Litracon made the blogsphere last year, but it’s making second rounds. Litracon is concrete reinforced with fiber optic strands, hence creating a semi-translucent material with some magical results. As for a new material, great, but what are the new and valuable applications? I haven’t seen any great application yet, but I’m sure there are some in the works. Anyhow, check out their site, think up some great applications, and post them here.
Archives
All posts for the month March, 2006
How cool is this! Perhaps it’s my geek side, but I want!via boinboing
billboardom (image)
I have no idea what this is, but it grabs my curiosity! Each of those bubbles have number displays in them… hmmm.
via mocoloco
Japan Design Net (images)
“Audiopad is a composition and performance instrument for electronic music which tracks the positions of objects on a tabletop surface and converts their motion into music. One can pull sounds from a giant set of samples, juxtapose archived recordings against warm synthetic melodies, cut between drum loops to create new beats, and apply digital processing all at the same time on the same table. Audiopad not only allows for spontaneous reinterpretation of musical compositions, but also creates a visual and tactile dialogue between itself, the performer, and the audience.”James Patton AudioPad
Video
Car Loft introduces a unique option in parking your car in high-rise buildings. Parking your car in front of your door has it’s obvious benefits, but living in a high-rise generally requires a basement trek. Car Loft lifts your car up to your floor and lets your park right there.
I dont live in a high-rise building, but if I did, this would be awesome!
“Sustainable design, which balances environmental, social, economic and aesthetic concerns, has the potential to transform everyday life and is already reshaping the fields of architecture and product design. Beyond Green explores how this design philosophy resonates with an emerging generation of international artists who combine a fresh aesthetic sensibility with a constructively critical approach to the production, dissemination and display of art.”
Talk about sustainability in design. These cute bears are made out of, well, Tofu!
“SOYSILK® is a fabulous, cutting edge fiber made from soy. – it’s earth-friendly and from renewable resources. No petroleum products are used. “
Tofu Bear
SoySilk (the creators of silk, bamboo, tofu, and other such innovative fabrics)
“dVitral, [is] an interactive high dimensions digital vitral….developed for the IVAM facade, this non-approved installation allows to convert the actual glass facade of the museum in a dynamic interactive, low-resolution screen.based in an array of SmartGlass pieces, a high tech glass cappable of turn opaque with an electric impulse.”
via poeticsoft
running screen (details)
This is one freakin amazzzing wall clock! If you have a hard time seeing your clock display from across the room, go make yourself a 12 footer. The website has instructions on making this beast which includes a GPS receiver as well.
Have you ever wondered what the number tags on fruit meant?
“The numbers tell you how the fruit was grown. Conventionally grown fruit has four digits; organically grown fruit has five and starts with a nine; genetically engineered has five numbers and starts with an eight.”
Pretty cool!
If your into inventing and a bit of entertainment, then check out abc’s new reality show “American Inventor”. The show is produced by the infamous judge Simon Cowell from American Idol, and takes on the same format as the Idol show. The winner wins 1 million dollars and a chance to market their invention to millions of people. The show airs Thursday nights on ABC. So far, there have been mixed reviews, but plenty of entertainment and some inspiration.
I’ve always been facinated how certain brands replace product names, such as Coke=soda, Kleenex=tissue paper, sharpie=permanent marker, ipod=mp3 player, etc. I’ve noticed in todays tech world that powerful brands also replace our everyday verbs. When a brand replaces a noun or verb in our mindsets, then it becomes a brand Sneezer(a brand that spreads fast and becomes ridiculously powerful!)
Here’s my short list of brands that have replaced a few of my everyday verbs!
Google= search/find
Tivo= record
Xerox= copy
Ebay= sell(maybe buy or advertise)
Fedex= mail (with quality)
Kazaa= download
?= shop (maybe amazon someday)
?= email (maybe gmail soon)