Oru – The Origami Kayak. Last week, I had the pleasure of testing out Oru Kayak, the world’s first origami kayak.
It was wonderful! Anton Willis, the designer, and I met at the Berkeley Marina to put his latest iteration to the test. I had been watching Anton construct the kayak for months at TechShop and had always bugged him about taking me out for a test ride. I finally got my wish. He pulled the folded kayak, roughly the size of a large artist portfolio, out of his car and set it in the grass near the docks. Before I knew it, I was paddling around the marina at a surprisingly high clip. Anton expects the kayak to retail for about $500. Related. BioLite CampStove - BioLite Stove. Eco-Friendly Van Meets All-in-One Mobile Home. The Volkswagen Microbus is a classic – even to those of us born after its time.
Arguably unlike the newly remade Beetle, this remake of a VW classic is remarkably true to the original on the outside – but on the inside it is a bio-diesel hybrid stuffed full of high tech gadgetry and eco-friendly innovations. Named after its designer, the Verdier is not bogged down by its sustainability – it is a turbo-charged, solar-powered, GPS-enabled contemporary car with all the retro elegance of its predecessor plus even more space-manipulating tricks to make it a highly compact mobile home.
The roof pops up, two awnings pop out the sides, a fridge and freezer reside within alongside a home entertainment center and a table and stove set are built right into one of the doors. The hippie heritage of this ride combined with its restyling, added gadgetry and new technology should make it a hit. Volkswagen Westfalia Verdier Solar Powered Mobile Micro Home. The coming together of the Westfalia, long a symbol of the hippy culture, and the green energy technology of Verdier takes the camper experience and turns it on its head, transforming the simple VW bus into a modern, self-sufficient driving/living machine with a smooth design and the coolest features this side of a high-end fifth wheel.
Verdier set out to enhance the “light recreational vehicle” and make the Westfalia traveling experience more luxurious and autonomous. And the result is one of the tightest designs I’ve seen. These tricked-out vans are equipped with intelligent solar panels guided by a GPS system for maximum sun exposure and a pneumatic suspension that provides improved stabilization and comfort by actually lowering the vehicle to the ground for stationary use. And what would a modern home be without a multi-media computer with WiFi? Designer Alexandre Verdier has long had a fascination with VW caravans. It’s way cooler. WANTED: The JakPak, a Jacket That Converts Into a Tent. As a regular reader of FastCompany.com, you know that we keep sharp about developments in hobotech: From hobo-conventions for techies to rolling hobo shelters.
So it's with great excitement that we bring you the JakPak, a jacket that converts into a tent. Previously, we'd only seen student concepts of this sort of idea. But the JakPak--pardon the egregious, vaguely pornographic name--will be available for $250 this spring. It's loaded with features, suited to three seasons of camping (spring, summer, and fall). The jacket itself is breathable and waterproof--it even has a routing system for iPod cords. Granted, the confined space might take some getting used to, but this is pretty genius for overnight hikes where packing tent poles and the like seems excessive. Give Yourself a Good Pack on the Back™