Techno-Lust: Christmas Gifts for the Chemical Engineer Who Has Everything Pt. 1

This is an arbitrary list. The only criteria: inciting that giddy feeling when a technological object elegantly solves a problem, wrapped in beautiful design. It promises a more perfect world than the George Forman Grill. Or the mass-produced car. The techno-lust object goads you into bringing your deepest visions into the world. And if you're lucky, joining a group of like-minded garage inventors or inspired corporations.

The Confederate Motor Company C3 X132 Hellcat

Confederate Motor Company was started 19 years ago by CEO Matt Chambers, who has strong opinions about motorcycle design. The company's first production models were expensive, limited-edition, brutishly exquisite power fantasies. Now they've introduced the C3 X132 Hellcat, their lightest, fastest and cheapest street bike ever-- one review said this new bike...

... is motorcycling at its most raw and visceral - a celebration of metalwork and muscle and a monument to American individualism. It's vastly different to the rest of the motorcycling world and you're invited to kiss its rear hugger if you don't like it.

Confederate has teamed up with S&S Cycle to create a street monster with 145 foot-pounds of torque -- meaning, whenever you jack the throttle and pop the clutch, you get explosive power. The Hellcat targeted at "the American motoring purist" and "priced within the top 10% of Harley Davidson buyers" -- is $45,000, half the cost of previous Confederate bikes. If you can pony up the dough, you'll be riding the perfect, gleaming-steel metaphor of the "New South."

Factor 001: The World's Most Advanced Bike

When you transfer design, technology, and materials from Formula One racing (where BERU f1systems supplies electronics components and composites for every team) to the humble bike, you create the factor 001.

This innovative, lightweight bike (under 7 kg including all equipment) was designed using the same modeling software used to build Formula One cars. Almost all the original parts and key components were designed and manufactured in-house from Formula One-grade materials. The on-board computer, the performance monitoring system and a GPS radio transmitter, are integrated into the handlebars and throughout the bike. 

The Multi-channel electronics package provides unique ergonometric data collection, and can correlate biometric data from the rider, the bike and the environment, making it the best training bike on the planet. The Factor 001 is now available at the famous London department store Harrods. Prices start at $25,000 (the bike plus full electronic package costs $32,000). Read a journalist's review after riding the prototype.

Ion Torrent's DNA Sequencing machine

The greatest pick-up opening line--ever-- "Can I sequence your genome, tonight?" You're on your way if you plunk down $50,000 for Ion Torrent's personal DNA sequencing machine. Normally, a typical setup like this would cost about $500,000. But Ion Torrent wants to take you to the era of desktop sequencing. Goodbye Tupperware party, here comes the neighborhood sequencing party--cocktails and DNA. A touch-screen guides the user through every step of the run, making it simple to use.

The machine weighs less than 50 pounds and has a foot print that's no bigger than a desktop printer, so it fits in the kitchen next to the microwave. Ion Torrent makes this possible with a semiconductor chip that has 1.5 million sensors, each holding a single strand DNA fragment. The chip electronically detects the DNA sequence, unlike other sequencing machines that optically detect DNA with pricey lasers, microscopes, and cameras. It can sequence a DNA sample in a few hours, while other machines can take at least a week. And it can scale up fast. Watch the company's promotional video.

Zealoptic's world's first GPS enabled goggles

These are the only ski goggles with a "Heads Up" performance display. The goggles use GPS and state-of-the-art sensors to track maximum, average, and current speed, current temperature, latitude and longitude, total vertical distance traversed, number of runs completed, and total ground covered. The unobtrusive 2" display is similar to those found in jet pilots' helmets-the LCD "dashboard" continuously displays performance data inside the goggles' right lens frame (does not block view) and alerts when altitude or speed milestones are achieved. 

A built-in stopwatch lets you time and "flag" runs for posterity. You can buy these goggles at Hammacher Schlemmer for $499. The best part of techno object lust: even if you don't own one of these wonders, just passing one on the street, seeing and even touching it, is enough--the future shimmering with possibility.

What are your favorite techno-lusts?

Photos: motorcycle--Confederate Motorcycles Photos: Ski Goggles--Zealoptic's website Photos: Factor oo1--Factor 001 website Photos: DNA sequencer--ion torrent website