7 hours ago by Toby Leftly
The problem with all this uber-cool technology is, how do we know what is actually useful and what isn’t? What will actually make it into our every day lives and what will be consigned to the tech landfills of tomorrow?
3D TV seems to be the ultimate expression of this. Of course content providers want a new product to sell us. Of course gadget hounds want a 3D TV in their living room.
But does that mean every TV in the developed world will one day be 3D?
Visualizing this stuff is the key, which is why shows like Star Trek and movies like Minority Report are always hailed as the creators of the vision we all hold dear when it comes to technology. more »
Yesterday by Ty Dunitz
It would be a day wasted if I didn’t show you a bafflingly unique piece of musical technology, so check this out.
Rob Schneider (no, not that one) has modded a Mattel Mindflex toy to control a Moog synthesizer using EEG sensors that monitor the intensity of his thoughts. Truly this is the threshold of future-radness, but if you haven’t hit play yet, be warned: this isn’t exactly going to be the most beboppingest jazz flute you’ve ever heard, or anything. Controlling music with your thoughts is hard. But remember: it’s not how well the pig is dancing, but that it’s dancing at all.
I think that’s a Mark Twain quote, or something. Anyway, assuming this sentence isn’t already after the jump, check out an additional video of Rob’s difficulties with the Mindflex theremin after the jump.
Sep 5 by Toby Leftly
Most people have occasionally stopped to wonder what life was like before computers, but if you use Photoshop, you understand the true power and simplicity that computers bring to every day life.
Now we get to see for real what a world without Photoshop would be like, thanks to the cryptically named aworldwithoutphotoshop.com.
A team of designers hurry to create a magazine cover in a mere eight hours, and are stumped at the notion of having to add lens flare and drop shadow.
As someone who remembers the old days of pasting up hand-cropped artwork using spray mount, this brings back personal demons I had long since hoped to have banished.
A little fun for a Sunday afternoon for you Photoshoppers!
Sep 5 by Toby Leftly
Finally! Someone has taken the time to explain why infographics are so common on the web. Using an infographic.
As an infographic junkie, I know the power and purpose of a good infographic, but apparently there’s a hidden motive for their virulent use on the web.
Buzzfeed details how infographics are actually a tool of evil SEO spammers, helpfully summarizing the information in a neat infographic.
It sure feels like I’m saying ‘infographic’ a lot.
Sep 4 by Ty Dunitz
Google should seriously rethink its doodles. Nobody is ever going to get anything done! This is the worst thing for productivity since their Google Pac-Man.
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the ‘buckyball‘ (Buckminsterfullerene, for you chemistry buffs), a form of carbon composed of 60 atoms arranged into a soccer ball shape, Google has wizarded their logo, as they have done so many times before, into an animated, interactive buckyball tribute.
I’ve seriously been sitting here for ten minutes spinning this damn thing. Google must seriously be trying to collapse the economy.
Sep 3 by Toby Leftly
With Adobe’s Creative Suite 5 barely a couple of months old, the Photoshop team is already hard at work on new features for CS6.
Here’s a vidoe sneak peak at a new tool: Photobomb.
The video speaks for itself, so check it out, but I’m pretty sure this is something I’ll use on a daily basis.
It’s great to see that some of Adobe’s staff are still lighthearted and able to poke fun at themselves, even while their CEO is busy trying to bury the company by chaining it to a dying technology.
Sep 3 by Toby Leftly
We’re all aware of the SteamPunk phenomenon – time-rich nerd takes high tech device and fancies it up with some Victorian apparel. But sometimes going just a little old school is all that’s required.
The Compass Phone is a device designed by HaYeon Yoo. We’re off to a rocky start, since the device clearly has no actual phone functionality. So.. it’s a compass.
But not just any compass. It’s a compass that instead of pointing north, points to your friend and lets you know their distance and direction.
Through this ingenious collaboration of cutting edge technology and old school, no-nonsense cool stuff, any two people holding these devices can know exactly where each other is at any given time. more »
Sep 1 by Ty Dunitz
Sometimes, you’re a BSG fan. Sometimes, you find yourself with an old iMac. Sometimes, you add a Larson Scanner kit. Sometimes, you dare look this good on the internet.
And that’s all I have to say about that.
Aug 30 by Ty Dunitz
It would be uncustomary for me to let a day go by without showing off something designy and musical. Taking a break from all that DJ gear I’ve been hyped about recently, here’s Yamaha’s Silent Guitar.Yeah, it looks like it fell out of Tron. Awesome, right? Right.
If you’re a music buff, you’ll be well aware that the Silent Guitar has actually been kicking around for nine years. But the internet was young and stupid in 2001, and Yamaha has just updated it 2010-style, so what better time than now to show off to the rest of the readers one of the strangest pieces of musical tech out there.
Seriously, the Silent Guitar is exactly that; with no resonating body, the instrument produces sound at a volume of about 10% of a regular guitar – meaning you’re gonna need to pack a set of headphones if you hope to hear what you’re doing. more »
