The Giz Wiz Show 1697, October 19th 2018 Independent Show #180


The Giz Wiz Show is far into it's 13th year of production, and the fourth year of Independent Production! (The very first show was February 20th, 2006.) Thanks to our wonderful Patreon supporters we continue on! If it wasn't for them, the Giz Wiz Show would be gone. If you'd like to support OMGchad & DickDe in our independent venture (we pay for everything ourselves, including travel) just click the Patreon link at the top of our show web page: http://www.gizwiz.tv. You can also contribute just once via the PayPal link that's there too. And thank you for doing that! Our show wouldn't exist without our viewer's support, but a bit more support would be a big help. Thanks from OMGchad & DickDe!)
This week we check out three unique gadgets from the always exciting Luxury Technology Show.
But first a look back at one of the most astounding gadgets I ever found at a Luxury Technology Show or any tech show! It was an actual aircraft with a 34.8-foot wingspan on display inside a relatively small exhibit space really got my attention! I even got to sit inside the cockpit. I was totally impressed that the entire aircraft and its passengers can be landed safely in an emergency via a built-in parachute. It's a Cirrus Aircraft with equipped with their CAPS system. (Cirrus Airframe Parachute System). In 2014 Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed five million flight hours with 95 lives saved as a direct result of CAPS being a standard safety feature on all Cirrus aircraft. Price is the $700,000 range.
Company website: http://www.cirrusaircraft.com/
Not quite as dramatic, but probably more useful for the tech family is the SmartFlower Solar system. This is another 'big' gadget and they had a full sized unit out in the street so the press could see it in person. The SmartFlower is a fully integrated, all-in-one solar system that can live anywhere, but certainly the sunnier, the better. SmartFlower uses GPS tracking aligned to the specific longitude and latitude of the site where it is installed. This precise tracking can increase productivity by as much as 40%. They do want it setup by one of their installers to get the full warantee. There are two models that use the same moving solar panels, but the “plus” adds built in batteries to keep you in power when the regular power goes out. Within the next few months, all SmartFlowers will be upgraded to allow for remote monitoring. That means, using a smartphone/tablet, the owner and/or the dealer may determine the energy production and whether there are any problems from virtually anywhere in the world. I asked about how much power a SmartFlower typically produces. The answer is anywhere from 4,500 to over 6,500 kWh per year, depending on where it is located. So it's enough for a small house or cottage. And from The Giz Wiz: I asked what happens when it get windy. A spokesperson told me If winds reach 29 mph, the SmartFlower panels automatically move into horizontal position (Safety Position 1) to allow the wind to pass over and under them but the SmartFlower remains open to continue producing energy. If the winds reach 39 mph or higher the panels automatically fold up and down into secure position. The price is $24,950. Installation is about $7,000. The spokesperson said you get 30% rebate from the government for personal use or business use, but if you're using this for a business, you can write the entire investment off. (Better check with your accountant to be sure!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btdX8QdbyRQ
A day done in a minute with SmartFlower in use:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rk2bjO3hjY
See or hear this episode: www.gizwiz.tv/episode/1697