Ever wonder how that Canadian Maple Syrup gets into the bottle that is sitting beside your stack of pancakes? Our friends over at The Workshop have made a short video that demonstrates the Maple Syrup making process from tree to bottle. Unlike other syrups it doesn’t start by crushing fruit or melting sugar, Maple Syrup is simply the boiled tree sap!

"Maple syrup is a sweetener made from the sap of maple trees. In Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States it is most often eaten with waffles, pancakes, and French Toast. It is sometimes used as an ingredient in baking, the making of candy, preparing desserts, or as a sugar source and flavoring agent in making beer. Sucrose is the most prevalent sugar in maple syrup."

Alessandro from 5Volt.eu has made this real simple and cool clock . The Laser Sundial Clock Project uses a Atmel microcontroller to move a servo with a line laser connected to it. The result is a single line that can simply represent the time on the wall.

"This is a simple project of a sundial wherein the pinion is replaced by a line LASER I took from a LASER level. The LASER is mounted on a RC servo which in turn is driven by a micro controller. The micro controller keeps the time and turns the RC servo accordingly."

Via: Dvice

This Defendius Labyrinth Security Lock would be so much fun (except in case of fire). When staying in hotels I have always wondered how simple it would be for someone on the outside to open the chain lock that are common in hotel rooms. That would not even be a consideration if this was the lock installed in the room.

"This innovative lock is designed by Art Lebedev Studio… responsible for the amazing Optimus Maximus keyboard with a tiny screen on each key. Constructed of 100% titanium alloy, nothing less than a level forty-two spell of ultimate cutting will break the Defendius lock open. Really, just look at it: no one is getting out easily. You’ll have to guide the lock nib through the labyrinth before you can open to door."

Via: Toolmonger and TechEBlog

Here is a cool idea that could give your baker a way to stand out from the crowd. Baker Tweet gives your baker a simple way to tell their following that the garlic bread just came out of the oven. In the new always online world this type of technology is sure to be common place in the near future. Have a look at the video to see how simple and intuitive the interface is.

"BakerTweet is a way for busy bakers to tell the world that something hot and fresh has just come out of the oven. It’s as simple as turning the dial and hitting the button. All of the baker’s followers get a Twitter alert to tell them that it’s bun-time. Or bread time. Or whatever.

In simple terms it’s a bakery-proof box that sends messages wirelessly to Twitter. The clever bit is that the baker can update their messages and things they’re selling using a simple web interface. Obviously not something that you’d do mid-bake but it’s an important feature for future-proofing the device."

Via: Core77

You can buy can crushers at Costco, place your can in the opening, pull a lever and viola you have a squished can. Of course you can achieve the same results using some high voltage electronics. Bob Davis has the right idea here, he is letting technology make his recycling life easier with his 1600 Volt Can Crusher. All it takes is 1600 volts and a bit of bravery to get over the electrocution risk.

"First I used 4 big capacitors and then later I stepped up to 8 of those big capacitors. I fried the old SCR and then replaced it with an ED431825 that can handle 1.8 KV (1800 Volts) and 250 amps continuous and 6.5 KA peak (6500 Amps). This design started out with one MOT (Microwave Oven Transformer) then for a while it had two MOT’s. "

There are lots of programs for things such as providing sports equipment to kids who would otherwise not be able to afford it. The Chicago area has a great bunch of people who are bringing robot building to young people who would otherwise not be able to afford it. The group is called Bots 4 Tots, if you want to give someone a helping hand into this wonderful industry why not make a donation.

"The goal of Bots 4 Tots is to bring robotics to the lives of curious youngsters who would not have the opportunity to learn about the craft otherwise.

Every penny that is donated to Bots 4 Tots becomes a beginner’s robotics workshop for a Chicago area child. Robot City Workshop sponsors these sessions at its Lakeview store (one block away from Sheffield and Belmont).

For every $25.00 donation, 1 child gets:

1. A complete build-your-own-robot kit, that he or she will assemble at our workshop and take home that day.
2. A fun and engaging environment in which to build his or her robot: the classroom located at the Robot City Workshop store.
3. All the tools the child will need to complete the build-your-own-robot kit, courtesy of the Robot City Workshop.
4. Helpful guidance for those often-tricky instructions: Bots 4 Tots Founders, Don and Alexis, as well as Robot City Workshop employees will be available to assist the child because we want them to succeed at their first attempt! (They’ll have their fair share of trouble-shooting down the line if they pick up the hobby!)"

There are many ways to go about automating your home. One of the easiest methods is to use X10 technology which uses the existing AC house wiring for communication. This is nice because you can control lights and appliances without running any wires in your walls. Xtenscape which was developed by Scott Hather allows you to take control of this X10 technology using the free custom built app. There is also a Windows and Mac version available which is nice to see. The author has just recently announced that he has released an iPhone and iPod Touch app that will allow users of his Xtenscape software to control the home automation system. 

"I’ve just released an iPhone app on the iTunes store called ‘Xtenscape’, its a free app. It will connect to Xtenscape for Mac and Windows, and that program will control your X-10 home automation modules around your home or office. This is nothing new, you can do this already, but apart from the X-10 hardware(modules), this is totally FREE. This is a video demonstration of how it works. So simple, your granny could do it. "

Via: Automated Home