Past Gadget Freaks

Case #126: Talking to Your Gadgets Remotely

Design News Staff, September 22, 2008
Alvaro Mautone's cell phone gadget allows you to control appliances and alarms from up to 500m away. More
Case #125: Quick-Touch Automated Laundry Chute

Design News Staff, September 1, 2008
Jitendra Tailor's laundry chute will save you from lugging a basket of dirty clothes to the basement. More
Case #124: Controlling the Rocket Fire

Design News Staff, August 8, 2008
William Grill's latest gadget helps control the accidental launch of model rockets. More
Gadget Freak Case #123: This Jukebox Plays Your Mood

By Design News Staff, July 14, 2008
The Jukebox Hero operates in mood mode, using sensors to identify the environment before choosing which song to play. Video included. More
Gadget Freak Case #122: Cutting Pumpkins the Tesla Way

Design News Staff, June 23, 2008
Rick Crammond creates turbine power from his kitchen sink to drive a skill saw blade for easy jack-o'-lantern carving. Video included. More
Gadget Freak Case #121: Robot Can Read Terrain and Adjust

Design News Staff, June 2, 2008
This versatile robot has the ability to maneuver around obstacles. Video included! More
Gadget Freak Case #120: Super-Powered Salad Spinner

By Design News Staff, May 12, 2008
Say goodbye to your ordinary salad spinner. Rick Crammond's will have your greens dry as a bone faster than you can say cucumber. Watch the video! More
Gadget Freak Case #119: Take Control of Your Car’s Interior Lights

By Design News Staff, April 28, 2008
Bill Bowden takes the mystery out of a new car’s interior lights with his bright gadget. More
Gadget Freak Case #118: Spying on Your Freezer

By Design News Staff, April 7, 2008
There's a lot at steak for William Grill, so he created a gadget that would keep an eye on his frozen food. More
Gadget Freak Case 117: Automated Doggy Door Cares for Your Best Friend

By Design News Staff, March 17, 2008
The Automated Doggy Door gives your pooch the freedom to come and go as he pleases and even feeds him. More
Gadget Freak Case #116: Security System Calls Your Cell

By Design News Staff, February 25, 2008
Bill Bowden's cell phone gives him a ring when an alarm is triggered. More
Gadget Freak Case #115: Remote Telephone Indicator Lights up Ringing Cubicle

By Design News Staff, February 4, 2008
Alan Vogel always knows when his work telephone is ringing, thanks to his remote indicator, a red light that illuminates high above his cubicle when a call comes in. More
Gadget Freak Case #114: Testing Parts 'til They're Toast

By Design News Staff, January 7, 2008
Mark Thoren and Jim Williams became frustrated when they could not get lab time to test a circuit they were designing, so they rewired a toaster to make a test chamber. More
Gadget Freak Case #113: Turning a Flash Camera into a Coin Toss

By Design News Staff, December 10, 2007
Call it in the air. Joe Groele's old flash camera is now a coin-tossing machine. More
Gadget Freak Case #112: Simple Pressure Alarm Monitors Water and Air

By Design News Staff, November 19, 2007
William Grill solved the problem of backed-up water in his laundry room by creating a water height sensor. More
Gadget Freak Case 111: New Gun Shoots Light Bulb Storms

By Design News Staff, November 5, 2007
Richard Morrow's gun creates a real spark when it comes to electricity. More
Gadget Freak Case 110: A Fridge That's Alert for Midnight Snacks

By Design News Staff, October 22, 2007
When you've popped in your 3V battery-powered fridge alarm, getting peckish in the middle of the night, forgetting to close the door and escalating electricity bills will be a thing of the past. More
Gadget Freak Case #109: Linux Server Serves Cats

Design News Staff, October 8, 2007
Lee Holmes never has to feed his cats, thanks to his homemade mechanical dry cat food dispenser. More
Gadget Freak Case #108: The Tube to the Recycling Center Has an Air Ride

Design News Staff, September 24, 2007
Already have a beer-tossing refrigerator and can crusher? Here's a handy way to recycle your empties. More
Gadget Freak Case 107: Magnetic Levitation Mystery

By Design News Staff, September 3, 2007
Can you duplicate Nathan Loden’s Magnetic Levitation experiment and explain the strange outcome? More

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