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| Makes scents |
Here's an invention not to be sniffed at - boffins at the Tokyo Institute of Technology have created the world's first smell recorder. Simply present it with a designer perfume or freshly baked bread and the gadget can analyse the odour and recreate it using a mixture of non-toxic chemicals.
Its developers imagine the device will be useful for online shopping - allowing customers to smell products before buying them - but it could also have more serious uses, such as re-creating the smell of blood, bile or urine to help doctors with a remote medical diagnosis.
So far though the gadget has only successfully recorded and reproduced the smells of orange, lemon, apple, banana and melon. But apparently it is so accurate that the scientists can even tell a green apple from a red apple.
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| Roller racer |
A 20-year-old man on rollerblades hitched a ride from a car at breakneck speed in the southern Dutch city of Roermond, and reached speeds of up to 90 kph, according to the local police. He was arrested as soon as his 5km thrill ride was over, but police were still baffled as to how he managed to hang on to the car he was trailing at such high speed. |
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| Big tipper |
A Chicago limousine driver got the best tip of his life recently when one of his regular passengers gave him a kidney. Abdul Faraj had been undergoing three sessions of dialysis a week to combat the degeneration of his kidneys from diabetes, until a casual chat revealed that he shared the same rare blood type as Minnesota businessman Dave Baker.
Both men are now recovering well after the successful transplant. |
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| Wwwacky website |
What happened to all that futuristic stuff that back in the 1900s we thought would change our lives when the new millennium came round? Where are the rocket belts, food pills and inflatable homes? Well, those questions and many more are answered on www.retrofuture.com.
This site really tries to get to the bottom of why lots of those futuristic ideas haven't come about, or how at least aspects of them are now a part of everyday life and we just haven't noticed. We certainly don't all live in skyscraper towns, but maybe the 'smell-o-vision' wasn't that wide of the mark (see the item above). At least a few of these futuristic ideas are not to be sniffed at.
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Volume 11.08
August 2006 |
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Hello Welcome to the August issue of Fleettorque, brought to you by Fleetcare!
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Running on sunshine |
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 If you've ever felt guilty about leaving your phone or your iPod on charge all night or all day, then this could ease your conscience.
This brilliantly designed Solio charger opens to reveal three photo voltaic panels that harness energy from the sun for guilt-free gadget-use. The unit needs an initial electric charge to power its internal battery, but then all you have to do is unfold it and leave it outside in the sun, or attach it to the inside of a window using the suction cup provided.
An hour of charging produces enough power for the same amount of iPod playing time, but if you charge it for several hours the energy is stored in the internal battery, ready for when you need it.
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BMW Z4 Coupe |
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 BMW is set to launch its scorching new Z4 3.0si and M Coupé models here in the autumn.
Our first chance to buy a two-seater BMW Coupé since the Z3-based M Coupé, the new Z4 Coupé styling builds on the long-bonneted, sharply aggressive look of the Z4 Roadster and adds a snug interior with an expanded luggage area.
The Z4 M Coupé is available exclusively with six-speed manual transmission and will be priced from $129,500, while the convertible Z4 3.0si Roadster will cost from $90,800 in manual guise and $93,400 as a six-speed automatic. |
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Home help |
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 Just what we couch potatoes have always dreamt of - a robot that does the vacuuming.
Samsung's recently upgraded vacuum robot now maps out the room to be spruced and takes the most efficient route to get the job done sooner.
It will even start on the housework while you're still at the office or on the way home with a pernickety auntie or even a hot date - just give the robot a call and it'll have the place shipshape in no time. It even looks after itself so you don't have to - when it detects that it's battery is less than 20 per cent charged it will take itself back to its charging station for a top-up.
Samsung's robot vacuum is much cheaper than your average maid, and never asks for days off or a bigger pay cheque. However, so far it's only available in Korea, priced at the equivalent of $1,500. |
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Don't send flowers, send a car |
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 Indians who live abroad are being offered the chance to buy a car and have it sent to their loved ones at home as a present.
Indian manufacturer Maruti's 'Dil Se' initiative translates as 'straight from the heart' and encourages the great number of so-called NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) to remember their friends and relatives in the sub-continent and spend their hard-earned cash on a gift of a reasonably priced run-about.
The little Maruti hatchbacks on offer are very cheap by Western standards at just $170 a month over five years, and come as part of a package with priority car servicing and cut-price accessories. |
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Womens Workshop Melbourne |
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 More and more women drive late model vehicles, often in remote parts of the country and for extended periods of time. It is important therefore for all drivers to be able to perform basic maintenance on their vehicle, to be able to change a tyre, to be able to diagnose a problem and know when they are having their vehicle serviced, what work is necessary and what is not.
To that end, Fleetcare is offering female drivers and their partners/colleagues, the opportunity to participate in our Motoring Women's Workshop series, to be hosted by one of Australia's leading F3 drivers, Leanne Tander. Leanne will provide practical insights into vehicle maintenance and offer driving tips & techniques and, for those who are game, some hands on experience! The Workshop for Melbourne will be held on the 8th September.
The workshop is fun and informal and will enable participants to walk away with some good, practical knowledge about their vehicle, network with other participants and to meet Leanne Tander (www. tandersport.com)
The Group size is limited to a maximum of 32 and spaces are filling fast, so please click here to register your interest now.
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