CrowdGadget is a wrap of the latest crowd-funded gadgets and tech concepts that have caught our attention. We have rounded up five technologies which have the potential to disrupt their respective industries, by presenting ideas which are either affordable or innovative, or both.
1. EyeDrive: Holographic car assistant
The latest luxury vehicles from marques like BMW and Volvo offer options for holographic-style heads-up displays, but what about the car you already have? Mostly, it’s either too dated, or not expensive enough.That’s where EyeDrive comes in. The aftermarket device sits in the middle of a car dashboard, and projects a display on the windscreen.
Because it appears in the driver’s field of view, it increases safety by keeping one’s eyes on the road, as well as offering convenient voice control, and adding reverse camera functionality.
For safety reasons, the device doesn’t have buttons. Instead, it makes use of gesture controls, reducing the precision of operating physical buttons and reducing the distance from the steering wheel to controls, when compared to regular dashboard buttons. But it must feel great to control the display like a Jedi.
For voice control, the system uses the connected smartphone’s voice assistant: Google Assistant if it’s connected to Android, and Siri if it’s connected to iPhone. This allows one’s hands to remain on the steering wheel when controlling the system.
The backup camera sticks to the back of one’s car and provides a reverse camera for cars that don’t have the module fitted. This increases safety, especially in bigger cars with less reverse visibility. It adheres to the car with a sticker and lasts for 500 hours before requiring the removable battery to be changed.
The project is available for backing on IndieGoGo here.
Click here to read about a smartwatch that charges off body heat, a robotic arm that can do almost anything, a smart mug that tells you if your water is safe to drink, and a South African solar powered computer.
2. Matrix PowerWatch 2 – Powered by humans
Charging a smartwatch is so 2018. Wearable startup Matrix Industries has introduced its revised PowerWatch 2 smartwatch, which doesn’t need to be charged at all.
The smartwatch is designed with improved thermoelectric generators and new solar-cell technology, constantly generating more than enough energy to operate the built-in intelligent heart rate monitor. It also features a full-colour LCD display, which is powered by thermoelectric and solar energy.
Surprisingly, it features an always-on onboard GPS, making this a great exercise tool for those who need to map out runs, hikes, rides, or swimming. It can also be submerged up to 200 metres.
The PowerWatch 2 companion app is packed with useful health and fitness metrics like pace, distance, steps, sleep, and cadence. It also claims to have one of the most accurate calorie counter on the market. The companion app synchronises with Apple Health and Google Fit, good news for those who make use of applications that use these services for medical benefits.
Apart from fitness features, it performs all the standard tasks of other smartwatches, like push notifications and vibrating alerts.
The project is available for backing on IndieGoGo here.
Click here to read about a robotic arm that can do almost anything, a smart mug that tells you if your water is safe to drink, and a South African solar-powered computer.
3. HexBot – A robotic arm that writes, draws, 3D prints, and laser engraves
Ever feel like you need an extra hand with sharp accuracy? The HexBot can help. It claims to be the first desktop robotic arm, with extremely high 0.05mm repeatability that turns a desktop into a workshop.
It is designed for makers, designers, and anyone who wants to bring ideas to life.
It features a modular design that is aimed to complete a range of tasks, from simply grasping and drawing to 3D printing and laser engraving.
What’s great about its modular design is no screws are needed to switch from a robotic clasp to a laser engraver.
The robotic arm is bundled with software that can control the robotic arm and has integrated Blockly into its software, which allows dragging and placing code blocks to control it. This allows for code to be written and published online, meaning one doesn’t need to know how to code for many predefined tasks, like playing chess or engraving pictures.
A 3.5-inch colour touchscreen module is included with the robotic arm, and allows users to check status and command Hexbot without a computer.
For example, one could download G-code files to an SD card and start drawing, engraving, or printing.
The project is available for backing on Kickstarter here.
Click here to read about a smart mug that tells you if your water is safe to and a South African solar-powered computer.
4. Heyo Smart Thermos – The mug that keeps one hydrated
From water temperature to water quality, Heyo’s Smart Thermos can keep its users in the loop about what’s in their water and when they should drink it.
Featuring a colour screen on the lid, it notifies users about the attributes of the water in the bottle. It reports water quality in parts per million, analysing salts and minerals in the water and advising users on whether the contained water is over a certain defined limit.
Tapping on the lid will switch the display into temperature, which measures the temperature of the water in the bottle. It shows also shows if the water is at optimal drinking temperature. It can also be adjusted for other liquids, such as milk, tea, or coffee.
It features a built-in speaker, which plays a notification tone when users need to drink more water.
Thermos quality was not compromised with this device. The startup claims that it can retain heat/cool for six hours within a Celsius degree.
The smart thermos is available to back on Kickstarter here.
Click here to read about a South African solar-powered computer.
5. #WDC400: The 1st African Solar-Powered Android Computer
Now for a South African innovation. Capsule Technologies has created the first African-made, solar-powered Android computer. It aims to connect those in rural areas with limited access to electricity.
The company has called it “20W African Android Computer” and it was recognised as an official project of the World Design Capital 2014 programme.
In March 2014, the first “20W” prototype was released as the first Android Computer made in Africa, which heralded Capsule Technologies as a key player of the Android industry in Africa.
This computer can be powered with a solar panel, which allows it to be independent of electricity infrastructure. It can also be connected to a network via 3G, ADSL or broadband, and is easy to use for those who have used an Android device.
The solar-powered computer answers the challenge of digital needs, network connectivity, and power shortages in Africa. The company says the aim of its project is to bridge the digital divide and use African innovation to build its computer.
Its goal is to offer a computer designed for the African ecosystem and represents a sustainable IT solution. This implies a lot of software development.
For this, the company will also hire local talent to develop and support the software that will be bundled with the computer.
The company is based in Cape Town, offering IT has a division for creating technology.