Tag: 3d printed

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Nikon makes 3D printed smart case, enabling your dog to be pho-dog-graphers

Nikon L31
Nikon L31

Photography has been attached with our lives since our childhood, in the form of a hobby or passion. To recognize beauty and to be able to capture it through a device has inspired millions of photographers around the world. But it is not just us who probably want to save our happy moments in a device. I’m sure our canine friends, if they could, would’ve loved to store their favourite moments too.

Nikon, one of the largest photographic device manufacturers, came up with an out-of-box idea that resulted in the campaign called “Heartography”, where Nikon built a 3D printed camera smart case that is capable of reading the heartbeat of a dog, and when it spikes up, their Nikon L31 takes a snap of the object, making the dog a ‘pho-dog-grapher’.

Some more info about Heartography:

A Nikon L31 camera is mounted in a 3D printed smart case which is later on strapped around a dog named Gizzler’s chest. An exited Gizzler takes a quick stroll of the neighbourhood, and camera takes snapshot of the object which makes him happy. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it!?

Gizzler
Gizzler, the pho-dog-grapher
Gizzler made happy
Snap by Gizzler

Now how does it work? The camera is strapped with a conductive band that is capable of reading the heartbeat level of the dog. When the heartbeat spikes up, the reading is sent to the camera via a bluetooth device that is attached to the conductive strap band and the camera takes the snapshot of the object instantly.

Image 3 by Gizzler
Snap taken in the Nikon L31

For all those who’ve always wondered how does your pet dog go about his or her life and what makes him really happy, Nikon-Asia’s innovative smart-case is quite the answer. Don’t be stunned to see the camera memory card gets full in just one stroll in the neighbourhood with the dog, as we know our little four-legged friends are among the most active, happy and enthusiastic pets.

Some of the things that Gizzler likes
Gizzler’s first acquaintance with a friend

 

Image Courtesy: heartography.nikon-asia.com

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Learning Center

OwnFone Braille is the first 3D printed phone for the blind

The applications of 3D printing are growing up exponentially by each passing day. Recently, a British company called OwnFone came up with a great innovation to help the blind. This device, called OwnFone Braille is specifically created for the vision impaired, and is the very first Braille phone available to consumers. The 3D printed keypad with its raised texture is very easy and can be used comfortably even by people that can’t read Braille. The, we can print texture and raised text on the phone. Our 3D phone printing process is patent pending.

The phone will be personalized to the owner, by featuring a few Braille buttons, which are pre-programmed to call only the important contacts or the emergency services. The device is further customizable, giving the consumers the option of choosing which names or numbers they would like programmed onto the main screen of the phone. These English names are automatically converted into Braille by the online software. It is even possible to change the colour of the phone or add pictures via the online system. Once these changes are applied, the phone is 3D printed using stereolithography based technology, a popular 3D printing technology. The technology used by OwnFone is currently patent pending.

The braille phone costs just £60, and is currently available in the United Kingdom. The company has plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign shortly, in order to make the phones available internationally. This innovation show how a great technology, if put to a proper use can transform lives of millions of people.

OwnFone

OwnFone, founded in 2012 on the principles of simplicity, ease, and affordability within the mobile phone market, came up with its first product called 1stFone last year. It was primarily targeted towards children ages 9-12 with an option for the parents to keep only the important contacts printed on the phone.