone white. Then, a cavalcade of colors washed over its exterior surfaces, turning the entire car yellow then purple then gray, shades flickering over the segmented body in solid washes and patterns like a checkerboard or Scottish tartan."
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HOW THINGS ARE MADE
CUSTOM EYEGLASS FRAMES
"....the global eyewear market is worth $120.7 billion and is expected to reach $153.6 billion by 2025. Giant firms like Luxottica dominate the industry with mass-produced frames that are often sold under luxury brand names. But the Davison-Lungleys, with their custom-designed, handcrafted frames in precious metals, tortoiseshell, horn, fossilized coral and mammoth ivory, aim to be the antithesis of the mass-market offering, with prices starting at 595 pounds ($672) for a ready-to-wear pair of frames, including lenses, while bespoke designs are ￡1,650 for acetate or ￡3,000 in buffalo horn."
QUANTUM COMPUTERS
"Companies are moving away from setting qubit records in favor of practical hardware and long-term goals."
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MODERN LIVING
WATER YOUR LAWN
"Timed watering and moisture sensor systems have existed for years, so Moen’s new line isn’t breaking entirely new ground. Rather than running based on a clock or at the whim of a single sensor stabbed into the dirt, Moen’s system relies on multiple sensors spread across a yard, with temperature and moisture readings taken at three different depths below the surface. Combining this data with adjustable thresholds based on plant types and even local watering restrictions, the system can automatically ensure yards are getting enough, but not too much, water."
MORE ACCESSIBLE GAMING WITH CUSTOMIZABLE PS5 CONTROLLER
"Codenamed “Project Leonardo,” the PS5 controller is unlike any controller most gamers have used. It features a donut-shaped design with modular buttons that can be added, rearranged, and removed to meet the needs of individual gamers. Its buttons come in different shapes and sizes and can be further customized via software mapping, allowing one button to perform a task that would normally take two buttons to carry out. Further, the Project Leonardo controller features an analog joystick that can be positioned nearly anywhere on the controller, and the controller itself can lie flat on a surface or can be attached to mounts that enable it to be positioned anywhere in 360o."
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I am fan of Bespoke eyewears. whether it is Ateliers Baudin in Paris or Maison Bonnet. The end output will be an exceptional piece of art. Interestingly a very high quality of horn material is available in India too. But unfortunately we don't see custom eyewears from India Ateliers. Another interesting eye glass tech company to follow is Morrow Eyewear https://morroweyewear.com/