Knit hat stabs you in the head if you don't smile

Lisa Katayama 9:07 am Thu Oct 29, 2009

Interactive designer Lauren McCarthy used Arduino to make a wooly ~~torture device~~ hat that she calls the Happiness Hat — it has sensors that detect when you're smiling — when you're not smiling, it sticks a metal spike into your head. Here's a short description from her web site:

An enclosed bend sensor attaches to the cheek and measures smile size, a servo motor moves a metal spike into the head inversely proportional to the degree of smile. Through repeated use of this conditioning device you can train your brain to smile all the time.

Happiness Hat web page via Core77

The Thai Chefs Moon Knife can be the new centerpiece meal prep tool in your kitchen

If you aren't up to speed on the intricacies of knives and knife production, then a Thai Moon Knife might look more like a weapon than a kitchen utensil. With a wide blade that visually looks more like a cleaver than a traditional food preparing knife, it's the product of more than 200 years of… READ THE REST
The AtomXS is the instant emergency power-up charger every smartphone owner needs

When the new flagship phone of the Android universe, the Samsung S21, rolls out on Jan. 29, it'll be the latest smartphone leap forward, yet still part of a curious trend that doesn't make any buyers happy. Just like the iPhone 12 when it debuted last year, the S21 will be hitting store shelves without… READ THE REST
All of these reusable water bottles can help save the planet while they save you up to 40% off

It's just a water bottle, right? Wrong. A decade ago, most of us loved the convenience of bottled water. Now, a plastic water bottle has undergone a public perception metamorphosis. What was once the height of ease and simplicity is now basically viewed as a detriment to the environment. READ THE REST
Want to learn to code? These 12 learning bundles will teach you everything you need to know

If you want to learn to code, but don't know where to begin…welcome to programming. Seriously, there are dozens of different avenues for understanding how to use everything from Java and Python to C++, Ruby on Rails, and more. Each programming discipline or tool also comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses that… READ THE REST
Markup Pro makes it simple to find and share what you want off the web

Gathering notes off various web pages across the web feels like it should be a simple process. Just scoot through your assorted pages, copy the text, graphics, images, and other elements that you want, paste them into your notes and you're all set. Of course, anybody who's ever actually tried to take notes online is… READ THE REST
This espresso press can turn out a brilliantly powerful brew in minutes and it's less than $50

If you're a coffee-lover, specifically, a lover of espresso, then you already know that picking up an espresso machine is not cheap. Those machines pressurize boiling water, then fire it at finely ground coffee beans for a richer, more caffeine-fueled result than your normal drip-brewed coffee. That specialization is why many won't pay for a… READ THE REST