In cities and towns prone to earthquakes, building codes require specific tests for any masonry used to construct new buildings. In California, for example, brick walls must meet code specification for facing, bonding and distance between headers. Wall anchors are tested and must adhere to strict coding requirements. With that being said, older buildings in California have yet to be retrofitted – leaving it up to the owners to do so. This process is not only costly but rather complicated depending upon the type of building.
Author: iReviews
Google Pixel Buds
Capable of translating 40 languages courtesy of Google Translate paired with a Pixel/Android-compatible smartphone, the all-new Pixel Buds are breaking down the language barrier whether you’re a frequent world traveler, a multinational businessperson, or an ESL educator. Google set out to make a pair of earbuds more helpful and they have certainly accomplished their mission.
Facebook Introduces the Oculus Go: a $199 Headset for the Masses
Virtual reality hasn’t reached mass markets yet. And price is a big entry barrier responsible for that. The HTC Vive costs $799 and the Cinera VR Headset is $449.Facebook’s Oculus recently announced a milestone in their VR development: a $199 standalone VR headset, called the Oculus Go.
Pedestrian Crosswalks Just Got a Serious Upgrade
Using the principles of Stigmergy (similar to the pheromone trail ants leave behind to attract other ants toward the best food source path), Umbrellium created a responsive road surface that configures itself in real time to ensure optimal pedestrian, vehicle, and cyclist safety.
Honda Unveils Its Self-Balancing Electric Motorcycle
Designed to eliminate the somewhat intimidating learning curve for newbie motorcyclists, Honda combined low center-of-gravity design features with cutting-edge self-balancing technology. The end result: an electric vehicle that is super easy to maneuver and a full host of balancing features while riding at low speeds or at a standstill. In other words, Honda’s Assist-e keeps itself balanced at low speeds without rider input.
Couple Builds Fully Sustainable Garden Home in Sydney
Named Aqua Perma Solar Firma and built by Clinton Cole of CplusC Architectural Workshop, a sustainable design firm, the urban garden project transformed one Australian couple’s property into a garden utopia. CplusC could not have asked for a better project to tackle.
Aston Martin Designs Submersible Electric Submarine
Codenamed Project Neptune, Aston Martin is expanding its luxury line beyond high-performance sports cars and electric vehicles. The innovative automaker is collaborating with Triton Submarine, LLC to launch its first ever submersible vessel. As one would expect from Aston Martin, the three-person 1650/3 LP yellow pre-production model has been upgraded to a super-sleek, silver-bodied, aerodynamic water vessel capable of high speeds across the water’s surface and on land.
Set Up Your Prefab, Flatpacked Kiss House in Three Days
We love the concept of tiny houses, but they can’t be shipped everywhere in the world. Prefabricated homes are a great alternative to constructing a house pillar-by-pillar. The components are manufactured and put together as much as possible before it gets delivered to you. After that, the home is assembled like Legos. Kiss House is a new prefab home on the market that comes in up to four bedrooms and assembles in days.
3D Printed Medication Could Make Taking Multiple Pills a Day Obsolete
3D printing has helped make some of the most disruptive breakthroughs this year possible. A man recently had a 3D printed skull implanted through surgery. A company called Potent Rope is making 3D printed marijuana a reality. It’s now also possible to 3D print in space thanks to startup Made in Space.
BMW Making Wireless Charging Easier Than Refueling
BMW has done what no other car manufacturer has been able to do: engineer a wireless charging station for one of its electric vehicles. Designed for its BMW 5 Series iPerformance EV, the oversized charging pad connects to a 220-volt outlet and is capable of charging the 530e hybrid in 3.5 hours without a cable. This is the true definition of disruptive technology.
