Top Shelf | The Verge

The engineered dreams behind your favorite toys

2015-08-31T14:41:57-04:00

Remember how much joy you got out of your toys as a kid? Of setting up intricate battles between Jedi action figures and Tickle Me Elmo? Of building elaborate castle-turned-space station with Lego blocks? Of wondering if there really are rules to Mouse Trap outside of just building the thing and then hoping it works? (There's joy in that, somewhere.) As simple as these toys might seem, their creation is a complicated blend of arts of engineering - of dreaming big and turning those dreams into reality.

On this week's episode of Top Shelf, we talk with Judy Ellis, founder and chair of the toy design program at the Fashion Institute of Technol …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Accessibility tech in a hearing-centric world

2015-08-24T10:16:23-04:00

Most of the US is built around the idea that people can hear and understand words that are spoken out loud. Tools like the Eargo hearing aid, motion capture, and closed captions can make the world more inclusive - and accessible.

Read the full story at The Verge.

Can technology make a hearing-centric world more accessible?

2015-08-24T10:05:36-04:00

Most humans live in a hearing-centric world, which means that the needs and preferences of people who are deaf or people who have some form of hearing loss are often overlooked. But some people are trying to change that - and they're using technology to do it.

On this week's episode of Top Shelf, you'll see how Gallaudet University researchers are using motion capture technology and interactive apps to ensure that children who are deaf are exposed to language at an early age. Then, you'll meet the owner of Digital Media Services - a company that does closed captioning for Hulu, Netflix, and even Nicki Minaj music videos. Finally, you'll get …

Read the full story at The Verge.

How to become a DJ

2015-07-31T13:54:04-04:00

DJs are critical darlings, pop producers and the driving force behind the dance floor at every club. Here's what an amateur needs to know to get into the game.

Read the full story at The Verge.

Mixers, turntables, and the best of DJ gear

2015-07-31T13:52:57-04:00

In 2015, DJs are at the heart of music, crafting pop hits and critical darlings alike, along with the usual nightclub duties. The simple act of controlling recorded sound is more riveting and more popular than it's ever been, and that popularity has come with surprising technological changes. What started with a simple turntable has become a melange of mixers, MIDI controllers, CDJs and software suites that tie it all together.

On this week's Top Shelf, we explored the gear behind the music, a combination of sound equipment and surprisingly intricate controllers. You'll see what the DJ booth looks like at Verboten, one of Brooklyn's biggest …

Read the full story at The Verge.

The best of beach tech

2015-07-24T13:48:14-04:00

What's the best tech gear you can bring to the beach with you? Join The Verge's Sean O'Kane and Sam Sheffer in this new episode of Top Shelf to find out.

Read the full story at The Verge.

Best tech to take to the beach

2015-07-24T13:35:57-04:00

When summer is in full swing

You should remember one important thing

The beach may be near or far

But you should get to one, wherever you are

The wet sand, the epic surf

Find the shore and claim your turf

Because our tech future is just about here

So grab your sunscreen, towels, and the rest of your gear

Don't forget your charger, speakers, and GoPro

Take a chance, get outside, this is your summer show

Read the full story at The Verge.

Hoverboards, Flyboards, and the world’s tallest water slide

2025-01-29T16:42:01-05:00

The Verge's Sam Sheffer and Tre Shallowhorn rode a Flyboard and Hoverboard on Long Island. They also traveled to Kansas City to experience Verrukt, the tallest water slide in the world.

Read the full story at The Verge.

The future of water sports is Flyboarding, Hoverboarding, and Verruckt

2015-06-26T13:05:21-04:00

Right now, water sports are as wild and crazy as they've ever been - that's definitely the biggest takeaway from this week's Top Shelf episode.

We traveled to Kansas City to experience Verruckt, the tallest waterslide in the world. It stands taller than Niagara Falls and takes about five exhausting minutes to climb its 264 steps. The experience lasts about 18 seconds from start to finish, and riders reach speeds of up to 50 mph. If you ever find yourself out in Kansas City - and you're comfortable with being very high up - consider a day at Schlitterbahn Water Park.

Here's the most fun you can have on the water this summer

If you're looking …

Read the full story at The Verge.

The smart home of our dreams is almost here

2015-06-12T13:33:20-04:00

We expect our phones, tablets, and sometimes even our watches to be connected. The next great platform, however, is about connecting everything in your home.

Read the full story at The Verge.