Awesome Tech

What you’re looking at is a unique round display that creates images using fiber optics. Maker James Brown of Ancient shows how he built the gizmo using a dollar-store fiber optic wand that he connected fiber-by-fiber to a grid of LEDs. The real magic is the logic that detects the position of each dot on the circular screen and maps it to the grid.

This upcoming gadget from Hong Kong outfit Headachesound is a self-contained gadget for making turntable scratch effects. You can load it with your samples and beats, then jog its high-sensitivity mini turntable to manipulate sounds. Music producer Mr Viktor got his hands on a prototype and put it through its paces.

This small, orb-shaped light from Olight is perfect for ambience or as a bedside nightlight. It has a 75-lumen warm white light source and color-changing RGB LEDs, which can be controlled via a mobile app or directly on the sphere. Modes include a countdown timer, music sync, and multi-light control. Its rechargeable battery lasts up to 40 hours in low mode.

Created by engineers at the University of Science and Technology of China, this biomimetic soft robot moves like an octopus tentacle. SpiRobs can bend, twist, and grasp a variety of objects. The mechanical arm is capable of lifting up to 260 times its weight while having a gentle enough grip to handle fragile objects.

These audiophile-grade wired headphones from Sennheiser are designed to produce a wide soundstage and crisp, clean tones from 12 Hz to 38.5 kHz. They’re built for comfort and long wear, with soft velour ear cushions and low clamping force on your head. A minimalist design with copper accents rounds out the over-the-ear cans.

Modern digital music is recorded using 16-, 24-, or 32-bit depths. Makary Brauner recorded this chiptune version of Massive Attack’s Teardrop using 1-bit audio on the hardware from a Atari 130 XE computer. It’s interesting to note that he used the computer’s GTIA graphic chip rather than its audio-focused POKEY chip. The visualization was created with Corrscope.

Like its big brother, this smaller version of Vizio’s outstanding Elevate soundbar a pair of rotating speakers that can bounce sound off of the ceiling when listening to movies and programs encoded with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X surround sound. The 5.1.2 system includes a wireless subwoofer and two rear channel satellite speakers.

Never lose a bag again with Knog’s Scout Travel tracker. This gadget hangs securely from your luggage and is compatible with Apple’s “Find My” location tracking tech. It has a few advantages over an AirTag, including a built-in hanger, a loud, motion-sensitive alarm, and a QR code to help others let you know they found your bag. They also make a bike version.

These fun keycaps from Keygeak have a design inspired by comic book artwork. Each key features a scratchy border with a hand-drawn look. Compatible with Cherry MX and MX clone switches, the set comes with 136 PBT keycaps with durable dye-sublimated art. We only wish they had gone with a comic book typeface.

None of the computers you’re about to see are real, but they do capture the essence of computer design over the decades. This animated short from evolution.hub0 uses AI tech to illustrate the evolution of personal computers from the 1970s through the 2020s and beyond. It’s far from accurate, but still a neat watch.

We love the look of this custom keyboard with a built-in screen. Work from Hype shows us how he created his “Screen Board” using 3D printed parts, a compact widescreen display, and an inexpensive, off-the-shelf 60% mechanical keyboard. The tiny monitor is just the right size to display system widgets and a calendar without blocking his main display.

This neat little gadget is a tiny video screen framed with colorful LED lights. The Busy Tag clips onto the back of your display and lets you display messages or animations. Use it to tell co-workers that you’re tied up at the moment, or display silly messages to keep them entertained. It measures 1.42″ x 1.81″ x 0.31″ and runs on USB-C power.

It may not have the best name, but this mid-size mechanical keyboard has got it where it counts. The 98-key S98 has quiet green switches with multi-layer dampeners to reduce noise and vibrations. It offers colorful backlighting and a programmable OLED screen. Connectivity support includes USB-C wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4 GHz wireless.

Kinetic art studio Breakfast created this series exploring the origins of video gaming and the multi-billion-dollar industry it has evolved into. Billion Dollar Arcade uses an array of mechanical dots to play Pong, Breakout, and Space Invaders, along with real-time stock market data tracking the industry’s valuation. For sale in a limited edition of eight each.

This versatile computer accessory combines a macro controller and a 10-in-1 USB-C docking station. It has six programmable keys with LCD screens, three knobs, and three navigation buttons. The hub has numerous outputs, including HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, 2.5GBps Ethernet, 3.5mm audio, and an SD/TF memory card slot. Compatible with MacOS and Windows.

The latest 3D printer from Creality has a massive 400 mm x 400 mm x 400 mm (15.75″ x 15.75″ x 15.75″) build area for printing large objects. It prints at speeds up to 700 mm/second and has precise automated bed leveling and a 1000-watt heated build plate for printing in a wide variety of materials.