A partnership between MIT’s Changing Places Group and DENOKINN has yielded an amazing innovation for city dweller: the fold-able car! The Hiriko Project was started in 2010, and is becoming a reality thanks to DENOKINN. The car is fully electric, compact and swivels into a shorter version, for easier city parking and storing.

Hybra salutes this incredible innovation and design– we look forward to seeing these!

To learn more about this project, visit their site here: Hiriko

The big news in the tech community over the past week has been the imminent public offering of Facebook stock. The company halted a portion of its trading for a few days recently, setting off signals to the business world that the IPO was near. Reports are seriously speculating that Facebook will choose financial firm, Morgan Stanley to handle the IPO soon.

Experts estimate the Initial Public Offering at $100 billion. It is the social media site most utilized by individuals, Americans spending up to 8 hours per month browsing, and business have taken notice!

Debuted at CES 2012, The Kit, by Livio Radio is providing a necessary niche in the  car audio/iPhone market with Internet Car Radio. The Kit features bluetooth technology, which allows the user to use their iPhone hands free, making calls by using a voice activated microphone system, listening to music through any iPhone application, all while driving safely. At $119.00, this systems offers people the ability to enjoy their music, and take and make calls without having to optimize their car,  or subscribe to satellite radio!

We are proud that Livio Radio has partnered with us to create the most user-friend experience with our sound band™!

A few ways you can affect this legislation:

1) Call or email your congress person.

See Wikipedia’s blackout site today and enter your zip code for this information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

2) Sign this petition, created by Google if you are against this legislation:

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

3) Tweet #stopSOPA to spread awareness with your friends and associates. Or advocate for your stance via twitter.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Target announced it will be installed 25 mini Apple stores this year. Along with the new specialty technology area, shoppers will also experience a new kind of design partnership Target has formed: The Shops at Target. A few specialty brands will set up shop, literally, within participating Target locations for 6-week rotations.

This innovation and change to their sales floor comes after success with high fashion designers creating lines especially for target. Think Michael Graves for Target.

Target continues to provide discount pricing for well-designed merchandise, and we are big fans!

Marines have asked for iPads to guide the remote-controlled helicopters now being successful used on missions. The Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System provides cargo missions for the Marines, and had its first effective mission less than four weeks ago.

As this program develops, Marines are voicing feedback, asking for technology that would allow the controller to run the helicopter from an iPad or tablet. The sound band ™ could provide extra sensory information for the controller as well.

In his new book, From A to B, David Axe explores the implications of the growing use of driverless vehicles utlized by the US armed forces.

The ball is able to scuttle across floors, up inclines, and all at the control of your fingertips! This invention, while seemingly just fun, inspires the idea that robotics can be accessible to everyone– simple-looking devices, and easy-to-use interfaces make the Spiro Robot Ball an awesome innovation– and we want one!

One Laptop Per Child has debuted their version of the tablet, and with CES happening in Las Vegas, NV right now, there is a green buzz in the air. The tablet debuted on Sunday, at the show, and is incased with their signature lime-green pplastic, making it rugged and child friendly, and its estimated cost is $100 or below.

The organization provides laptops to children in third world countries, creating a stronger, more effective learning program in their schools.

The OLPC VO 3.o tablet is constructed with a chargeable solar pannel, giving the user upt to two hours of use. This is an exciting innovation, and we look forward to hearing more as these tablets are deployed.

Recently scientists Hany Farid and Eric Kee, of Dartmouth, have developed a formula that detects where specific areas of photos have been retouched, and to what extent. This tool raises concerns from the production side: retouchers, as well as models and celebrities, are reacting with anxiety due to the proposed indicator scale possibly appearing on published images.

Meanwhile psychiatric health professionals and activist groups regard this tool as imperative to promote healthy self-image and body image in girls, women and all readers.

The image above displays the ways the tool can read a photograph and identify manipulated areas in a published photograph.