Tech | Sony Smart Lense

The future moves fast. Just last year people were in an uproar about Google Glass not being wearable enough (and invasive), and now in 2016 Sony, Google and Samsung all have individual patents for smart contact lenses, surpassing the smart glasses all together. 

The new patent describes digitally connected lenses that can take a picture with a blink of an eye, and then send that image to your smart phone or device of choice. The patent also notes that the lenses have the ability to zoom, focus and change the aperture, so the pictures could actually be pretty decent. The contacts are described as having a display, allowing you to view captured images. Having displays on contact lenses is something scientists have supposedly been working on for quite some time. Even if the patents are early and the technology isn't readily available for the next few years, it certainly is interesting to get a glimpse into the future.

Tech | TarDisk

Interested in doubling the storage on your MacBook? It seems lugging around an external hard drive has become all too normal nowadays, especially for anyone who deals with large file sizes. TarDisk Features 256G of flash storage in a simple chip, solving all your storage problems. You can purchase a TarDisk chip here for 399$

Tech | Light Phone

The Light Phone is a credit card-sized cell phone designed to be used as little as possible. It works with your existing phone allowing you to comfortably disconnect without completely losing touch. It is your phone away from phone. The light phone has recently surpassed its Kickstarter goal by almost 200%, I'd like to say congrats to all involved for bringing this great concept into fruition. for more info check out their page here. 

Tech | Touch Interactive Wall

Dalziel and Pow is a london based agency focused in brand and retail design. Check out this incredible display of fusing touch screen technology with animation on a fully interactive wall. 

Tech | Droops CoffeeMaker

Droops is a new coffee maker that has re-imagined the future of instant coffee to be more environmentally sound. Supposedly the amount of garbage produced from the instant coffee industry is enough to circle the world 10.5 times in 1 year, and even the CEO of Keurig is not comfortable with this. Droops concept is inspired by hard shelled candy, the coffee is covered in a flavored shell that melts away during the brewing process, thus reducing the waste. No word yet on where and when this product will be available, but keep an eye out for it. 

Tech | Sunn Light

Sunn is a company that makes smart LED lighting that mimics the behaviors of the sun, helping your body stay in tune with rhythms found in nature. Current models come in both 19" and 24" diameters which can be programmed to your liking. you can get one here for $289. 

Tech | CoeLux

CoeLux is a groundbreaking tech company focused in providing artificial windows and sunlight. We all know that sunshine makes people feel good and that grey skies lead to depression, if you don't have enough windows in your home or workspace your problem is now solved. Check out the Coelux Website here for a video and more info. 

Tech | Moment Lenses

As mobile technology in the last 10 years has encouraged everyone to both be a better photographer as well as to share their work, it only makes sense to improve on the base model phones we have. Moment Lense is a company that produces extra lenses for your iPhone for Just $99 here on Momentlens.co

Tech | Estimote

Estimote is a new form of technology called 'nearables'. They are context aware stickers that you can place on your most used possessions and give you data about them such as 'if they have moved' and send you messages to notify you that 'you just left your bag at a coffee shop'. Estimote technology also contains broader technology such as temperature sensors, and also seems to have focused on helping retail environments better understand whats happening in their stores. you can pick up a starter kit for $99 on Estimote.com 

Tech | Aerospace Windowless Aircraft

a British technology research company is currently developing an aircraft that replaces the windows with OLED touch-screens that display the view from outside through cameras mounted on the plane’s exterior. According to The Center for Process Innovation, windows are one of the greatest sources of unnecessary weight in passenger planes. Another upside is that solid walls are stronger and allow the walls to be built thinner. Maybe sometime in the next 10 years windowless aircrafts will become a reality. 

Tech | Navdy GPS

Navdy GPS is a not so far fetched concept that pilots use to project data on their windshields so they don't have to look away, makes sense right? Aside from helping you navigate, Navdy also pairs with your iphone. So it takes your phone calls, reads and allows you to send text messages, access other apps, etc. You can pre-order one right now on Navdy.com for $299.

Tech | Levitating Bluetooth speaker

Introducing a sleek 3.6" diameter bluetooth speaker that actually levitates. According to Design Milk audio professionals have been debating whether quality is amplified or wasted by the 'coupling' of speakers to frames. Is quality lost by physical transference from speaker to stand to table? or is it improved? Huge kudos to the guys at OM audio for taking a crack at solving this problem and introducing an amazingly designed product into the market. Welcome to the future. 

Technology | Vantablack is the New Black

Vantablack (short for 'Vertically Arrayed Nanotube Arrays') is a new material that absorbs up to 99.965% of color making it the darkest color on earth. First adapters will be in the aerospace and defense industries, but being that it so closely represents the absence of light, one can only imagine the future possibilities.

Tech | Lytro Illum Camera

The future of digital photography is here. The new Lytro Illum camera takes a completely different approach to photography while also streamlining the photo editing process. When using the Lytro camera, one no longer needs to pick where your focal point is as it treats all information within the frame equally. With an incredible amount of resolution, the Lytro allows you to pick your focus afterwards whether it's an object in the extreme foreground or background, controlling the amount of focus with an easy touch screen feature that's as instinctive as many of the iphone features we have all grown so accustom to.

You can purchase the Lytro Illum Camera for around $1,500 here. 

Tech | Blackphone

Blackphone is the first phone to hit the market with a sole focus on privacy. In today's day and age of internet spying, smartphones are extremely vulnerable to hackers. If your line of work requires managing extremely private information or just really appreciate your privacy this is the phone for you. read more about it here. 

Tech | A 3D printed house in NYC

One of the my favorite properties in the west village is a combination of 2 unique things: An amazing building on a street with little foot traffic. Minetta lane is more like a quiet alleyway in between Macdougal St. and a bustling intersection on 6th avenue. Minetta lane has no businesses, and not many homes making it somewhat of a relaxing oasis that often goes unnoticed. Recently architect Adam Kushner purchased 16 Minetta Lane and 10 months later Kushner has decided his new home / passion project will be the first 3D printed home in NYC.

An undetermined amount of years ago a brook supposedly ran thru this property, which has given Kushner the inspiration to incorporate a waterfall and climbing wall into his new design. Although the facade of the building might remain classic in structure, I'm sure anyone who's lucky enough to get a peek inside will be surely impressed.

Tech | IBM Watson Launch

IBM has announced an enormous power move this spring by rounding up 200 of the brightest and most forward thinking professionals to launch the Watson group. Ultimately Watson technology will harness an artificial intelligence technology that will cross reference algorithms while scraping data from the internet and optimizing results for you. Watson is focused on bringing healthcare into the future, as well as finance, business and research.

Located at their new headquarters at 51 Astor place, Watson and IBM are official residents of what's now known as "Silicon Alley", the newest phrase for the increased technology company presence in NYC.

So if I we're searching for a person named "tom smith" that i grew up with, Watson would know which answers to eliminate while google wouldn't? Sounds exciting. Welcome to the future.