INTERESTING PRODUCT REVIEW

Multi Master/Cutter/Tool

2012-01-26T08:18:00.000-08:00

This blog post is about something that I know very little about, namely power tools. That said, I have had a lot of work undertaken on my house recently and, as a result, I have decided that I need to invest in some tools of my own. To that effect I have been looking at some multi purpose electric tools, i.e. multi function tools.

The tools in question go under a number of different names depending on the manufacturer. The brand leader is a company called Fein and their product is the Multimaster, but the likes of Bosch (with their Multi cutter) and Matika, Worx and others all have a similar product.

My problem is of course the classic one of trying to determine which is best based on very little practical experience. I know that the professional tools (e.g. in the case of Bosch blue bodies versus green bodies) are superior, but other than that I have nothing but reviews and customer feedback to go on.

All of the multi tools seem to offer the same oscillating technology with similar accessories and all claim to be the best.

What there is of course is a big variation in price between different models. The Fein and top Bosch model come in at a minimum of double the price of their competitors which naturally begs the question are they twice as good. Most of the reviews seem to suggest that the answer is a definite yes.

Then there is the question of which is best between Bosch and Fein. Fein invented and patented the multi tool product and they had exclusivity over it until quite recently. However the Bosch 300 model seems to do everything that the much heavier Fein does and it has a couple of extra little features.

Accessories supplied with these things is the next thing to evaluate. With the top set Fein seem to include more and have a superior case. Both can, with the use of an adaptor, take the accessories from the other manufacturer and several other companies also manufacture compatible accessories. All in all it is a difficult decision to make.

Here are links to Youtube promos for each machine – (Fein) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQ5cq1cHac and
(Bosch) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qghHQ_5Ezk.

If anyone has either of these tools and has a recommendation, please stick it in the comments box.

Finally, I am planning a visit to London soon and have been using this site - http://www.londonweekendbreak.net/londontours.html for my research. It seems to have a lot of info about the places to see etc.

Disability home modifications

2011-12-20T07:03:00.000-08:00

One way of compensating for a disability is to try and overcome any features in the environment that are obstructive or challenging, however the other way is simply to change the environment and make it more disability friendly.

The second solution is something that governments and councils are continually trying to work at in most Western countries, however it is a much easier task when it comes to modifying your own home environment.

The big problem is of course budget and money. What you can spend limits what you can do and what you can do is restricted by the resources at your disposal. Even so there are many modifications, alternations and additions that can be applied to a home to make it more accessible, either to someone who uses a wheelchair, or for someone who finds walking and moving around physically demanding.

One of the big challenges is negotiating levels, be they a couple of steps into a house, or the stairs between floors and there are a number of solutions.

Perhaps the simplest step-overcoming solution is the ramp. Ramps can be temporary or permanent and they are perfect for dealing with small changes in height providing that there is enough incline for the slope of the ramp. For larger height differences there are lifts and more commonly stairlifts. These can be adapted to almost any house and they can be used by anyone whatever their mobility challenge.

Another good home modification is the application of different types of rail. Rails can be used in any number of places from bathrooms to hallways and they give someone a strong fixed tubular projection that they can hold on to. Rails can be simple straight tubes, or they can be curved, angled or project outwards beyond an object like a was basin.

Another part of the home environment that can be modified and adapted for someone with mobility challenges is the often forgotten about garden.

Gardens are a great source of pleasure for many people, but those in wheelchair, or those who struggle to bend down, often feel (wrongly) that this is a hobby that they cannot partake in anymore. This is an incorrect assumption and there are many ways in which a garden can be made disability friendly.

One easy option is to use planters and garden pots that bring the level of the garden up to the arm level of the hobbyist. Many standard pots satisfy this requirement, so there is not need to make special purchases or have bespoke planters made.
More ideas and information covering adaptations and modification for the home can be found here http://www.healthandmobilitystore.com/modifications.html. Examples includes things like adding a downstairs half bathroom and replacing standard switches with more tactile alternatives.

Bed innovations

2011-12-01T07:01:00.000-08:00

I have written about bed and mattress products before, however it is interesting, when looking at so many other product types, how little these particular ones have changed.

The last few decades have seen massive advances in so many industries with technological advances that would hardly have seemed possible just a few years earlier. Computers and wireless technologies are the obvious ones, but less obvious examples are how a domestic house is electrically wired or plumbed up. New flexible materials are used, fuse boxes are now “consumer units” and so it all changes.

What then of beds???

Well advanced foams in the form of visco elastic and a derivation of latex have changed the way that “some” mattresses are made, but there is not too much else to talk about.

Electric adjustable beds have certainly dropped in price, but there is no new radical design. Beds still look the same and work the same. They have a mattress and a frame.

If you look at beds made of springs, they may have stronger thinner wires, but the technology remains the same. In other words the changes are in the production techniques and refining the assembly rather than in radically new designs. An example being Talalay latex instead of Dunlop latex.
In other words, when it comes to innovations, most are aesthetic. Beds with unusually shaped frames, or beds that pop out of walls may look different, but the main part – the mattress - is pretty much standard. No one has yet come up with a bed that is pre-shaped to the curves of the spine (for back sleepers), or the curve between the hips and shoulders (for side sleepers).

If you look at orthopedic chairs, some researchers have started to develop chairs that have sensors that read the pressure point along the spine of the chair and adjust the chair’s curvature to the shape of the person sat on it. Other have multiple adjustments that make it possible to manually set the posture of the chair to the seated posture of any given individual. The same is not yet true of the bed.

So where does the future of the bed and mattress lie?

We have no shortage of mattress materials and constructions, but little in the way of radical new designs. Performing searches on the internet comes up with nothing. None of the major manufacturers (http://www.orthopedicmattress.net/NBF.html) seem to have anything new in the pipeline, so perhaps we need someone to take a very different view of the bed and to re-design it from scratch.

Different bed and mattress solutions

2011-11-18T08:47:00.000-08:00

These days TV adverts, magazines and the internet are packed full of different offers on beds of every conceivable type, style and design.

Beds are sold in general furniture stores and departments stores, and also in bed superstores and through an ever increasing number of online stores. Many manufacturers now sell beds and mattresses direct via the internet and the number of sellers is more than equalled by the variety of bed types on display.

Which is the best type of bed is always open to debate and with options that include different types of bed frame and different types of mattress. Ultimately the choice is almost mind boggling.

When it comes to the bed frame or bed base, the main choices are between the divan base and the bed frame.

The frame has an open framed structure whilst the divan offers a boxed bed support where, more often than not, drawers provide a place to store bedding, duvets and quilts under the bed. The divan can have 2 or 4 drawers if it is in a double or king size format.

The bed frame has no storage, but it comes with attractive aesthetics that make it a visual focal point. Frames are made from wood or metal and sometimes fabrics can be used on head and foot boards.

Mattresses can come in a vast range of models. There are springs and a number of derivations of foam that range from manmade materials to natural processed latex, and then there are combinations of two or more of these components.

Most people who buy a divan buy the base and mattress together whilst those who buy a frame tend to buy the mattress separately.

Big sellers in the mattress showroom are the visco elastic memory foam mattress and the pocket spring mattress, often with a memory foam layer at the top. Budget mattresses are often made from lower quality foams or continuous wire coils and the quality is not as high.

Fitting a swimming pool liner

2011-10-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

I may have touched upon this subject before as I have an interest in swimming pool components and performance and the lining used to cover the surface of a pool is an important element.

There are a couple of pool liner options and they are:

Ceramic tiles bonded to the structural walls and floor of the pool with a marine adhesive and a waterproof grout sealant.

Vinyl swimming pool liner.

The first of the two linings is the traditional hard wearing one composed of fired clay tiles that come in a huge range of patterns and sizes. Many companies make them and just as many will fit them. Installation costs are high and very labour intensive and there can be quite a bit of mess, mud and general mayhem produced around (and in) the pool during the work.

The result though is a tough, attractive and very hardwearing pool surface that can last for a heck of a long time. It also looks good and is resistant to almost any chemical and bacteria.

The second way to cover the walls and floor of a swimming pool is to use a vinyl based liner. In many cases these liners replicate the appearance of tiles and they come in a near unlimited variety of patterns. You can even have a unique design created for you and the cost is a fraction of that required to buy a tiled installation. Add to this the ability to have a liner made to order that can be fitted in one day and you start to see the advantages of vinyl in swimming pool applications.

Vinyl is not only cheap and easy to fit, it is also very durable. Most suppliers actually include a 5 or 10 year warranty and this is an indication of how tough and long lasting this material is.

A final and unique advantage of vinyl over tiles is its soft and slightly padded tactile feel. Tiles are hard, they have edged and hard surfaces and you can bang or knock yourself against them. Vinyl liners are much softer to the feel and they have a smooth surface that means that you are less likely to hurt yourself when swimming.

So when it comes to fitting the liner you have two choices. A prolonged, expensive and messy one, or a cheap and fast one. Which you choose will probably be down to a mix of available cash and a preference for tiles or vinyl, however both will provide a hard wearing and eye pleasing solution.

To get more information about different liner types, fitting a vinyl liner, or other pool plant (equipment) you can see any of the articles on this page
http://www.swimming-pool-liners.net/pool-articles.html. Some info about items like heaters, filtration systems and pumps is also included, so you can get a good overview of what is required to enjoy and maintain an indoor or outdoor home swimming pool.

Radiator designs and styles

2011-09-29T04:01:00.001-07:00

Even now that a world recession has taken hold of international economies, people are still decorating and remodelling their homes. The reality is that with money being short, one way to cheaply improve your living quality is to develop your home. So, if you cannot afford to move, then why not improve.

One area where this remodelling takes place more than just about any other is in the bathroom. Bathroom fashions change, suite and tiles colours go in and out of fashion and home owners always know that kitchens and bathroom sell houses and have the “wow” effect. For this reason the bathroom is normally the first room to get any new treatment.

Replacing a bathroom suite and changing the wall tiles is one way of getting a new look, but the radiator replacement is another big way of improving and modernising any room.

In the case of the bathroom, radiator design offers a lot of choice and variety, see http://www.designerradiator.net. The development of modern stylish radiators pretty much started off with the bathroom heated towel rail and now there are many versions. The basic, but still very attractive ones, are based on two vertical tubes with a series of horizontal cross members that one or more towels can be hung over. Their functionality therefore double as room heaters and towel driers and their smart tubular appearance makes them nice to look at.

In addition to the standard towel rail design, these radiators now come al narrow tall tower radiators, or with convex curves to their horizontal tubes – all adding an extra visual feature.

Colours vary, but most people go for a shiny chrome, a brushed steel, or a pure white colour. In nearly all cases these finishes will be in keeping with a bathrooms décor.

Away from the bathroom. radiators can add style and aesthetics to any room - that is if you can afford to pay out for one of the anthracite flat panelled radiators, or one of the complex tube and panel varieties. Ultimately there are masses of different designs and many are intended to be a feature of the room and in some cases their prices represent a very significant investment.

Most of these radiators will work off a normal central heating system, but some use electricity. Either way, connecting them is rarely a problem and once in place they are highly efficient at heating a room.

Radiator designs and styles

2011-09-29T04:01:00.000-07:00

Osteopathy

2011-08-17T03:59:00.000-07:00

Decorating and reworking things at home have prevented me from having the opportunity to make a new post for a few weeks and, with even more work to do, things will continue like this for a while.

This does however lead to a brief comment on, not an interesting product, but rather an interesting service or treatment – namely osteopathy.

I went to see an osteopath last week after having a few back problems. The problems actually started over 10 years ago following an accident and I put up with them getting progressively worse for several years.

When things became really bad I asked my doctor to refer me and I had tests, X-rays etc, all of which indicate that there was no major skeletal problem. Evaluations and courses of physiotherapy followed, all of which offered no relief.

I then tried a chiropractor (I had seen him several years earlier over a different back problem) and the treatments continued for almost a year. In the end I brought things to a close, largely because I got some temporary relief from the discomfort for a few days following each treatment, but the underlying problem still returned.

In January last year I finally saw an osteopath, a friend and colleague of my sister who had told her on several occasions that – “if my problem could be solved, he was the man to do it”.

I had three appointments with him and, by a couple of weeks after the final one, my back was not quite as good as new, but pretty close.

About 18 months of trouble free living have followed that, however I was aware that my back was tightening up a little over recent weeks, so I saw my osteopath again last week and I hope that (after possibly another appointment) my back issues will be pushed aside again.

Anyway, here is a link to some general information about osteopathy http://www.healthandmobilitystore.com/Osteopathy.html and here is another link to the osteopath in question (Nathan Reynolds)– or at least his page at the clinic from which he practices http://www.orchardleeds.co.uk/?page_id=123.

Swimming pool heater

2011-06-09T07:26:00.001-07:00

Sticking with the theme of “cool summer” solutions, those who are fortunate enough to have their own swimming pool will require some kind of heating for the water.

Even on a warm sunny day an unheated pool can feel cool and on days where the air temperature is not so high outdoor swimming pools can feel positively cold.

The way to resolve this issue and to make a pool usable all year round is to use a heater. These special heaters come in many different forms. Some are intended for small to medium sized pools only, whilst others are for larger water expanses.

Some will use free or cheap energy like solar power or heat exchangers whilst others rely on burning a fuel like gas or propane.

What all of these different pool heaters manage to achieve is to raise the temperature of the water in the pool by a sufficient margin that bathing and swimming become pleasurable.

The types of heater that are used on a small above ground pool are cheaper and less powerful than those used on fully submerged pools and they are often portable and this means that they can be removed and packed away when not in use.

The heaters for in situ pools are permanent and often have a small hut or underground area in which they and the pump (and sometimes the filter) operate. These heaters can be costly depending on whether their use is for 365 days a year, or simply to give a temperature boost during the summer months.

The types of swimming pool heaters that are available include boilers, condenser boilers, heat exchangers, electric heaters and solar mats that convert solar energy into warm water. The pros and cons of each option can be found at http://www.pool-heaters.net.

In buying a pool heater it is not only the initial outlay that needs to be considered, but also the ongoing gas, oil or electricity costs necessary for running the heater. With solar power these costs do not exist and with a boiler they can be very high.

A heater does of course require a pump and a filtration system in order to keep the water clean and circulating and these items make up the rest of the swimming pool’s permanent kit.

Patio heater – a cool summer solution

2011-05-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

If you have a garden or back yard now is the time to think about buying a patio heater.

One of the reasons why so many of us do not take full advantage of our garden and use it as often as we should is because it could do with a boost of heat.

Even in the summer, a breeze or the cooler evenings mean that many of us will retire to the warmth of the house even when it is dry and sunny outside. This means that we lose the opportunity to eat alfresco, socialise in the open air and enjoy an outdoor lifestyle.

The solution to gaining greater use of a garden is therefore to fend off any cool evenings and chilly breezes by adding a patio heater and, when it comes to patio heaters, there are plenty to choose from. For a full selection visit a site like this one - http://www.gardenheaters.net, or read on for a general idea of what is available.

One of the most common patio style heaters is the tower heater. This type of unit uses a gas bottle and has an open flame that burns some 2 metres (6 feet) above the ground. The flame and resulting heat are distributed via a conical head or cap and the strength or intensity of the heat can be controlled. These tower heaters are often quite cheap to buy an the propane or butane that they use can be replenished by having the bottle refilled. This type of heater offers a very immediate heat and it is stylish.

Another popular style of patio heater is the chiminea. These heaters are based on a design of South American bread oven and they are made of terra cotta or cast iron. Chimineas burn wood and this means that they have a nice woody scent. You can even influence the scent by adding certain types of wood like pear wood, or by the addition of herbs.

The chiminea needs fairly constant feeding and monitoring, but it looks good and the clay or cast iron body and chimney radiate and convect heat effectively.

The other type of patio heater is the infrared heater often called an infrared lamp. These heaters rely solely on radiation and they warm anything that their rays fall upon. This type of heater is probably the cheapest to run, but it depends upon sight lines and cannot distribute its heat by any means other than its rays.

Which heater is the best is a matter of personal choice and specific location. The tower heaters are perhaps the most popular with householders as they look good and attract attention, but the chimineas are increasing in durability and popularity.

Efficient heating systems

2011-04-12T06:16:00.000-07:00

Saving energy and keeping a home warm are paramount to most property owners. Heating costs keep rising, climate change keeps resulting in greater summer-winter temperature differentials and that all equals higher energy bills and more expense.

The good news is that there are a number of actions that can be taken to try to fend off these costs whilst not losing out on essential warmth and here are some of them.

To start with, lagging any pipes makes sense. Firstly, it keeps the heat in hot water pipes and secondly it will prevent bursts resulting from freezing. Using insulation in loft spaces and even fixing polystyrene tiles against cold outside facing walls will make a big difference. Double or triple glazing will also conserve heat and prevent condensation whilst reducing outdoor noise transmission.

Whilst it may not initially make sense, adding some extra radiators can actually save money if your boiler is under utilized. That is, if it is not being used to its full capacity. This reference http://www.designerradiator.net/extra-radiators.html will explain why.

Keeping close watch on the thermostat and adjusting it if the house feels too warm will always save money. Make sure that you do not have your heating set to come on too early or go off too late. If you do you are simply wasting energy and, more importantly, money.

Is your boiler running effectively and efficiently? When was it last serviced or maintained? Having a boiler serviced can improve performance or make you aware that you are losing money. Replacing an older boiler with a new “smart” one will often see savings that can pay for themselves fairly quickly. Check to see if this is an option worth considering.

Check if your radiators need bleeding, i.e. is the top section cold when the rest of the radiator is hot? If so, you have air in the system and you need to remove or bleed the air out by opening the radiator outlet on one of the upstairs radiators. Ideally it should be the last radiator to be fed from the boiler, but any top level radiator will do. You should have a special radiator key for this. If you do not, they are available from all DIY stores and plumbing retailers.

Finally, make sure that the back of your radiators (where the ribs or fins are) are not clogged up with dust or other rubbish. These fins are used to create convection currents that pull cold air up and across the radiator from where it then heats the room. If they are blocked your radiators cannot function correctly.

Beds - what to spend your money on

2011-03-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

I was looking at the prices of some of the more expensive orthopedic beds recently and contrasting them with what you could buy in terms of some other bed types.

It proved an interesting exercise since many of the more expensive beds with very high pocket spring counts, high density memory foam, or composite constructions have price tags of £2,000 ($3,500) or more for a standard double.

In real terms this is a heck of a lot of money and, despite paying this kind of figure for our current bed, it is worthwhile looking at some of the other options that are available.

The first thing that struck me is that you can buy a good quality water bed for this kind of money – and one that is baffled and offers no “wave effect”. Water beds offer the best possible support and their support structure, i.e. the water itself, does not deteriorate of wear over time. They look stylish, most have soft edges and they do not leak, neither are they particularly prone to punctures. (They also hold less water than most people think.)

The other big alternative is an electrically adjustable bed.

These beds can be purchased in a double-bed format, but with individual mattress and positioning adjustments for both sleepers and for the same kind of money. When you look at the technology and engineering that go into one of these beds you really have to ask the question-

Which is the better value, a high priced orthopedic style bed and mattress, or a fully automated remote control bed?

Given this same choice now I would opt for the latter. The problem however is that a modern memory foam beds is perceived as a luxury item whilst an electrically adjustable bed is considered as being an aid for someone who is mobility challenged or in the later years of their life.

The water bed is of course very heavy and, despite the irrationality of it, many people associate a water bed with a leak and a leak with costly repair work. All very unlikely, but these things play with the mind.

Anyway, foresight is a great thing, but I would certainly like to turn back time and go for a remote control bed. To start off it would be a partner to our remote control i-robot roomba vacuum and secondly I suspect that, with the infinite number of sleeping positions, I would get a better night’s sleep.

To read more about different bed types see this http://www.orthopedicmattress.net/articles.html page which has some references to mattress selection etc. The rest of the site is a guide to various bed and mattress types including water beds and remotely adjustable beds.

Swimming pool care and equipment

2011-03-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

If you own or are thinking of installing an outdoor swimming pool, you have a number of additional items that need to be added to the equipment list. At least if you want a clean warm pool that you can use throughout the year – whatever the weather.

Outdoor swimming pools can be great fun, but they can also be cold and unappealing for much of the year in cold climates. For this reason a pool heater is an important necessity as it can bring the temperature of the water up to pleasant bathing levels. This means that you can swim out of season or in the evenings, even if it is cold outside. Heat sources include solar power, heat exchangers, boilers and electric heaters.

To benefit from the heat generated by a heater the warm water needs to circulate around the pool and this requires a pump. A pool pump quite literally pumps the water from the heater into the pool and back again. This way the water is circulated form pool to heater with more top up heat on a continual basis.

If you want clean water, then you also need a filter. The filter removes impurities and dirt and this is done as the water is passed through the filter, courtesy of the pump. There are a number of different filtration methods, the main ones being sand, D.E. and cartridge. A cartridge is suitable for a small pool, but larger swimming pools need sand or D.E. filter systems.

Another consideration is the way in which the pool walls and floor are lined. The old way is to cover the entire internal area of the pool with tiles sealed with a special water resistant grout. However, the popular method for most home based pools is to use a vinyl swimming pool liner that is made to the exact measurements of the pool. These liners can be fitted quickly and they are much cheaper than the old tile method.

There are two types of liner. One hangs over the top of free-standing pools whilst the other has a much tidier finish and uses a liner with a beaded top the slots into a special track. More on these can be found at http://www.swimming-pool-liners.net/pool-articles.html.

Other pool equipment includes cleaners. These can be manual vacuum pumps, brushes and nets. But there are also automated pool cleaners that do the cleaning job without any help from a human. These cleaners are called pool cleaning robots.

Chemicals are need to keep the pool water clean, healthy and sparkling and they need to be added very carefully based upon water quality testing. These chemicals are evenly distributed throughout the pool by the action of the pump.

Household disability aids

2011-03-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

Author: Martin lambert

Although there are many very obvious health and mobility aids like scooters, bath lifts and ramps, some of the most useful aids are the ones that are used for vital tasks like eating, drinking and getting dressed. Having aids and devices that assist with these jobs can be the difference between independent living and dependency on a carer.

Naturally continued independence is a highly desirable attribute for people entering the later phases of their lives and it is equally important to anyone with an injury or an illness like MS where certain tasks become more difficult as an illness progresses.

So what is on offer when it comes to help with routine daily tasks?

The answer is quite a lot. There are a great many aids aimed at extending independent eating, drinking and food preparation and many clever devices for making the challenge of getting dressed easier.

Starting with eating, there are ergonomically designed items of cutlery that have larger than normal handles and some have handle extensions that curve around the wrist for additional support. For those who want to retain their original cutlery there are attachments that slide over normal handles or even allow a hand that has lost its gripping power to still hold and work a knife, fork or spoon.

Various devices exist that make food and drink preparation easier. These aids cover bigger handles, angled handles and attachments, all of which keep the kitchen a room that can still be functionally used.

Dressing is another area where several ingenious devices have been invented to make the putting on of clothing items like socks and stocking possible for those who have trouble bending. Further aids can help the pulling on and over of jackets and cardigans and the pulling up of pants and trousers. Even buttoning up a shirt can be assisted with some smart devices that save the need for third party intervention.

Another area that can prove difficult for everyone is the removing of bottle and can tops. Designers of these products often assume super-human strength in there customers and these irritating tops and lids are a pain for able bodied and physically challenged people.

The solution is a number of lid, top and cap openers and removers. Some that use a twist mechanism, some that cut and turn and others that use their own version of brute force.

What all of these devices manage to do is solve an access to container held food or drink by taking off the protective covering in a safe and simple way.

If you want a greater level of insight into some of the aids and devices briefly describe above, a more detailed summation can be found at http://www.healthandmobilitystore.com/dining-kitchen-aids.html where more of these aids are depicted by category and need.

Energy efficient radiator design

2011-02-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

With energy costs continually increasing and indeed energy’s future availability becoming more and more uncertain, now is the time to look at different ways of heating a home.

The most popular method of heating a home in the temperate western world has been to use a central heating system. These systems are normally powered by a boiler that can burn gas, oil or coal, however these solid fossil fuels are becoming increasingly expensive. This means that energy efficiency, and lower energy bills, require some creative thinking when it comes to getting the most from the least resources.

One option is to look at different ways of generating heat. Solar panels are an obvious example and small garden wind turbines are another. However, what both of these options lack is reliability of the raw energy source.

Put simply if the sun does not shine, or the wind does not blow, you have no power source!

The other option is to find a more effective way of using what you already have. One solution is to increase the home’s insulation and install features like double glazing, but many properties already have this.

When these options are exhausted you do still have another alternative available in the form of radiators.

Most homes have the properties original radiators (which may date back decades), or the cheap budget radiators that the developer or builder installed. However there are now many ways of improving on radiator performance.

The first is to fit temperature control valves onto all existing radiators. This allows each radiator to be controlled separately and even switched off independently of the main system.

The other alternative is to look at replacing the existing units with some of the new hi-tec radiators that are now available. Some of these radiators will work with a conventional central heating system whilst others use electricity. But what they all share is an improved ability when it comes to radiating, convecting and dispersing heat around a room.

These designer like radiators also have attractive styling and many will have either – a tubular design (often in stainless steel), or a flat panel appearance with many colour and matt or gloss finishes. Some of these radiators also come with a glass or mirror finish and at the top end of the price scale art work and graphics make the radiators look more like decorative effects than home heating units.

More information about these can be found at the site http://www.designerradiator.net, or by visiting a local bathroom store or DIY retail centre. Most high performance radiator manufacturers will be able to supply performance data to illustrate the benefits of their efficient radiator range. This kind of information can indicate the possible cost and energy savings that can be anticipated by replacing existing radiator-units with new ones high performance low energy usage alternatives.

Different mattress topper fillings

2011-01-10T03:07:00.000-08:00

A mattress topper is an addition to a mattress. It consists of what appears to be something similar to a thick (often quilted) blanket that rests directly atop the bed’s mattress. Mattress toppers are used to supplement the sleeping qualities of a mattress, usually by adding a further tier of cushioning or padding. In most cases this is to make a bed feel softer, but it is possible to use a topper to make a mattress feel firmer.

Modern mattress toppers come with many different and variable fillings. These fillings vary, both in their price and the properties that they confer upon the sleeping surface.

Originally nearly all toppers would be filled with feathers and down, usually sourced from ducks or geese. Organic wool is another naturally sourced topper filler and, although it has a unique and unusual feel, it is popular with many people.

One of the more recent developments in mattress and consequently topper construction is the use of some new synthetic and semi-synthetic filling materials. The most prominent of which is visco elastic memory foam. (Details of all topper types can be seen here http://www.foammattresstopper.org/topper.html.)

The memory foam fillers are very different to the traditional organic fillers in that they compress and shape themselves around the body in a very unique manner. They also offer what is often described as “a slow recovery” reaction when the weight of a person is removed from them. This unusual action does not see the foam spring back into its original shape like a normal foam, but rather return to its original outline, almost in slow motion.

One of the important advantages of this special foam is the way in which it shapes and cradles itself around the distinctive shape of anyone resting upon it. This body-moulding behaviour is said to help keep the back and spine in a good straight alignment during the night which produces better and more restful sleep.

Memory foam mattresses use large sections or sheets of memory foam, whilst mattress toppers can use either thin sheets or a granulated or shredded version of the material. It is generally believed that a least two and a half (and ideally three) inches of memory foam are required for a good topper.

Memory foam is not the only alternative to the organic fillers. Other options include regular foam and latex foam. Latex foam can come in sheet or shredded composition and has a similar feel to its visco elastic counterpart. The big, or at least the most noticeable difference is in the way in which the foam recovers after the weight has been removed from it. Latex has an instant springiness and this gives it a very different feel to memory foam. It is also said to feel cooler than memory foam and the other organic fillers.

As with visoc elastic foam, latex foam toppers should have a good two and a half inches in depth. Both of these foams are none washable, however they usually come with a removable cover that can be machine washed for convenience. These foams do not harbour smells or germs, so they are ideal for those who suffer from allergies, i.e. they are hypoallergenic.

Strollers and walking frames

2010-12-24T06:37:00.000-08:00

A stroller or rollator is a mobility aid that assists walking. It can be used by someone who has permanent difficulty walking or balancing when standing, or by someone during recuperation from an injury or operation.

A stroller is a walking frame and it may be referred to as a zimmer frame – a reference the inventor of this aid.

There are many variations on the rollater theme that see four legged strollers with two or four wheels and even three legged strollers with wheels on each leg. Some strollers, designed for rougher ground, will even have pairs of wheels on each leg.

The different kinds of stroller can, and are designed to be, used in different ways. The basic four leg version that has two wheels and has its non-wheel legs raised above the ground when a step is taken. After this, the non slip feet of these legs make contact with the ground as the person prepares to take another step. During this time the stroller is stable and cannot move or roll.

Strollers that have wheels on all of their legs will also have a braking system that normally uses a handlebar layout similar to a bike. When the person wishes to move forward they release the brakes an push the stroller forward. When they wish to stop they apply the brakes.

The three wheeler strollers are thought by some to be more manoeuvrable. This is because the front (single) wheel will normally change direction to suit the course in which it is being pushed. This makes it a more directional stroller, but it also requires that the user has greater balance, strength and mobility than is required for a typical four leg two wheel walking frame.

These rollators or strollers can include baskets for carrying things and many have a padded shelf section that becomes a seat.

There are many varying types of rollator/stroller/walking frame and each will suit someone with slightly differing needs. Further information can be found at sites like http://www.healthandmobilitystore.com/walking-frames.html and others.

Eye test equipment

2010-10-26T08:12:00.001-07:00

This entry is not a review, but rather a product interaction experience that I have just encountered at the optician.

I was due for both a contact lens check-up and a full eye test and had arranged to have both today (at SpecSavers – they are the optician that I have used for a bout 3 years).

The thing that made this visit of note was the massive technological change in eye testing that seems to have happened between today and my last visit about two years ago.

In the past I have had the various tests from glaucoma to visual acuity and the whole process took a good 30 to 45 minutes. The greater part of this seemed to involve placing a very thick and ugly glasses’ frame on me and then alternating different lenses to see if my eye sight was helped or hindered at each change.

Today things were different. Instead of the odd looking frame and numerous lens changes, a strange double disk machine descended from the ceiling with too small apertures in it. The two large plastic disks were then pulled closer together so that the apertures (one at the inside edge of each disk) lined up with my eyes and “hey presto”, after a second of furious clicking sounds, I was seeing perfectly.

It would seem that these disks contained all of the various lens options that would normally be changed manually and that, either automatically or by entering my details, the optician was able to select my correct prescription in a second.

The process was very impressive as were a couple of other tests where, after looking through a view finder, the equipment automatically focused itself to give me a view of a balloon above a road! I am sure that this must mean something, but I did not dare to ask.

As ever there was the glaucoma test, in which puff of air are blown directly into the eyes, and these were as unpleasant as ever.

To sum the experience up, both the eye test and separate contact lens test, along with a good 6 or 7 minutes waiting/talking time were completed in 45 minutes. Very impressive.

Healthy chairs

2010-10-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

There are a number of different types, designs, styles and formats of chair which have functionality at the fore. These chairs “can” look stylish, however this is not their main objective.

A number of chair types have been developed for people, and there are a great many, who find it problematic to sit down and stand up due to loss of joint mobility and muscular strength. When this is the case a seat that is higher than average (aided by high firm arms) can make it easy to lift and lower oneself into and out of a seat.

Equally, seats that can use remote control motorized systems to elevated and even tilt the seat can be of great use. These chairs, often called riser chairs or tilt and lift seats, make the knee and hip bending part of sitting down almost redundant. They are ideal for older people.

Other types of chair can be more specialized. As an example, the evacuation chair is used to get a disabled person out of a building where the building has become unsafe. This could be due to fire, explosion or some other disaster that makes normal escape means and routes unfeasible. These chairs have a construction that makes it possible for one helper to transport a passenger up or down stairs in relative safety.

Healthy chairs for the office environment are called task chairs. This term refers to their application which will normally revolve around some kind of constant or repeating task (see this http://www.healthandmobilitystore.com/health-chairs.html for further ideas). This may be as simple a working at a single computer, or it may necessitate working simultaneously at multiple workstations and having a task chair that accommodates the operatives changes in position and posture.

Chairs are not only for work, maintaining a healthy posture, or making themselves more accessible. Relaxation chairs are another seating option and the most popular form is the massage or heat and massage chair. This type of chair can provide relaxation at the end of a busy day and the gentle manipulative action of the massage facility can help tired or aching muscles recover more quickly and feel healthy and invigorated.

One final type of seat, or in some cases bench, is the therapy chair. This can be used by any number of health therapists and it allows the patient to comfortably “present” in a posture that gives access to the part of the body that the therapist intends to work on. These chairs can be large motorised aids or much smaller portable seats that have easy transportation requirements.

Efficient radiator performance

2010-10-13T03:55:00.000-07:00

Energy costs are permanently increasing, be they for electricity, gas, coal or oil, so there is no cheap way to keep a house warm in cool weather. Given this fact, the best option available to bill payers it to get the most out of the energy that they do use and there are a number of ways of doing this.

The first is to look around for the cheapest tariffs, the most economic providers and any offers that may be available. Paying monthly by direct debit or standing order can often save costs, as can getting different types of energy (e.g. gas and electricity) from the same supplier. This can result in a bulk or multi fuel saving.

The other way to cut bills is to make the most of the energy that you do use, or to reduce that usage.

One way of doing this is to maximise the insulation that you have on all hot water pipes. Adding extra insulation prevents heat loss and gets the heat to the radiators where you want it to be.

How you treat your radiators can also impact upon energy cost and usage. As an example, radiator covers look nice, but they have a negative effect on how efficiently convection radiators distribute their emitted heat throughout a room. These covers look nice, but they prevent the free flow and movement of air which is not ideal. An easy solution can simply be to remove any covers on cold days, or try to find covers with the maximum amount of perforations in them.

Having independent thermostatic valves for each radiator makes it possible to control the temperature of any given room independently rather than having a general setting for an entire house. These valves are not too costly and they mean that you can turn the heat up, down of completely off in any area of the house. The cost of these thermostatic valves is normally returned in energy savings in 2 or 3 years.

For more tips on energy savings and ways to improve the performance of your radiators take a look at http://www.designerradiator.net/radiator-efficienecy.html where further suggestions are included.

The other area to evaluate is the boiler or heat source that burns or circulates the heat. There are now many different types of boiler, e.g. condenser, combi etc and all have different advantages and disadvantages depending upon their intended usage and situation.

Replacing a swimming pool

2010-09-28T04:15:00.000-07:00

For those fortunate enough to have a swimming pool, one of the long term problems with up-keep and maintenance is the internal pool surface commonly referred to as a liner. This is the most susceptible part of a pool when it comes to wear damage and aging and once upon a time it resulted in high replacements costs or the requirement for a new pool installation.

Times have changed though and now it is possible to replace the internal pool's lining surface with a modern hard wearing vinyl liner that not only looks good, but performs well.

These pool liners are suitable for above and below ground swimming pools and they come in a massive range of patterns and colours that exceed even the options available with tiles.

The big advantage however is one of cost, or rather cost savings. Replacing a structural tile and mortar lining is a highly labour intensive and material demanding project that runs into many thousands of dollars or pounds. It is messy, turns the pool area into a building site and keeps the pool out of operation for many days and often several weeks.

The vinyl liner is quite the reverse. These pool liners come designed to fit and after some comparatively simple preparation work they can be fitted and the pool refilled and ready for use within a single day.

These liners are cheap, with labour time and cost kept to a minimum and replacing an existing liner with a new one can be a lifetime option for any well maintained pool.

Vinyl liners come in two version, one suited for the above ground pools where the liner is overlapped and the other suitable for both above and below ground pools where there is a beaded top to the liner that tucks into a smart pool header.

Cleaning pool liners is also a simple process, see http://www.swimming-pool-liners.net/liner-cleaning.html, as these liners have a smooth surface that does not attract or harbour dirt, residue or other contaminants in the same way as tiles.

Pool liners are available online and from all pool stores and they can be bought off the shelf or made to order to fit all sizes and shapes of swimming pool.

Radiator styles and the future

2010-09-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

Although they remain far from cheap, more and more people are now starting to consider buying some of the more unusual and stylish looking radiators that are becoming available.

So called “Designer radiators” and you can see some examples here: http://www.designerradiator.net/radiatortypes.html, allow you to customise your living spaces with heaters that make "style statements". Put simply, their unusual designs make them an asset rather than a detriment, and this means that they add something to a typical room rather than take something away.

Modern radiators can be powered from a hot water based central heating system, or they can use electricity and work independently. The latter using oil or heating elements to distribute the heat. You can even get some that rely on radiation rather than the traditional convection.

When it comes to designs there is a lot to go at with choices covering everything from Georgian and Victorian styling to ultra modern and minimalist looks that can be used to emphasize the presence of the heating unit.

For many people making a feature of, or at least failing to hide, a prominent radiator might seem unusual. For many years people have used guards and covers to disguise these once unsightly cast iron panels, but now they can be shown off in their full glory.

And it is not only the shapes and designs that have changed. Many radiators come in different colours and finishes. This means that stainless steel or matt black can be selected and some designs include reds, blues, greens and more.

Materials are another area of a radiator-construction that has evolved. Metals are no longer the only material of choice. Hi-tec constructions see polymers and glass used and because many cutting-edge models are electric (and not centrally heated) they can be moved around and simply connect to the mains supply by plug. This means that radiators have become mobile and are no longer constrained to walls or locations under windows.

As for the future, many of the more desirable radiators need to come down in price before they will get a foothold in the mainstream housing market. The designs are interesting and sometimes stunning, but many have a price tag to match and this means that they are limited to applications in show homes or business conference rooms where impressions count. That said, some large DIY and furniture stores are starting to sell affordable yet stylish radiators that may soon be adorning more and more peoples homes.

Home sauna systems

2010-08-26T04:25:00.000-07:00

I may have covered home saunas before, but I doubt it, so here goes.

In essence a home sauna is a smaller version of the kind of sauna found in a health club, a hotel or some sports and recreation centres.

The idea behind a sauna is multi fold. But its main attributes relate to being healthy and relaxing. Here is a bit more detail on both.

The health aspect relates to several positives that come from taking a sauna. The first is detoxification which results from the heat and the opening of the pores to allow any toxins to escape the body as sweat – at least that is it in very simple terms.

The second is increased heart rate and consequently circulation, that results from the body working harder in a hotter environment. This exercises the system and it also helps to flush any rubbish out of the body. This is because all kinds of fluids (besides blood) circulate around and through our bodies. This means that we can get a minor workout just from taking a sauna.

In the case of infrared sauna heaters there are some other benefits that relate to the infrared heat rays. These are of a low intensity and they heat up the skin through a kind of radiation and, at these low levels, this can be good for the skin and the body as a whole.

The relaxation advantages are more obvious. Sitting in a sauna is, for most people, a leisurely and enjoyable way to pass away anything from twenty minutes to a few hours. Indeed in Finland taking a sauna is very much a communal activity that sees families and friends relax as a group. For many other western civilizations this may seem slightly unusual, but this is a part of Finnish culture and is popular throughout the country.

In the home a sauna is normally made from a sauna kit (see http://www.sauna-kits.net/finnish-sauna.html for info on Finnish saunas) and these DIY versions are small, compact and intended to fit in part or all of a domestic room. Sauna kits are frequently incorporated into log cabins, sheds and outbuildings if room is restricted and the modern versions have heaters that are powered by electricity.

These heaters can be based around heating the air (traditional stove style) or heating the skin via radiation (i.e. infrared) which are cheap to run and work instantly. In both cases these kits systems are comparatively cheap and require fairly basic installation skills. You can find out more from the link above, or by doing a search on kits for these saunas.

Magnetic therapies

2010-08-09T04:17:00.000-07:00

Among the many new age therapies that are available are those using magnetism to align the magnetic field of the body with a view to improved health or the treatment of pain and other symptoms.

Most magnetic therapy approaches use beds by adding either/or a mattress, topper or pillow impregnated with lots of tiny magnets that create a magnetic filed around anyone lying on them.

How effective this magnetic therapy approach can be is questionable and there is no real evidence to back up any of the claims that are centred around it. That said there are a lot of magnetic mattress toppers out there, so either the marketing is very good, or a lot of people believe that they can make a difference.

Most mattress products that use magnets have a large number of very small circular magnets embedded in to their padding that make it impossible top discern that the mattress or topper is anything other than a conventional one. These magnets cannot be felt and so they do not interfere with sleep in a direct way.

What they are supposed to do is align the magnetic field of the body and this in turn is supposed to be healthy.

The result can be (or is claimed to be) proactive to good health, capable of alleviating certain types of pain like arthritis and good for blood circulation.

For more details about what these things do and how they work have a look at www.orthopedicbed.net/magnetic-mattress-therapy.html which will tell you more.

Other therapy beds include those that give massages and provide heat therapy. Some can even work like a remote chiropractor!

Hiking shoes

2010-07-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

Hiking shoes or boots differ from regular shoes in two main ways.

One, they are designed with comfort, health and performance in mind and not aesthetics.

Two, they will face challenges in terms of the surfaces that they will walk on and the conditions under which they need to keep the feet protected and dry that regular shoes would (should) not encounter.

This makes a hiking shoe a special animal and one that quite naturally will cost more and look different to a regular shoe. So what should you think about when you wish to buy a hiking shoe?

At the top of the list is comfort and fit. This shoe will need to feel good when you walk on tough uneven ground for long periods. If it is too loose or too tight you will have big problems.

The shoe needs to provide good support, so it needs to have a tough but well made construction. It should feel solid and areas like the heel should be stiff and not flexible. The sole should be strong, firm and have a good tread for grip in all conditions. Info on these shoes can be found at http://www.orthopedic-shoes.net/hiking-shoe-selection.html and many other sources.

Materials are important. Many walker like natural leather for its ability to “work in” and adapt to the shape of the foot. That said, many people now opt for the high performance manmade material that are both waterproof and breathable.

These special fabrics not only repel water, but they manage to allow tiny droplets of seat to evaporate out of the shoe which means that your feet are kept dry from the inside and the outside.

Padding and a seamless interior are two other important things to look for. Projecting seams will be abrasive and irritate and should never be present on a quality walking shoe. Padding in the right places will cushion and support the feet making walking comfortable and easy on the feet. Padding on the inner sole will relive shocks and stress as the shoes hit the ground and this reduces stress on all of the joints in the body from the ankles and knees to the hips and joints of the spine.

Daybeds!

2010-07-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

A daybed is both a novelty and a practical piece of furniture.

How to define a daybed is difficult because in essence it is nothing more than a bed that is placed and used in a daytime room. That however is something of an oversimplification as many companies now make day bed and some are bed manufacturers and others are manufacturers of sofas and couches.

The easiest way to describe the typical daybed is to say that it is a bed, but used as an alternative to a sofa in a living room or family room. This means that you can lay down and relax on a daybed in a way that would be difficult with a sofa.

Some daybeds look very much like a bed, and may even be dressed with pillows and a quilt! Others are more like a rectangular sofa where the depth of the seat has been lengthened quite considerably. The styles can be bedlike, sofa like and equally modern or traditional.

The size of these beds is a further variable. Some are large whilst others are no bigger than a small sofa. What all have in common is that they make something of focal point and one that cause a whole range of reactions from surprise and shock to amusement and acceptance.

Whether daybeds are just a fad or a trend remains to be seen. So far their popularity seems to be on the up, but these unusual ideas can disappear as quickly as they emerge, so only time will tell.

If you want to know more take a peek at http://www.orthopedicbed.net/daybed.html and in the meantime I have included a picture of one of the less flamboyant designs of day bed. Other models and styles can be much more eye catching and are far less likely to blend in with a standard living room.

What type of garage door do you have?

2010-07-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

This may not seem the silly question that at first it appears. At least not after a brief period of deliberation or a look at your own garage opening.

There are many different types of garage door motion and the manner in which these doors open, roll, lift slide and hinge may not necessarily be all that obvious.

So why would you even care?

Well the answer to that is simple. If you start to have a problem with your door and that problem needs parts, a repair, or a complete replacement, you will need to know what it is that you are repairing or maintaining.

Put simply, you cannot repair a roller garage door with components from a side hinged door or vice versa. This then begs the question, “how can I tell what kind of door type and operation I have?”

The answer is usually one that is determined by a mixture of inspection, common sense and recognition. For a detailed explanation of what to look for you can start here, http://www.rollergaragedoor.net/my-garage-door.html, where you will finds tips on recognising sliding, sectional, roller, up and over and hinged doors.

Eliminating some of the candidates can be quite simple, e.g. if you have a door that lifts up you can be sure that it is not a hinged or sliding door. But that still leaves the roller, “up and over” and sectional options!

Picking one of these requires a little bit more observation and the visual acuity to recognise features like arms, drums, springs and the way in which the actual door does or does not bend or flex. Doing this will necessitate taking a closer view of your garage door. This means looking at the mechanical parts that you normally ignore and that hide away to the sides and above the main garage entrance.

If you do this, recognising the type of door that you have is actually quite simple.

Science fact

2010-07-18T11:41:00.001-07:00

I few days a go my wife bought a Netbook off Amazon for around £250.

The reason I mention this is because Gene Roddenbery, the man who conceived the TV and film series Start Trek, clearly envisioned these things three decades ago. I can say this with certainty because one of the original Star Trek films was run on TV last night and Captain Kirk was looking at one.

This really is quite incredible for a film made in the 1980’s when home PC’s were still a thing of the future and laptops, let alone Netbooks, Thinkpads and every other variation of portable computer was still a pipe dream. So incidentally were the stupid names that they all seem to be tagged with!

I makes you wonder just which examples of science fiction, presently viewed as inconceivable, are only a few years away from becoming common household appliances.

Already we have home helps like the irobot roomba and scooba for vacuuming duties. When you then take a look at the number of interactive home based computer games that are constantly invading our leisure pursuits you become aware of just how easily science fiction does become science fact.

The ease with which we accept these new technologies is, for me, the scariest part. No one questions the effects that they may have on social and communicative development, let alone intellectual development.

The other worrying thing is that as these devices become more interactive the intelligence required to make them function becomes ever closer to being a facsimile of human cognisance.

This may initially sound unrealistic, but in order to build a chip that can interact with our intelligence it needs to have a reasoning and level of perception that, in some way, mimics that of our own.

Right now this idea is light years away from what we deem to be an independent intellect. However, science fiction and science fact seem to merge at an ever increasing speed and perhaps films like Terminator and The Matrix contain ideas that we should start worrying about.

Swimming pool maintenance

2010-07-16T10:10:00.001-07:00

With summer now well and truly upon us it is time to makes sure that swimming pools are in good working order.

This means checking on things like heaters and liners and the way that the filtration system is functioning.

Filtration can usually be sorted out by performing the usual checks to determine water quality. If there is a problem then the chemical balance can be adjusted and if the filtration is generating the difficulty now is the time to sort it out. This may mean backwashing, changing filters or replacing the sand depending upon the type of filtration being used. In most cases this is not a major task.

Heaters can be monitored for their effectiveness and efficiency by checking thermostats, heating up time and energy usage. If any of these variables seem to have changed significantly over time the boiler, condenser or heat exchanger etc may require routine maintenance or an overhaul. Pipe work can also be a frequently neglected feature in any heating systems so, in the event of a problem, make sure that flows are as they should be. Power flushes can sort out simple blockages and chemicals can often break down stubborn blocks.

Pool liners deteriorate over time just like anything else, so they need to be checked for their waterproofness and for any damage in the form of tears, abrasions and visible damage. Pool liners may also need periodic cleaning if bacteria starts to build up on their surface. Swimming pool liners also need to be monitored for ultra violet light damage. The refraction of light through water means that with some low quality and older liners this may be a problem.

For info about liners try visiting http://www.swimming-pool-liners.net/buying-a-liner.html for a general buying guide. There will be information about the two main liner types and above and below ground pools and the impact that they have on liner selection.

Radiators with style

2010-07-01T01:44:00.000-07:00

At their best radiators can be very boring uninteresting things to look at, and at their worst they can be down right ugly.

That said there is a new generation (or probably a second generation by now) of stylish designer-like radiators that are gradually making the old and ugly ones extinct.

This new breed of radiator, often called a “designer radiator” has taken the bathroom market by storm and looks set to do the same when it comes to other living spaces in the home and the workplace.

These new radiators are not just assembled to be functional, they are actively designed to look good – a new development for the boring radiator.

Most people will be familiar with the stainless steel towel rail radiators that are ever present in modern bathrooms, but now you can get equally stylish radiators for the other rooms in a house. This means that the days of hiding unsightly radiators behind radiator covers may soon be gone.

So what do these radiators look like?

In some cases it is hard to describe them. They range from modern minimalist smooth faced panels to sculptural shapes and intricate networks of woven pipes. In truth some of the more extreme examples are totally unrecognisable as radiators, indeed they look more like stand-alone sculptural ornaments and this is their aim.

All of this sounds very promising and if you explore the wide variety of different designs the prospect of rapid radiator replacement becomes even more appealing. There is of course one fairly substantial drawback and that is the price.

As ever, beauty comes with a cost and the more extravagant designer radiators can have equally extravagant price tags.

In some cases this may be a case of paying for exclusivity, none the less it is very obvious when you look at some of these radiator “works of art” that the expense of creating them must have been high.

If you want to see some alternatives to the ugly steel and cast iron models that we have become accustomed to, check out http://www.designerradiator.net where there are some interesting examples of what is available.

Look particularly at the “stylish modern” and “ultra modern” sections for the most outlandish examples.

Summer and patio heaters

2010-06-22T04:10:00.000-07:00

As we head into the height of summer, now is the best time to buy and make use of a patio heater.

Patio heaters come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and they can be fuelled by gas or electricity. You can even get a fire pit that burns solid fuels like wood and coal.

Even so, most people opt for one of the tower heaters that run off propane or butane and that can easily be refilled in a gas bottle or larger cylinder. Heaters of this kind tend to have a flat round base with a long and narrow tower section that supports a burner that has a heat reflecting cowl above it. Heaters like this produce instantaneous heat and they are easy to operate and look good at night. (this http://www.gardenheaters.net/garden-heaters.html page will tell you more about gas heaters.)

Smaller table standing versions of these tower heaters are available and they can be less intrusive and easier to store when not in use.

The other main alternative is the infrared electric heater which warms up anything that is infrared light shines on. This kind of heater can be cheap to run, but it provides zero ambient heat and will only increase the temperature of people and objects that fall in the path of its rays.

The fire pit is an interesting option. A proper fire pit is a pit that you excavate and then build a small wall around. It is really nothing more than a fire with a structural wall around it, however you can make fire pits very elaborate and if you pave the area around them and add seating they can be very attractive. Fire pits will work as barbeques, which doubles up their function.

It is possible to get a stand alone fire pit from some outdoor and DIY stores called fire bowls. These fire pits are quite small and are not really fire pits at all. Even so they can provide heat and some warmth to a garden or patio. You can find out about these smaller fire pits/bowls here http://www.gardenheaters.net/fire-bowl.html.

DIY home sauna kits

2010-06-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

Amongst many of the interesting products that you will see in a DIY store will be the home sauna kit. This kind of kit has been around in one form or another for many years, however over the last decade or so their popularity has increased substantially.

These kits come in a couple of different formats. One is delivered in a prefabricated state that requires nothing more than the connecting of preassembled wall panels and a roof, the other version is the more popular and requires much more work.

This second alternative is a collection of frame and panel timbers that require some trimming and then connecting to walls (and each other) in order to make a room based internal sauna.

This kind of sauna kit is sometimes termed a materials or components kit and whilst it includes every item necessary to build a home sauna, it does require extensive self assembly and some ability (and confidence) when it comes to DIY, using a drill, crew driver etc.

Features of material and prefabricated saunas can be found at http://www.sauna-kits.net/kit.html along with information about sauna stoves. These stoves come in two main formats, one which uses burnable fuels and the other that uses infrared heat.

The stoves tend to be gas, although log and coal burners are available and the infrared heaters actually warm the skin with their rays and do not heat up the sauna room or cause any humidity.

When it comes to deciding which kind of sauna kit is best for you the decision will be determined by budget, sauna size and available space (in the home). Most small one or two person home sauna kits tend to be material based kits and the use the “cheap” to run fast working infrared heaters.

Another interesting product idea will appear here over the next few days.

Spa pools

2010-06-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

A spa pool is a small indoor or outdoor pool that, rather than being used for swimming, is used for some kind of therapeutic or relaxation treatment.

These pools can be found at health Spas, in hotels and even in sports centres and an increasing number of people are incorporating one into their home or garden. This is mainly because the cost of home spa pools has reduced so dramatically over recent years.

What they do?

The basic concept of any spa pool is that it uses some kind of hydrotherapy (water treatment) to ease, relax or massage the body. In many cases this can take the form of what is commonly called a Jacuzzi where jets of air or water massage and stimulate the skin of the submerged individual.

These jets produce a pleasing sensation on the skin, but they also help improve circulation, induced relaxation in muscles and they can assist in the relief of many different aches and pains. For this reason many hospitals use water therapy treatments for certain recuperating patients where this kind of therapy has a track record of positive results.

Home spas

Most spas of this kind have various settings for the strength of the water/air jets and also the temperature of the water. They will normally be ready to use within minutes of turning them on and most versions will accommodate anything from 2 to 8 people. Because there are thermostatic temperature settings, these spas are ideal in cold or winter weather, so they can be used throughout the year.

To find out more about the ways that these pools work you can refer to
http://www.pool-heaters.net/spa.html. Basic spa pools can be very affordable and they come in a myriad of designs and shapes that will suit almost any indoor or outside location.

Stairlifts and perch lifts

2010-05-14T03:53:00.000-07:00

Stairlifts enable someone who is unable to walk or who has difficulty with steps to travel up and down stairs.

For most able bodied people this is something that they take for granted, but for those with a mobility restriction or who are of advanced years, stairs can be a big obstacle. So much so that many people choose to move into single story accommodation when climbing and descending stairs starts to become a problem.

A stairlift removes this problem by transporting a seated passenger from one level to another in comfort and safety. These lifts will work (and can be fitted) on straight, curved, or landing configured staircases. They make getting from one floor level to another easy and trouble free.

There are many different stairlifts and there are numerous differences between models and specifications. A simple straight stairlift is much cheaper than one that turns around a landing and the types of chair (e.g. materials and padding) will also influence the price.

Another variation of the stairlift is the perch lift. Perch lifts are very similar to chairlifts except that the passenger does not sit, but rather stands on a small platform and leans against a backrest. This type of lifts suits someone who has difficulty sitting and standing.

If you want to read more about the various stairlift options, including their suitability to a homes and stairs, installation information, appropriate regulations and the user benefits of owning one, you can look here http://www.healthandmobilitystore.com/stairlift.html. Stairlifts can be fitted in a matter of hours and they can transform a less able bodied person’s ability to move around their home. In short, they can be life transforming appliances and they will work for many years.

What type of garage door is best for your garage

2010-05-11T05:38:00.001-07:00

If you are thinking about a new or replacement garage door, you have a number of available options with mechanisms that include side hinged, up and over, roller, sectional and sliding. Each type has different features, so it is important to consider the options carefully.

Here is a summary of the main door types based upon their operational mechanism or movement.

Up and over

These need space above the opening and room for mechanical fixings on the walls adjacent to the door’s location. With a standard up and over door the door will project outwards by one third of its length at the head of the entrance when open. A retractable up and over door has a flush finish.

Side hinged

Side hinged doors require a frame plus room to open the door outwards. They fit all openings and can be adjusted on site very easily. Side hinged doors are usually made of two doors that may be of equal size, or of a disproportional ratio.

Roller

Doors using a roller movement store above and slightly behind the garage door opening. They wrap around a drum or roller. They require less space than any other door type and can be left partially open. This type of door is very efficient in its use of space when open or closed.

Sectional doors

A garage door with a sectional mechanism is a bit like a sliding door, but it slides upwards into the roof space above the garage entrance and does not wrap around a drum. This means that it needs space above and behind the opening.

Sliding

Sliding doors need a top and bottom track. This track runs to one side of the garage opening to the point where the door is rested when the garage is open. The advantage of fitting this type of door is that it only needs limited space above the opening and that the tracks can be fitted inside or outside of the walls. Because of this it is very versatile when space is restricted. For more on these options see http://www.rollergaragedoor.net.

Remote control

Doors controlled by remote electric motors have a smooth, effortless and impact free movement. This reduces working stresses and takes away the effort required to open and close the garage door.

Mobility scooters and vehicles

2010-04-13T02:19:00.000-07:00

A product that is certainly interesting to many at this particular time is the mobility scooter - in its various forms.

Not too long ago anyone with mobility problems need to struggle on or get a manual or electric wheelchair, however things have changed. Mobility scooters seem to be everywhere, used by all manner of different people and come in a massive range of styles and performances.

All of these vehicles work around the basis of having a large, comfortable, and well padded chair as the centre point of the machine.

A chassis with three or four wheels and an electric motor (run from a re-chargeable battery) provides the power and the means to get around, and lights, a dash display and numerous other features add to the appearance of the vehicle.

The people who use mobility scooter are also a diverse bunch. There are those who would once have been natural electric wheel chair users, but there are also many older people and lots of people with weight issues that seem to affect their ability to get around.

The other interesting feature of these scooters is the way in which they are used with many owners using them as not simply because they are immobile, but more a means of transport. This means that these mobility scooters are often parked up outside shops as the owners get off them and walk around once they have arrived at their destination.

For anyone interested, these machines come in two different classifications. The first allows them to be used on pedestrian areas only. However, a second and more powerful version can also be used on the roads (in some countries).

A few facts

The top speed for these mobility scooters is 4 mph for the pedestrian variety and 8 mph for the road worthy variety (in the United kingdom).

These vehicles can travel good distances on a single battery charge and many models will exceed 25 miles on a single battery charge.

A road-tax disk is required for road-able scooters in Britain.

These mobility vehicles are charged directly from the mains and require no special facilities.

If you want to know any more, then you can take a look at this page http://healthandmobilitystore.com/mobility-scooter.html which has links to lots of other pages that will tell you all about these machines. There is also a FAQ section which seems to cover most of the obvious questions that anyone interested in buying one might want to ask.

USB speakers 2

2010-02-09T06:28:00.000-08:00

Following on from my previous post about USB speakers there was a big plus point that I neglected to mention. Namely, that with a USB connector not only the speaker’s signal, but also the speaker’s power is passed through the USB cable.

This means that you do not need a separate power connector or socket to power the speakers. This does of course mean that these speakers can work with an independently powered laptop in a café, taxi or park bench! In other words you get mobility.

USB speakers will tend to be smaller, or more compact, than regular desktop style speakers and they may come with a carrying case – the intention being that you can use them when you are out and about.

Quality wise USB speakers can be pretty good although they may not offer the same power output as standard units.

Finally, one last advantage which I was recently able to capitalise on with my mother’s PC, is that if you have a problem with the normal speaker port (which she had), or if you do not have a sound card, the USB speakers will still work.

All told they are a good and efficient system and they can be a solution if regular speakers are giving you a problem.

Speakers through a usb port

2010-01-20T07:46:00.001-08:00

PC speakers are common to most home and work based IT stations, but the way in which they connect to the computer is starting to change.

Initially all speaker systems used a standard audio port that would work for both speakers and headphones. Indeed up to not too long ago many keyboards would also include this socket for easy headphone access.

Now however, with many keyboards being both remote and battery powered, the further drain on battery power now makes this extra functionality a rarity.

A further and even more significant change is the use of speakers connecting via a usb port rather than an audio port. This is also true of keyboards and even the mouse.

From the PC manufacturing companies point of view it makes things less complex, however it can also result in some confusing problems where the speakers or keyboard are not initially recognised for what they are (if at all).

On the positive side it does increase connectivity options and this is why most PC’s and laptops have several usb ports, often with some available on the front of the case. It also means that, for those with limited “port” knowledge, the connectivity issue becomes very simple, i.e. what ever it is plug it into a usb port.

Up-scaling blue ray players

2010-01-05T03:58:00.001-08:00

I recently bought a blue ray player (Sony) and the thing that surprised me most was its ability to upscale a standard DVD to something close to a blue ray disk.

Obviously the TV has a bearing on the overall picture quality and naturally the larger the TV the more diminished will be the effect. Equally, a full HD TV will show better results that an HD ready TV, but here are my general findings.

The TV is a full HD Samsung LCD 40 inch flat screen. It got good reviews, but was not too pricey.

Using this TV with a regular DVD player the image is good, but clearly falls a long way short of blue ray standards.

However, when up-scaling the DVD disks through the blue ray player the quality is markedly improved. So much so that with certain DVD’s, e.g. Lord of the Rings, the difference between blue ray and DVD is hardly noticeable.

Naturally the quality of both the DVD and Blue Ray disk production has a bearing on image quality and there are many “so called” blue ray disks out there that are simply up-scaled in production rather than filmed in HD.

I have “David Attenborough’s” Planet Earth series in blue ray which, despite being described a “must get disk” in blue ray, clearly has segments which are not fully HD. Equally, the last Indiana Jones DVD up-scales to a level which is almost impossible to distinguish from blue ray. Clearly production values have almost as much to do with image quality as format does.

All of that said, if someone asked me if buying a blue ray player was worth the extra expense I would say yes in an instant. Even if you intend to continue using DVD disks the benefits are unmistakable.

Airfix models

2009-12-10T07:11:00.000-08:00

With Christmas upon us I have been buying numerous presents and one that has really contrasted the past with the present has been an Airfix kit that I have bought for my nephew.

The toy is called “Daleks in Manhattan” and, in keeping with all Airfix models, it takes the form of a self assembly kit that is glued and painted to create a scale model of, in this case, two daleks – one as a complete unit and the other as an “opened out” model exposing the dalek’s interior.

The contrast of the past with the present relates, for me a least, to the fact that this kit has features that include light and sound! I can only assume that some kind of sound chip and possibly an LED module is included for these features.

This would not have been found on an Airfix kit when I was a kid. You needed to go to companies like Tamia for remote control model kits like tanks and they cost a fortune and were too complex for most sub 12 year olds.

The other change is in the nature of the kits that, rather than featuring machines and crafts from wars, now seem to focus on science fiction and other areas.

Whether this is a genuine shift in young model buyers interests or, more probably (and disturbingly), the result of political correctness is something that we will never know. Perhaps a recent UK TV show, in which James May highlighted Airfix products, was a good indication that it is the latter.

So, here is a link to the Airfix site (http://www.airfix.com/) for anyone interested and for those wanting to buy I would recommend Amazon for the best prices and quick pre Christmas delivery.

Cold air intake (CAI)

2009-11-19T05:50:00.000-08:00

A cold air intake, also sometimes called a cold air induction system, is something that looks similar to a car exhaust pipe, except that is fulfils the opposite role.

In very simple terms all normally aspirated auto engines mix fuel and air to create combustion in the cylinders of the engine. This explosive reaction causes the pistons to move which in turn powers a drive shaft that turns the vehicle’s wheels.

In most standard vehicles the air enters the engine when it is sucked through an air box, however this does have some drawbacks in terms of maximising engine performance. The main one being that the air that circulates around the engine is hot and this means that it has a lower density than an equivalent volume of much cooler air.

Given the fact that more air (denser air) generates a more powerful explosion and one that burns more of the fuel instantaneously, there is an obvious benefit in trying to get cold air into the engine and this is where a cold air intake (CAI) comes in.

What a CIA does is pull cold air from the front of the car (in front engine cars), e.g. typically from the space beyond the grill of the car and in front of the hot radiator. This results in cold air that has not come into contact with any part of the engine being pulled into the engine for maximum effect.

A CAI takes the form of a tube that normally runs from the back of the engine and around the side of the engine before finally exiting where there is a good flow of cool air. In high performance cars CAI are fitted as standard, however in most cars they are a performance enhancing mod that can be fitted with relative ease. If aesthetic and optimum performance are the goal then twin cold air intakes, where one runs either side of the engine body, offer the best benefits.

PDA

2009-10-13T03:22:00.000-07:00

A PDA, short for “personal digital assistant” and sometimes referred to as a palmtop computer, is a multipurpose electronic device that can be carried around, almost like a mobile phone.

PDA’s were intended to turn the portable laptop PC into a pocket sized workstation that enabled diary planning, internet access, multimedia applications and even facilities like satellite navigation to be accessed whilst on the move or outside of the home or office.

Over the last four or five years the PDA has almost disappeared – a result of advanced mobile phone technology which has seen cell phones with the functionality to do almost everything that a PDA does with the added value of phone access and camera and video camera functions.

Mobile phones are also able to use a massive number of applications (apps) that now far out number those available for the more powerful and potentially more versatile PDA.

So where does this leave the PDA?

This is a question which many feel has already been answered as both the sales figures and the numbers of manufactured PDA’s continue to decline rapidly.

Even so, the PDA can have a place and some of the more expensive models that feature large (compared with a cell phone) screens and offer GPS facilities can be perfect for ramblers and walkers or surveyors and engineers.

The PDA also allows you to take word documents, spreadsheets, databases and other MS applications with you, and memory/flash sticks ensure that extra data can always be carried separately and securely.

One problem that the PDA has always suffered from is battery time and, Like a laptop, it requires constant recharging. This is one reason why the less powerful mobile phone seems to have almost defeated the PDA in market share and as a “critics choice”. Even so, the PDA may still make a come back.

Sliding, rolling and hinged doors

2009-10-08T11:43:00.001-07:00

All of the descriptions in the title above can be applied to the various opening systems used in contemporary garage doors.

Of course a pair of hinged doors was the first option of choice for many years, following which the up and over movement became popular. But over the last 30 or 40 years doors that are made from hinged or folding sections and which bend, slide or roll out of the door opening have become popular.

There are a number of reasons for this. One is the desire to have something that is more hi tech or cutting edge, but another is the efficiency of storage that a sectional folding door has over a less flexible large single panel. And in many small modern garages space saving is an important asset.

So which type of opening/folding/sliding/rolling motion is the best?

There is of course no obvious answer as the garage size and construction, plus the available purchase budget all have an impact on the buying decision.

One thing does however stand out is the degree of affordable choice that anyone looking at replacing a garage door now has. Most openings will suit at least a couple of the options above and many will accommodate all of them. This means that options have never been greater, but making decisions have never been harder.

For details of the above see http://www.rollergaragedoor.net/door-types.html.

Waterproof and breathable fabrics

2009-09-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

I have recently been looking into fabrics that are both waterproof and breathable for outdoor use.

These kinds of material are used by hikers, walkers, mountaineers and many who pursue outdoor hobbies. They have the advantage of keeping the water out, but allowing water vapour, in the form of sweat, to escape.

These fabrics are comparatively new and market leaders in the field include names like GoreTex and Event.

Clothing made from these waterproof and breathable fabrics can be quite expensive with a jacket generally starting at around £50 ($75) and ascending to the several hundreds of pounds or dollars.

How they work

The waterproof concept of this type of clothing is fairly easy to understand. The weatherproof material prevents water from getting in, however the breathable element relates to two separate functions, both of which stop the wearer feeling hot and sweaty.

Firstly, the pores in the fabric are too small for water droplets to pass through, but sufficiently big enough for water vapour to pass through.

Secondly, this type of clothing has an inner layer that quickly takes sweat from the body and passes it from the internal surface to the external surface of the material. This is often referred to as wicking and it is this feature of outdoor clothing that results in the high costs and superior performance.

"Rolling" garage doors

2009-08-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is my first entry for a while because of trips out of the country and some other personal matters that have restricted my blogging.

This post is about garage doors of the roller variety, i.e. a door that lifts upwards and rolls into a compact storage area above a garage door opening.

This kind of door is very clever and very efficient when it comes to space utilization – or more precisely, not using-up space.

How they operate

Roller style doors are manufactured from a number of horizontal sections that flex or hinge enabling the complete door to gently fold around a cylindrical drum that winds the door around it.

This drum is suspended above the garage door opening and, whilst the rotating opening and closing actions (clockwise and anti-clockwise), can be manually achieved, this type of garage door is most usually operated by an electric motor. Most owners of this kind of system have the motor operated automatically by a remote control sensor that can be activated by a small button controlled fob.

The big advantages of this style of garage (or outbuilding) door is that it has a very smooth operation that is free from sudden movements, jolts and judders. The opening mechanics of the door also make it lightweight if operated by hand. Roller doors do not leave any part of the door projecting when the door is in its open state and they only require a very small amount of space to store the door.

All told this is probably the best and most sophisticated of door opening systems and it is highly popular in the USA.

A site with details of this kind of door is http://www.rollergaragedoor.net. Check it out for further info etc.

Digital photo frames

2009-07-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

I just bought my sister what, only 3 or 4 years ago, was an immensely expensive gift – a digital photo frame.

These repositories for digital files take an SD card input with jpg or similar image files and then display the image on a screen.

Screen sizes vary with the 7 inch screens starting at £25 (UK currency) and running to hundreds of pounds Stirling/dollars for the much larger options.

Display levels and file sizes also vary and if you want high definition images you need to look for the largest resolutions possible. These will be specified on the product box as either a maximum file size in bits or MB or, more typically, by two figures that relate to width and depth resolutions. In both instances the larger the number the better.

Once in operation these frames take their electricity from a main socket (possibly a battery) and then run any number of programs. These programs are very simple and allow you to select features like a slide show, (with numerous interchanging images) at a change rate that you specify.

It can also be possible to specify the way in which the photos change (transition). i.e. there may be options that allow one image to slide out whilst another slides in, or for one image to dissolve whilst the next takes its place.

I may also be possible to vary image size and select from landscape to portrait on some of the larger and more expensive frames.

Most of these digital photo frames have some simple button control, but newer models may feature touch screens that use display to make selection and changes quick and simple.

Finally, if you want one of these (for yourself or as a present for someone else), remember that they use the same technology as plasma and LCD flat screen TV’s, so you will not see them clearly if they are in the line of direct sunlight.

Unusual radiators

2009-05-27T03:28:00.000-07:00

I was in a large British DIY store called B & Q the other day looking at bathrooms when I saw some very unusual and stylish radiators. The most outstanding one was almost 2 metres in height and about 0.6 metres wide with very little depth and a shiny black finish.

I have no idea how this particular radiator is powered, or indeed what kind (or kinds) of material it was manufactured from, but it did have a price tag of around £800. Pretty expensive, but very nice if you have that kind of money.

My guess would be that this kind of radiator would be suited to a minimalist room design where colour and clutter were severely limited and a substantial budget was on hand. http://www.designerradiator.net has examples of many modernist radiators if you are interested in seeing what these items look like.

There were a number of other equally different radiators on display in B & Q, most based on a pipe or tube like construction, but also incorporating attractive and novel designs that made them different from heated towel rails. Clearly all of these heaters were intended for rooms other than the bathroom.

Vertirad, Kudox, acova and quadro are just some of the companies making these heating appliances and I have seen one radiator that retails at almost £1300 and which includes features such as a digital time display, a mirrored surface, and a choice of ambient backlights in 5 different colors that illuminate a room.

I suppose that when you consider that this radiator is not just a heating unit, but also a clock, mirror and custom lighting centre, its hefty price tag becomes more acceptable.

Garage doors of the roller variety

2009-05-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

I have made a couple of posts about garage doors and the different versions that are available. The obvious options are hinged doors and some variation of folding or sliding doors.

Amongst these one of the best options is the roller door. A roller garage door is comprised of several horizontal panels that are hinged to allow them to turn through a 90 degree bend. This enables the complete door to be drawn into a small area above the garage door’s opening and stored around a cylindrical roller – hence the name. You can see some examples, specs etc at http://www.rollergaragedoor.net.

The beauty of a roller door is that it stores in a very small area above the garage door entry and does not occupy the same roof space as an up and over or sectional door.

It also has a superior and more reliable mechanism and motion than most of its counterparts and this, in turn, lends itself to motorization and remote operation. Indeed, most roller doors tend to be remotely controlled, or can easily accommodate the addition of powered use with a minimum of adjustment.

Sp why should you select a roller door over the other options?

Well it looks good and comes in many styles and finishes. It will usually be robustly manufactured and include insulating layers, and its counterbalancing opening system makes it effortless to use or adapt to a remote operation.

Roller garage doors can be a bit more expensive than other alternatives, but they are also more of a “top end” product and usually come with good warranties.

More on roomba

2009-05-05T03:56:00.000-07:00

Yet again I am writing this as our iRobot roomba cleans our living room, kitchen and hall. So this gives me an opportunity to write a little bit more about it.

I would have to add that the vacuum does have a few hiccups and no doubt I will discover more over time. Anyway, here are a couple of minor issues that we have noticed.

Firstly, the unit is naturally heavy for its size which is a good and necessary thing. This does however give it the power to close doors and lock itself in a room. Indeed it did this in our kitchen 10 minutes a go. Naturally the “self induced” prison area gets an exceptional clean, but this is not the robot's objective.

Secondly, roomba is exceptional at finding and pulling out any loose cables of any size. This covers the leads for electrical equipment, phone lines and broadband cables. It does not damage them, but it is happy to play with them and drag them around for a while.

Thirdly, it really is incapable of recognising anything that is narrow and black. This means that desk legs, “spiked” hi fi speaker stands etc get a good knock. (It normally adjusts and reduces its speed as it approaches objects, but not in these cases).

These are small quibbles, but they do mean that you need to spend a couple of minutes preparing the area for roomba before you set it loose.

Even so, once in action it does a very good job and, although it has less power than a regular vacuum cleaner, it compensates by spending far more “meticulous” time in its cleaning chore.

So far we remain very impressed with it and sadly, we have done what everyone else does with an iRobot vacuum cleaner and given it a name.

iRobot Roomba 530

2009-04-30T02:27:00.000-07:00

We have just bought an irobot roomba automated vacuum cleaner. The model is the 530.

One of my motivations for this is the fact that, whilst my wife has household responsibility for the washing and ironing, I cover the cleaning and gardening. Naturally a robotic vacuum cleaner removes one of my less pleasant chores, or at least a portion of one.

The roomba is actually doing its stuff as I write and I can periodically hear it buzzing around and bumping into things downstairs.

How it works

Actually I really do not know how the robot works. Clearly there is a controlling algorithm that firstly detects obstacles and secondly maps out a room, or series of rooms, to be cleaned.

The robot seems to follow a random path without the logic that a human would use in performing this task, however, at the end of the job it seems to have covered all areas of the room being cleaned.

Appearance wise the robotic cleaner takes the form of a disc that must be 14 to 16 inches in diameter and 3 or 4 inches high. It has buttons on the top for start and dock and also in the package are a mains charger, docking station and “virtual wall”. This is a laser projector that can set a boundary for the robot. There are some spare parts too.

In fact it has just made a series of noises, so I will go down to check on its status.

The noise was the sound of it “docking” after about 1 hour and 20 minutes of cleaning. That covered our living room, kitchen and (very small) entrance hall.

The robot has a side brush that lets it get up to wall edges, skirtings, kickboards etc and it is low enough to sneak under radiators and some cabinets. As it approaches an obstacle it detects it, slows down, and then gently bumps into it. However, I must say that it was unable to detect the black narrow legs of my desk yesterday and bashed into those on almost every approach.

So what do I think of it so far?

Well actually it is pretty good. The dust collecting zone is small and needs emptying after each clean and it does not have the power of a regular vacuum. That said, two flat based tables that I removed during the cleaning had their impressions on the carpet completely removed by roomba, so the suction and brush combination must be fairly effective.

I will no doubt come back on this product as I get more of a feel for what it does and does not do, but my first impressions are very favourable.

Prices in the UK vary considerably with John Lewis selling the irobot roomba 530 at £299. However we bought it on special offer at Makro and paid a mere £172.49 which makes it cheaper than the least expensive Dyson. I would also ad that, having had a mid range Dyson vacuum for 4 years, that that device positively does not impress me and “yes James Dyson, IT DOES LOOSE SUCTION”, so stop lying in your adverts.

Here is the iRobot page for the Roomba 530 - http://www.irobot.com/uk/home_robots_roomba530.cfm.

Robotic vacuum cleaners

2009-04-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

I was in a UK wholesale store last night looking at an automated vacuum cleaner by the irobot company.

The model in question was the roomba 530 and it was on sale at £149.99 + VAT (at 15%). This is very cheap for the UK and the package included a docking station and what I assume to be laser perimeter blocks to prevent cleaning in unwanted zones.

These vacuums really are amazing and they are cheaper than the popular (in the UK at least) Dyson vacs which I can say, through first hand experience, are not what they are cracked up to be.

So what does an irobot vacuum do?

Well put simply it can vacuum clean carpets and hard floors on a single level without any human intervention, other than to flick on a switch. In fact, if you buy the 560 you can even schedule its operation meaning that you do not even have to initiate the cleaning.

The vac will clean up to 4 rooms on a single 3 hour charge and will return to its docking station to recharge once it senses that its battery is running low. Sensors prevent the robot from falling off edges like stairs and it detects walls and other obstacles so as not to charge into them. It will also clean up to skirtings and around chair and table legs.

The one thing that it does require is emptying and periodic replacement of its brushes, but cleaning and maintenance is required of all cleaners, automated or otherwise.

Trying to describe how an irobot vacuum works is actually pointless as I can direct you to a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Thsj-uOMxA which illustrates what it does and how it does it far better than a written description.

Ergonomic Garden Tools

2009-04-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Ergonomic garden tools are a rapidly growing market area as retirees live longer and spend more of their extended life in the garden and gardening.

The premise behind all ergonomic products is to enable the attainment of a goal, or the completion of a task with a minimum of “safe” physical effort. This effort should also be controlled in such a way as to require the body to make healthy and controllable movements that do not create strains, stress or physical damage.

Naturally, gardening equipment seems an ideal target for this design approach as many tools have their origin in agriculture. Furthermore, the evolution of these tools did not benefit from modern thinking, computer design or ergonomic approaches. Modern ergonomic thinking and design seeks to correct these “wrongs”.

So which gardening tools reap the benefit of ergonomics?

The answer is pretty much all of them in some way or other, however the more physically demanding activities like cutting a hedge, trimming grass and digging see the greatest innovations.

Most ergonomic garden tools see changes in the shape, size, weight and mechanisms of garden tools and these are most prominently noticed in handles, grips and parts that move or require manipulation. Many ergonomic tools have larger, easier-to-grip handles and the balance and weight spread of some tools is changed to make them easier to use.

Items like pruners (securers) see handles designed around the grip characteristics of the hand. This can result in some unusual shapes and frequently larger diameter handles. However these tools can be used for longer with less strain and more comfort.

Many small garden hand tools like trowels feature grips that are turned through 90 degrees to allow the (optimum) fist grip with the wrist held in a straight alignment. This can help to prevent stress injuries and reduces strain on the muscles bones and ligaments of the hand, wrist and lower arm.

Spades, shovels and forks may feature extra wide grips to allow two hands to hold the tool, and handles can be curved or shaped to the grip of the fingers to facilitate holding without the need for excessive pressure.

Reducing weight and using new lightweight materials is another way of enhancing the ergonomics of garden tools, so very few items of garden equipment are manufactured from wood or steel.

Choosing to buy these tools is of course a matter of choice, but their ease of use clearly offers advantages to those who are not as strong or as able as they were and they will ultimately benefit anyone who uses them.

You can see this link for some examples - http://www.lifewithease.com/garden.html.

Error posting

2009-03-30T03:16:00.000-07:00

I mistakenly added a post and then had to delete the same post from this blog as it was added to the wrong blog. It was intended for another blog with a different theme and subject matter.

A new post will appear here over the next couple of days.

Gel mouse mats and keyboard wrist rests

2009-03-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

Gel and memory foam are rapidly making in-roads into a range of product applications where support or padding is required.

Previously this has been in the sleeping and seated product arena, but now the world of computing is seeing the large scale introduction of these materials.

Two ideally suited areas for these materials are in the application of a projecting wrist support for a mouse mat and a wrist elevator/support for a keyboard.

In both cases these products already exist, but their manufacture has been utilising more conventional foam materials. Even so, gel appears to be ideally suited to such applications with is mouldable and cool-to-the-touch feel, whilst memory foam offers similar contouring properties, but with its characteristic slow recovery foam.

As ever, manufacturers have been quick to capitalise on the interest in Gel and visco elastic foam and there are many gel mouse pads and keyboard wrist rests already in stores and online retailers. For some reason, the memory foam seems less popular at present, but this will no doubt be corrected over time and with more marketing.

Here is a url that will illustrate an example of one of these products, http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=46845, in this case a gel keyboard rest.

Alternative radiator styles

2009-03-24T04:19:00.000-07:00

The last few years have seen a big change in not just the efficiency, but also the aesthetics of radiator design.

Heavy cast iron radiators have been replaced by much more slick and cleaner looking models and towel rails and tubular designs have become the norm in bathrooms, utility rooms and even kitchens.

Much more recently, “real” designer radiators have made an appearance with styles covering flat, concave and convex monolithic designs, along with highly complex pipe-like montages that can even double up as sculptures or artistic statements.

Some of these radiators even hang from a wall like a painting and other use electricity and can be moved around a room for maximum effect.

These radiators do have high price tags, but they manage to take a fairly ugly and awkward looking household utility and turn it into something much more appealing.

There is also a selection of different “heat providing” operations with many designer radiators plumbing into a standard central heating system, but an equal number being more “location independent” and gaining power from mains electricity. These radiators can provide heat through various means including: being oil filled, using a heater element, or heating a solid material and radiating heat rather than convecting it.

The other big development in designer like radiators is their availability. Just two or three years ago these radiators could only be obtained from specialist suppliers, but now they are available at DIY stores, plumbing centres and many furnishing outlets.

You can obtain more information about, and see some examples of, these radiators at http://www.designerradiator.net/ultra-modern.html. You will also find details about more conventional radiators, towel rails etc.

Garage door motors

2009-03-10T04:26:00.000-07:00

In the previous posts I referred to a couple of features of garage door motorization which were not fully explained, so I will elaborate on them now.

Soft start and soft stop

The first is known most commonly as “soft start” and “soft stop” and describes the movement of the garage door at the start and end of its transition from an open to a closed state, or vice versa.

One of the wear and durability problems of early motorised garage door mechanisms was the abrupt start of the door’s motion as the initial movement kicked in, and an equivalent sudden stop as the door hit the frame and its movement ended.

The shock, vibration and general crudeness of this motion did nothing for the garage door's lifespan or appearance during operation, so smoother mechanisms were invented.

Soft start and soft stop garage doors use variable speed so that the initial and final movement of the door is much slower and more controlled. This makes the opening process look better and, more importantly, avoids jolts, jerky movements and additional stress to the door, frame and motor.

Obstruction detection

There are lots of names for a feature that can be generally described as “obstruction detection”.

What this feature does is act as a safety precaution in the event of a human being, animal, or other object blocking the path of the door during opening or closing.

This is critical as garage doors are heavy and the motors that power them are strong. This can be a dangerous combination for anything that inadvertently falls within the path of a moving garage door.

Obstruction detection features use different methods to ensure that the motion of the door is terminated by any obstruction or physical contact with the door and this can be achieved in two ways. (You can probably find more on this at http://www.rollergaragedoor.net/automated.html and other specialist websites, but below is a summary.)

1. The more expensive and less sophisticated way is the use a detector (e.g. laser) to recognise an obstacle blocking the doors path. This triggers a stop action and the door discontinues its motion until the detector reads the area as clear.

2. More popular is a garage door motorization feature that is often referred to as “learning” or “training”. This feature is simple but effective and it relies on the garage door recognising its own movement pattern. It works by spotting any change caused by the door hitting an object (i.e. slowing it down) and this in turn causes the door to halt its movement. Obviously this approach does not predict and stop the door before it makes contact with the obstacle, but it is effective and is often included as a standard feature on many garage door motorization kits.

Motorized "up and over" garage doors

2009-03-03T11:37:00.000-08:00

I posted about automated garage doors a couple of weeks ago and I intend to add some further information about those products now.

Up and over garage doors – electric operation

The most popular style of garage door is the “up and over” action door. This opening and closing mechanism sees the door rise and tilt above the main entrance and occupy a small space just below the lintel that bridges the opening.

With an automated (i.e. electric and remote controlled) garage door the important feature to be aware of is the up and over mechanism.

Up and over doors come in two variations and one is suitable for automation whilst the other type requires significant modification and customizing.

The two options are known as canopy and retractable and the way that they move and store have subtle differences. Differences that make one far more suitable for motorized control than the other.

Canopy garage doors

A canopy garage door is at the budget end of the door opening mechanism scale and it uses a half frame that places the open door 2/3rds of the way inside the garage entrance. The remaining 1/3rd of the door projects outwards beyond the front of the garage wall.

This door mechanism is comparatively crude and jerky and it is not suitable for remote motorization with a conversion kit. These kits literally act to convert a canopy system into a retractable system, so it is far better to by a retractable door if you believe that automation is a prospect at any time in the future.

Retractable garage doors

A retractable garage door has a full frame with a much smoother and more controllable sliding and tilting mechanism. The frame is stronger and more robust, and the levels and points of support are greater and more secure during door transit.

Retractable up and over garage doors lend themselves to automation with a minimum of modification and can be expected to operate smoothly for many years. This door transit mechanism is ideal for controlled motor power and “soft start” and “soft stop” options (which avoid jolts and jerks), work well with this door type.

For more on automated up and over doors see http://www.rollergaragedoor.net/up-and-over.html where a greater explanation of the alternative mechanisms is offered. There is also some explanation of automation options and details of the other types (styles) of garage door opening mechanisms.

Memory foam beds and mattresses

2009-03-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

I have been checking out some memory foam mattresses online and also in stores.

The price variations are massive with the most expensive being those produced by the Tempur company.

Tempur are widely regarded as being the first company to take the NASA developed memory foam and use it in bedding and their reputation is the highest in the industry.

This is due to a number of reasons ranging from the mattress concept originating from their R & D department, to the high density visco foam that they use, along with the mix of different foam layers for stability and ventilation as well as moulding.

How good, or indeed how much better they are than the competition I do not know. But I can certainly say that their prices range from double to quadruple that of their rivals.

Staying with Tempur, they offer a 15 year warranty – the longest in the industry, but on looking at numerous forums there seem to be a few people who are unhappy with them.

As far as I can determine their warranty requires a permanent deflection in the mattress of around ¾ inches for the unit to warrant replacement (or repair), and they would also seem to be subject to damage through sweating. Rather concerning as memory foam has a reputation for having warm sleeping characteristics. Water damage (which this constitutes) is not covered by any guarantee.

Needless to say, I would assume that every other memory foam manufacturer is just as unwilling to admit “fault” liability, or a problem with a mattress and my personal view is that very few guarantees are worth the paper that they are written on.

What I should add is that I have tried out some Tempur mattresses for about 10 minutes on 4 or 5 occasions and I found them very comfortable. They certainly do mould to the shape of the body and, in the short term, I found this supportive.

Ultimately, I think that we all have different views of comfort and also different reactions to these body contouring mattresses. Clearly some people love them, some people adapt to them, and others simply find them impossible to sleep on. In the case of Tempur there is a 60 day free trial which lets you determine which category you fit into. If you choose not to take the mattress, then you pay only for delivery and return and receive a refund for the actual cost.

For some further reading on these products you can see http://www.orthopedicmattress.net/foam.html.

Selecting a new bed

2009-02-25T03:25:00.000-08:00

I checked out a few beds yesterday including those with memory foam, Latex and a combination of pocket springs and one of the two foams as a top padding.

All were very impressive and one in particular, with a 1440 pocket spring count plus memory foam top surface, was extremely comfortable.

The bed in question was a “sleepmasters” bed and the price seemed to be around £800 (pound Stirling) for a standard double.

Price wise this seems OK, but I have seen a similar online bed with a slightly higher spec for almost £200 less. Both have guarantees, both look very similar and other than the 20% price differential there is little to choose between them.

I must confess that I am not a big “on-line” buyer of expensive items. I know not why as the shipping, delivery, warranties etc seem identical to store bought products. Perhaps I am too familiar with speaking to a salesperson and buying from them.

Whist at the store I also tested a couple of full memory foam beds, i.e. memory foam without springs or coils, and found both to be very restful. One was firm and the other more flexible, but both seemed to offer high standards of comfort and the encapsulating sensation of memory foam is both pleasant and relaxing.

As to what is best, I have yet to make a definitive decision. However, I am leaning towards the combination bed and currently favour a bed with a good pocket spring count and 70mm of memory foam as a cushioned top layer. This pertains to the internet available bed. My wife however favours the store equivalent and the presentation by the salesman who was knowledgeable without being pushy.

Innovative products for those with disabilities

2009-02-18T04:26:00.000-08:00

I recently came across this webpage, http://www.iphope.com/main/mobility.html, which has a range of practical and novel products to help young children who have a restriction when it comes to movement.

The restriction may simply be that they have not yet learnt to walk, or that they have a direct disability that prevents them from doing so.

The products covered include some interesting devices that give mobility, aid mobility and even enable the playing of 10 pin bowling.

Unfortunately all of these products fall into, what is for me, a rather archaic solution approach. That is, they replace a lack of physical ability and aptitude with a mechanical alternative that makes no attempt to simulate the actual human movement.

How difficult it is to create or supplement a none functional human movement is something about which I know very little, but for those who are interested, take a look at this page, http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2008/02/new-prosthetic.html.

In summary, the page is about a “bionic arm” that is being developed in the USA and that uses current technology to duplicate a full range of human movements whilst sending signals directly back to the brain.

This arm is so advanced that by using sensors that link to nerves it is (apparently) possible for the user to get neural feedback on sensations like the pressure of the grip and the temperature of any object that the finger sensors touch – amazing.

How long it will be until these “replacement body parts” become economically viable and available through healthcare organisations is hard to say, but I doubt that I will see them in my lifetime.

Motorized and automated garage doors

2009-02-13T01:28:00.000-08:00

The concept of an automatic garage door is nothing new, however few people realise just how many variations there are on the motorized door theme.

Garage doors can open and close using a variety of methods and movements, but all are based on one of the following.

Conventional hinged doors, where side hinges allow the doors to swing outward horizontally.

Up and over garage doors, where the door lift upwards and backwards and stores above the main garage door void.

Sliding garage doors, where the door slides on tracks or runners and is pulled to one side of the door opening.

Sectional and rolling garage doors, where the door is able to bend through a 90 degree angle, or roll around a drum, due to sectional and hinged panel construction.

There are variations on each of these garage door concepts, but all can be fitted with a motor to allow power assisted movement of the door. The type of door determines the power output and the system used for opening and closing the door, but drive chains and drive belts working with boom operated systems are the most common.

Control of a motor powered garage door is usually by a small remote that can be carried in a pocket or attached to a set of keys. These remotes increase the ease of use and security of the garage door by allowing the opening and closing to be performed without the need to leave the car, van or pick-up.

Not surprisingly, a motor powered garage door costs more than a manual door, but the additional cost is less than most would anticipate. The conversion from powerless to powered is also comparatively simple and will take a professional fitter no more than half a day for most door types.

For further information about powered garage doors and the different types of garage doors, you can check out these two sites, http://www.rollergaragedoor.net (which seems to cover all of the different door types) and http://www.garage-door-automation.co.uk/guide.htm (which is a general buyers guide with basic advice and tips).

Garage doors - electric options

2009-02-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

This is a pre-curser to my next blog addition which will look at motorised garage doors.

Garage doors come in a variety of different forms, some lifting up and over the garage door opening and other sliding around to the side of the opening. There are even doors that will roll up, or bend into the space above the garage door void.

The most common garage doors used to be those with hinges, but these are now less popular, largely because of the reduced cost and ease of use of many of the metal and plastic coated garage doors.

Currently, up and over garage doors are the biggest sellers.

What virtually every garage door has in common though, is the ability to add remote control and motorization. This can be done with a simple conversion kit which turns a standard garage door into something a little bit more impressive.

For more on electric garage doors, how they work, their adaptability and suitability to different door types, see the next post. I will also include some useful links.

Flash drives as gifts or personalised promotions

2009-02-06T08:29:00.000-08:00

I am short on time this week, so this post will be brief and none too original.

Most people with a PC or laptop will have a flash drive. These devices are often called a memory stick although the two are different kinds of peripherals.

In short, what a flash drive does is allow you to quickly transfer (almost) any kind of data to or from the flash drive using a PC or laptop. The transfer is fast and the data can then be transferred to another machine without the need for more complex or time consuming connection methods.

The flash drive uses a usb port and the device should be automatically recognised for what it is by any operating system like XP or Vista. This means that it will be allocated its own icon in the “My Computer” window enabling data to be “dragged and dropped” to or from the drive.

It is simple and fast, and a flash drive is tiny meaning that you can always have one with you.

Memory sizes go up to 16GB although the 1GB versions are cheap as chips and just about as useful.

One thing to be aware of with a flash drive is the security – or lack there of. If you intend to use one to carry around confidential information, you may be advised to use an encrypting program in the event of loss or theft.

And finally, to the reason for this post!

A number of companies will now personalise a flash drive with a logo, text, or other visual graphic. This makes them a useful and affordable commercial promotion for customers and clients. It also make them a good gift idea.

Here is a site that offer these thing in their “pimped up” form,
http://www.calendarlady.co.uk/promotional_items/personalised_usb_flash_drive.shtml.

Illuminated keyboards, fans and PC peripherals

2009-02-02T05:36:00.000-08:00

For those who really are super geeks, it is possible to buy and replace a number of PC peripherals that can jazz up a PC in a range of ways.

The most obvious is a laser mouse which normally has a nice lighting effect, but if your want more “lighting effects” then you can go for an illuminated keyboard.

These keyboards have a number of variations, but all see the keys of the keyboard being back lit in some way.

I most cases the color is blue, but some models have different color choices, or a mix of colors to cover the different zones of the keyboard, e.g. key pad, numeric pad, function row etc.

Quite why anyone would feel the need for such a gadget is beyond me, but it does turn a PC into an ornamental and visually appealing piece of hi-tec furniture and teens, students and geeks alike love them.

If an illuminated keyboard alone is not enough for you, then you can take things one step further.

You can by a transparent plastic or perspex side panel for a PC which makes the (uninteresting) internal workings of the CPU etc visible.

Whilst this on its own has little appeal, you can then add some illuminated fans. These things are the rage and come in many colours and they can be used to replace an existing fan, or better still supplement the fans already cooling the CPU, hard drive etc.

Every PC has slots available for additional fans and the installation is very simple. You plug it in to the power supply (which may be via the main board or a free cable) and then screw the fan (screws will be included) to the case.

Selecting the best aesthetic position inside the PC is critical as this allows the shadows and the spinning effects of the fans to be shown to their optimum.

To see some keyboards, follow this http://www.theglowcompany.co.uk/acatalog/ILLUMINATED_KEYBOARD___MULTIMEDIA.html link and to see some fans, choose this http://www.compusa.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=803 alternative.

Monitor Eye Protector

2009-01-30T06:50:00.001-08:00

I am never quite sure of the true worth of these devices. They idea is that they filter out harmful (to the eye) rays by acting as an intermediate screen between the monitor and the user.

Obviously, with flat screen technology it would seem that these items are now pretty much redundant as the LCD and Plasma screens work in the same way as a regular high definition TV screen.

In days gone by these filters were supposed to take out glare and radiation and this in turn prevented (or eased) eye strain which could potentially lead to headaches etc.

The fact that regulatory control over monitors (in the West) prevented these effects from happening in the first place seemed to pass many by and they were popular for a time. I can even recall a point where some people actually wore sunglasses to use a computer because they believed that these offered some kind of protection from “damaging” rays.

For those with eye strain at the end of a day using a PC or laptop, here are a couple of tips to bring the problem to an end.

1. Punctuate your time looking at the monitor with other distractions. E.g. Go for a brief walk, or focus on a distant object or landmark for 3 or 4 minutes every hour.

2. Check you monitor versus your head and eye line position. Many people view their monitors at an angle of inclination beyond 90 degrees. This can cause eye strain. You should not look up or down to the central point of your monitors screen.

3. Find out if you need reading glasses for close up work. Many who suffer from eye strain when using a monitor simply need glasses (this happened to me).

4. Periodically check the settings of your monitor. You can go on the web and download colour and monochrome “check” charts which you can use to adjust the colour, brightness and contrast settings of the screen to their optimum. If this proves impossible, then your monitor requires replacing.

5. If you are using an old “box” style monitor you need to replace it. Any monitor of this type will be past its sell by date and should be substituted with a modern flat screen equivalent.

This page, http://www.normankoren.com/color_management_2A.html, has some colour charts examples on it.

Soft tip darts and electronic dart boards

2009-01-26T02:38:00.000-08:00

Darts is one of the most played games in the world, mainly because of the low initial and ongoing costs of equipment and the fact that pubs and bars frequently have all the necessary components of the game available for free.

It is also a game where age, sex and fitness offer no barrier and it can be played by one or several people using a number of different games formats, e.g. 301, 501, cricket etc.

The game does however have one potential drawback and that is the steel points of the darts themselves. Injuries in darts are rare to say the least, but these “pointed weapons” may detour some people from wanting them in the home, or allowing younger children to play the game.

There is however a solution to this problem and it takes the form of a variation on the design of the dart tip which is traditionally made from steel.

The alternative is a soft tip dart, where a soft none metallic material is used for the dart’s point reducing the likelihood of damage to players and furniture (from bounce off).

These darts are often referred to as people and furniture friendly.

Soft tip darts have now become a sport within darts and, although they can be used on a conventional fibre board, new electronic dart boards are sold specifically for use with these soft tip darts. These boards do not require the same heavy construction as fibre boards and many incorporate an electronic and automatic scoring counter in the design of the board. This allows the selection of pre-programmed game formats and the automatic counting (or countdown) of the scoring in real time. This makes the games easy to play and attractive to the younger generations who like the clever technology that makes the board work.

Amazingly, these boards and darts are incredibly cheap and you can buy a branded board and a couple of sets of darts for a very insubstantial sum of money.

You can see and read more about soft tip darts and boards here: http://www.dartscorner.co.uk/Darts---Soft-Tip/c414/index.html and also here, http://www.soft-tips.co.uk/.

Infrared heater lamps - applications

2009-01-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

Infrared heat lamps are comparatively new, or at least comparatively innovative when it comes to affordability and domestic product applications.

An infrared lamp uses infrared rays to radiate heat onto any physical surface that falls within its path.

Put simply, the infrared rays heat up any object onto which they fall, but they “do not” heat up the medium through which they pass, primarily the air.

This creates an interesting dilemma in that most situations that require artificial warmth also requires the raising of the surrounding air temperature, something that infrared lamp heating devices do not achieve.

For this reason, using an infrared heat lamp as a garden, patio or camping heater will have questionable results as the heat will only be enjoyed by those in the glare of the heater. There are however certain products where this unusual kind of “radiated only” heat can be of a big advantage.

A great example of how this technology can work in an extemporary way is the domestic sauna.

Home saunas are often located in a disused room in a house and, although a window will normally be present, no special ventilation will be available.

The problem with home saunas is that, in order to heat up the body of the sauna taker, they require high temperatures. When these temperatures are generated by conventional heaters they often come hand in hand with high humidity. (The hotter the air, the easier it is for it to take in water vapour.)

Naturally, this is not desirable in a house and it can lead to damp and a wet “after atmosphere” along with other undesirable conditions.

This is where an infrared heat lamp can come into its own. This kind of heater will quickly make the skin of the human body hot and sweaty (a sauna requirement), but without increasing the sauna’s air temperature or humidity.

In effect, it tricks the body into thinking that the air is hot by raising the temperature of the skin.

These infra red sauna heaters have become very popular and can now be purchased as a component included in a domestic sauna kit. You can find out more about them here: www.sauna-kits.net/infrared-sauna.html.

As previously mentioned, the other main infrared heat lamp application is the patio heater. In this situation these heat lamps do have some limitations, but they offer cheap running cost and require nothing more than the flicking of a switch to get them working.

Robotic vacuum cleaners

2009-01-19T01:51:00.000-08:00

How new and innovative a robotic vacuum cleaner is will depend on where you live.

If you reside in North America, then products like those in the iRobot range have been widely available and very cheap (i.e. sub $99) for some time. However, in the UK and Europe these products have a much lower profile and, until very recently, a much higher price tag too.

Most robotic vacuum cleaners are circular and disc like in appearance and no more than 6 inches high, however their cleaning credentials are very good.

A robotic vacuum cleaner works by using sensors to detect walls, drops (e.g. a stair well) and other obstructions and creates an invisible ground plan of the room that it cleans.

All that the robotic vacuum cleaner’s owner needs to do is to switch it on, in the room requiring cleaning, and then leave it to do its work. The cleaner starts off by mapping out the geometry of the room, following which it systematically vacuums every uncovered inch of the floor space.

There are of course some restrictions to these home help devices.

Firstly, they are not able to clean tightly against a wall or vertical barrier, but then again neither can a regular vacuum cleaner. They are also slow and methodical and this results from their need to map out the area that they clean.

Even so, robotic vacuum cleaners are highly effective. They are proven to clean 99% of the available floor space (and this is actually a higher percentage than most humans achieve) and they do so whilst you get on with other tasks, or even leave the house.

Once the job is completed, the cleaner turns itself off and waits for its bag-less dirt and dust repository to be emptied.

At the top end of the range, but still very affordable, robotic cleaners are capable of connecting themselves to a special recharge port that is plugged into a main electricity socket and they will also adapt to clean different surfaces from carpet to hard floors.

As previously mentioned, the big name in robotic cleaners of this type is iRobot and you can look at some of their products at http://store.irobot.com/corp/index.jsp, where you will spot their quirky names like Roomba and Scooba.

I personally do not own a robotic vacuum cleaner, however some very good friends of mine do and they continually extol its virtues and talk about it as if it (iRobot Roomba) were a family pet. Needless to say, their home is always spotless and they have plenty of additional free time for other more pleasurable activities.

USB Turntable

2009-01-15T01:51:00.000-08:00

If you have a lot of music on vinyl in 33rpm or 45rpm format, i.e. records, you may want to transfer that music to another source like MP3 or an audio CD.

Storing your music this way gives you access to listen to it on more modern format players like CD players, a PC or an MP3 player, and it also allows you a back-up in a less depreciable form. All told, it is an option that many music fans (of a certain generation) would like to take advantage of.

One option is to take your old vinyl to a specialist who will, for a considerable charge, do this transfer for you. The other option is to buy a USB turntable.

A USB turntable is, as its name suggests, a turntable that plays records and has the addition of an out-going USB port. This enables you to play a single or LP and save it directly to whatever media you have connected to the other end of the USB cable. This could be an MP3 player, a CD writer, or a PC.

The time taken to perform the data transmission will be the running time of the record, so it is a slow job, but an enjoyable one if you listen to your music as you re-record it.

On the downside, those who are serious audiophiles and listen to their music on specialist kit, will find the reproductive quality limited to say the least. However, if the main media used for playback is intended to be an MP3 player, where the reproduction is far from challenging, then this kind of data transfer device will be more than adequate.

Using a USB turntable may require the running of a driver on a PC and or the uploading of one to an MP3 player (although in most cases this will not be necessary).

Here is a page, http://fwd.five.tv/gadgets/audio-video/numark-tti, with a USB record player illustrated on it.

Home laser levels

2009-01-11T07:01:00.001-08:00

Laser levels have been around for a long time, but in the past they have been prohibitively expensive and used solely in the construction industry.

They were originally designed for, and used in, the surveying and project setting out sector, but cheap technology now makes them an affordable “Do It Yourself” product for the home.

What the laser level does

The laser level projects a small and precise laser light on to a surface. This may be a static (non moving) light, or it may spin through 360 degrees (rotary) creating a seemingly continuous line. Some laser levels may project a small cross (like cross hairs).

The advantage to this piece of equipment is that is removes the need to constantly re-measure a level from a datum point, or to transpose a level along a vertical surface using a conventional spirit level.

Because of this it has two big advantages. The first is accuracy and the second is a saving in time and activity which in turn reduces the potential for error.

These devices do require setting up. The simpler and cheaper models have levelling bubbles whilst the more expensive versions have self (auto) levelling mechanisms.

Laser levels are ideal for a home DIY project like dado or skirting levelling, or the installing of a new floor – in fact anything that requires an accurate, consistent and reliable vertical measurement to create a horizontal level.

Finally, some of these levels also combine other features like tape measures.

The good news is that the prices and availability of laser levels now make them perfect for most DIY’ers. They start at under $50 (£35) and these cheap models are more than capable of doing everything required of them during home projects.

Here are some web pages with examples of these products: http://www.abbeypowertools.co.uk/building-tools/spirit-level-laser-levels/showitem-12251-88987.aspx and http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/cheapest/Makita-Laser-Level/22391377/477 .

Medicated Hand Cleansing Gel

2009-01-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

This is not quite within the scope of products that I usually write about, but it is a product that has had a long commercial history and that is now available in chemists/pharmacies and some supermarkets.

Medicated hand cleansing gels are products that you can keep in your pocket or bag and use to cleanse/wash your hands as and when required.

They were popularised by the likes of airhostesses and, in a more clinical way, were originally used by hospital staff.

What they do ?

In short what they do is allow you to kill germs and bacteria on your hands by applying a couple of drops of the gel and then rubbing or massaging it over your palms and between your fingers. The gel dries in seconds and there is no need for a wash basin, water or towel.

The gel creates the same effect that would have been achieved had the hands been washed with soap and water, but without the need for a bathroom or washroom. This means that “hand hygiene” can be achieved at any time and in any place in a matter of seconds. This is ideal for those who are conscious about washing their hands before eating snacks at work, or when outside of the home or involved in an outdoor task.

This means that these gels are great to carry around and they can be used to de-bacterialise the hands before eating, or if any potentially “unclean” material has been touched.

Medicated hand cleansing gels are cheap to buy, i.e. they usually cost less than $2 (£1.50), and they are small in size, but last along time. They operate using a piston action spray nozzle.

Here are two examples of these products http://www.expresschemist.co.uk/product_6770_CUT636P.html and http://www.firstaid4sport.co.uk/Anti-Bacterial-Hand-Cleansing-Gel-100ml-P5258/.

Designer radiator style

2009-01-03T09:09:00.000-08:00

There are an awful lot of products that evolve, reach a state of acceptable completeness, and then stagnate.

If you think about it, most utility products fall within this category. They are developed and improved upon until an acceptable level of functionality is achieved, following which they hardly change for years, decades or centuries.

The radiator has, until quite recently fallen into this “stagnating” pigeon hole. It has been functional, application accepted, but aesthetically very unappealing. However changes have been a foot over the last one to two decades.

Many products like radiators, that once were accepted as “function only” products, now see a more demanding buyer who expects style, design, and the enhancing of an environment on visual as well as functional terms. This has led to many a restyling of conventional products among which is the designer radiator.

The designer radiator takes two forms.

The first is a purely aesthetic updating of a conventional liquid heating unit, but one that sees the radiator gain a stylish and even a sculptured appearance. E.g.s of these radiators include tower radiators and heated towel rails and there are many variations on these themes.

These designer radiators combine function and utility with room enhancing style and they result in the radiator being something to showcase as a feature, rather than to hide as an un-inspirational and ugly part of a heating system.

The second kind of designer radiator goes one step further. In this instance, the design seeks to include improved functionality, new materials, or new heating technologies, to make the radiator work.

These radiators are the next generation of heating units and their designs and constructions will influence how we heat our internal environments in the future.

As ever, here are a couple of websites with more information. The first offers several pages worth www.designerradiator.net and the second www.trendir.com/archives/001549.html illustrates a rather bizarre futuristic radiator.

Retro LED digital watches

2008-12-30T05:57:00.000-08:00

I am old enough to remember and have owned several LED watches in the early to mid 1970’s. Unfortunately I was not longsighted enough to keep hold of any of them after their rapid rise was followed by an overnight decline.

These watches were one of the first commercial incarnations of the then new digital LED technology, but when Light Emitting Diodes were superseded by the liquid chronograph display, these watches disappeared – literally in weeks.

The big name (as I remember) in these watches was Pulsar who made a number of stainless steel stylish models. Some had a gun metal finish and the initial red displays were later supplemented with the alternative blue displays. Even Omega brought out an LED watch and anyone without one was seriously out of fashion.

Today the originals of all of these LED watches can fetch considerable sums of money, but there are alternatives for anyone seeking a retro copy.

A company called “Connect” manufacture copies of the most popular “Pulsar” model and other manufacturers do the same with a range of designs that replicate the watch fashions of 1971 to 1978.

If you want one of these watches, then the internet is the place to buy and they start at less than $50 (or £40) and arrive in a presentation box.

Here are a couple of links to sites offering these legacy products although most will be out of stock having just seen the Christmas rush.

They are, http://www.shopwiki.co.uk/detail/q=Retro+LED+Watch+-+Blue/d=Retro+LED+Watch+-+Blue/jumpToFirst=t/ and http://www.led-watch.com/index.htm - enjoy!

Infra red thermometer

2008-12-23T05:56:00.000-08:00

The infra red thermometer is a new product that has been made by a company called Kidz-Med Inc.

So what is the benefit of an infra red thermometer over a regular one?

The answer is very simple, an infra red thermometer is a “non contact” thermometer that takes a temperature reading from a human being or animal without the need for any physical contact.

The thermometer, called “thermofocus”, reads body temperature through a reading taken from the radiated heat that leaves the body, so it requires no thermometer-to-skin contact.

This new thermometer is also very accurate when used properly.

The reading should be taken by pointing the thermometer at the forehead (which has a main artery supplying it) and this produces results that are superior to all non invasive standard thermometer readings.

Naturally, taking the temperature of most people is not a problem, but for babies and young children this device allows clinically accurate and reliable readings without body invasion, or frightening the patient.

Readings can also be taken without disturbance when a patient is asleep.

Sorry, no link for this one!

Wind-up products

2008-12-18T05:16:00.000-08:00

Two type of free energy come from “solar powered” and “wind-up powered” products and these days there are plenty to choose from.

For this post I am going to look very briefly at some of the options available for wind-up products, or products that were once described as clockwork.

The oldest and most popular wind up product is of course the time piece which comes in many guises from wrist watches to grandfather clocks. But with modern and enhanced wind up units, far more energy demanding products can now be run “energy free” using this power source.

The first big wind-up product was the radio and today wind-up radios include DAB radios as well as regular AM and FM units.

Torches, flashlights and lanterns are another highly suited product for wind-up technology.

These items can sit unused for many months allowing standard batteries to run down without use, but wind up technology means that they can be available and charged at very short notice and no cost.

They are also light weight compared with their battery counterparts.

Further wind-up products include chargers that can regenerate rechargeable batteries, or batteries for items like mobile phones, usb devices and mp3 and 4 players.

An alternative to windup power is kinetic power where the product, e.g. a torch, is shaken to generate power in a similar way to the winding mechanism. In general, these products are harder work and require more human energy to charge them.

A Bathroom Gadget

2008-12-15T05:48:00.000-08:00

Here is a very gimmicky, but very clever bathroom gadget that combines a toilet with a washing machine.

Is this a joke?

No, it really is a serious and actually very sensible utility and one that sees space saving as a premium.

The product is a highly stylish and comparatively flat washing machine that is wall mounted above a WC or toilet that sits below it. The toilet is partly encapsulated by the design of the washing machine that includes a recess for the uplifted toilet seat.

The big benefit of this product is that it saves space. The wall space above a toilet is always dead, so this clever device makes use of it in a room that is a utility only area.

There are two other advantages too. Firstly, all necessary plumbing will already be in place and secondly, the washing machine recycles the water that it uses to flush the toilet.

It will also make an interesting talking point for anyone who uses the bathroom!

You can see this novel product here, http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/green-ideas/look-washer-on-top-of-toiletwashup-by-sevin-coskun-046270 although it would appear that it is still a prototype for now.

Solar powered fountains

2008-12-12T13:33:00.000-08:00

Garden fountains are one of the latest home products to feature a solar energy power source.

Using solar energy to supplement a central heating system, or to bring up the ambient temperature of a swimming pool, are among the more mainstream solar energy applications. However, small scale solar powered products are the big innovation in the home and gadget market right now.

Solar power cells for anything from mobile phones to usb devices are the obvious applications, but ornamental garden fountains are another.

A garden fountain requires a fairly small pump and, furthermore, is generally only required in full operation on warm sunny days.

This makes it a perfect solar power device.

How solar fountains work

The fountain, or more appropriately the fountain pump, requires solar matting or some solar cells for the generation of electricity. This solar catchment area need not be too expansive and because of this there are some novel ways of using solar matting for decorative as well as a functional purposes.

A great example of this is to float “purpose shaped” solar matting around the fountain spout giving the impression of a leaf or water Lilly.

These custom fountain kits blend in well and avoid the need to set up a solar collection zone away from the pond or water feature.

For more “power demanding” pumps, or multiple water spouts, a proper solar collector will be included in the fountain kit. This will include a cable to connect the pump to larger areas of solar matting, or fold-up panels that can be laid out, or opened up in a sunny area.

Solar fountains of this type require no mains electricity, so they are easy to install and completely safe.

For more information, you can check out: http://www.watergardeningdirect.com/acatalog/Solar_Fountain_Pumps_153.html.

Magnetic mattress covers

2008-12-09T14:53:00.000-08:00

Magnetic mattress covers, often called magnetic toppers, use magnetic therapy to relieve pain, soreness and fatigue. They help relax the body and thereby improve the quality of sleep.

At least these are the claims that are made of them.

The concept behind magnetic mattress toppers

The magnetic therapy works by taking a quilted material that is embedded with small magnets. A single bed may use a topper with as many as 200, or even 400, small magnets in it.

Each of these magnets are powerful enough to create a small magnetic field, but small enough to go unnoticed by the person resting on them. They are stitched into the body of the quilted topper or mattress protector.

The magnets polarise together to create a catchment area above the beds sleeping surface and this in turn enables the magnetic therapy to go to work on the person sleeping within this magnetic field.

Do they work?

Although these magnetic toppers have no hard and fast evidence to support their pain relieving effectiveness, some initial support has been given to their “possible” benefits by a number of experts in the field.

There are also an increasing number of people who use these products and who claim to have received pain relieving benefits from them.

If you want to find out more, you can look at these two pages, http://www.orthopedicmattress.net/magnetic.html and http://www.orthopaedicmattress.net/magneticmattress.html which go into more detail and illustrate what the products look like.

Fibre optic star field

2008-12-05T03:07:00.000-08:00

This is a rather bizarre, but interesting and entertaining product that is perfect for the bedrooms of children. It allows you to turn a ceiling into something that resembles the night sky, in other words a mini home planetarium.

The Fibre optic star field arrives in a sort of kit form and comprises a large number of small fibre optic cables, all sourced from a central supply.

The cables arrive amassed together and you simply remove the packaging, separate the individual cable strands and start your project.

The way it works is very simple, but quite time consuming. You make a plan of the position of the stars on the ceiling and then drill small holes (large enough to take the optic strands) at the points where you want the stars to appear.

The cables/strands are then fed into each (star) hole from above to produce a complete mini solar system.

For complex designs two or more kits can be combined and suppliers of these "fibre optic star fields" will usually make up custom designs for those who want them.

The same kits can also be used in other rooms and on other surfaces, e.g. walls, to create a range of eye catching and entertaining effects.

For more reading etc, you can check out his website: http://www.starceiling.co.uk/star_kits.html.

3D Photos

2008-12-04T06:37:00.000-08:00

Three dimensional photos are nothing new, but in the past they have been quite crude and simple with a main foreground object, like a person or pet, projecting out from the rest of the picture.

Things have moved on though and aside from paying for the transposition of a standard photo into 3D, you can now buy software for your PC that does the very same thing – and displays it on your high definition monitor.

This kind of technology is still in its relative infancy and the conversion of 2D to 3D is far from perfect. Even so, very good results can be obtained and from comparatively cheep software.

3D Galleries

Another variation of this 3D theme, but one that you can only use on your digital equipment, is to create a 3D gallery.

You can see some examples of this at http://www.mypictures3d.com/galleries.html, but in essence you are able to hang your favourite picture in a range of amazing 3D environments that include the interiors and facades of building, plus nature scenes and some spectacular futuristic creations.

Many of these 3D galleries can also be saved or converted into 3D wallpaper of even screen savers for your PC.

Gadget coffee tables

2008-12-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

You may not be aware of it, but there are a number of coffee tables out there that include some kind of gimmick or gadget. In other words an extra feature or visual accessory that goes beyond their normal use.

Most coffee tables are small low tables and you use them for the purpose of conveniently holding cups, mugs, or a plate or tray of biscuits at arms reach. There are though some much more interesting coffee tables that will appeal to the gadget buff, or simply someone looking for something a little bit different.

First of all, this page http://www.perfect-coffee-tables.com/index.html will tell you a little bit more (with a list of table links towards the bottom), however in summary, here is what you can get.

Lift up coffee table

A lift up coffee table has a table top that lifts, cantilevers or slides to one side allowing storage or some hidden facility to become visible. This kind of table may also have a look that belies a secondary use. E.g. This kind of multifunctional table may convert in to a PC table or have a top surface that can be elevated for working or writing.

Heater table

This kind of table is even more novel and can include a central open heater that simulates a circular hearth with burning embers and real heat. Obviously this is an outdoor patio coffee table, but it still provides a major variation on the coffee table theme.

LED table

This one is a real show stopper and it sees a glass topped coffee table populated by LED lights. To make the gadget even more inspiring, the LED’s are motion sensitive and only light up when a hand or object is placed on them or passed over them. They make an unusual talking point. See this http://www.becausewecan.org/LED_Coffee_Table_The_Wave link for more info.

See this BlogDir site - http://www.blogdir.co.uk

Manifesto

2008-12-02T07:56:00.000-08:00

I will be using this blog to look at and review a range of new, novel and hopefully interesting products.

Some of these products will be new, others will be variations on a theme, and still more may be established products, but those where it is worth taking a look at how technology has influenced or changed them.

The kinds of products covered will include technology driven items, household utilities and the kind of purchases that you may never contemplate making!

As a couple of examples of things to come, here are two products that I intend to review in the near future.

Garden heaters, i.e. those tall and space age looking items that throw out heat in the middle of winter and make a garden usable all year long – at least in theory.

Designer radiators, i.e. radiators where function is often superseded by design criteria and the need to look good.

I will also cover some much more mundane purchases and my selections will not be determined by price, aesthetics or any commercial influences, but rather by what interests or intrigues me.