Nicolette Emmino
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nicolette is a technology writer, but wishes the days of paperback books and print newspapers were still thriving. She’s a young new mom with an “old soul” and a knack for words. In her spare time (whatever that is) she gets in the occasional nap.
This guy built a walking chariot that’s powered by a 20-volt cordless drill
Izzy Swan of Think Woodworks built a fully-functional drill-powered walking machine that can carry up to 370 lbs with a DIY gear box and a Dewalt 20-volt drill.
Forget ice buckets — this device helps ALS patients by translating eye motion into speech
A company called EyeControl is offering hope to ALS patients who suffer from "locked-in syndrome" and their families with a more affordable and more practical device for communication.
Facebook’s upcoming Texas data center will be powered almost entirely by wind
Facebook's newest data center in Fort Worth, Texas will run on 100% renewable energy, including 200-MW of wind energy, as well as solar power as part of Facebook's dedication to energy efficiency.
Fuhu wants parents to watch every single move their kid makes with these smart-home kits
Tablet maker Fuhu has just released a video outlining kits they will offer to create the connected kids' room. Kits will include sensors, monitors, and services for tracking health and activity.
LED indoor farms could change the food industry, and help solve world hunger
Philips has just opened its GrowWise City indoor farm in the Netherlands that has the potential to revolutionize the food we eat with customizable 'growth recipes' and even solve world hunger issues.
This alarm clock automatically plays your favorite tunes to wake you up
The HomTime C1pro looks a lot like an alarm clock; it displays time, indoor temperature, has a USB charging station, and can sync up with your Bluetooth-enabled devices.
This space-age suitcase boasts GPS, biometric locks, and a built-in power bank
The Space Case 1 has features like digital biometric locks, GPS, digital lift-less weighing system, power bank, Bluetooth, speakerphone, sensors, anti-theft alerts, and even a personal assistant.
There’s a vegetable garden off the coast of Italy, and it’s growing under the sea
An Italian father and son duo of the Ocean Reef Group, a scuba gear business, has started some underwater produce farming. Nemo's Garden uses biospheres to plant seeds underwater for fresh plants in consistent environments.
These awesome robotic exoskeletons help Japanese airport workers lift super-heavy loads
Workers from Haneda Airport in Tokyo will be sporting Cyberdyne's HAL exoskeletons for lower back support. The airport will also employ Cyberdyne's robotic cleaners and transporters, transforming it into a futuristic airport.
Luzi Smart Lamp is voice-activated and moonlights as a charger and organizer
The Luzi Smart Lamp uses a combination of LEDs to naturally produce melatonin and low-frequency sounds to help you fall asleep. It also acts as a charging and organizing station.
Totally rad LEGO printer can scan images and create pixellated mosaics with bricks
The Bricasso printer is constructed completely out of LEGO parts and prints in LEGO bricks. The machine uses an EV3 color sensor to scan the source image and saves the data to the Mindstorms unit which is then used to print multiple copies of the image directly from the data.
These ridiculously strong fridge magnets can hold nearly six pounds each
Don't worry about anything coming off of your refrigerator or filing cabinet. Trintec Industries has released SuperMags, super-strong magnets that can hold up to six pounds of weight.
T.brush is an electric toothbrush with a cool design and long battery life
The T.brush amps up the way we brush our teeth with some cool designs, longer-lasting battery life, and USB-charging capabilities for travel. It's in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign.
Stanford’s new water splitter pumps out clean hydrogen faster (and cheaper) than ever
Scientists from Stanford University have developed a water-splitting device that extracts clean hydrogen and clean oxygen from water molecules. The device uses cost-efficient materials and could have a potential impact on the transportation industry by providing cleaner hydrogen as an alternative energy source.
Brush aside: The Loogun provides an easier way to clean dirty toilets
The handheld, motorized Loogun will soon debut on Kickstarter. It runs on AA batteries and squirts a jet of water, so it never touches the inside of your toilet, making it more hygienic than a toilet brush.
Shelfpack transforms from a suitcase into a clothing shelf in just a few seconds
Shelfpack erects into four closet shelves which means you don't have to sort through articles of clothing. The suitcase comes with supports on either side that will transform into a dresser-on-wheels.
Upcoming ‘Shift Sneakers’ will change color and design via a mobile app
Wouldn't it be awesome if you could change the color and design on your sneakers with just the click of a button?
Cosmo is glowing piece of architecture that doubles as a water purifier
Architect Andres Jaque developed this large water purifier that glows as it cleans water with a series of pipes and complex ecosystems. It is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Drawn will 3D print any customized furniture design you want
French start-up company Drawn is launching its first set of 3D-printed decorative furniture pieces. You can create custom pieces, with your choice of color, shape, dimensions, etc., and get the exact piece of furniture you want.
The Floating Record vertical turntable puts a different spin on your records
If you took your average record player and propped it up on its side, you'd end up with all sorts of problems, but vintage audio startup Gramovox has developed a new record player that circumvents these issues
This 3D-printed knife is designed for chefs but customized for you
Many chefs suffer from painful calluses on their hands because they hold their knives differently. NextGen knives' 3D-printing process enables you to get a customized knife that is modeled on your own hand and is designed for the chefs' technique.
The U.S. Army wants soldiers on hoverbikes, teams up with Aussie engineers
The U.S. Department of Defense has teamed up with U.K.-based company Malloy Aeronautics to develop a Hoverbike for military use.
Buying a house but unsure of the ‘hood? Airbnb lets you try before you buy
Realtor.com and Airbnb have teamed up to let potential home buyers test out different neighborhoods before they purchase their home, so they can get a feel for their new place's surroundings.
Want to live in this apartment building that looks like it’s about to topple over?
Architect Buro Ole Scheeren has proposed this futuristic high-rise apartment building for a main avenue in Vancouver. Looks a lot like Jenga game gone right, don't you think?
Step inside Casa Jasmina, the smart home of the future that’s available for rent
Casa Jasmina is the smart home of the future for techies. It will be available for rent on Airbnb, so anyone can test out their connected projects and see how a smart home works as a cohesive entity.
TieFi turns Dad’s necktie into a short-range Wi-Fi hotspot
The TieFi combines the classic Father's Day necktie with Internet access so that Dad's and kids can spend some face-to-face time together this year.
Go green! These edible algae lamps could light your home
Two designers have created a future-home display at th Museum of Contemporary Art that includes living algae-filled lamps that can be drained and eaten later.
The Bartesian creates your cocktails with just the push of a button
This Bartisian cocktail machine is like the Keurig of mixed drinks. Pop in a pod, press the button and let the bartending machine whip up your beverage of choice.
Behold the high-tech bikini that can help prevent sunburns
A French designer has created a bikini equipped with sensors that will notify you when it's time to reapply your sunscreen.
GM is powering its new data center with old Chevrolet Volt batteries
GM has found a purpose for old Chevrolet Volt electric car batteries. Paired with solar and wind energy, they are producing/storing enough power to juice up the company's new data center.
Swann introduces two new DIY home security systems for different budgets
Swann Security has just released two new Wi-Fi enabled security cameras that can be viewed on smartphones and tablets via app, one for $180, the other for $130.
Ditch the beer cans: This portable keg serves up draft beers anywhere you go
Hank the Beer Tank lets you drink at home or outdoors, keeping your beer chilled and pressurized for weeks. The keg is launching on Kickstarter today, and you can get one for $699.
This foldable, paper-thin battery runs on dirty water, costs 5 cents
A Binghamton University engineer has developed a fold-up battery powered by bacteria. Total cost: just five cents.