Japanese electronics manufacturing giant Toshiba has developed a supermarket scanner that can identify food and price it without a barcode. Here's how it works:

Instead of barcodes, the scanner uses a camera to identify objects—so fresh fruits and vegetables that don’t usually have barcodes can be automatically identified and input by staff more easily.

Only objects put in front of the ‘Object Recognition Scanner’ (ORS) are ‘illuminated’ on screen and seen by the camera, so that noise in the background of the object does not interfere and confuse the scanner.

The scanner can recognize objects while they’re moving, the difference between different types of similar objects (such as, a Fuji apple, a Jonagold, and a Matsu apple), and even beer cans and coupons.

To differentiate similar objects, the camera recognizes the subtle different patterns in color and pattern.

Whether this new innovation in supermarket technology will speed up our checkout times or result in some cashiers becoming even lazier is anybody's guess, but one thing's for sure-if this machine can tell the difference between types of produce it should help prevent overcharging at the checkout counter.

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Illustrator Charles Paul Wilson III decided to make the Avengers look a bit softer and fluffier, so he took them down to the 100 Aker Wood and showed the group how to channel their inner Pooh Bear.

Charles' illustrations are heroically adorable, and it's great fun to see these superfolks in a kinder, gentler light. Oh, and the old school kids book look ain't bad either.

Link  --via Rampaged Reality

This version of Iron Man has a bright future--working as an advertising mascot for a local chain of drycleaners.

Taking a literal look at comic book legend Iron Man, this cosplayer is bringing the funny to one of the most popular members of the Avengers while looking quite domestic. But don't ask him to press your trousers for you, or you'll be in for a steam blast to the face and third degree burns. That suit must weigh a ton!

Link  --via ComicsAlliance

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Cartoon Network's DC Nation animation block is bringing comic book superfolks back to the small screen, and shows like Young Justice and the new Green Lantern series have a unique art style and plenty of action to satisfy even the most discriminating cartoon critic.

This adorable teaser for the DC Nation is just long enough to leave you wanting more, and Baby Superman could make for a hilarious alternate reality version of the Man of Steel. But can an average human being survive the changing of this little guy's diapers?

--via The Mary Sue

 

Dutch designer Joep Verhoeven has added an artistic twist to the typical chain link fence, while retaining its durability and function. The company is called Lace Fence, and the fences they create have a delicate and graceful style that will add some flavor to your neighborhood without compromising your safety, all custom made to order by the square meter.

They're designed with a 2d drawing program, so no pattern is too intricate or shape too organic for this lace inspired barricade, and customers love the fact that their custom fence creation is truly unique. You can see more designs at the link below, they're changing the way we think about chain link fencing.

Link  --via CNet

You'll be stylin' and profilin' in this Battlestar Galactica Warrior's Battle Jacket, whether you're getting your boogie on at the disco or piloting a Starhound Viper through a meteor storm.

If this retro magazine ad has inspired you to change up your style with a sci-fi style twist, then head to Ebay, where you can get your own for around $250.  According to the ad copy, the jacket is the "perfect family jacket for anywhere wear. " 'Nuff said.

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Shaun White had better watch out for Ratatouille the snowboarding opossum, because if this little guy learns how to grind the halfpipe or drop a backflip 360 off a ramp his power of adorableness coupled with his snow shredding skills will make him the new king of winter sports.

--via The Daily What

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The spunky red panda in this video doesn't tolerate any pumpkins messing around in his neck of the woods, and he's more than happy to demonstrate his kung fu skills as he teaches this particular pumpkin some manners. We already know how cute red pandas can be, now this guy demonstrates that they're also tough as nails.

-via Stuff I Stole From The Internet

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Darth Vader is a captivating individual, and when he takes to the streets playing a bagpipe version of the Star Wars theme while riding a unicycle people stop to listen, and thankfully someone decided to capture the incident on video.

Channeling the Dark Side via bagpipe is awesome enough, but doing it while wearing a kilt is what makes this Darth a true boss.

--via Obvious Winner

The Brazilian city of Taubate has hired 50 year old military veteran Andre Luiz Pinheiro to dress up as Batman and fight street crime vigilante style throughout the city.

Residents, local business owners and police are hoping that the Caped Crusader's presence will inspire others to help clean up the neighborhood, and they want him to serve as a beacon of hope for the children in the area.

Local criminals are probably hoping he doesn't hang them from ten story buildings by their feet. No word on whether Taubate has its own version of the Joker, but if they do he is probably the King of Carnaval.

I hope they give Andre bulletproof armor and some heavily armed backup, otherwise the mean streets of Brazil might eat him alive. Then again, Andre might end up single-handedly starting his own Justice League Brazil.

(EDIT: The comment section has the follow up to this article, which clarifies that Andre isn't going to be fighting crime after all, but rather simply talking to kids about crime. The original article source was wrong, if you want to read the real story hit one of the two links below. )

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A while back I posted about the Portal Gun replica being released by NECA, and it was glorious (the gun, not the article). Well, this bad mofo, built by crafty individual Batman-N-Bananas, puts that pretty little number to shame.

It's a Steampunk styled Portal Gun, like the one carried by Chell in the Portal video game franchise, and it's so purrrrty I just want to mount it on my wall and stare at it all day long. Here's the ridiculously exhaustive list of stuff used to construct this beauty:

"2 antique clock movements, 1 +1/2 hangers, Metal teapot stand, plastic mechano, plumbing parts, 1 plant pot, 1 hair gel pot + various lids, plastic tub (those ones you get nuts in the the supermarket), plastic tubing, lots and lots of nuts and bolts, miniature storage box (for the battery compartment), pocket laser disc (you can get them on ebay if anyone's interested), 3 lightbulbs, carboard tube, metal covering from an old hairbrush, AV socket, tons of odds and ends from [his] parents garage, oh and of course the usuals - milliput, humbrol and warhammer paints, hot melt glue and about 6 gallons of superglue."

I personally wouldn't risk damaging this wonderful work of video game themed art by lugging it to my local WhateverCon, but a Steampunk Chell costume would be pretty cool...oh wait, there she is, at the link below! And she's got the gun strapped to her arm AT A CON!!! *gasp*

Link  --via Obvious Winner

Stupid funny GIFs really make me smile, like these clips created by Roberto Salvador which feature Batman and Robin running for their lives from various evil forces.

I don't know whether I'm smiling because the GIFs themselves are funny, or because someone spent time making such ridiculous clips, but either way I have to collect them all like Pokemon then pass them along to my entire contact list like a real GIF giving son-of-a-gun.

Check out the Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder making a timely escape at the link below, they're fun running wild and free on your desktop.

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Who says normalcy is the only way to fly? Throw one of these crazy masks created by Bertjan Pot on your face and let your freak flag flap freely in the breeze.

Created via happy accident when Bertjan tried to make a carpet out of "rope stitched together with textile fibers", they're whimsically disturbing and sure to make you the most talked about person in town, all behind your back of course.

So put on a happy face, or a frown for that matter, because nobody can see your face when you strap one of these things on!

Link  --via Jaz Jaz

Despite the fact that they look nothing alike (yet), Mitt Romney and Mr. Burns sure have a lot in common, especially when it comes to hilariously bad quotes.

Have fun testing yourself with this quiz created by MAD magazine online, aside from the few famous Mitt quotes it's way harder than you think, and no peeking!

Link  --via Buzzfeed

Become one with the killer whales by riding around inside them! This slick Orca shaped submarine brings sexy back to the beach, and mammals riding around inside a mammal shaped vehicle means twice the mammalian madness!

This baby can breach just like the Son of Sharktopus, has a high speed of 25 mph, and it's got a sweet hi-def speaker system to boot. The one drawback-the $100k price tag, which will have you jumping through hoops for quite some time in order to save up enough scratch. But isn't that inside-of-Shamu feel worth it?

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