organization

Will windows work as solar panels?

The next solar panel could be a window.

Konarka Technologies and Air Products have received a grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop a transparent, flexible solar panel that could be placed on a piece of glass or integrated into a window.

Konarka specializes in organic photovoltaics. These are complex molecules that can harvest portions of the infrared and visible light spectrum and turn the energy into sunlight. Organic photovoltaic panels don't last as long as silicon panels and 't aren't as efficient as silicon or other types of panels. But they can … Read more

Micro-productivity: man vs. machine, divergence vs. convergence

According to a McKinsey & Company study of US economic activity, "Raising the productivity of employees whose jobs can't be automated is the next big performance challenge." The study argues that "as more companies come to specialize in core activities and outsource the rest, they have greater need for workers who can interact with co-workers, partners, and vendors," supported by highly personalized organizing and communication tools. 40 percent of labor activity, says McKinsey, comes not from making things or from traditional transactions but from what the consultancy calls the "Interaction Economy," which it … Read more

VIP - Very Intelligent Pocket

Who doesn't need a Very Important Pocket to help organize your laptop bag, purse, gym bag, car, you name it. These VIPs by Tintamar come in a range of models and colors for your every need (no, these are not just for women!) Imagine not needing to shake through your bags to find that one cable, card reader, USB key, pen, ipod, mirror, PSP/DS... or whatever other craziness you have in your bags... imaging reaching in and knowing exactly where your cell phone is when its ringing? Organized gadgetry, completely within your reach. See pics of the other models below...

Toshiba looking at OLED TVs too

They are thin, consume little power and provide a pretty good picture. What's not to like about TVs made from organic light emitting diodes?

They might be really hard to manufacture in mass quantities and there is a possibility that they will degrade faster than LCDs or plasmas. But it's still a great idea, and the latest to try it are Toshiba and Matsushita (Panasonic in America).

A joint venture between the Japanese giants has developed a 20.8-inch low-temperature poly-silicon OLED display that can be used for TV. Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology has shown off a 17-inch … Read more

Air purifier zaps germs at 400 degrees

A USB air purifier is fine when you're on the road, but at home you need something more powerful for a fully sterilized bubble. That's when you might want to consider the "Airfree Platinum 2000."

Its name may sound like something out of RoboCop, but the purifier claims to eliminate 99.99 percent of all germs. The secret weapon is a ceramic core that reaches 400 degrees, a temperature where no micro-organism can build their germ villages, according to Appliancist. (Airfree claims that it functions at these levels without burning down the house. Glad they mentioned … Read more

Buy a virtual cupcake for breast cancer, on Facebook

Facebook has introduced all sorts of interesting things to social networking culture. It began with a poke, and more recently allowed you to set people on fire (virtually, of course). As of yesterday, users are able to purchase and send virtual gifts (in the form of emoticons) to their friends on the service for $1 each, to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and promote breast cancer awareness.

The icon set was designed not by Facebook but by Susan Kare who made the icons for the first Mac, including the notorious bomb icon which showed up every time … Read more

So much wine, so little time...keep track of it with this

OK, so, you guys all seem to like the booze gadgetry. Here on Crave we've featured solutions for measuring wine temperature, making sure you don't drink too much, and even making one's own wine, but we've never addressed the oenophile's true problem. How do you keep track of all your pinots, shirazes, chardonnays, and what-have-yous? I mean, you really need to maintain a close watch on that stuff. You never know when the neighbors' kids will sneak in and nab a few bottles.

That's what the eSommelier is for. For just $8,000--I mean, … Read more

Bar codes can be your friends

When bar codes became commonplace, we thought it would only be a matter of time before we'd all be using them to organize everything. That day may finally be near, only 30 years later.

The Flic Scanner Media Organizer builds personal media libraries by scanning and cataloging music, movies and books. Microvision, which manufactures the technology, makes it sound almost too easy to be true: "Scan your items, return to your computer, plug in the scanner and watch the Collectorz.com software work for you." You can retrieve such information as cover art and track information, which … Read more