Weird
After the blue guy I blogged about few days ago, there is another colored-project I ran across recently: the orange man. The point in this case is to eat a metric ton of carrots to be turned into a full sized man orange.
(via) A study of the sonic properties of Genetically Modified (GM) potatoes by Alex Berman, David McCallum and Sue Huang
A performance piece using potatoes as power and sound source in the service of art and science. (...) The potatoes are used as a power source for the performance by supplying conventional potato battery power. Using zinc (galvanized nails) and copper (thick wire), each potato generates .5 to 1 volt. The individual potatoes can be linked together in serial or parallel to increase voltage and/or amperage. The potato batteries power circuits that generate square waves with varying frequency and intensity depending on the voltage and amperage drawn from the potatoes, which is controlled by the performers by manipulating the battery configuration on the fly. Piezo contact mics are used to process physical interaction with potatoes (i.e. slicing potatoes, grinding potatoes, peeling potatoes, boiling and frying potatoes, etc.)
Why do I blog this? I like this kind of project, very 'off-the-wall', hacking vegetable sounds good.
Connected pasta it's close to this idea of creating botanical gameboys.
Tahnks regine for pointing me on this awful resource: baby cage, "specialized in infant confinement system since 2001":
At BabyCage.net we believe that the most important tool you need in life to succeed is discipline. Without discipline and structure, a child may become succeptible to liking rock and roll, doing drugs, or in an extreme case believing in liberalism. Americans need a way to revive the original parent/child structure. Unfortunately in the new world of fear and terror, we cannot do this through violence as parents of the past did. Parents are busier than ever, leaving no time to supervise the children. The smart and educated parents of the world realize that it is not healthy for their children to grow up in a world of fantasy with the television, video games and internet.
Well, it may be a hoax...
Via mouthguards, impressive skateboard mouth protections (called SKATEBOARDING PROTECTION: Gumshields for Serious Sports):
Welcome to the Gumshields.com portal for protecting teeth in serious sports and extreme sports. SKATEBOARDING MOUTHGUARDS PROTECT YOUR TEETH: SERIOUS SKATEBOARDING needs serious protection. Gumshields mouthguards are an essential part of your serious sport equipment and what better protection for the serious sportsperson than a gumshield mouthguard made by Gumshields.com -the specialists mouthguard makers in serious sport gumshields for tooth protection.
An odd news on Ananova today: musical breast implants:
Computer chips that store music could soon be built into a woman's breast implants. One boob could hold an MP3 player and the other the person's whole music collection. BT futurology, who have developed the idea, say it could be available within 15 years. BT Laboratories' analyst Ian Pearson said flexible plastic electronics would sit inside the breast. A signal would be relayed to headphones, while the device would be controlled by Bluetooth using a panel on the wrist.
A fully intangible interaction... wtf!?
More about it: The future of breast implants by Ian Pearson:
Silicone sounds a bit like silicon, which of course is used in many electronic chips. That’s because silicone gel is based on silicon. In fact, it is possible to make some electronic circuits based on silicone, though they are not well suited to heavy computing tasks. Other kinds of plastic can even be used to make organic displays (using organic LEDs). So knowing this as an engineer, it is now very hard for me to think of breast implants as purely decorative. I just can’t help feeling that if a woman is going to have something implanted permanently, it might as well do something useful. (...) So why not still use a combination of silicone and other plastics in the implant, but do something useful with them? One implant could house a range of gadgetry such as an MP3 player and the other store the woman’s entire music collection – we call this concept mammary memory! God provides her with two beautifully designed control knobs to select the track and adjust the volume.
This last point is utterly crazy... hopefully the end is better: "of course, there are now a wide range of medical monitors in use"
(via A Welsh View), an atrocious and harmful baby carrier (featured here):
I am speechless
It seems that birds have diapers!
FlightSuits!™ Cleverly disguised, Soft, Stretchy, Reusable pet bird diapers! Allows feathered friends out of cages both in & out of the house - Worry-free from embarrassing accidents (poop) or dangerous fly-aways. Easy on & off! Great for travel! Breathable, easy clean fabric! Use over and over for years! Patented "poop-pouch" safely keeps droppings away from birds (and you). Does not inhibit preening, movement, or flight! Droppings land in "poop-pouch" leaving vent clear. Unique, Velcro adaptor (LifeRing) with reinforced grommet accommodates convenient detachable leash option! (sold separately) Makes for more tame birds!
The motto is awesome: "Make your bird a star! Send us your favorite picture of your feathered friend wearing his or her FlightSuit!™ " What a nice device!
(via) Giant Microbes is a company that make stuffed animals that look like tiny microbes:
Now available: The Common Cold, The Flu, Sore Throat, Stomach Ache, Cough, Ear Ache, Bad Breath, Kissing Disease, Athlete's Foot, Ulcer, Martian Life, Beer & Bread, Black Death, Ebola, Flesh Eating, Sleeping Sickness, Dust Mite, Bed Bug, and Bookworm (and in our Professional line: H.I.V. and Hepatitis). Each 5-to-7 inch doll is accompanied by an image of the real microbe it represents, as well as information about the microbe. They make great learning tools for parents and educators, as well as amusing gifts for anyone with a sense of humor!
I am not sure whether the lat sentence is really true but... the ulcer and the stomach ache are quite good:
Brendan Dawes is doing amazingly intriguing things. Since I like melted stuff and weird forms plus I am doing research on human-computer interaction (with sometimes a focus on kids game controllers), how could I resist to a project that aims at using Play-Doh as an interface to control digital media?
Analog control of digital devices and media has always appealed to me. Like the controllers for a PS2, they allow degrees of fuzziness in a world made of very strict ones and zeroes. Life is not black and white, so for deeper interactive experiences we need to look at control devices that allow our analog thinking brains to influence and control this digital world. Play-Doh is a fantastic analog material. It’s the total opposite of the ones and zeroes paradigm. So I took the idea of exploring Play-Doh as a fuzzy interface, looking at various ways to use this tactial, fun “interface” and use it to control digital media. In this example the amount of Play-Doh on screen dictates how fast the film plays.As I [Brendan] twist the Play-Doh and take bits away, the film reacts accordingly in real-time. Add too much Play-Doh and the film rapidly speeds up. An intimate connection is made between the user and the media. Every action has a reaction in the digital space. No scary buttons to press. No instructions to read. It’s just Play-Doh.
Why do I blog this? because I like this crazy interface!
Found here, a recursive ergonomic sign:
I think I am really into a pet clothes mode lately: look at this very nice inflatable hat for dogs (found on stupid.com):
Just ran across this post by Jussi Angesleva in which is referring to many applications of duct tape. I am crazy of duct taped stuff (as you may know) - besides I am also crazy of Jussi's work, I don't post much things he did here because a certain belgian person living in italy always do so faster than me. So let's go back to duct tape. There are some interesting stories on the 3M website like:
- An Edmonton man duct taped his entire car
- Apollo 13 astronauts used it for repairs and the Apollo 17 astronauts to keep dust off the lunar rover’s fenders; it is now policy to have a roll on every space shuttle mission [wasn't it some duct tape on the space shuttle lately?]
- Wrap pieces around your fingers to protect your skin when working with interlocking brick or stone
- Make fashion statements: wallet, purse, belt, tie, hat, umbrella with a matching raincoat
- Secure items for transportation home from your local building centre
Of course pictures are tremendously interesting too, like this hammock which is - as for me - one of the best in the world (especially because there is a television involved!):
(via), a very quirky way to solve some gas-related issues:
A German inventor says he's found a way to make cheap diesel fuel out of dead cats. Dr Christian Koch, 55, from Kleinhartmannsdorf, said his method uses old tyres, weeds and animal cadavers. They are heated up to 300 Celsius to filter out hydrocarbon which is then turned into diesel by a catalytic converter. He said the resulting "high quality bio-diesel" costs just 15 pence per litre. Koch said the cadaver of a fully grown cat can produce 2.5 litres of fuel - meaning around 20 cats are needed for a full tank. He said: "I tank my car with my own diesel mixture and have driven it for 105,000 miles without any problems." Annelise Krauss of the Dresden Animal Protection Association blasted Koch's new diesel though, saying: "This is as bad as experimenting on animals."
... time will tell..
(via), it's totally cheesy but I have to admit that I like this kind of stuff (it's even better than the 'turn your doberman into a poodle' outfit): Bee-Dogs which is described as "the premier online repository for pictures of dogs in bee costumes".
Here is the 'elevator pitch':
I [Gina Zycher] stumbled upon this picture after doing a Google image search, probably for âshih tzuâ or something equally ridiculous. I love the idea of taking your dog to a professional photographer, but what made this plucky pet parent decide to dress her fur-baby up like a bee? And the photographer actually had an appropriate background setup! Amazing.  I began to find more and more pictures of beedogs on the web, much to my delight.  After a while, I took to saving the pictures I found. And now, dear reader, I share the beedogs with you.     Beedogs.com was conceived and created by Gina Zycher.
People interested can contribute to this project.
This device seems extremely interesting in terms of potential (WEIRD) uses: ECH2O Dielectric Aquameter:
The ECH2O Dielectric Aquameter is a new, low-cost sensor for measuring volumetric water content of soil and other porous materials. It uses new technology and durable materials to enable you to monitor moisture content over a wide geographic area. Best of all, it is inexpensive enough to allow you to install several of them in your field or plot without breaking the bank.
Why do I blog this? okay I need a coffee...
| My oh my: Pillcam, with this kind of stuff I really feel like living in 2005, do some people think about deviant usage of this?! |  |
The PillCam™ ESO video capsule is specifically designed to view the inner lining of the Esophagus. The capsule is equipped with miniature cameras on both ends and is about the size of a multi-vitamin, which can be swallowed easily. The patient swallows the capsule lying down, and is then raised in a series of inclinations over a total of 5 minutes. The PillCam™ ESO travels through the esophagus by normal peristaltic waves, flashing 14 times per second, each time capturing images of the inner lining of the esophagus.
During this five-minute procedure, the PillCam™ ESO captures images, which are transmitted to the sensor arrays. These images then travel from the sensors, along the wires to the DataRecorder™. (...) Once all equipment is removed from the patient, the portable DataRecorder™ downloads the video images to a designated workstation, from which the physician views and assesses the results in order to recommend next steps in the patient’s treatment.
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| (via) Impressive! Waiting Machine by Chris Eckert: |  |
People like Patricia Piccinni always wondered where "gargantuan trucks - trucks as big as whales came from, where they were going, and especially the relationship between the families of trucks that travelled together". That's why she came out with this Truck Babies project:
Slowly I started to wonder where their young 'uns were. How did they grow up? "Where are the truck babies?", I asked myself.Why would someone like me see a truck as they would see a whale. (In fact, where would someone like me see a whale?) I am really interested in a fundamental shift of association that has occurred between beasts and machines.
What parts of the Truck Babies make you think of real babies? Listen to the Big Sisters giving the Truck Babies advice. What kind of advice would you give to the Truck Babies? What advice might they give you? Why are the Truck Babies driving through the mountains and across the plains?
I like this 'Screen-Wall' installation at 'LIQUID SPACES' exhibition by Ruth Ron:
This installation challenges the conventions of public and private spaces in a museum. The 'service' or 'private' parts of the museum, such as the archives, offices or the guard booth, which are traditionally closed to the public, become the subject of the display, reversing the relationship of 'watching' and 'being watched'. Influenced by the expending presence of surveillance in our daily life, we appropriate the panoptic gaze onto concealed parts of the museum to become the content of the exhibition display.concept: The opaque solidity of physical architecture is challenged by multiple layers of the screen, the image of the wall and the transition to live video feed. The distance between remote spaces in the museum collapses, and digital and visual continuity is created. The network portal extends beyond the properties of the flat digital screen to become a reactive 'window' to unexpected places. system: Parts of the gallery walls are replaced by small flat monitors. At first, the screens perform as mute, still images of their supporting walls. Once an observer draws near, the image transforms into a live video feed of a remote 'service' location of the museum, streaming via the internet.
I find this fascinating: Bigelow Aerospace has planned a series of inflatable structure tests in space. Plan is to evolve testing and hardware to establish the Nautilus outpost in Earth orbit. The most advanced research in inflatable things certainly. Here is one the first prototype:
Making "space available" is at the heart of the global travel, tourist and lodging industry. That business axiom is no stranger to Robert Bigelow, owner of the Budget Suites of America Hotel Chain. But now the North Las Vegas, Nevada-based Bigelow is putting his money down on inflatable Earth orbiting modules. His intent on attracting not only high-flying sightseers, but those hungering to crank out made-in-space products and evaluate microgravity processes. Bigelows plan is to establish a habitable commercial space station for research, manufacturing, entertainment and other uses. (...) Bigelow Aerospace has been working on space inflatable modules, picking up where NASAs inflatable TransHab project ended, or was deflated partly due to political wrangling.
And the most interesting part of the story is:
Why inflatable space habitats? Gold said the technology offers several advantages. For one, an expandable structure can be tightly packed inside a variety of rocket nose farings, at econo-class prices. Additional, once in orbit, they offer increased pressurized volume for crew and experiments. Lastly, they provide a lot of instant room at low-cost. "We have evaluated a lot of NASA TransHab work and have moved on substantially from where they were," Gold said. "We are continuing to aggressively pursue the development of next generation expandable space structures. Building a real private-sector marketplace in space cannot be done by any one nation alone. Instead it will require a global mix of talents, resources, and technologies," he said.
Why do I blog this? I am fascinated by inflatable stuff :)
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