Widescreen: Airbus unveils transparent airplane

Airbus has unveiled a futuristic concept for a transparent plane that may be everyday air transport in 2050. With its see-through aircraft cabin, passengers of the future will get a window on the world as they fly through the sky. They will be able to see everything to the sides and in front of them.


The concept cabin unveiled at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, would be a bionic structure that 'mimics' the efficiency of the bird bone, claimed the company.


It would provide strength where needed, and also allows for an intelligent' cabin wall membrane, which controls air temperature and can become transparent to give passengers open, panoramic views.


The company believes that mid-century passengers might be able to enjoy a game of virtual golf or take part in interactive conferences, while the cabin 'identifies and responds' to travelers' needs.


In the 'interactive zone' there are virtual pop-up projections taking passengers to whichever social scene they want to be in, from holographic gaming to virtual changing rooms for active shoppers.


The 'smart tech zone' is tailored towards the more functional-orientated passenger with what Airbus describes as 'a chameleon-style offering.'


It aims to meet individual needs ranging from a simple to a complete luxury service, but all allowing 'you to continue life as if on the ground'.


"Our research shows that passengers of 2050 will expect a seamless travel experience while also caring for the environment," the Daily Mail quoted Airbus engineering executive vice-president Charles Champion as saying.


"The concept cabin is designed with that in mind, and shows that the journey can be as much a voyage of discovery as the destination," he added.

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Sex robot unveiled in China

A Chinese company has unveiled a sex robot which it claims can recognise - and even chat to - its owner.

The 5ft 5ins robot has realistic skin and muscles made of silicon gel on an advanced medical metal skeleton.

Love Sex Company manager Li Jian said the £3,000 robots were aimed at well-paid executives who were too busy to meet real women.

Customers could choose the face and figure of their robot which would be programmed to recognise its owner's face and hold conversations with him, or her, in a choice of languages.

It can also be controlled remotely to take up different positions and some body parts can even shake, added Li.

The doll attracted crowds of curious onlookers when it was unveiled at a Sex Culture Exhibition in Xi'an, capital of western China's Shaanxi Province.

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Designer creates solar-powered bikini

A New York-based designer has invented a solar-powered bikini so wearers can charge their iPod or camera as they lie in the sun.

Andrew Schneider, 30, sewed together 40 paper-thin photo-voltaic panels together with soft conductive thread to produce his iKini which comes complete with USB ports sewn into the fabric.

Mr Schneider told the International Business Times that he came up with the idea during a brainstorming session at New York University.

"I didn't really have anything exciting so I leaned over to my friend and just jokingly said that I was going to make a bikini that could cool your beer at the beach," he said.

He then decided there was some merit in the idea and started work on developing a prototype - before realising there were an important stumbling block.

"The original bikini didn't have enough surface area to kick out the juice necessary to... cool the beer, so I downgraded to a lower power device. I plugged in my iPod and it worked," he said.

He is now selling the iKinis with prices ranging from £300 to £900 with each one custom-built and tailor-made for the wearer.

The designer now plans to go back to his original idea by developing shorts for men that can keep drinks cold.

"We're currently building and testing prototypes for the iDrink. It's just going to have to have more surface area so we're using men's board shorts," he explained.

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Naked shoppers queue for clothes

Hundreds of young shoppers endured the rain in their underwear to queue up outside a London fashion store in the hope of winning free clothes.

Spanish label Desigual promised an outfit of their choice to the first 100 people who showed up at their Regent Street branch, reports the Evening Standard.

The first punters turned up at 11pm the previous night and by morning the queue was 300-strong, meaning many left disappointed.

Crowds flooded through the doors, grabbing their favourite pieces off the pegs before leaving the shop fully clothed.

One 22-year-old girl said: "I have been queuing from 2am this morning, it's been amazing - a little cold but definitely worth it to get some free clothes."

The stunt also took place in Stockholm, Amsterdam and Berlin under the slogan: "Arrive half naked - leave fully dressed."

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