transforms

Flood Helmet by Ong Kian Peng, 2008. “The Flood Helmet is...

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:59:05 -0500

by Ong Kian Peng, 2008. “The Flood Helmet is a mobile device that visualises possible future flood scenarios based on the user’s physical location.” One of three objects of the series “objects for our sick planet” which is a series of work in response to the general public’s attitude and lack of awareness towards issues in pollution and how it can eventually lead to global warming and climate change. Each of these objects translates and highlights everyday situations and locations into visible and perceptible experiences which otherwise are unnoticed and neglected by humans.” [video]

Thousand Plateaus by Marc Ngui. “These drawings are a...

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:53:19 -0500

Thousand Plateaus

by Marc Ngui. “These drawings are a methodical interpretation of the first two chapters of A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schzophrenia (Wikipedia link) by Gilles Delueze and Felix Guattari, translated by Brian Massumi, University of Minnesota Press, 1987. The drawings were created as a means of understanding the ideas being presented in the book.”

via burak arikan

RCA student radically improves the UK plug (ICON MAGAZINE...

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:49:37 -0500

RCA student radically improves the UK plug (ICON MAGAZINE ONLINE) by Min-Kyu Choi “Choi picked an everyday product that most other designers find too mundane to dabble with and drastically improved it - exactly the kind of thinking that we should be celebrating right now.”

via peterhorvath

Herbologies / foraging networks Initiators/Organisers: Andrew...

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:15:09 -0500

Herbologies / foraging networks

Initiators/Organisers: Andrew Paterson (SCO/FI), Ulla Taipale / Capsula (FI/ES) and Signe Pucena / SERDE (LV)

“The Herbologies/Foraging Networks programme of events, focused in Helsinki (Finland) and Kurzeme region of Latvia, exploring the cultural traditions and knowledge of herbs, edible and medicinal plants, within the contemporary context of online networks, open information-sharing, biological and hydroponic technologies. The traditions of finding and knowing about wild food in the local Nordic environment are slipping away from the current generation. How can one attract their attention: With books, online maps, workshops, mobile-guided tours, open-source information or DNA code? Or learn how to grow them yourself, over the dark winter months?”

at Pixelache Helsinki 2010

(wikipedia. hydroponics: (from the Greek words hydro water and ponos labor) is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil.)

Sustainability Planning Toolkit “ICLEI’s...

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:56:00 -0500

Sustainability Planning Toolkit

“ICLEI’s Sustainability Planning Toolkit, based on the model pioneered by City of New York’s PlaNYC, contains comprehensive, step-by-step guidance to develop a sustainability plan for cities, towns, and counties of all sizes. It follows a proven, straightforward, and flexible process to create a successful, long-term plan that brings together environmental, economic, and social initiatives under one holistic vision to improve the livability of communities and create lasting benefits.”

via worldchanging

waves to waves to waves by damian stewart and chris sugrue,...

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:45:25 -0500

waves to waves to waves

by damian stewart and chris sugrue, 2008. “Waves to Waves to Waves visualises and sonifies ambient electromagnetic energy. Human-generated electromagnetic waves are traveling over, around and through us all the time. Wifi, cellphones, radio, and television broadcast all create electromagnetic fields that are ‘loud’ compared to the natural background, but imperceptible to the human senses. This invisible world is alive with activity that directly reflects our growing relationship to and dependence on, technology.”

Time Table “The entire top surface of the Time Table is a...

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:06:48 -0500

Time Table

“The entire top surface of the Time Table is a digital clock. The glowing digit segments are made of electro-luminescent film.”

via normaldesign

Down the River by peter callesen, 2005. “My paper works...

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:53:06 -0500

Down the River

by peter callesen, 2005. “My paper works have been based around an exploration of the relationship between two and three dimensionality.”

Temp° Sauna by Mika Meskanen. “The Temp° Sauna is a...

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:22:58 -0500

Temp° Sauna

by Mika Meskanen. “The Temp° Sauna is a temporary sauna and an installation that travels around the world. [..] Developed in the obscured backyards of old Berlin, the Temp° Sauna can often be heated with recycled wood and use other resources found on or near location. Like the ancient inventors of sauna who lived off the land, the project strives to respect environment and find new avenues of sustainability.”

Taking an Open-Source Approach to Hardware article in the wall...

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:42:29 -0500

Taking an Open-Source Approach to Hardware

article in the wall street journal. “Using Arduino hardware, tinkerers have recently created everything from a word clock to a radio-controlled lawnmower for a contest hosted by the Web site Instructables.com.”

electronic popables by Jie Qi. “A pop-up book that...

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:23:00 -0500

electronic popables

by Jie Qi. “A pop-up book that explores the integration of paper, electronics, mechanics, and computation.” via spime.tumblr (also see highlowtech channel, paper - more than just a canvas to doodle on)

the conversation by ralf baecker, 2009. Pataphysical processing...

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:52:00 -0500

the conversation

by ralf baecker, 2009. Pataphysical processing environment. 99 solenoids pulling on 3 rubber bands. “The aim of the system is to keep a balance of forces.”

Light Tape UK Limited “Exclusive UK Importer of Light Tape...

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:25:21 -0500

Light Tape UK Limited

“Exclusive UK Importer of Light Tape Electroluminescent Lighting Strips, Panels and Animated Signs.” via d3p.tumblr

Growth Modeling Device by David Bowen, 2008. “This system...

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:01:14 -0500

Growth Modeling Device

by David Bowen, 2008. “This system uses lasers to scan an onion plant from one of three angles. As the plant is scanned a fuse deposition modeler in real-time creates a plastic model based on the information collected. The device repeats this process every twenty-four hours scanning from a different angle. After a new model is produced the system advances a conveyor approximately 17 inches so the cycle can repeat. The result is a series of plastic models illustrating the growth of the plant from three different angles.”

more kinetic beauty in David Bowen’s portfolio

Digital Designs in iTunes? Makerbot goes apple style, maybe?...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:29:22 -0500

Digital Designs in iTunes?

Makerbot goes apple style, maybe? “When Mark Frauenfelder was asked to think of an imaginary future Apple product, he came up with a 3D printer in full Apple style, glossy and sleek.”

via Bre Pettis

Drawing on Paper with iPhone + Pen Plotter by underdoeg...

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:41:00 -0500

Drawing on Paper with iPhone + Pen Plotter

by underdoeg aka Philip Whitfield. “iPhone sending touch information to a pen plotter plugged into a computer.”

via creativeapps

SuperFoam Seating by Rich Gilbert by CubeMe. “SuperFoam is...

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:33:06 -0500

SuperFoam

Seating by Rich Gilbert by CubeMe. “SuperFoam is a re-creation of naturally occurring reticulated foam structures through a casting process that facilitates designing the properties of the foam itself. By developing the casting process the properties of the foam could be controlled so the chair flexed and deformed to create a supportive structure.”

via CedricKiefer

Tinkering Makes Comeback Amid Crisis Wall Street Journal article...

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:20:28 -0500

Tinkering Makes Comeback Amid Crisis

Wall Street Journal article Nov. 13 2009. “The American tradition of tinkering — the spark for inventions from the telephone to the Apple computer — is making a comeback, boosted by renewed interest in hands-on work amid the economic crisis and falling prices of high-tech tools and materials. Occupying a space somewhere between shop class and the computer lab, the new tinkerers are making everything from devices that Twitter how much beer is left in a keg to robots that assist doctors. The experimentation is even creating companies. With innovation a prime factor in driving economic growth, and corporate research and development spending tepid, the marriage of brains and brawn offers one hopeful glimmer.”

- WSJ.com

Jammer Horn by TheGreenEyl. “With the Jammer Horn one can...

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:16:25 -0500

Jammer Horn

by TheGreenEyl. “With the Jammer Horn one can blow out mobile phones. It does not make any sound but yet the blower of the horn gains supremacy over the communication within the immediate vicinity. [..] A temperature sensor triggers a high-range cell phone jammer that sits inside the horn. With the use of the horn’s bell, a directional signal is sent out blocking any cell phone activity within 30-50 meters of the horn.”

Klanghelm by Satoshi Morita. “While the sound is recorded its...

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:57:06 -0500

Klanghelm

by Satoshi Morita. “While the sound is recorded its perspective is designed by means of the microphone as an ‘extended ear’ and while listening by means of the loudspeaker as ‘mirrors of the ear’. The transducer which is built into the ‘Sound Helmet’ adds the tactile perception. All this makes sound tangible. [..] Klangkapsel / Sonic Helmet” provides a new way of listning to sound - with unique auditory spatial perception and tactile perception through three audio channels. It’s open for collaboration with sound artists, musicians and composers.”