Some simple ideas set an industry so on fire that it makes you wonder why you hadn’t thought of it before, for example, the new chaise lounges from the young furniture brand LIOGY.

The chaise lounges allow you to read, work, and surf the Internet in an ergonomically perfect and comfortable prone position. These chaise lounges provide the perfect counterbalance to sitting straight up at your desk.

“Our chaise lounges are not intended for the mass market, the chaise lounges are niche products for specific target groups,” said Austrian entrepreneur Joachim Weichselbaumer, founder and owner of LIOGY.

“Our customers aren’t the type who let themselves get talked into or talked out of products. They know exactly what they want and what they need.”

The loungers are sold exclusively by selected interior designers and authorized dealers. LIOGY also has a sub-brand called LIOLU which is aimed at children.

SOURCE LIOGY

Kimball Office Curved Bench

A new 45-degree crescent bench and lounge, with optional back, provides greater opportunities to design functional and creative seating arrangements that maneuver around obstacles.

SOURCE Kimball

A newly launched website, Barcode Gallery (barcodegallery.com) is letting users create customized and personalized pieces of modern art leveraging the QR barcode technology.

The end result is the creation of a ready-to-hang piece of colorful modern art that contains an embedded message that can be decoded by observers using camera-equipped smartphones.

Users with a camera-equipped smartphone, such as Apple’s iPhone, are able to use any number of free barcode scanning applications to decode the image.

Here’s how it works:

Image courtesy: barcodegallery.com

The QR code used in Barcode Gallery’s products, is a 2-dimensional barcode format that utilizes a pattern of boxes and squares to encode the message contents. While barcodes have been traditionally black and white, today’s camera-based scanning applications are able to decode multicolored barcodes that have an acceptable level of contrast.

Additionally, customers may choose to have their art produced on ready-to-hang canvas or on ready-to-frame archival paper in sizes ranging from 10-inch to 40-inch square.

What makes this art unique is the ability to encode a text message into the artwork itself, which is only revealed when scanned by a smartphone. Barcode Gallery allows up to 300 characters of text providing the opportunity to embed a favorite quote, poem, or personal message.

SOURCE Barcode Gallery

It’s ideal for reading menus in dark restaurants, playbills in theater, instructions on prescription medication or any fine print.

The EyeReader by Net|Soft Engineering is the first in a series of Silver Apps – applications designed for users 45 and older. The brainchild of engineer Gerry Lavender, EyeReader takes only half a megabyte and costs $1.99 to download from iTunes store.

EyeReader is the only app of its kind to utilize iPhone 4’s full 3.5-inch widescreen display, giving users the ability to zoom in and out with two fingers via touch-screen technology.

Unlike an ordinary magnifier, the EyeReader efficiently uses the iPhone 4 bright LED light to illuminate any surface up to 5X magnification.

“Older adults are looking for apps that meet their needs,” said Lavender.

“You may forget your reading glasses, but you’re never without your iPhone. I fully understand the challenges seniors face and it’s been the inspiration for Silver Apps, all designed to make life easier for that population.”

This is just the first of several iPhone and iPad applications Net|Soft is developing to meet the demands of the senior market.

SOURCE Net|Soft Engineering

Onsia is a revolutionary new flat panel speaker system that achieves completely invisible installation. They blend invisibly into any living space or office setting. It’s just when you hear their remarkable performance that you recall they’re there.

With no visual interference to room aesthetics, totally unseen speakers are made possible by high-powered, vibrational-element flat panels that produce high-definition sound.

Much like a violin or acoustic guitar, Onsia works on the principle of radiating sound through vibration. The speaker panel creates hundreds of simultaneous, nonlinear vibrations instead of the piston-generated, directional pulses from conventional cone diaphragms. A diffuse source creates a sound over a very wide
area, ensuring that surround sound or stereo can be heard regardless of room size, shape or listening position.

In-Ceiling

Onsia In-Ceiling Speakers

The Onsia In-Ceiling speaker system is completely invisible. No more cutting holes in tiles to fit speakers. No more grates, covers or grills to break up the aesthetic of your suspended ceiling. The speakers fit into all standard grid systems will match most common tile patterns.

In-Frame

Onsia In-Frame Speakers

Looking for a simple, yet beautiful sound solution? The In-Frame speaker hides invisibly behind any piece of art and can be cut into practically any shape.

In-Wall

Onsia In-Wall Speakers

Just as the In-Ceiling speakers, the In-Wall speaker system kicks in when you want a completely invisible speaker solution. These are not your standard in-wall speakers. With Onsia there are no grates, grills or covers to interrupt the aesthetic of your room.

Now it is possible to decorate around your creativity, not around your speaker system.

Source

Get them here:

Zigo 2009 Leader

The Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System can operate as a three-wheeled carrier bicycle, a stroller, jogging stroller, urban bicycle, or trailer, converting among these modes in under a minute. It was first shown in 2007 at Interbike, the bicycle industry trade show.

“It’s been a long haul but worth the effort,” explained Dr. Michael Ehrenreich, Zigo’s Founder and CEO. “My son was six months old when I started working on the Zigo for him. He will start kindergarten this Fall. I’m proud to be able to tell him that I did this for him.”

The Zigo Leader will be available at independent bicycle dealers and other specialty shops in the US, as well as through distributors across Europe.

“It’s a revolution in child transportation,” said Rus Bockin, Zigo’s Director of North American sales. “People are really looking forward to this launch. Our current production run is nearly completely sold out, but more will soon be on the way.”

Carrier bicycle mode

ChildPod in stroller mode

Cycle mode

Price: $1349

Source: MyZigo.com

This Brazilian hammock — the Palacio (meaning ‘palace’ in Latin) — could just be the perfect thing to enjoy a perfect weather. And relax in luxurious comfort, smooth as sailing.

The Palacio -- Brazilian hammock

The Palacio, designed by Bon Fire ApS, a Danish company, is a free standing hammock, which is just as great as a French bed, and mounted on beautiful frames made out of Brazilian mahagony.

The hammocks are woven with complex Jacquard technique, which is finished with a beautiful and strong finish in the form of a manual focal weaving, known as macramé and an edging that Brazilians call “Veranda”.

The bearing guide strings are manufactured immaculately, preventing any wear in the eyelets ring that stretch from the end beams.

Palacio hammocks are made with high-density cotton, up to 450 grams per sq mt (42 grams per sq ft).

The hammock easily take up a load of up to 160 kg. It has a surface of 250 x 160 cm (98 x 63 inches), a total length of 370 cm (138 inches) and weighs five kilograms (11 lbs).

The carrier sheets measuring 150 cm (59 inches) in height and 125 cm (49 inches) in width, has an adjustable length from 300 to 600 cm (118 to 236 inches).

The hammocks, and the carrier sheets, are manufactured by the well-know Brazilian company Amazon.

Price: About $1300

Source: pid

To put it simply, it’s superlative coffee made easy — mypressi TWIST’s unique pneumatic engine requires no external power. Just add hot water and it’s java time!

Convenience and portability — to operate the mypressi TWIST, simply insert a cartridge into the pressure chamber, fill the basket with fresh ground coffee or a coffee pod, and fill the upper compartment with hot water. With a simple pull of the trigger the TWIST produces one or two shots of espresso perfection ready to be enjoyed alone, or as the base for any coffee beverage.

The TWIST has an easy-to-clean design that is also dishwasher safe, ensuring even after months of use that there are no left over oils to oxidize or spoil subsequent shots. It is small and light enough to fit easily into a briefcase, backpack or handbag.

The only handheld espresso maker to receive Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) “Best New Product” Award, the mypressi TWIST features a pneumatically enhanced system that delivers the perfect 135 psi or nine bars of pressure throughout the entire 24-second duration of the espresso extraction.

The small, stylish machine is powered by pressurized air cartridges–typically used for whipped cream and soda water–and creates espresso at its peak, rich with color and superior crema.

Source: mypressi

Nixon released the second color — blue — in the limited edition Rubber Player series last Wednesday (April 15).

Before consumers could say “Blue!”, the collection was sold out. And so was the case with the first release — red — released March 15.

Participating retailers have reported the Rubber Player selling out the same day they received them.

With red and blue editions out of the scene, the focus is now on the mystery color Nixon will introduce on May 15. Mark your calendar, and keep the exact change — $170 — in your wallet… the competition is gonna be fierce, and you wouldn’t want to miss a minute (pun unintended!)

The Rubber Player watch is a unique, new interpretation on the original Player model from Nixon. Participating retailers will receive four Rubber Players in one color.

The 15th of each month through June, Nixon Rubber Player retailers will receive an unannounced, new color. This product will not be available for reorder and when they are gone, they are gone. Just gone.

The third and fourth colorways in the series will remain secret until their release dates of May 15 and June 15.

The May 15 shocker release:

Nixon 4x4 Rubber Player watch

This new Iconic collection will be sold exclusively at nixonnow.com and in participating shops.

So stay tight and stay tuned, Nixon says each customer will be limited to one Rubber Player at purchase.

The last of the 4×4 Rubber Player series (released June 15):

Nixon 4x4 Rubber Player watch

Admin note: Apparently, they’re all sold out, so if you’re a die-hard fan, the next best place to find any of them would probably be eBay!

More info: Nixon 4×4 Limited Edition Rubber Player