Five months of Kinect
Posted on 16/05/11.
This short film outlines just some of the innovative ways that creative developers have started to explorer the different opportunities opened up by Microsoft’s Kinect. It’s fantastic to see interaction being explored in so many ways, and that such a relatively inexpensive piece of hardware can make all this possible.
Whilst their operating systems may be lagging behind and their browsers often be a source of frustration, Microsoft really do seem to be leading the way in experimental user interaction, which is a hugely exciting field, thanks to Kinect and their latest ‘Surface 2’ touchscreen. Whilst their own interfaces trail behind Apple, by opening up the field to developers worldwide, really exciting possibilities can be explored. We’re watching this space closely.
Further excitement comes from news that Nintendo are also set to unveil their new Wii console at E3 next month. Having totally revolutionized user interaction some four years ago, it’s exciting to speculate about what they might have lined up next month.
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The Emeco 111 Navy Chair with Coca-Cola
Posted on 27/09/10.
Coca-Cola asked Emeco to make the classic Navy Chair out of a new, unproven formulation of rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate- recycled plastic bottles). The resulting chair is made from 111 recycled plastic Coke bottles and is expected to keep three million plastic Coke bottles out of landfills each year! “Requiring a state-of-art mold, the new 111 Navy Chair™ includes the original stretcher (structural brace) below the seat. This detail not only assures authenticity, but creates great structural integrity. The 111 Navy Chair™ carries a 5-Year structural guarantee. The new 111 Navy Chair™ is available in six colors: Red, Snow, Flint Gray, Grass Green, Persimmon and Charcoal. Snow, Flint and Red can be used outdoors. The new chair has a distinctive, “velvet” finish that is scratch resistant.” Well done Coke!
Link: http://emecowithcoke.com/
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Grand Taxonomy of Rap Names
Posted on 23/09/10.
The clever folks at PopChartLab have put together this fantastic infographic poster breaking down the history of famous hip-hop artist monikers into categories. The main headings are “Physical or Metphysical Attributes”, “Wordplay”, “Alphanumeric”, “Titles/Honorifics” and “Crime”.
This isn’t just for fun; it’s actually an impressively in-depth and lovingly put together study. And it’s fun. The posters for sale on their site - they’ve also done one all about Beer…
Link: http://popchartlab.com/
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Fiona Banner
Posted on 27/08/10.
We have just been to see Fiona Banner’s incredible installations in the Duveen Galleries at Tate Britain. Two decommissioned fighter jets–a Harrier suspended from the ceiling with the nose a few feet from the ground, and a stripped and polished Jaguar belly up–‘remain ambiguous objects implying both captured beast and fallen trophy.’
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Planned obsolescence
Posted on 23/08/10.
Planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence in industrial design is a policy of deliberately planning or designing a product with a limited useful life, so it will become obsolete or nonfunctional after a certain period. The phrase was first popularized in 1954 by Brooks Stevens, an American industrial designer. By his definition, planned obsolescence was “Instilling in the buyer the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than is necessary.” By the late 1950s, planned obsolescence had become a commonly-used term for products designed to break easily or to quickly go out of style. So that’s why most products designed in the US after the 50s weren’t built to last.
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Milo, the virtual boy
Posted on 20/08/10.
Peter Molyneux, ex Lionhead Studios boss demos Milo, a hotly anticipated video game for Microsoft’s Kinect controller. Perceptive and impressionable like a real 11-year-old, the virtual boy watches, listens and learns—recognizing and responding to you.
Impressive stuff that demos several developments in the way that we can interact with technology, and how our actions can shape a unique experience.
Link: http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_molyneux_demos_milo_the_virtual_boy.html
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Frank Paulin
Posted on 25/05/10.
On a recent visit to Lowe Art Museum we discovered these great prints by American artist and photographer Frank Paulin. In the mid-forties he developed his documentary style by photographing wartime devastation of German cities. On his return to the US he continued working in Chicago and NYC. Remember there are still a few days left of Miami Museum Month so get down to the Lowe and see for yourselves.
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