What do washing the car, watering plants, and wet T-shirt contests have in common? That was a trick question. You probably answered that they all waste water, but only the first two are a waste of water, wet T-shirt contests are understandable. But they all do add up to a large utility bill. That’s why this intelligent hose concept has a consumption meter.

It will measure your consumption and look futuristic doing it. With the Intelligent Hose, you can spray away on your cars, plants and boobies, safe in the knowledge that you will save money.

NVIDIA and icar have teamed up and are working on a 3D gauge cluster for cars. The pic above is a concept, but if the final product is that awesome, they will really be onto something. The proof of concept shows how adaptable a 3D gauge cluster could be and it is capable of displaying a whole lot of info.

The images show the standard speedometer and fuel gauge, along with radio and navigation information. Relocating this information to the gauge cluster could reduce the need for a second screen in a car’s center stack.

Leigh Aerosystems’ latest concept is the “High Road.” A new kind of flying car. The High Road has already completed initial wind tunnel tests at the San Diego Air and Space Museum’s 12-foot tunnel with great success, which led to more detailed mechanical and structural design.

Some of the operational and performance goals for this aerocar include a 180 mph cruise speed at 15,000 ft., 20,000 ft ceiling and a 500-mile range. Sure, it will cost a fortune when it sees the light of day, but the rest of those poor suckers will be on the ground and you’ll be flipping them the bird while tossing empty red bull cans on skyscraper roofs.

We customize many things in our lives, whether it’s faceplates for phones or skins for computers. But cars haven’t been all that customizable. At least there’s been no easy way to do it. Sure, in the 80s people were putting bras on their cars. Sickos. And you can see some awesome paint jobs, but those are permanent.

This concept is all about the car’s surface displaying an image. We’re talking your car as a giant display. There would be many templates available for various car models, plus you’ll be able to make some yourself. Your car’s design can be updated wirelessly and even shared on the web. We’ll likely never see it since it would make bank robberies easier for the getaway car.

We love video games around here. Whether we’re playing the Xbox 360, the PS3 or even an old Atari 2600. We thought we would take a look at the history of gaming consoles from 1972 to the present. You grew up with the vintage consoles, you play the new ones, so take a walk down memory lane and revisit all your favorites from the massive list below.

It’s dangerous out there for a bike rider. Do you have any idea how many idiots are out there driving vehicles? Having a bike lane on the street that you’re traveling helps a lot. With a bike lane, drivers are more aware of you and you have your own designated space, which should keep you safe. Unfortunately, bike lanes are not on every street. What do you do?

Make your own, that’s what. Always have a bike lane with you. The LightLane is a concept that uses frikkin lasers to project an illuminated bike lane all around you while you are pedaling away. It keeps you visible to cars, which keeps you alive to bike another day.

Nike is developing a pair of glasses for bike riding that could very well save your life. The glasses will extend your peripheral vision so that you are able to see objects behind you. The Nike Hindsight glasses have a special lens on the sides that allows for a field of view greater than the human limit of 180º. It will give you an extra 25º of viewing on both sides, making you see things like some bugs no doubt see the world.

The lenses distort the images on the side but the human eye can only detect motion in that area anyway, so the image will remain clear to you. You’ll be able to see cars or pedestrians coming up from behind you. It’s still a concept at the moment, but I’m sure this is one we will actually see in about 5 years or so.

Love cars? Love zipping your mouse around your desktop pretending it’s a Mustang? Then this might be your thing Speed Racer. These mice are modeled after a range of classics including the Ford Mustang GT, a Chevy Concept Camaro and a Dodge Charger SRT8. The Road Mice collection offers 800 dpi resolution and will work with both PC and Mac. As for ergonomics, not so much. But they’ll let you enjoy a scaled down version if you can’t have the real deal parked in your garage. They retail for $44.95.

This isn’t an espresso machine that fits inside of a formula one racer, but it does look super fast with those two dials on top and the handle that looks like it could be a shifter. It was designed by Tadahito Ishibashi for Japanese retailer deviceSTYLE. The pod-espresso machine Brunopasso PD-1 sports a modular design concept that is actually inspired by the sports cars of the 60’s.

They took several automobile design elements like the gearshift-like handle made from beech wood, and the gauges. You would think that with such cool design it would be one of the most expensive espresso makers, but it’s not. It’s up there at $850, but still affordable. Make your coffee feeling like you are going about 120 mph, then shift gears and drink up, feeling like you’re going a jittery 150.

We’ve seen our share of concept cars, but Jorge Cross’s amphibious vehicle design for the year 2030 blows us away because it’s like a walk down memory lane thanks to it’s obvious retro sci-fi roots. It’s as beautiful as it is strange.

The three-wheeler actually has a large ball in front that rotates 90° to reveal a propeller or tire. Tire by land or propeller by water. The sleek chassis design was a study on the theories of hydrodynamics and how they work with a vehicle’s shape. Jorge Cross is a student at the University of Monterrey in Nuevo León, Mexico. Great job. We have to get these on the road soon. Not that many of us could afford one.

BMW has one hell of new concept car on their hands. It’s known as the GINA Light Visionary Model. It uses a seamless, plastic-coated lycra material, stretched over a metal frame that has moving parts. This gives it shape-shifting attributes. It can actually change body shape without tearing or even loosening of the fabric.(How many Gina’s do you know who can do that?)

Just like in the movies, the steering wheel, gauges and headrest will move into place after you sit down in the seat. The body is made of just four panels, the hood, both sides and one on the rear. Rain won’t ruin your fun either since the material is water resistant. This car can alter simple things like adding or removing a spoiler, or widening and extending fenders, but just think what it could do a few years from now. Looks like the Transformers are coming soon.

This Yamaha-branded Deus Ex Machina concept motorcycle was dreamed up by Jake Loniak, an Art Center Pasadena student. It obviously looks awesome. Like a robot and a vehicle all in one. Since it’s a concept, Jake went a little crazy with the specs. It will be powered by ultra-capacitors and doped nano-phoshpate batteries (like those in hybrid cars). 36 pneumatic muscles and 2 linear actuators are set along a spine consisting of seven vertebrae, and that’s what keeps it in control.

Another cool touch is that the helmet is pneumatically attached for ease-of-use. Jake claims that his design can reach a top speed of 75mph, I’m just not sure how well protected a human would be in this thing. I do know that I want to see it in action NOW.

Airwaves is a compact concept car designed by Lei Liu. The idea is that this little thing is super easy to park, making your automotive adventure less stressful. The Airwaves design is also intended to be safe, comfortable and an all around fun ride for the driver and passengers. You might even be ready for a big boy concept car after you’ve mastered this tricycle type. The car has an LCD screen on back that displays information like weather reports, news, or a greeting from the driver.

With an LCD screen in the back, just how many people are they thinking fit in this tiny thing? The good news is that the Airwaves is electric and has zero emissions.

The idea behind Hanyoung Lee’s Virtual Wall concept is that plasma laser beams would assist pedestrians while they cross from one side to another, so they don’t have to worry about being run over. The light-formed force-field type barrier would keep cars and humans apart.

Many questions remain, like what happens if your car runs into it? Will you get a flat? Will it kill your engine like a UFO? Despite our lingering questions, we can’t wait for something like this to become reality. Mostly because we like shiny red plasma laser beams.

The students at Virginia Tech are a pretty intelligent bunch. They’ve come up with a new system for automobile braking lights that will indicate whether you are stopping, or just slowing down, based on how quickly you put your foot down on the brake. The solution for a better brake, as it turns out is really pretty simple.

The concept uses an array of horizontal LED lights. When you start to slow down, the center lights will glow orange and after a pre-programmed time, the side lights will turn red. If you slam on the emergency brake, then all the lights turn red instantly. If we could just get it to flash the finger for those people who stay way too close behind you, I’d be happy. They think these will be easier to add as additional indicators on commercial vehicles at first, but who knows, one day soon all cars may sport these.