Mobile Sound

Nomadic Sound System from Chris K Jones on Vimeo.

This is just begging for a savvy client to exploit.

Zero Cost Diagnostics

This is based in comic book technology. Designed by chemist George Whitesides, can diagnose HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and more! Put a drop of blood on one side and the colors will help doctors diagnose various diseases. This is purely brilliant thinking that should see the light of day.

Best Use of Augmented Reality...So Far

In Japan you can now use AR in a Vending Machine, good idea. Users can bring a printout or use your cell phone to access it, ok, not so intuitive (especially since there is a window with actual product right there). Afterwards (and here is where there could be gold) you hold the product up and get (awesome so far) to see the (wait for it) ingredients and nutritional value... let down!

If only they would have been entertaining, I guess we'll have to give them some time, they are sooooo close!

S.H.Y.N.E.S.S.

Oooohhh, the bloggers are just gonna love this. Since when did browsers need to advertise?

Love Hate, The Ever Changing Book

Brilliant concept, implementation. New thinking.

Tweeeeet Design

The guys over at Cyber 13 and Joy Engine, in Boulder have launched Tweeeeet Design. You now have the ability, thanks to them, to see what is on the mind of many, and I mean many, icons of design. Head over there and chew on some good thoughts.

TED

The possibilities for this are really amazing. Take the 8 min to watch and see. Be ready to be amazed.

TED via Gizmodo

Siftables

Siftables are cookie-sized blocks that can communicate to one another and allow users to develop unique narratives in seconds. These toys can do math, create music, talk to their friends and are pushing the boundaries of what screens are and what screens can do. Goodbye GUI. Welcome TUI.

Japan is from the Future

This is a helpful sign in the streets of Japan. In the wake of a disaster, floods due to global warming, earthquakes due to over population, or Godzilla attacks due to his need to attack, these sign will change to display helpful information. Like where the nearest underground, military/scientific base is. How do you ask. Epaper my friend, sure we have it, but while we were trying to put it on magazines, the Japanese were using it for good. It can be adjusted over wifi, stay that way until you adjust it again and needs very little energy. If only we could get it here. My guess is it would take a national sponsor, like Nike. I can see it now, earthquakes in LA, the advice, run.

Image Search

This is really cool. Find images by searching with an image. Not text, but an image. Watch the video and see what I mean. I can see a use for copyright infringement and finding that artist you can't name as possibilities, but not much more. Yet, I still like this idea, but check it out for yourself.

LED Bulbs

Forget fluorescent bulbs, that is so 2007, check out Frog Design's next design, LED. They lose the mercury and plastic for a more sustainable design, plus the light is a less harsh. Besides, don't you just love the screen print design they added?
VIA Gizmodo

Comics Communicate for Google

Years ago I almost took an interdisciplinary class taught jointly by an English professor and a logic professor with an interest in visual communication. The class would study comic book structure and the I Ching. While communicating a dry subject through visual means is certainly nothing new, I was a little surprised when Google rolled out this to explain their new browser/application, Chrome. I wish I would have taken that class. For some reason, the comic book rarely enters my mind as a solution to complex communication, but it seems to work more often than not.

Blogbot Graphic Novel Generator

Alex Dragulescu has created software to generate graphic novels by trolling the web for content. It sounds like it would be too random to relate to the design industry, but the first completed project, What I did Last Summer, is more mesmerizing than I expected. You'll have to watch at least a minute or two to really get the feel, I think.

The Future of Interfaces

Smashing Magazine has posted 10 future user interfaces

that are pretty mind-blowing to those of us whose work is produced mainly on paper. And speaking of paper, the holographic technology used in Musion's Eyeliner 3D (in video above) would certainly take the paper fashion show to new levels; of course, it wouldn't be paper then, would it? 

New great technology is great, but I offer Khoi Vinh's perspective on the need for simplicity 

to put the new stuff to good use. Enjoy.

Adithread

Everyone is talking about how to not talk to consumers but actually bring them into the brand. Adidas has continued to raise the bar. The last post we had for the All Black team was using their blood for the ink on a poster. this is even better, bring fan's names and support, and put them on the thread they use to make the jersey. Sure, they can't actually read the name, but it is there, using some pretty cool tech, now fans are truly a part of the team. Hit the site for more. VIA NotCot.com