The Design blog |
- Bikini made from junked computer parts depicts Women in Technology
- Badboot, the world’s biggest floating open air swimming pool to open in August
- Blanket aka coverall that takes in solar energy and keeps people warm at night
- The Ear that is clear for all languages
- 3D holographic chats will become a reality with the Telepod
- Viral Wearable Music Player is the silliest fitness mp3 player ever seen
- Variable Portable Display keeps hazards at construction sites at bay
- Watch pizza being cooked a la carte at this chic restaurant
- Zep lamp models itself on an old age blimp with an air filled bellow
- You’ll have to spend five years in gym to lift this Goliathon Steampunk Nerf Gun
| Bikini made from junked computer parts depicts Women in Technology Posted: 03 May 2012 06:50 AM PDT Asmita Prasad: When it comes to stereotyping women, nothing stands out more than their obsession with fashion and their discomfort with technology. Not only is the presumption sexist (all men are just as likely to be not as well versed with technology as a similar percentage of the female population), it actually discourages little girls from developing an interest in technology at an early age. Another equally sexist presumption about women is that they prize fashion above all else since men these days care about their grooming and clothing just as much as women. However, designers Jennifer Shannon and Andi Cheung thought it would be a good idea to depict these negative stereotypes about women through an art piece that uses a bikini (which promotes the idea of women as sex objects) covered in hardware from junked old computers.
 Women In Technology Created for the Recurring Concepts in Art class taught by famous art historian and the Guggenheim Museum's Education Manager for Adult Interpretive Programs, the piece is supposed to be a commentary on stereotype threat, women in technology and wearables where the students were required to repurpose their old projects without using the help of technology. As far as the project being a response representative of gender stereotypes faced by women when technology is concerned, the piece does more to reinforce them rather than educating us otherwise. Bits of old computer parts on what appears to be a very prickly bikini isn't very thought provoking or stereotype breaking or even functional by any stretch of the imagination is it? Via: Cargo Collective
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| Badboot, the world’s biggest floating open air swimming pool to open in August Posted: 03 May 2012 06:43 AM PDT Jaspreet Kaur Walia: Badboot, touted to be the biggest floating open-air swimming pools in the world will be opened in mid-August in Antwerp, Belgium. It has been designed by architects Silvia Mertens and Pieter Peerlings from Sculp(IT) Architecten. The amazing pool will be open throughout the year and the most amazing part being it can be moved to an altogether new site whenever required. The same swimming pool will serve as an ice rink when the outside temperature dips.
 Badboot
Badboot will be large enough to accommodate 600 people at a time and will boast of a total length of 394 feet or 120 meters. The stunning design will comprise of a swim basin, lounge terrace, restaurant, two event venues and several floors, which will invite bathers every summer. During winters, people can enjoy sports activities and barbecues in style. The two event rooms will make it possible to organize events every day, which makes it perfect for various product launches, seminars and even office parties. The restaurant will come complete with a lounge deck that will be run by top chefs, serving delectable meals. There is enough parking space available, which will be able to hold hundreds of vehicles at the same time.
The attention grabbing swimming pool on water will be open every day and all people have to pay is just 4 Euros to enjoy the exhilarating experience. Badboot will let people enjoy swim under the open blue skies, which will be fun and account for a perfect leisure activity. The entire length of the gigantic pool will unfurl a great view over the MAS and the port. It makes sure that visitors get to savor excellent swimming facilities. The vessel will be fashioned out of 100 percent Antwerp steel and will be built as an integrated structure in Netherlands. The luxury project will take care of the environment at the same time and will not cause any kind of damage. It is a great picture of comfort and leisure that has been beautifully gelled with ecology. Badboot exploits latest technologies present across the globe for a great experience. It will comprise on an on-board reed bed that will purify water inside the pool, which will be beautified with designer lighting and gives a breathtaking view when seen from the restaurant. This will be the first outdoor purification bed that will be actively ventilated. Thermal insulation concept has been used in the vast design that will have a buffering hold under the pool that will put a stop on water evaporating as it stays warm. The well illuminated design used LED lights, which will lend the necessary sparkle while using less energy. Badboot is a large scale luxury project that will definitely attract thousands of people once it is opened. Via: Bustler
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| Blanket aka coverall that takes in solar energy and keeps people warm at night Posted: 03 May 2012 06:30 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: Survivors of natural disasters have a tough time while they are being rehabilitated. Along with clean water and food, they also do not have access to shelter. Living out in the biting cold can become a huge problem for anyone. Sites that provide refuge aren't always outfitted with basic amenities. With electricity and fuel shortages looming around, providing asylum from cold and rough weather conditions becomes a pressing problem.
 Shareable Coverall
But here is a nifty gadget that can be used in disaster relief operations. It is actually a blanket that can help out victims till they find a shelter. What's special about this blanket is that it collects heat during the day and then keeps the wearer warm at night. So, even if you do not have warm clothes for protection, this blanket will be there to your rescue.
 Shareable Coverall Another great thing about the piece is that it can also be worn as a coverall. You just need zips and buttons to make the transformation. So, apart from sleeping in it, you can also wear the blanket as a coverall and move around. This clever idea cuts down on the number of supplies that need to be shipped at disaster relief shelters. In addition to disaster victims, the garment can also be used by people who work in cold climatic conditions. The shareable coverall is actually made from conductive yarn. The fiber thus has the ability to heat itself using kinetic as well as solar energy that are infused into it during day time. The textile is made using PCM or the phase-change memory technology and solar cell panel. The helpful and compassionate design that bagged the red dot award is a creation of Lee Jong Yun. Via: Red Dot
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| The Ear that is clear for all languages Posted: 03 May 2012 06:20 AM PDT Shallu Sharma: We can travel across land and sea aerially and otherwise. We have developed our world enough to be able to change landscapes and visit different communities within hours. There's no physical barrier in this age of technology. Semantic barriers are also fast losing their meaning with people mastering more and more global languages. To narrow down the lingual bridge further and with effect, the "Third Ear" is here to address your attention towards its notable merits. It is a device which receives the native language and translates it into the required foreign tongue simultaneously. Let's consider what the "Third Ear" has to "say" for a change, rather than listen.
 Third Ear
The Third Ear is an interesting contrivance consisting of 2 parts. The first one being the circular film, while the second part, the earphone audio processor. The circular film has an integrated small chip which collects sound directly from the vocal chords. Shaped like a sticker, the film clings on to either side of the throat to receive the vibrations. The 2nd part or the processor receives these vibrations in the native language for further processing. A valid question here would be that why not use a microphone to input native language digitally? Well, developers argue that receiving signals directly from the vocal chords makes for excellent precision and accuracy in language reception. The film sends native language to the processor which then translates the mother tongue into the language of the recipient. The recipient could be an individual or a group of persons wearing the device. The Third Ear notes the requirement of each of the recipients and transmits in the desired languages respectively. Such is the mechanism of the device and is worthy of a global acceptance. How viral can the device get, we'll just have to wait and "listen."
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| 3D holographic chats will become a reality with the Telepod Posted: 03 May 2012 06:18 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: Crystal balls and magic mirrors through which you can talk to others are simply mystical. Three dimensional tele communication has been on the mind of many people ever since they saw Princess Leia talk to Obi Wan Kenobi through a holographic image of herself in the smashing sci-fi hit Star Wars. But if research efforts of a team from Human Media Lab at the Canadian Queens University work out well, then you will be able to experience the thrill of holo chat in reality soon.
 Telepod
Telepod‘Telepod’ is a fully-3D virtual person projection system Dubbed as the telepod, this tubular cylinder will hold the image of the person you are taking to right in front of you. The life sized image will have sufficient depth and will look as good as real. You can view the person being telecast from all sides and even walk around them. Yeah, you got it right, this is a stark 3D image, and not the 2D shows with slight depth that you usually see. People who know about 3D projection will surely ask how all this is possible with just six kinects. Well, of course, it is not possible. A total of 10 kinects have made this marvelous break through achievable. Additional four Kinects will be placed in the room where the 3D images will be cast. These extra sensors will make it possible to view the images from the side as well as the back. So, this system can only be used in one room that has all the installation. Also, only one person will be able to see the 3D image at a time. The mechanism is not as breathtaking as the 3D holograms in Star Wars as yet but the fine tuning is going on. And when it rolls out, it will completely transform the transmission of teleconferences and 3D advertisements. Via: Queens University Media Lab
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| Viral Wearable Music Player is the silliest fitness mp3 player ever seen Posted: 03 May 2012 06:09 AM PDT Asmita Prasad: The whole point of wearing a music player when you go for a run is to help you focus while you're training via songs that mean something to you or give you a boost when you need a push. However, designer Michele Tittarelli thinks that wearable fitness-specific mp3 players are isolating and too personal and distract one from enjoying the social experience of being in a gym or a park or even a stretch of the beach popular with joggers and this thought prompted her into designing the Viral Wearable Music Player which basically "infects" the wearer's playlist with the music being played by a passerby.
 Viral Wearable Music Player
Though the very idea behind portable music players that come with earphones is to ensure that no one is forced to listen to the music being played by someone else, the designer apparently thinks that it isn't a very desirable thing and perhaps she misses the boom box era where the person with the loudest speakers could force everyone within an earshot of the sound waves to listen to whatever music they personally preferred. Which is why she invented this bizarre wearable fitness music player that can start playing the music being played by someone passing by as long as the beats per minute (BPM) of the two songs are found to be compatible. If the Viral Wearable Music Player detects a "good" virus i.e., a song that matches the BPM of your playlist, the two songs get mixed through Max/MSP to Xbee since the prototype transmits data wirelessly. If that's not annoying enough, a user has to brush off (decline) the infection manually which means that if you're wearing this device in a busy jogger's park, you'll need to constantly keep brushing off infections which may cause you to lose focus or take a fall and break a body part. Via: Wix
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| Variable Portable Display keeps hazards at construction sites at bay Posted: 03 May 2012 06:09 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: A fine looking road display that helps you manage traffic and increases safety on road construction sites is surely a beneficial idea. Known as the VPD or Visual Portable Display, the unit can prevent hazards when construction activities are going on in the city. The heavy construction being carried out in New Zealand and the risk it poses on drivers goaded the designer to devise the practical equipment.
 VPD
The unit essentially consists of an electronic visual display unit placed on a stand, which has spring loaded feet. These are stored in an upright position. The unique design makes it easy to carry the piece around. They can be hauled easily from storage to the operation position with very little pressure. Once they are in the right position, the mechanism makes it possible to lock the stands in place. However, the unit doesn't look anything like the hideous stands and signboards one usually spots on roads. VPD has an appealing design and will make roadways look much better. Bright LEDs have been embedded in them. Although the stands add tremendously to the look of the open road, they have a strong function to deliver. They can be spotted even from a distance of 200 meters and therefore can warn drivers as well as passerby's of the construction ahead. The piece is really handy and using it is also very easy. The unit is housed in a sturdy yet waterproof encasing made from plastic. The piece, which is usually stored in the boot of a police car or inside a contractors truck, can been charged while it is in storage. All settings can be specified using the touch screen slotted at the back. These settings can be pre programmed and adjusted very easily. Via: James Dyson Award
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| Watch pizza being cooked a la carte at this chic restaurant Posted: 03 May 2012 06:06 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: Cooking food is as appetizing as eating it. Relishing the aromas and savoring the texture while your dish griddles out is a divine experience. If you are a gourmand at heart, you will understand that rustling up a dish is as much fun as chomping it down. Here is a new eatery that brings to you the thrill of watching food being prepared a la carte. Die hard foodies and wannbe chefs will love to frequent this place planned by Canada based industrial as well as furniture designer, Jesicca Humeault.
 Capolavoro
The Restaurant layout is really neat and circular tables have been laid out all across. Right at the center of the table is an oven to bake your pizza. Although the ovens are electric, their design is very much like the wooden ovens used traditionally to bake pizzas. Tables are of different sizes and can accommodate 2, 4 or even 8 people at a time. Moreover, you can rearrange your sitting area as the table tops are modular. People who like the concept of open kitchens will love this place. Get creative and order any type of pizza you feel like eating and it will be prepared exactly to your liking. You can see the chefs at work on the three food prep counters. All the sauces are nuked fresh by the chef at the first counter while at the next live counter you can see meats being roasted. The vegetables, condiments and grated cheese are sprinkled atop at the third counter. The ambiance inside is warm and celebratory. The causal setting is chic and stylish. You can kick back and relax or enjoy an offhand chat with friends in this easy atmosphere. Besides pizzas, the eatery also serves pastas. The food prep counters are placed right next to the bar. Alongside is a dance floor where you can hop to thumping beats. The place literally gives you a reason to celebrate!
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| Zep lamp models itself on an old age blimp with an air filled bellow Posted: 03 May 2012 06:05 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: If you are bored of things that look swish, svelte and modern, then you must take a look at this graphic piece. The design of this lamp has been inspired from a 20th century German airship. A refreshing change from the stark clean lines around you, this piece of retro-futurism is truly outrageous. The lamp, made up of springs and a crane-like haul that goes up and down, fulfills your fantasies of being an airship pirate or a genius inventor from the steampunk age.
 Blimp lamp
The gasbag profile of the piece is perfect for a lampshade. Its contour is like the Zeppelin lightweight structures. Made from burnished steel and brass, its mechanized look is very masculine. Fans of retrotronics will surely like to get a hand on the rusticated piece. Moreover, the lamp will look really cool in a masculine study. All men, whether they are teenage boys or slightly older yuppies, would love to have a lamp like this sitting on their desktop. Mellifluous light oozes out from the 168 low voltage LEDs. Not only is the lamp energy efficient, but the illumination is quite bright making it a good choice for your night time studying exploits. Just because the exterior is antique, doesn't mean that the lamp leaves new age functionality behind. The lampshade is held in place by a hand forged steel springs. The long arm of the lamp can be stationed at various angles, thus the light falls on the exact spot desired. Its craftsmanship is also laud worthy. The fine looking mechanized unit is made by hand. Many fittings have been slotted in for ease of operation. Just below the lamp are two custom switches. The amazing piece, which looks sort of misplaced in time, has been crafted by the talented Italian designer, Flaminio Bovino. You might want to take a decision fast if you are interested in this blimp lookalike as it is a limited edition design. Via: Flaminio Bovino
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| You’ll have to spend five years in gym to lift this Goliathon Steampunk Nerf Gun Posted: 03 May 2012 05:16 AM PDT Asmita Prasad: It may not be anything more than a mere toy, but this modded Nerf Vulcan Blaster called the Goliathon is on heck of a deadly (looking) weapon. Fitted with all the embellishments essential to a Steampunk mod, the Goliathon apparently packs in all the ponies that a "full-size steam locomotive" has and is powerful enough to "turn a man inside out, down an airship or level a building," in the realm of your imagination of course.
 Steampunk Gun
Fitted with brass trinkets, a valve wheel, 4 gauges and copper piping, the heavily modified apocalyptic machination is a fine example of the Steampunk persuasion and the formidable gun makes the perfect accessory to a colorful imagination. Created by Professor T. Lemetry, the steel, brass and copper concoction spurred from the metaphorical loins of the automatic dart cannon Nerf Vulcan. The Goliathon stands 2 ½ feet in length and shames any of the other plastic rivals that are touted around in the world of collectors and bought and sold for sick sums of money. For the Steampunk world, the gun is a fine accomplishment and a superb representative of the genre. The only real drawback of the design is that it doesn't even let out a single peep and we would have loved it if its maker had throw in some audio fittings preferably with surround sound. If you're interested in purchasing the Goliathon Steampunk Nerf Gun, you can check it out at the seller's Etsy shop Steampunk 101 where it is sold for $350. Via: Technabob
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