Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Woodland Contraption Plays Bach, Peddles Phone]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/ntt-docomo-ad-plays-bach-woodland-contraption/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/ntt-docomo-ad-plays-bach-woodland-contraption/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/ntt-docomo-ad-plays-bach-woodland-contraption/#comments
This gorgeous commercial -- conceived by Morihiro Harano, the award-winning creative director of Drill, Inc. -- features a sort of sloping marimba, down which a wooden ball rolls, producing an unadorned rendition of Bach's Cantata 147. "We did not add any artificial music at all," Harano tells the New York Times. The things people do to sell a wood-encased phone! Are we philistines for kinda digging Kristen Schaal's Xperia PLAY spots more? (Answer: yes.)

SwitchedWoodland Contraption Plays Bach, Peddles Phone originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonescommercialdesigndocomoKristenSchaalmorihiro+haranoMorihiroHaranotopTouchWoodtouchwood+phone+adtouchwoodphoneadTouchWoodSh-08cXperiaPlayThu, 31 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Electronic Drum Trousers Take Young Engineer Prize]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/aseem-mishra-drum-jeans-take-young-engineer-prize/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/aseem-mishra-drum-jeans-take-young-engineer-prize/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/aseem-mishra-drum-jeans-take-young-engineer-prize/#comments Drummer and engineer Aseem Mishra got tired of lugging his drum kit to gigs. Naturally, he fashioned a pair of musical jeans to take its place. The pants -- sorry, trousers -- have eight sensors woven into the fabric, and are hooked up to a backpack with circuitry and speakers. Each sensor corresponds to a different drum, and hitting them duplicates the sound of their real-world equivalents. Mishra took first prize in his age group in the Young Engineer of Great Britain Competition -- a repeat of last year, when he won for a light-up drum kit.

The jeans really need to be seen (and heard), so check out the video here. And keep an ear out for this morsel at :50. "Do I haf to whock it hawd?"

SwitchedElectronic Drum Trousers Take Young Engineer Prize originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aseem+mishraAseemMishrabritishdesigndrum+jeansdrum+kit+jeansdrumjeansdrumkitdrumkitjeansdrumsmusictopWed, 30 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Artificial 'Clouds' Could Cool World Cup 2022 in Qatar]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/artificial-clouds-will-cool-world-cup-2022-in-qatar/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/artificial-clouds-will-cool-world-cup-2022-in-qatar/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/artificial-clouds-will-cool-world-cup-2022-in-qatar/#comments Artificial Clouds Although perhaps less prone to absurd extravagance than the neighboring United Arab Emirates, Qatar always seems to have some project up its sleeve that would bankrupt most countries of its size. It landed the 2022 World Cup by promising to air condition the open-air stadiums it built for the games. To accomplish this difficult (and incredibly wasteful) feat, Qatar is constructing a fleet of "artificial clouds" that it will pilot over the stadiums to provide shade and cooling. The "clouds" are actually giant, solar-powered drone aircraft piloted by remote control, and will cost roughly $500,000 each.

The artificial clouds seem like an interesting solution to playing sports outdoors in a country where temperatures regularly reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit in the dead of summer. But we're a little concerned about what might happen if an actual cloud passes overhead and cuts power to these soccer-field-sized monstrosities.

SwitchedArtificial 'Clouds' Could Cool World Cup 2022 in Qatar originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial+cloudsArtificialCloudsdesignqatarqatar+cloudqatar+world+cupqatarcloudqatarworldcuptopworld+cup+2022WorldCupWorldCup2022Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Video Turntables Make Picking a Flick More Social]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/27/video-turntables-make-picking-a-flick-more-social/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/27/video-turntables-make-picking-a-flick-more-social/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/27/video-turntables-make-picking-a-flick-more-social/#comments Video Turntables The Video Turntable is a unique installation that debuted at the Encounters Film Festival in the U.K. this week. The display uses QR codes to lead participants to a website on their smartphones, where they pick the trailer of one of the films being shown at the festival. Once selected, the trailer is projected onto a round bar table that viewers can gather around and watch together, allowing festival-goers to pick a movie together or share a film they just saw. The table can even detect when people approach, rotating the projection to keep the image right side up.

The tables use a technology called Krstl from Matter2Media, which ensures the content is exclusive to that location. (So only festival attendees will be able to enjoy the trailers.) You can check out a video of the tables in action at the Matter2Media website.

SwitchedVideo Turntables Make Picking a Flick More Social originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designEncountersFilmFestivalmatter2mediamoviestopVideoTurntableSun, 27 Mar 2011 12:09:00 EST<![CDATA[This Interactive Laser Harp Doesn't Sound Like a Harp]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/moritz-waldemeyer-laser-harp/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/moritz-waldemeyer-laser-harp/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/moritz-waldemeyer-laser-harp/#comments
Moritz Waldemeyer, the designer who created a 'Home Disco' out of lasers and a smoke machine, has unveiled his latest installation: a laser harp. Consisting of a black obelisk surrounded by a cage of laser beams, Waldemeyer's harp uses light sensors and an Open Frameworks app to create sounds whenever a person interacts with the laser field. Waldemeyer's "weird and wonderful" soundscape is comprised of sirens and alarms, which are looped and woven together to form a cocoon of ominous space.

SwitchedThis Interactive Laser Harp Doesn't Sound Like a Harp originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artdesignharpinstallationlaserMoritzWaldemeyermusicOpenFrameworkstopThu, 24 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cornell Roboticists Print Tiny, Flapping Ornithopter]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/cornell-roboticists-print-tiny-flapping-ornithopter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/cornell-roboticists-print-tiny-flapping-ornithopter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/cornell-roboticists-print-tiny-flapping-ornithopter/#comments
Rapid prototyping and 3-D printing continue to find new uses, the latest neat-o product being these tiny ornithopters (machines that fly by flapping wings). Cornell roboticists printed themselves a minuscule 3.89-gram ornithopter -- a creation that would normally take days to design and build, but took mere minutes with the 3-D printing equipment. Check out the video above of the dragonfly-like 'bot flying and hovering.

SwitchedCornell Roboticists Print Tiny, Flapping Ornithopter originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dPrintingdesignornithopterrobotstopWed, 23 Mar 2011 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[All-In-One Gadget Stand for Apple Fanboys (and Girls)]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/20/polyply-all-in-one-stand-holds-ipod-iphone-ipad/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/20/polyply-all-in-one-stand-holds-ipod-iphone-ipad/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/20/polyply-all-in-one-stand-holds-ipod-iphone-ipad/#comments PolyPly Sorry, Apple fanatics -- it's just a prototype. But if Andrew Kim is as clever as this all-in-one iPad/iPhone/iPod stand suggests, you should be able to get your iLoving hands on it soon enough. The plastic on plywood PolyPly lets you snap your devices into place, and even leaves room to connect their cords. It's beautiful in its simplicity and matches Apple's minimal designs without just ripping them off.

Gallery: PolyPly

SwitchedAll-In-One Gadget Stand for Apple Fanboys (and Girls) originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew kimAndrewKimappledesignipadiphoneipodpolyplytopSun, 20 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Now, Even Your Lunch Box is Watching You]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/lunchcommunicator-lunchbox-camera/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/lunchcommunicator-lunchbox-camera/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/lunchcommunicator-lunchbox-camera/#comments
The LunchCommunicator, developed by Japanese researchers, packs a camera and touchscreen PC that automatically records the person making lunch and plays it back while the other party is eating it, and vice-versa. Maybe it'll make school kids more appreciative of their mothers' efforts, but it just kind of makes us uncomfortable. We figured the one place we didn't have to check for a spycam was our GoBots lunch box.

SwitchedNow, Even Your Lunch Box is Watching You originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camerasdesignhouseholdlunch boxLunchBoxlunchcommunicatorsurveillancetopThu, 17 Mar 2011 07:29:00 EST<![CDATA[EaTheremin's Noisy Forks: Because Utensils Weren't Already Annoying Enough]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/eatheremin-musical-fork-diginfo-news/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/eatheremin-musical-fork-diginfo-news/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/eatheremin-musical-fork-diginfo-news/#comments
Do you wonder if the urbane baritone who narrates those DigInfo News spots ever has to record multiple takes because he's laughing his (possibly) Australian ass off at those consistently wacky Japanese inventions? I do. Because I'm not sure I'd be able to say "chicken skin can generate vibrato effects" without breaking into some kind of fit of giggling burp-ups.

Anyway, these are forks that make noises when you eat. Noises that made my cats duck for cover. Basically, these instrumental utensils turn you into a living circuit-cum-theremin so that family dinners can sound like early Pauline Oliveros or something? Just watch the video. But be prepared for lots of close-up shots of this woman's mouth chewing a variety of foodstuffs.

SwitchedEaTheremin's Noisy Forks: Because Utensils Weren't Already Annoying Enough originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designdiginfo newsDiginfoNewseathereminjapanmusictheremintopWed, 16 Mar 2011 17:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Sci-Fi Movie Interfaces: Why Transparent Screens Are Miserable to Use]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/sci-fi-movie-interfaces-why-transparent-screens-are-miserable-t/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/sci-fi-movie-interfaces-why-transparent-screens-are-miserable-t/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/sci-fi-movie-interfaces-why-transparent-screens-are-miserable-t/#comments
Yesterday, we sat in on the excellent 'Made it So (Interface Makers in Movies)' panel at SXSW with Chris Noessel, Mike Fink, Mark Coleran and David Lewandowski, some of the designers behind the on-screen interfaces in movies ranging from '80s classics 'Blade Runner' and 'WarGames' to modern day blockbusters 'Avatar' and 'Tron: Legacy.' The panel followed a simple question and answer format, touching on favorite movie interfaces, the elements that shape on-screen graphics and the connections between real-world gadgets and UIs and sci-fi movies.

Continue reading Sci-Fi Movie Interfaces: Why Transparent Screens Are Miserable to Use

SwitchedSci-Fi Movie Interfaces: Why Transparent Screens Are Miserable to Use originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blade runnerBladeRunnerchris noesselChrisNoesseldavid lewandowskiDavidLewandowskidesignfeaturesfilminterface designInterfaceDesignmade it soMadeItSomark coleranMarkColeranmichael finkMichaelFinkminority reportMinorityReportmoviessci fiscience fictionScienceFictionSciFisxswsxsw 2011sxsw-2011Sxsw2011toptransparent+screenstransparentscreensuiWed, 16 Mar 2011 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Yves Béhar's $10K Phone for Æsir Doesn't Scream Classy]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/yves-behar-aesir-10000-phone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/yves-behar-aesir-10000-phone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/yves-behar-aesir-10000-phone/#comments Yves Behar Phone Yes, it's a $10,000 phone. Why? Why not! Do we question man's desire to set forth and conquer new lands? Do we question our strive to push our bodies to heretofore unknown limits? We are human! This is what we do! A €7,250 cellphone that is sort of ugly as sin, lacks a touch screen, and has a memory on par with your first PC? You guys, that is basically like walking on the moon.

Gallery: Aesir Copenhagen

Aesir Copenhagen

SwitchedYves Béhar's $10K Phone for Æsir Doesn't Scream Classy originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>absurdÆsircellphonesdesignexpensivefancynewsmaintopYves Béharyves beharYvesBéharYvesBeharTue, 15 Mar 2011 17:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Nils Ferber's Motorcycle Runs on Screwdrivers]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/nils-ferbers-motorcycle-runs-on-screwdrivers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/nils-ferbers-motorcycle-runs-on-screwdrivers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/nils-ferbers-motorcycle-runs-on-screwdrivers/#comments nils ferber screwdriver vehicle Occasionally function should take a backseat to form. Take this three-wheeler, resembling, ever-so-slightly, a medieval torture device. Built by German designer Nils Ferber, the vehicle hits (a likely dangerous) 18.5 mph. It's powered solely by a pair of 18-volt-screwdrivers. The driver, doubtless possessing balls of steel, sprawls across the length of the vehicle and steers by leaning to either side. As Ferber notes: "The headlong position gives you an ex[c]iting driving experience." To put it mildly.

SwitchedNils Ferber's Motorcycle Runs on Screwdrivers originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designinsanenewsmainpower toolsPowerToolstransportationMon, 14 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[London's W Hotel Snaps Photos of Environment, Screens Them On Its Skin]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/13/london-w-hotel-snaps-photos-surrounding/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/13/london-w-hotel-snaps-photos-surrounding/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/13/london-w-hotel-snaps-photos-surrounding/#comments London's W Hotel One of the more impressive lighting design projects we've seen lately is this installation by Jason Bruge Studio, which appears on the facade of London's W Hotel and manages to be that rare mix of high concept, high tech, and lovely execution.

Cameras mounted on the hotel's roof record the surrounding landscape. A software program then converts the images into panoramas, compresses the finished shot into video, and remodels the footage into a light show. 600 lights across the building's facade play the converted "scenes" throughout the course of the day and night. Because the sequence is dictated by realtime images, passersby are treated to a wholly unique image at any given moment. But enough with the words -- check out the video after the break.

Continue reading London's W Hotel Snaps Photos of Environment, Screens Them On Its Skin

SwitchedLondon's W Hotel Snaps Photos of Environment, Screens Them On Its Skin originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designJason Bruge Studiojason bruges studioJasonBrugesStudioJasonBrugeStudiolondonPublic artPublicArttopvideow hotelw hotel londonWHotelWHotelLondonSun, 13 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lux Repeat Music Video Remixes Google Earth]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/12/lux-repeat-music-video-remixes-google-earth/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/12/lux-repeat-music-video-remixes-google-earth/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/12/lux-repeat-music-video-remixes-google-earth/#comments
The landscapes of Google Earth have never looked quite as hypnotic (or ominous) as they do in this music video from the band Lux Repeat. Created by designer Bartholomäus Traubeck, the clip takes viewers on an aerial voyage across Google Earth's pixelated landscape, in all its geographic desolation and graphic vibrance. Equal parts nature documentary and flight-simulator video game, it's definitely worth getting lost in for a few minutes.

SwitchedLux Repeat Music Video Remixes Google Earth originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artbartholomaus taubeckBartholomausTaubeckdesigngooglegoogle earthGoogleEarthLux RepeatLuxRepeatmusicmusic videoMusicVideotopSat, 12 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Placekitten Pairs Web Design, Placeholder Pics and Pretty Kitties]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/placekitten-pairs-web-design-placeholder-pics-and-pretty-kittie/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/placekitten-pairs-web-design-placeholder-pics-and-pretty-kittie/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/placekitten-pairs-web-design-placeholder-pics-and-pretty-kittie/#comments Placekitten For those who design for the Web, securing a placeholder image -- a temporary picture that'll save a spot while the website is under construction -- is often a headache. On top of needing to resize hundreds of images that'll just be tossed anyway, merely locating a group of suitable pictures is a tedious task to which no self-respecting Web guru looks forward. Enter Placekitten, a simple service that lets Web pros enter in requisite dimensions and automatically generates a perfectly sized picture... of a kitten. The simple "placekitten.com/600/250" link equation makes grabbing images effortless, and adorable. The width is entered first, followed by the height. And there you have it: "aww"-inducing images, made on the fly.

Now only if Placekitten could put a furball in the most important spot: our outstretched arms, primed for kitten cuddling. (Each kitty randomly generated based on size specs, of course.)

SwitchedPlacekitten Pairs Web Design, Placeholder Pics and Pretty Kitties originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designkittenslolcatslolzmemsplaceholderplacekittentopwebweb designWebDesignThu, 10 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[To Switch on Your Cell, Show Some Skin]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/nec-skin-touch-interface-makes-arm-controller/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/nec-skin-touch-interface-makes-arm-controller/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/nec-skin-touch-interface-makes-arm-controller/#commentsLost remote control woes, begone! Japanese electronics giant NEC announced this week that it's developed a way to let users control a variety of electronics simply by touching some skin.

No implants are necessary; a wristband with acceleration sensors (similar to what makes your smartphone and Wiimote so awesome) transforms the user's arm into a seven-part controller, with each area corresponding to different, device-specific actions. Most methods of controlling the devices stay strictly in the poking territory, but there is a "clap" command, which will doubtless turn you into this woman.

No word on when NEC will roll the technology out, but they're talking about applying it to everything from cellphones to MP3 players. Clap on!

SwitchedTo Switch on Your Cell, Show Some Skin originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesdesignnecskinputtopuiwearablesWed, 09 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[3-D Printed 'Nylon' Bike as Strong as Steel]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/nylon-airbike-3-d-printed-strong-as-steel/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/nylon-airbike-3-d-printed-strong-as-steel/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/nylon-airbike-3-d-printed-strong-as-steel/#comments 3-D printing has changed the way that engineers and designers prototype things, but it hasn't really made its way into mainstream manufacturing yet. But engineers at EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, are making strides by using a process called additive layer manufacturing, which uses a laser to melt plastic, nylon or metal powders in layers until the finished product is "printed." EADS used the technique to print a fully functional bike out of nylon, which the company says is as strong as steel. Despite its strength, it's a full 65-percent lighter than a comparable aluminum bicycle. It's also more environmentally friendly to produce than a traditional metal bike, and replacement parts can easily be printed and swapped for damaged ones.

Don't expect to see custom printed bikes in stores any time soon, however. The Airbike, as its called, was primarily an exercise to prove what was possible with additive layer manufacturing. It does prove that it's possible to print high-strength parts, and the process may soon replace molds for smaller components, as it's less wasteful than pouring molten plastic into a shape.

Switched3-D Printed 'Nylon' Bike as Strong as Steel originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-d printing3-dPrintingairbikeairbike+nylonairbikenylonbicycledesigneads+airbikeeadsairbikeEuropean Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.EuropeanAeronauticDefenceAndSpaceCo.nylon+bicyclenylon+bikenylonbicyclenylonbiketopTue, 08 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Humanoid Cell Phone Is Covered in Realistic 'Skin']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/elfoid-p1-humanoid-cellphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/elfoid-p1-humanoid-cellphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/elfoid-p1-humanoid-cellphone/#comments
Remember the Telenoid, the creepy humanoid bot that transmitted both the voice and the head movements of its operator? Imagine having that nightmare-inducing creation in your pocket at all times. The Elfoid P1 is essentially that: a ghostly robot effigy, shrunk down to handheld proportions and made into a cell phone. The outer coating is specially designed to feel like human skin (eww!), and hides a dial pad, as well as a glowing LED "heart," which turns blue when the phone is in use and red when in standby. Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International is hoping to bring the device to market by 2016 with the added ability to display facial movements. A camera in the device's head will track the speaker's facial movements, and the Elfoid on the receiving end of the call will recreate those expressions. See a demonstration of this future star of your night-terrors above.

SwitchedHumanoid Cell Phone Is Covered in Realistic 'Skin' originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdvancedTelecommunicationsResearchInstituteInternationalcellphonescreepydesignElfoidP1robotstelenoidtopweirdFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Electronic Piggy Bank Takes 'Change' From Credit Card]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/zenona-piggy-bank/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/zenona-piggy-bank/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/zenona-piggy-bank/#comments zenona piggy bank The high-tech Zenona Piggy Bank's purpose isn't immediately clear, but when has that ever stopped technology developers? Comprised of an iPhone, Arduino BT and credit card slot, the half-bank half-Tamagotchi gets sad when it's been too long without a payment. Just swipe your card, and a pittance equivalent to pocket change will be transferred to a separate account. Weird.

Gallery: PiggyBank

SwitchedElectronic Piggy Bank Takes 'Change' From Credit Card originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduinoCreditCardsdesigniosiphonemoneynoveltyPiggyBanktopweirdzenonaFri, 04 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Future of Fashion May Mean Designing Your Own Duds]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/mary-huang-continuum-kickstarter-project-design-dress/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/mary-huang-continuum-kickstarter-project-design-dress/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/mary-huang-continuum-kickstarter-project-design-dress/#comments Mary Huang dress By employing Delaunay Triangulation, or the practice of creating wide-angled triangles along a set of given points, designer Mary Huang hopes to democratize the little black dress. With her project 'Continuum,' which is about to hit Kickstarter, she hopes to take her proprietary software, and offer it to any gal who wants a hyper-futuristic dress entirely tailored to her own proportions. "Could we use technology to democratize haute couture? Could we let people design their own dress, and still maintain a cohesive, recognizable design?" Huang wonders.

The notion, Huang tells Co.Design, is to "have your clothes made to fit you, instead of figuring out how you fit into clothes." The interface is a simple point-and-click, allowing the user to create more triangles for volume or texture. The "D.dress," as it's called, is made simply through the addition and subtraction of angles, and is made to fit the body by entering a number of measurements (as in normal fashion fitting).

Continue reading The Future of Fashion May Mean Designing Your Own Duds

SwitchedThe Future of Fashion May Mean Designing Your Own Duds originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>continuumd.dressDelaunayTriangulationdesignfashionfuturekickstarterMaryHuangtopWed, 02 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Designers Visualize Wi-Fi Networks With Light Painting]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/28/wi-fi-visualized-timo-armall/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/28/wi-fi-visualized-timo-armall/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/28/wi-fi-visualized-timo-armall/#comments
Norwegian designers Timo Armall, Jørn Knutsen, and Einar Sneve Martinussen recently came up with a cool way to visually represent the invisible Wi-Fi networks that blanket our urban spaces. After constructing a Wi-Fi measuring rod capable of displaying signal strength as bars of light, the trio set about photographing it throughout various neighborhoods in Oslo. Measuring four meters in length, the rod also contains 80 LED bulbs, which pulsate with varying levels of intensity, depending on the strength of a surrounding Wi-Fi network. Check out the stunning results in the video below, or read more about the project here.

SwitchedDesigners Visualize Wi-Fi Networks With Light Painting originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artdesignEinarSneveMartinussenJornKnutsenLightPaintingnorwayoslophotographyTimoArmalltopurbanWebwifiMon, 28 Feb 2011 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Announces Challenge to Visualize Federal Spending]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/whatwepayfor-google-federal-spending-visualization-challenge/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/whatwepayfor-google-federal-spending-visualization-challenge/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/whatwepayfor-google-federal-spending-visualization-challenge/#comments Google Tax Data Visualiztion Google has issued a challenge to data-nerds: to take data from the site WhatWePayFor.com, which tracks where your tax dollars are allocated, and create a user-friendly way to visualize it. Google has gotten the ball rolling with its own interactive infographic of differently sized bubbles, each representing a distinct category of government spending.

SwitchedGoogle Announces Challenge to Visualize Federal Spending originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dataDataVisualizationdesignFederalBudgetgooglegovernmenttaxestopTue, 22 Feb 2011 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Nike Sneakers Customized With Google, Firefox and Twitter Themes]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/21/nike-sneakers-get-google-firefox-twitter-themes/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/21/nike-sneakers-get-google-firefox-twitter-themes/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/21/nike-sneakers-get-google-firefox-twitter-themes/#comments google nike Customized kicks aren't just for the cool kids. For proof, check out these customized Nike Dunks inspired by Firefox, Twitter and Google. The colorful hi-tops are designed by Daniel Reese, who sells a number of other nerd-themed kicks at his site Brass Monki. Most of his custom sneakers, which are available in limited runs, retail for between $200 and $250. Honestly, that's a small price to pay for showing off your Web browser, microblogging and search engine allegiance everywhere you walk, right?

Continue reading Nike Sneakers Customized With Google, Firefox and Twitter Themes

SwitchedNike Sneakers Customized With Google, Firefox and Twitter Themes originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designfashionfirefoxgeekgooglenikeshoessneakerstoptwitterwearablesMon, 21 Feb 2011 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Read This: The Arrival of Interactive TV via Your Phone and Laptop]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/20/read-this-the-arrival-of-interactive-tv-via-your-phone-and-lapt/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/20/read-this-the-arrival-of-interactive-tv-via-your-phone-and-lapt/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/20/read-this-the-arrival-of-interactive-tv-via-your-phone-and-lapt/#comments
Even with the best interfaces - and few TV interfaces would qualify as among the best of anything - it's a special kind of frustration to watch someone else manipulating a cursor or some other kind of U.I. selector while you, as a passive viewer, have no control over where it goes or what it does. This is what makes the televisions screen so different from other screens: our phones, laptops and tablets are single-user experiences but a television is a communal experience. What's tolerable to me as I decipher and negotiate an app's interface is tedium incarnate to observers - plus it just makes for bad television.
Designer Khoi Vinh explores the reality of interactive TV, and how it hasn't come from TV designers or manufacturers; cell phones, tablets and laptops gave us search, commentary, sharing and more without the need to touch the living room's primary screen.

SwitchedRead This: The Arrival of Interactive TV via Your Phone and Laptop originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designinteractive tvInteractiveTvkhoi vinhKhoiVinhtoptvSun, 20 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Design Student Bring Physical Charm to Spotify]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/20/jordi-parra-spotify-player/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/20/jordi-parra-spotify-player/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/20/jordi-parra-spotify-player/#comments Spotify Radio In case you hadn't noticed, physical media are dying. Digital audio files long ago replaced CDs, movies are regularly available to stream, and games will download at the click of a mouse. There's no more reason to ever run to your local Best Buy . But there is still something alluring about physically touching your content source (just ask a vinyl fetishist). Jordi Parra, a Spanish design student, decided to combine that physical charm with digital convenience by creating a Spotify player, which streams tracks identified by small discs embedded with RFID tags.

Constructed of wood and plastic, Parra's Spotify radio has a decidedly analogue feel. While it takes its external design queues from old transistor radios, an Arduino processor resides inside, reading the tokens' RFID tags and looking for their associated music in the Spotify database. The device is a prototype constructed as his Masters thesis in Interactive Design at the Umea Institute of Design. Parra hopes to keep the project alive and wants to create a standalone version with an embedded version of Linux, Spotify and a speaker. (The current model actually plays the tunes through a computer; it must be connected via USB or Bluetooth.) To feast your eyes on more of the stunning creation check out the gallery below.

Gallery: Spotify Radio

SwitchedDesign Student Bring Physical Charm to Spotify originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArduinoDesignJordi ParraJordiParraMusicRfidSpotifyTopSun, 20 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[We Want: A Cardboard Flash Drive for Temporary Memory]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/art-lebedev-fleshkus-cardboard-flash-drive/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/art-lebedev-fleshkus-cardboard-flash-drive/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/art-lebedev-fleshkus-cardboard-flash-drive/#comments fleshkus drive Much of the product design coming out of Art Lebedev Studio has been bold, but of questionable taste. Remember those ridiculous Optimus keyboards? Shudder.

But this concept for disposable thumbdrives, designed by Alexei Lyapunov and Lena Ehrlich, is both realistic and restrained. Called Fleshkus, the drives are made of cardboard and not meant to last. Let's hope they eventually make it to market, because we'd much prefer that PR companies start handing out their kits on something that we don't feel so bad about immediately throwing away.

SwitchedWe Want: A Cardboard Flash Drive for Temporary Memory originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlexeiLyapunovAlexeiLyapunovartLebedevStudioArtLebedevdesignDisposableFlashDrivefleshkusgreenLenaEhrlichrecyclingthumbdrivetopWed, 16 Feb 2011 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[The World's Most Beautiful Vibrator: Jimmyjane Fuses Design and Sex]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/jimmyjane-fuses-sex-design-most-beautiful-vibrator/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/jimmyjane-fuses-sex-design-most-beautiful-vibrator/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/jimmyjane-fuses-sex-design-most-beautiful-vibrator/#comments
Sex objects don't look like themselves anymore. While the industry of personal sexual satisfaction is still dominated by glittery phalli and plastic rabbits, a handful of companies that challenge the anatomical form factor have started to emerge. And San Francisco-based Jimmyjane has been one of the driving forces behind this new design of delight.

Launched in 2004, the company first gained attention from the design world when founder and ex-industrial engineer Ethan Imboden teamed up with the renowned Yves Béhar (whose firm fuseproject designed the OLPC, among other things). The pair's first collaboration was the Form 6, the first of the FORM series. (The most recent is the FORM 3, following the FORM 2 -- confusing, we know.) Then Jimmyjane went on to collaborate with artists such as Jamie Hewlett of Gorillaz and The Eurythmics' Dave Stewart on special editions, picking up design accolades like the IDEO and I.D. awards along the way. The company has almost singlehandedly paved the way for a new sex toy paradigm -- high design that's sexy, utilitarian, and accessible to the mass market.

We caught up with Mr. Imboden to ask him about his process and working with Yves Béhar. Oh, and he's got a treat for our readers, too.

Continue reading The World's Most Beautiful Vibrator: Jimmyjane Fuses Design and Sex

SwitchedThe World's Most Beautiful Vibrator: Jimmyjane Fuses Design and Sex originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designethan imbodenEthanImbodenfeaturesformform 6Form6frog+designfrogdesigninterviewsjimmyjanesexsex toysSexToystopvibratoryves beharYvesBeharMon, 14 Feb 2011 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA['Seed Drawings' Crowd-Source Project Evolves as Living Artwork]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/13/clement-valla-seed-drawings-crowdsources-artwork/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/13/clement-valla-seed-drawings-crowdsources-artwork/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/13/clement-valla-seed-drawings-crowdsources-artwork/#commentsclement valla 'seed drawing' Writers and directors sometimes implore the public to submit brief, incremental elements in order to build a larger story or movie. Brooklyn artist Clement Valla recently embarked on a similar crowd-sourcing project, called 'Seed Drawings,' but her goal was to construct living, evolving artworks. Valla initially created artistic building blocks, and then asked the public -- via Amazon Mechanical Turk -- to contribute bordering pieces that needed to be "as similar as possible to the original drawings."

Over a three month period, thousands of contributors augmented those original drawings in order to create "large scale structures." Those resulting structures may not impress highbrow art fans, but this artistic progression immediately ranks ahead of previous schemes. Similar crowd-sourcing projects frequently fail because of the obviously fickle and sometimes inferior nature of fan submissions. These particular pieces, though, prove rather extraordinary to watch -- regardless of the actual artistic or aesthetic merits -- as they evolve into massive and chaotic amalgamations of publicly generated randomness.

Switched'Seed Drawings' Crowd-Source Project Evolves as Living Artwork originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon mechanical turkAmazonMechanicalTurkartclement vallaClementVallacrowdsourcingdesignmechanical turkMechanicalTurkseed drawingsSeedDrawingstopSun, 13 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Multi Lines' Spaces Out Your Extension Cords]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/12/multi-lines-power-cords-extend-to-where/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/12/multi-lines-power-cords-extend-to-where/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/12/multi-lines-power-cords-extend-to-where/#commentsmulti lines No matter how hard we try, we can't hide all the cords that power the gadgets we love, so Connect Design suggests you keep your wires out in the open with its Multi Lines. The cord, which is an extension cord with multiple plugs spaced across its length, comes in three tasteful colors -- white, pink and blue -- and three different lengths -- 6.5 feet ($16.00), 9.8 feet ($18.00) and 16.4 feet ($22.00).

Switched'Multi Lines' Spaces Out Your Extension Cords originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cordsdesignEnergyextension cordExtensionCordmultilinespowerpower cordPowerCordPowerStriptopSat, 12 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wind Power Could Get a Boost By Flying High]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/09/joby-energy-wind-turbines-fly-high/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/09/joby-energy-wind-turbines-fly-high/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/09/joby-energy-wind-turbines-fly-high/#commentsFlying Wind Turbine Cost efficiency has long stood in the way of alternative energy sources becoming a major competitor for coal power, but JoeBen Bevirt thinks he has a solution that could make wind stand up to coal. His company Joby Energy has designed and built wind turbines that hover in the air, rather than being mounted on the top of large towers. His hope is that the company will be able to launch these turbines, which have already been successfully tested at lower altitudes, up to 30,000 feet in the air, where winds howl with a force up to 20 times greater than those on the ground. In addition to being able to generate more power by reaching loftier heights, the flying turbines save money on construction costs by eliminating the need for large blades and tall towers, which require hundreds of tons of steel and cement. These massive crafts are deceptively light, weighing in at only 100 pounds, and are kept aloft by a complex computer system that adjusts the wings and other lift-generating surfaces to compensate for unexpected wind shifts or strong gusts.

We're always excited to see environmentally friendly energy sources make moves to become more cost efficient, but we're going to remain skeptical until we see the system in real-world use. We've heard about numerous systems -- from solar panels to wave generators -- that were supposed to eliminate the price gap with coal power plants, but none have really panned out yet. So "is the coal killer flying thousands of feet up in the sky" as Discover put it? Maybe, but we're keeping our excitement grounded for the time being.

SwitchedWind Power Could Get a Boost By Flying High originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designEnergygreenjoby energyJobyEnergytopwind powerwind turbineWindPowerWindTurbineWed, 09 Feb 2011 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Installation Prints Wikipedia Edits in Real-Time]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/03/installation-prints-wikipedia-edits-in-real-time/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/03/installation-prints-wikipedia-edits-in-real-time/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/03/installation-prints-wikipedia-edits-in-real-time/#comments In honor of Wikipedia's 10th anniversary, designers Dean McNamee and Tim Burrell-Saward created an installation that, in their words, "would highlight the effort and value behind Wikipedia."They decided to suspend 18 printers from the ceiling of a West London building, where the site was celebrating its anniversary. Every time a contributor made an edit to any article on the site, one of the printers would produce a small slip of paper, giving a brief summary of the article, and highlighting the edit that was made. The result: a physical, real-time record of Wikipedia's edits. And lots of paper.

Continue reading Installation Prints Wikipedia Edits in Real-Time

SwitchedInstallation Prints Wikipedia Edits in Real-Time originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10thAnniversarydesigneditinginstallationlondontopWebwikipediaWikipediaEntryThu, 03 Feb 2011 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Lockheed Builds Jets in Seriously Awesome, Kind of Embarrassing Virtual Environment]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/26/lockheed-builds-jets-collaborative-human-immersive-laboratory/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/26/lockheed-builds-jets-collaborative-human-immersive-laboratory/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/26/lockheed-builds-jets-collaborative-human-immersive-laboratory/#commentsLockheed's CHIL When designing a new aircraft, engineers must be able to get a feel for how the jet might come together -- and, generally, the only way to do that is to actually build a mock-up and crawl inside. But, with the Collaborative Human Immersive Laboratory or CHIL (which is pronounced exactly how you'd expect... with a heavy dose of shame), engineers can get some "hands-on" time with their creations through the use of virtual reality. Those people who look like they're doing the robot in the video posted after the break are actually navigating a virtual craft in three-dimensional space. The virtual environment offers some tangible benefits (besides cost) over a real prototype. For one, changes can be made and quickly evaluated without having to build an entirely new model. It also makes it possible for several people to collaborate on a single model from across the country or across the globe. Models can even have data superimposed over them, so that engineers can quickly see important measurements.

The tech was developed by Lockheed's Virtual Reality Systems Integration Lab. As you can see in the second demo video posted after the break, CHIL is capable of some pretty spiffy graphics. In fact, we can't help but imagine the tech being used to create one incredibly realistic first-person shooter. We wonder what it would take to port 'Half Life 2' to CHIL...

Continue reading Lockheed Builds Jets in Seriously Awesome, Kind of Embarrassing Virtual Environment

SwitchedLockheed Builds Jets in Seriously Awesome, Kind of Embarrassing Virtual Environment originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CHILdesignfuturelockheedtopvirtual realityVirtualRealityWed, 26 Jan 2011 16:50:00 EST<![CDATA[MoMA Acquires 23 Groundbreaking Fonts for Design Exhibit]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/25/moma-acquires-23-groundbreaking-fonts-for-design-exhibit/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/25/moma-acquires-23-groundbreaking-fonts-for-design-exhibit/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/25/moma-acquires-23-groundbreaking-fonts-for-design-exhibit/#commentsocr-a As a part of its 'Standard Deviations; Prototypes, Archetypes, and Families in Contemporary Design' exhibit, the Museum of Modern Art has acquired something rather intangible: a collection of 23 digital fonts. From the pixelated Oakland font of the 1980s to the familiarly clean Gotham, each of these typefaces suggests that the mere appearance of a letter, notwithstanding the words it might make, guides our digital experience.

SwitchedMoMA Acquires 23 Groundbreaking Fonts for Design Exhibit originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designfontMoMAMuseumOfModernArttoptypefacetypographyTue, 25 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese Go Crazy for Light-Up Smiles]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/japan-led-smiles-laforet-harajuku/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/japan-led-smiles-laforet-harajuku/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/japan-led-smiles-laforet-harajuku/#commentsled smiles Wearing gold fronts and jewels in your teeth is so Aughts. The 2010s call for a thoroughly more modern oral adornment. Enter Japanese fashion designers Mr. Ishibashi and Daito Manabe, who have created LED inserts that are worn behind the teeth. The light-up smiles are now being used as part of a marketing push by Laforet Harajuku, a popular department store in Tokyo, and are becoming a much sough-after accessory. The lights can be controlled wirelessly by a computer, and can be made to change colors or blink. Will they become the new must-have accessory for scenesters here in the U.S.? Check out the videos after the break, including one that follows a gang of school girls wandering the streets, looking a bit like they're on the hunt for souls to harvest. We're both intrigued and terrified.

Continue reading Japanese Go Crazy for Light-Up Smiles

SwitchedJapanese Go Crazy for Light-Up Smiles originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designfashiongold frontsGoldFrontsgrillsjapanLEDsOnlyInJapantopwearablesweirdFri, 21 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turnstyle Design Strips the Record Player Down to Its Essence]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/turnstyle-record-player-rd-silva/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/turnstyle-record-player-rd-silva/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/turnstyle-record-player-rd-silva/#comments While it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to buy vinyl records of albums that were recorded, mixed and mastered digitally, it sure is cool. Taking this observation into consideration, R.D. Silva has applied space-age, minimalist design to the age-old phonograph, and wound up with the Turnstyle record player. Thanks to what looks like parts scrapped from an air conditioner, this sucker is hotter than Arcade Fire, and cooler than Gucci's new tattoos.

SwitchedTurnstyle Design Strips the Record Player Down to Its Essence originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designmusicrd silvaRdSilvarecord playerRecordPlayertopturntablevinylFri, 21 Jan 2011 07:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Pioneer Developing Powerful Android Computer, for Your Handlebars]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/pioneer-cyclocomputer-android-computer-handlebars/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/pioneer-cyclocomputer-android-computer-handlebars/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/pioneer-cyclocomputer-android-computer-handlebars/#commentspioneer bike computer Parrot's Asteroid -- an Android-powered, in-dash computer -- drew rave reviews from CES attendees earlier this month. Pioneer apparently hopes to produce a similarly impressive Android vehicular device, but this "cyclocomputer" is specifically designed for handlebars, not dashboards.

Pioneer's "graphically enhanced" bike computer will feature wireless sensors that monitor cadence, power, torque and the "graphical vectors for each foot." Judging from a photo, the device also tracks the progress of other riders and stores split times, which would make it ideal for teams or training partners. Its battery life and charging capabilities might present a few issues, but -- given the rapid recent advancement of bike technology and DIY mods -- those minor roadblocks shouldn't derail this Pioneer project.

SwitchedPioneer Developing Powerful Android Computer, for Your Handlebars originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbikeBikeComputercyclocomputerdesignPioneertoptransportationFri, 21 Jan 2011 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kraft Kiosk Scans Your Face, Tells You to Buy Kraft Foods]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/19/kraft-intel-meal-planning-solution/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/19/kraft-intel-meal-planning-solution/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/19/kraft-intel-meal-planning-solution/#commentsKraft Foods -- the manufacturer of such wholesome vittles as Oreo Funstix, Easy Cheese and Handi-Snacks -- would like to scan your face, and then stuff it. Hooray!

Among other enormous and fantastical "innovations" on view at last week's National Retail Federation show was Kraft and Intel's 'Meal Planning Solution' kiosk. According to Fast Company, the kiosk scans your face with some kind of Anonymous Video Analytics software, and then tries to match your physical characteristics with foods that Kraft thinks you might want to nosh. Of course, these will all be Kraft-brand foods -- but, considering the fact that Kraft probably manufactures a plurality of the foodstuffs available at your local supermarket, you've still technically got a lot of choices.

Continue reading Kraft Kiosk Scans Your Face, Tells You to Buy Kraft Foods

SwitchedKraft Kiosk Scans Your Face, Tells You to Buy Kraft Foods originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designdumbfoodintelkraftmarketingMealPlanningSolutiontopWed, 19 Jan 2011 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[The Week in Design: The Persistence of Weirdo Cell Phones and a First-Class Fuel Cell]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/15/the-week-in-design-the-persistence-of-weirdo-cell-phones-and-a/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/15/the-week-in-design-the-persistence-of-weirdo-cell-phones-and-a/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/15/the-week-in-design-the-persistence-of-weirdo-cell-phones-and-a/#comments
selection of this week's concepts
The Web is teeming with the unrealized ideas of both students and established designers who set out to produce astonishing renderings and prototypes for unusual products. Unfortunately, due to the lack of time, money, or technology, many of those products never progress from the planning stages to the mass market. But that doesn't mean we can't salivate over them, nevertheless.

What is the world coming to? Bendable cell phones? Twitter-enabled picnic tables? Slow down, designers -- 2012 will get here well on its own. There's no need to rush into the cultural apocalypse by jamming more needless devices into the gizmo-glutted market. How are we going to power those artistically twisty cell phones when the robots have shut down our access to fossil fuels? (Or, um, after we use them all up?) See the other designs, both good and bad, that caught our collective eye this week, after the break.

Continue reading The Week in Design: The Persistence of Weirdo Cell Phones and a First-Class Fuel Cell

SwitchedThe Week in Design: The Persistence of Weirdo Cell Phones and a First-Class Fuel Cell originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bio phoneBioPhonecanteenconceptsDavid EdwardsDavidEdwardsdesignDesignConceptseco power stripEcoPowerStripethanolethanol fuelEthanolFuelgablerMathieu LehanneurMathieuLehanneurpaz broukPazBroukpumpkintoptwitnictabletwitterSat, 15 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Technicolor 'Weavesilk' Generates Dreamy Art on the Fly]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/14/weavesilk-yuri-vishnevesky-generates-dreamy-art/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/14/weavesilk-yuri-vishnevesky-generates-dreamy-art/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/14/weavesilk-yuri-vishnevesky-generates-dreamy-art/#comments For Yuri Vishnevesky, Weavesilk is a colorful, interactive exercise in creative doodling. After using your mouse to draw on his site's 'night sky' -- simply by connecting dots with lines -- watch Vishnevesky's whimsical program render your scrawl into complex, textured smoke-scapes of psychedelic hues. The young Rutgers student envisions his project as being touch-based, perhaps for the iPhone or iPad, and, to help him realize his goal, he's started a Kickstarter fund. Head over and toss him a buck or two, and get first dibs on a celestial, hyperchromatic app.

SwitchedTechnicolor 'Weavesilk' Generates Dreamy Art on the Fly originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsartComputerArtdesignGenerativeArtkickstartertopweavesilkwebYuriVishneveskyFri, 14 Jan 2011 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Quirky Proves Its DIY Mentality Is Here to Stay]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/06/quirky-proves-its-diy-mentality-is-here-to-stay/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/06/quirky-proves-its-diy-mentality-is-here-to-stay/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/06/quirky-proves-its-diy-mentality-is-here-to-stay/#comments Our favorite group of New York DIY aficionados set up a booth at a Pepcom event tonight, but not at CES itself. The Quirky crew did show all of its typical crowd-sourced wares, developed by their community of "influencers" (letting those with ideas make money, and change, in the realm of gadgetry), but Quirky had something rare to offer, too. Within the prior 24 hours, the team had built a prototype speaker/iPhone charger that sits on a dock, the holder having USB capability (for phone charging) and wireless speaker capability (for wireless, portable listening). This of-the-moment, as-the-need-arises Quirky quality is what will ensure that the little indie company will go far, and keep making innovative, beautifully designed tech objects.

SwitchedQuirky Proves Its DIY Mentality Is Here to Stay originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowd sourcingCrowdSourcingdesigndiypower stripPowerStripquirkyspeakerstopThu, 06 Jan 2011 05:00:00 EST