Universe House, created by Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco and architect Tatiana Bilbao.
The creation of this paradise is inspired by the Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory, which was built in Delhi, India in 1724. And boy is it an architectural beauty.
[Via Gizmodo; Arch Daily]
The Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building and most brilliant architectural feat, still stands tall after getting hit by severe lightning strikes every now and then. Check out some more images below and look after the break for some lightning striking the building in real time and in slo-mo.
[Via Gizmodo]
Continue reading The Burj Dubai struck by lightning provides a spectacular gallery of photos, video
Mechanical Mobile, designed by Mikhail Stawsky.
This concept cell phone gets its charge from you spinning it around your finger! Or you can attach a crank to it and charge it that way.
[Via Gizmodo; Yanko Design]
Now this is a true Chocolate phone. The NTT Docomo Melty Chocolate is a full-featured cell phone including a 8-megapixel camera, digital TV tuner, and Bluetooth. Only 13,000 units will be made, and it’s only available in Japan. Oh well. You can go ahead and enjoy the images, can’t you? Mmmm…
[Via Gizmodo]
Long and Short Plaster, designed by Miyeon Kim & Hoyoung Lee.
Kids these days, running around and scraping themselves. It forces big people to run to CVS and buy various sizes and assortments of Band-Aids. This concept Band-Aid machine will rid of this routinized shopping spree by allowing you to cut customized sizes of Band-Aids. Think of it like a tape dispenser, but for Band-Aids. Neat-o.
Animated video of the machine at work after the break. Concept images below.
[Via Gizmodo; Yanko Design]
Scientists at IBM have created the “biggest artificial brain ever” with a computer simulation (1.6 billion virtual neurons connected by 9 trillion synapses) that far surpasses the previous attempt (55 million neurons) to do such a thing. This year’s results simulate a cat’s brain, while the last time simulated a rat’s brain. Who’s up next? We are.
These massive simulations are merely steps toward Modha’s ultimate goal: simulating the entire human cortex, about 25 billion neurons, at full speed. To do that, he’ll need to find 1000 times more computing power. At the rate that supercomputers have expanded over the last 20 years, that super-super computer could exist by 2019. “This is not just possible, it’s inevitable,” [Dharmendra Modha, computer scientist] says. “This will happen.” [He adds:] “I’ll have it ready for you within the next decade.”
Modha meet SkyNet.
Well then, time to go out and buy all the Terminator movies and study up. Judgement Day is imminent.
[Via Gizmodo, here & here; Popular Mechanics]
Looks like Google is finally giving its first-born a refresh. At an unspecified date the main Google page and its search options will change in appearence. The interface promises to be cleaner, bolder, and and more accessable. Right now Google is testing out the new search features on random people. You haven’t been invited to the party? That’s OK, I’ve got the ticket to sneak you in the back entrance. It’s all after the break.
[Via Gizmodo, here, here & here; SearchEngineLand]
Continue reading Google is refreshing its search interface, give it a try
Ok, this deck is not a vortex in disguise, but it sure looks like one. This trippy, mind-bending deck belongs to Jeff Dauber, an Apple senior executive of all people. “I wanted someone to barf when they look at it,” says Dauber.
The Japanese maple in Jeff Dauber’s San Francisco backyard is not at the center of a carbon-sucking vortex. Sorry, sci-fi fans, but the Berkeley-based architect Thom Faulders’s perfectly flat deck only looks like its far corner has its own warped gravity. Ever since Francesco Borromini’s Gallery Spada, in Rome, forced perspectives and architectural patronage have gone hand in hand, but whereas the Renaissance architect employed a mathematician to make that arcade seem longer through foreshortening, Faulders used 3-D–modeling software to achieve Deformscape’s dipping effect.
[Via Gizmodo; Metropolis Mag]
Pictured above is Google’s co-founder Sergey Brin. At last week’s Google Chrome OS announcement he made a quick appearence sporting these outrageous shoes that have a place for all five toes to take comfort. Vibram’s Five Fingers are “ultralight running/sports shoes with separate pockets for each toe.” Though they look quite unconventional, they are apparently great running shoes and are praised by CrunchGear. If you’re interested in a pair, they go for about $75 and are available to order here.
[Via CrunchGear]
The Smart Shower by Hansa combines three different shower heads into one setup.
The aptly named Smart shower lets you activate three different shower heads and alternate between modes with the push of a button. Set your water as a gentle shower or a cascade; start the pivoting body spray [(aka the crotch spray)]; or wash away the cares of the day using the new slim hand shower. And it looks as good as it feels…
Oh, I’m sure it does.
