Joel Johnson

Hyena: One-Button "Choose Your Own Adventure" Audiobook Games

"Hyena" is a new toolset/language for creating "AudioGameBooks," sort of a Choose Your Own Adventure audiobook that can be played with just a single button. Branching storylines are just one possibility for Hyena. "Lone Wolf - Flight from the Dark," the first game packaged with the Hyena download, has a simple RPG system built in with hit points, skills, weapons, and inventory, all controlled by clicks from the single button.

The game text is supposed to be read through a text-to-speech convertor but on my Nintendo DS (and DS-X flash cart), only the text appeared, which made the whole thing into a slightly clunky text adventure. (There are also Sony PSP and PC versions of Hyena.)

The concept is strong, although I must admit at first glance I thought it was supposed to be a prank. I quickly realized how engaging the single-click, audio-only concept could be with the right game mechanics and story. (No offense to the writers of Lone Wolf, but its generic monk-on-the-run theme didn't really entice me.) Playing a game while running or taking a walk could be a lot of fun. Now they just need a Hyena port to the iPod and other portable media devices.

HYENA - AUDIOGAME PLAYER [CollectingSmiles.com via Waxy]

Joel Johnson

Ornate Steampunk LEGO Mecha

It's a shock you don't see more steampunk LEGO, really, considering all the gears and cogs available from old Technic sets. This model, by "Morgan19," is called the "Dardenbahst," a mecha with custom-painted golden touches which just gets better the more I look at it. It's far more functional and possible-looking than most. He even made a nice schematic image which you can see at the link below.

The LEGO builder community just keeps getting better. I don't know if I'm just paying more attention lately or what, but we may be entering a renaissance.

The crazy steampunk machine [Brothers-Brick]

Joel Johnson

Why Are Projector Bulbs So Expensive?

I've been trying to get a clear answer to that one for the last couple of years, but every time I ask Panasonic or Infocus about the high cost of replacement bulbs I get some mumbo-jumbo about the high tolerances or exotic materials that go inside—or more commonly no response at all.

It's been bugging me lately because my beloved Panasonic AE-900U is getting dim. (And has a wicked fan rattle, too, but that's probably both fixable and the fault of Porter's disgusting shedding, not a failure endemic to the model.) I priced out new bulbs and they're all about $300-400, depending on the source. What is a real pisser is that I could buy a used AE-900U on eBay for around the same price, making it clear that the only thing of real value inside a projector is a fresh, new bulb.

It's got to be a racket, right? I understand that those lamps need to throw out a ton of lumens, but even if they're filled with strange metals and inert gasses, hundreds of dollars for a bulb seems nutso to me. Then again, I'd feel a lot better about paying for a new bulb if I were wrong, so if you've got some science to drop on me I'd love to hear it.

Charles Shopsin

Modern Mechanix Round-UP

Today on Modern Mechanix we look at this crazy contraption for transporting your dog. The general consensus of our commenters seems to be that a) the dog really needs some goggles, b) opening the driver's door would decapitate poor rover and c) WTF?!?!. In 1956 not only were there still lots of little local phone companies in the US, some of them were run by one person! We also looked at how Houdini performed his tricks, a machine for communicating with deaf and blind people, a pair of young kids who run their own newspaper and a radio picture frame. And remember folks, when it comes time to remodel your house, it's all about keeping ahead of the Jonses.

Joel Johnson

Red Hot Laser Light Show

This "Red Hot Laser Light Show" is the standard Spencer's Gift sort of home laser show, but shows a commendable amount of zazzle in its flame-inspired plastic molding. I should hate it but I can't.

It's $25, plus shipping, from Scientifics Online. Who knew sciences had gotten so sport?

Catalog Page [ScientificsOnline.com via Oh Gizmo]

Joel Johnson

Life Clock by Bertrand Planes

The "Life Clock," by Bertrand Planes, slows down the typical clock mechanism so that what is normally a minute hash now represent years. I'd put a battery in it, because I'd be terrified when if the power went out.

I'm unsure if this is a real art project—or rather, I'm unsure if the clock actually is slowed down 61320 times or if it has just been repainted.

Artist's Page [OnOffArt.fr via Szymon Blaszczyk via vvork via Technobob]

Joel Johnson

"Audeo" Neck Band for Sub-Vocal Communication

This prototype "Audeo" neckband by Ambient Corporation is capable of picking up nerve impulses sent to the vocal cords, which can then be machine-translated into speech. The processing delay is awfully slow right now, the vocabulary the computer understands is limited to about 150 words, and you have to wear a severe neck band full of sensors, but it all looks pretty fantastic to me. It'll be a while before we can have completely sub-vocal telephone conversations (and who wants to talk to a machine voice if you don't have to?) but I could see these being used as an ancillary input for a wide variety of devices, especially for the military.

Nerve-tapping neckband allows 'telepathic' chat [NewScientist.com via Gizmodo]

Joel Johnson

Morning Tech Deals Highlights

• Earbuds – JVC Marshmallow Soft Inner Ear Headphones for $11.49, shipped. About half price. [Slickdeals]

• Woman's Watch – Adidas Women's Midsize Fitness Digital Watch for $29, shipped. [Dealnews]

• All-In-One-Printer – Today's Woot! is a Kodak EasyShare 5100 All in One Printer, Scanner and Copier for $55, shipped.

Good morning, everybody!