Rewind: 50 gizmos and gadgets that made us say ‘wow’

---

2015 was quite the year. Here are just some of the awesome devices with mainstream appeal that caught our eye over the last 12 months. 

---

Buddy

The first social robot that connects, protects and interacts with each member of your family.

Bistrobot

If you give this automated machine $2, it will craft a peanut butter sandwich on white bread with your choice of honey, blackberry jam, sweet chili or chocolate sauce.

Keyboardio

Finally, there’s an open source ergonomic keyboard that gives your overworked pinkies a break and puts your thumbs to work.

Voltera V-One

Tired of delays and unnecessary expenses? Then you’ll love this laptop-sized printer that can turn design files into prototype circuit boards in minutes.

PancakeBot

Design, print and eat your own pancakes.

PicoBrew Pico

Why head out to the package store when you can brew your own fresh, personalized craft beer right at home?

Forever 21 Thread Screen

The team of BREAKFAST and Forever 21 developed a massive, one-ton machine that turns your Instagram photos into thread artwork.

DrumPants

From hip-hop to dubstep, this wearable kit lets you play music right from your body using 100+ sounds and 300+ music applications.

Prometheus

While it may look like a 3D printer, this PCB milling machine enables you to prototype circuit boards right from your desk.

Tech Tats

Chaotic Moon Studios have devised a cutting-edge tattoo kit, which allows for the monitoring of your own body activity.

Layered Fabric 3D Printer

Who needs a toy store when you can 3D print your own soft and deformable stuffed animals from layers of off-the-shelf fabric?

BeachBot

Sand castles are so 2014. This turtlish autonomous robot can create large scale art on the beach.

OpenROV Trident

Whereas most drones are made for the sky, this remote-controlled, camera-equipped ROV is meant for underwater exploration.

Reality Editor

What if reprogramming your devices was as simple as drawing lines between them? Thanks to MIT’s Fluid Interfaces Group, it may soon be.

ONAGOfly

Sorry selfie sticks, your days are numbered. This palm-sized drone features GPS auto-following and a high-res camera.

BeON Home

There are smart lights, then there are out-smart lights. This system will make having a safer, smarter home as simple as screwing in a bulb.

PowerUp FPV

Your old-school paper airplane just got a whole heck of a lot cooler with a live-streaming camera.

Phree

A revolutionary pen that turns the world around you into a notepad.

The Things Network

Make your city smart with this global, crowdsourced and decentralized IoT network.

Ripple Maker

A 3D printing-inspired device that can etch art on the foam of your coffee.

FarmBot

Grow my gosh! This 2015 Hackaday Prize entry is the world’s first open source CNC farming machine.

Alpha 2

Could this humanoid robot become the newest addition to your family?

LifeQ

By tapping into the human sensor, this intelligent technology can significantly improve decision-making for anyone’s health and well-being.

Sesame

Replace your keys with your smartphone in just seconds.

UnaliWear

Like OnStar for seniors, this all-in-one, voice-controlled wearable will help keep the elderly independent, active and safe.

ShiftWear

The most adaptable shoes you’ll ever own, customized straight from your smartphone.

Flic

A wireless button that can control your favorite smart functions.

C.H.I.P.

A $9 computer. ‘nuff said.

DrinkMate Mini

Have you had a couple of drinks? Don’t worry, this tiny iPhone breathalyzer has got your BAC!

Opal

Love nugget ice? Hate buying bags? This affordable gadget is for you.

Dobot

This high-precision, Arduino-based desktop robotic arm can do pretty much anything.

RePhone

BYOD: Build your own device! Piece together your own phone and give inanimate objects the power of cellular communication.

Mycroft

Based on the Arduino and Raspberry Pi, this open source A.I. system plays media, controls lights and more.

Spinn Coffee

This appliance can whip up anything from drip coffee to espresso, depending on how fast the brewer spins.

Tempescope

Who needs weather apps when you can recreate the forecast from right inside your living room?

Makerarm

A complete personal fabrication system crammed into a single, sleek robotic arm for your desk.

Fibonacci Clock

Think reading an analog clock is tough? Tell time using glowing lights and the Fibonacci sequence.

Electroloom

Design and create seamless, ready-to-wear garments based on custom 3D geometries.

Fleye

Could this soccer ball-shaped drone be the safest flying bot to date?

Naviator

A drone that can fly and swim.

RoboHon

Sharp unveiled a new smartphone in the form of an adorable robot.

Dancing Paper

Bet you’ve never seen a bunch of origami bust a move.

jamStik+

A portable guitar that teaches you to play and lets you jam on the go.

Nexpaq

This modular case for your smartphone gives you the ability to add and remove physical modules whenever necessary.

OWOW

A new breed of instruments that can drop the beat at home, in the studio or live on stage.

Oval

What if you could play a handpan like an electronic musical instrument?

SensorWake

The world’s first olfactory alarm clock wakes you up with your favorite scents instead of sound.

Ario

This smart lamp learns your habits, syncs to your body clock and keeps you healthy through natural lighting patterns.

CMYK 4.0

If you’re looking to make your commute from home to the office a bit more efficient, then this foldable electric bike may be for you.

Musio

The world’s first artificially intelligent companion bot, designed to engage and grow with you.

LineFORM

This shape-changing soft robot can be a phone, a wristwatch, a keyboard, a lamp and more.

Cord UIs

Imagine if you could control your gadgetry using cords and cables.

Bruno

There’s finally an automated smart trashcan that not only opens with a wave of a hand but vacuums up dust and restocks itself.

Netflix

These smart socks will pause your binge-watching session when you fall asleep.

Pixelio

Goodbye, shaky hands! Transform your smartphone into a 3D scanner.

 

28 smart crowdfunding campaigns you may want to back this week

---

Every Friday, we’re taking a look at some of the smartest, most innovative projects that caught our attention on Kickstarter and Indiegogo over the last seven days. 

---

Eora 3D

This high-precision 3D scanner is entirely powered by your smartphone, allowing you to capture physical objects and turn them into high-quality digital models. Eora 3D has already well exceeded its goal of $80,000 on Kickstarter.

The Things Network

This crowdsourced, LoraWAN-based IoT network will let developers build smart cities in just weeks. The Things Network is currently seeking $170,036 on Kickstarter.

Kamigami

This DIY kit gives Makers the ability to create and program their own origami-inspired, lightning-fast robots. Dash Robotics is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Revolights Eclipse

This set of wheel-mounted, Bluetooth-enabled bike lights are taking cycling safety to the next level. Revolights has already surpassed its $26,000 goal on Indiegogo.

BEDDI

This intelligent alarm clock/speaker integrates with a variety of apps like Spotify, Uber and Google Maps, as well as smart home appliances. Witti has blown right past its initial Kickstarter goal of $25,000.

MiniBrew

This all-in-one, countertop brewing machine makes it simple to craft and experiment with your own beer recipes at home. MiniBrew is currently seeking $100,000 on Indiegogo.

VOYO

This plug-in module transforms your old clunker into a smart car, increasing driver safety, convenience and fuel efficiency. VOYO is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

TinyBoy 2

This affordable, easy-to-assemble 3D printer is geared towards the classroom and encouraging kids to become Makers. TinyBoy is currently seeking $30,000 on Indiegogo.

Nuzzle

This connected collar sends real-time location updates directly to an accompanying mobile app, providing you with your pet’s whereabouts via GPS. Nuzzle is currently seeking $75,000 on Indiegogo.

PhoneDrone Ethos

This device gives your smartphone wings, allowing you to deploy your iPhone or Android phone as an autonomous aerial camera. xCraft is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Remi

This smart, customizable companion goes to sleep with your little one and wakes up with them in the morning, ensuring they stay in bed until it’s time to get up. Remi is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

ACPAD

This wireless MIDI controller offers access to hundreds of instruments, sound effects and loops by placing it on any acoustic guitar’s surface. Robin Sukroso has already quadrupled his goal of $45,435 on Kickstarter.

ZUS

This smart car charger not only powers up your electronics at twice the speed of others, it’ll also help you find your car with its mobile app. nonda has surpassed its asking goal of $10,000 on Indiegogo.

Ember

This Bluetooth-embedded mug lets you sip your coffee or tea at the perfect temperature for up two hours, or all day when used with its charging coaster. Ember Technologies has already doubled its goal of $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Beagle

This range of sensors can be placed throughout your home, giving you easy-to-understand information so you can take steps to improve your health. Beagle Sense is currently seeking $50,065 on Kickstarter.

Athena

This smart accessory for women emits a loud alarm when pressed, while sending text messages to loved ones with the wearer’s location. ROAR just hit their $40,000 goal on Indiegogo.

Sculpto

This 3D printer empowers families to make their own toys together right from home, with just a press of a button on their smartphone. Sculpto is currently seeking $22,835 on Kickstarter.

ORA-X

This Android computer in the form of stylish headphones lets you play music, launch apps, navigate menus and take pics via its touchpad or voice commands. Optinvent is currently seeking $150,000 on Indiegogo.

SleepPhones

This earphones-equipped headband allows you to listen to music as you sleep for up to 13 hours on a single charge. AcousticSheep has tripled its original $10,000 goal on Kickstarter.

Starling

The little wearable gadget tracks the number of words your child says and hears each day to help boost their IQ. Starling has garnered well over its $30,000 Indiegogo goal.

Wearable Camera for Athletes

This first-of-its-kind, ultra-light wearable sports camera system is designed for athletes, by athletes, to help gain valuable insight and share cool highlights. Shea Kewin and Tim Priamo are currently seeking $30,962 on Kickstarter.

QUBE

This portable Bluetooth speaker boasts four full-range drivers in front with two passive subwoofer dishes in the back to provide an audio experience like no other. Matrix Audio is currently seeking $38,682 on Kickstarter.

CLIKI

This smart button gives you a one-touch shortcut to the smartphone features you use most, whether it’s snapping selfies, sending emergency alerts, playing some tunes or triggering voice commands. CLIKI is currently seeking $35,000 on Indiegogo.

ePint Beer Mug

This LED and sensor-laden mug will illuminate your team’s favorite colors whenever they score, as well as light up when you’re in need of a refill. Xtreme Tech is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Goldilocks Analogue

This board is bringing sophisticated audio capabilities to the Arduino environment. Phillip Stevens is currently seeking $5,821 on Kickstarter.

OhBot

This DIY robot kit features a graphical software interface that lets children learn programming and computational thinking. OhBot is currently seeking $15,475 on Kickstarter.

iKommunicate

This on-board gateway and server enables traditional NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 marine electronic equipment to interface with the newly-developed, open source Signal K platform. Digital Yacht is currently seeking $20,000 on Kickstarter.

Did you happen to miss last week’s notable campaigns? If so, you can check them out here.

Building a crowdsourced, decentralized IoT network around the world

---

The Things Network is a low-barrier way to get started with smart city projects. 

---

When it comes to which kind of wireless network will be the go-to choice for the Internet of Things, the jury is still out: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE, 5G, 802.15.4, the possibilities go on and on. And pending experiments underway in Amsterdam go as planned, don’t be surprised to find LoRaWAN as a frontrunner on that growing list. For those uninitiated with the technology, LoRaWAN is a wide area network that boasts low battery, low bandwidth and long-range wireless communication. It enables things to talk to the Internet without the need for 3G, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth — meaning, no codes, heavy battery consumption or monthly subscriptions necessary.

This long-range WAN is a practical suitor for smart city and M2M applications, as seen throughout the Dutch capital. In this particular case, Amsterdam has tapped the open IoT data network, The Things Network. Due to its seven-mile reach and affordability, the non-profit organization has been able to cover the entire city with only 10 gateways. And unlike other similar municipality projects, this one was entirely crowdsourced and implemented in a matter of six weeks with help from third parties, such as the Port of Amsterdam, The Next Web, KPMG, Deloitte, Peerby and Trakkies. 

There is, however, one minor speed bump on the road to a distributed, citizen-owned service: each of the currently available LoRaWAN gateways cost around $1,200, which isn’t so great for global scalability. Cognizant of this, The Things Network decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign offering a consumer-friendly base station with a price tag that’s only one-fifth of other products currently on the market.

“The Internet was created by people that connected their networks and allowed traffic from, to and over their servers and cables to pass for free. As a result, there was abundant data communication and exponential innovation. The Things Network is doing the same for the Internet of Things by creating abundant data connectivity. So applications and businesses can flourish,” the team explains.

The community-led initiative is hoping to make it easier for those looking to set up their own networks thanks to three new pieces of hardware: The Things Gateway, The Things Uno and The Things Node. The Things Gateway is at the core of it all. This small, simple-to-install gadget acts as the router between the things and the Internet. Not only does it link to your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, it runs open hardware, uses GPS to determine its location and the node’s whereabouts later, and serves up to 10,000 nodes.

Meanwhile, The Thing Uno is like an Arduino Uno but with LoRaWAN capabilities. This lets you upgrade your existing Arduino projects by making wireless with a several mile radius. Compatible with existing shields and the Arduino IDE, the board includes connections for an optional external antenna on the breakout circuit to better optimize the range. What’s more, The Things Network is collaborating with 3D Hubs to make a customizable 3D-printable enclosure for your Uno.

But that’s not all. The Thing Node is a keyring remote equipped with sensors (movement, light and temperature), an RGB LED, a button and three AAA batteries, all housed inside a waterproof shell. This “matchbox of sensors” can be integrated with your IFTTT account, as well as employed to devise your own low-cost prototypes applications for a Things Network in your town. Example use cases span from bike finders and pet trackers to smart doorbells and security systems, and so far, teams in Boston, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Kochi, Sydney and Manchester have all begun actively pursuing projects.

Interested? Head over to The Thing Network’s Kickstarter campaign, where the foundation is currently seeking $170,036. Delivery is slated for July 2016.