Link Round-Up: Gadgets

Today we’ve got links about gadgets:

• RFID tags are going to change changing the way we consume. Here,
  your
  sushi bill gets calculated by tags glued to the bottom of plates. Nifty.
  (Thanks, Engadget).
• Here in BC, they’re
  using a robot to harvest thousands of trees from the bottom of flooded
  reservoirs.
• This is remarkable
  stuff, and it could actually reduce the suicide rate at Simon Fraser University
  (a concrete
  nightmare, where bleak sci-fi TV shows and movies are often shot). Technically
  speaking, not a gadget, but cool nonetheless.
• E-paper is finally
  here! Sort of. (Thanks, Taint.org).
• It’s the HoverHoover. The HoverVac. The HooverHoverVac-u-matic. Whatever.
  (Thanks, Gizmodo).
• Don’t like the alarm clock? Not down with aromatherapy to wake you up? How
  about pillows and blankets that
  light up? Bye, bye, seasonal affective disorder. (Thanks again, Engadget).
• It’s a Wifi hard drive. Why would I want one of these again? I suppose it’s preferable to the cabled external drive, but is it that preferable?

Bonus link: Another non-gadget, but still cool. People have been talking about
using converting shipping containers as housing for those who have none. It’s
an interesting concept, and here’s an
article and a
how-to. This company offers quik
house, the mansion version, which converts 5 containers into a 2,000 square
foot home.