Feb 9 2009 'Sixth Sense' Device Created, Sadly Doesn't Capture The Ghost That Lives In My Closet
The brainiacs at MIT have gone and created a 'sixth sense' device, which is basically a smart phone/camera/projector combo small enough to be worn on your face like my fist. KA-POW! Also, it does stuff, and won't leave you bruised.
The device...can turn any surface into a touch-screen for computing, controlled by simple hand gestures. The gadget can even take photographs if a user frames a scene with his or her hands, or project a watch face with the proper time on a wrist if the user makes a circle there with a finger. The device can recognize items on store shelves, retrieving and projecting information about products or even providing quick signals to let users know which choices suit their tastes.
Other than letting some of you live out your fantasy of looking as cool as Tom Cruise in 'Minority Report' it can really let you connect as a sixth sense device with whatever is in front of you," said MIT researcher Patty Maes."It is very much a work in progress. Maybe in ten years we will be here with the ultimate sixth-sense brain implant."
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Brain implants -- that's where I draw the line. There may be nothing but cobwebs, The Golden Girls theme song, and a candy bar wrapper up there, but, damnit, this is my brain we're talking about here. That said, I'll saw my own skull open if it gives me x-ray vision.
MIT researchers make 'sixth sense' gadget [physorg]
Thanks to Ain and Icehawg, who created a 7th sense device but their research was muffled because it was too far ahead of its time.
Jan 28 2009 Cool!: Interactive Street Fighter On Youtube
This is some crazy-ass interactive Street Fighter game in which you actually have some limited command over what your fighter is doing by clicking on-screen buttons. All through Youtube -- amazing! Now go give it a try. Note: clicking the button to choose your opponent will open a new window. But like my grandma always used to tell me, "whenever God opens a new window, he slams an old door and nails it shut, preventing any hope of future happiness. Also, a masked stranger will sneak in your newly opened window and try fondling you in your sleep." Sound wisdom, miss you Grams.
Youtube
Thanks to MoD and NinjaMuffin, who once chained Blanka to a mini fridge in the park where he was forced to power it and keep their beer cold while they played soccer.
Jan 8 2009 Whee: Watch Walmart Spread Like A Virus!
Walmart: where else can you go drink and have shopping cart races at 3 AM? Ha, besides my underground race track? Nowhere, that's where. Now click here to watch an interactive map of Walmart's virus-like growth from 1964 to 2007. As you can see, the big-box giant has been invading America like a disease for 45 years. Just imagine: if every Walmart store was actually a giant robot. We'd all be dead as shit! Now somebody get Hollywood on the phone -- I smell an Oscar.
Watching the Growth of Walmart Across America [flowingdata]
via
The Andromeda Strain [splicetoday]
Thanks to Andrew, who doesn't know anything about viruses because he's clean. Ladies? Sorry Andrew, I tried.
Nov 21 2008 Yarrr, Doubloons!: Live Pirate Map Shows You Where The Plundering Is Going Down
Pirates, they used to wear cool hats. Now? Not so much. But you can still check out their exploits on the International Maritime Bureau's "live piracy map" (based on Google Maps). You know, to see where the booty's being plundered.
Just drill down by using the zoom slider, and click on a flag to see what kind of crime took place. All are labeled with the type of ship, as well as whether the pirates successfully hijacked it or merely boarded. Certain areas, like this one off the coast of East Africa, are pirate paradises. The seas around Singapore and Malaysia are also packed with pirates.
You know where else is packed with pirates? My pants. Isn't that right you little swashbuckling bastards? Haha, just kidding -- they're crabs. I still gave them pirate names though. Stop it Captain Clawhands, that tickles!
Hit the jump for one more map and a link to interactive version in case you can't find the one I cleverly hid in the text of the post.
Continue Reading " Yarrr, Doubloons!: Live Pirate Map Shows You Where The Plundering Is Going Down "
Nov 10 2008 Not Just A Pretty (Reflected) Face: An Interactive, Touch-Sensitive Mirror
It's a mirror. It's interactive. It's an interactive mirror. You can touch it to paint pictures and manipulate text. "Conceptualized by Alpay Kasal of Lit Studios and Sam Ewen of Interference Inc. This is a patent pending touch capable mirror." Now I'm not sure about the practical applications of such a reflectionary device, but hey, who said anything about practicality? If I wanna do my hair and browse recipes at the same time, that's my God-given right. Kidding ladies, that one's yours.
JOKING!
Youtube
Thanks to Brooke, who probably wishes she hadn't sent this and now thinks I'm a racist.
Oct 31 2008 Coming Soon To A (Pervert's) Webcam Near You: Weird Augmented Reality Manga Chicks
Dennou AR Figures were released in Japan earlier this month by Geisha Entertainment. It's a software package bundled with a special cube and paddle that you move in front of a webcam to interact with your make-believe lady friend. Mostly I think they were made so you could look up their skirts and spank them, which, while disturbing, is by no means surprising. You know what? This is the last straw -- I'm moving to Japan.
Dennou Figure ARis [canneddogs]
Thanks to cubesquared, lover all things boxy.
Oct 3 2008 3-D Force Field May Make Touching Princess Leia In (And Out Of) Her Metal Bikini A Reality
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed the Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display, a 3-D interactive force field that may make touching Princess Leia's golden boobies a reality.
This tactile display enables tactile feedback superimposed over 3D graphics projected in free space, which provides more intuitive handling of 3D "touchable" graphics. For example, users could touch Princess Leia projected in the air.
ZOMG!
The Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display uses multiple ultrasound transducers to project waves into the air. Without gloves or attachments, and without risk of penetration in the body, the device takes advantage of a nonlinear ultrasound phenomena called acoustic radiation pressure. This allows for the creation of spatial shapes of acoustic ultrasound radiation pressure, which is what gives you the sensation of touching Princess Leia's breasts for real, even feeling the nature of the material
And you thought I was kidding, didn't you? I was not! And also, I demand a demo. A private demo. With mood lighting and aromatic candles.
3D Force Field Opens Door for Holodeck, Virtual Touchable Leia [gizmodo]
Thanks to Sean and Michael, who both claim to have been intimate with Princess Leia in her younger (but still totally legal) years.
Sep 3 2008 Fun!: Child-Eating Dinosaurs At Museum
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has a new exhibit in which children (and those of us that refuse to grow up) can interact with living dinosaurs. And by living dinosaurs, I obviously mean a guy dressed up in a costume. Speaking of which, were any of you inappropriately touched by Goofy at Walt Disney World circa 1986? I'm trying to get a lawsuit together. Anyway, check out this dinosaur costume -- it's similar to the ones they use for that Walking With The Dinosaurs show. Long story short: it's freaking sweet and I want one. Because nothing would make me happier than donning a dinosaur suit and ravishing my neighbor's car in a fit of carnal lust. Seriously asshole, stop Jurassic Parking that lemon in front of my house.
Hit the jump for another video with a couple more dinosaurs.
Jun 5 2008 Interactive Pong Table Reminds Me Of Air Hockey Minus The Air, Puck, And Paddles
This interactive Pong Table was constructed by German designer Moritz Waldemeyer for MOMA's recent Design and the Elastic Mind exhibit. The table uses 2,400 LEDs, two track pads, and the souls of old Atari execs to immerse players in an updated, and much more interactive Pong experience. Still reminds me of air hockey though. And speaking of which, I lost a tournament at the bar last weekend and had to eat the puck. It wasn't super, but it was better than the urinal cake.
Pong Updated for the 21st Century [thebbps]
Thanks to Tom for guiding us geeks to the greatness. But seriously, the pink ones are alright if you're starving, but steer clear of the blue ones, they're straight ass.
May 23 2008 My New Favorite Website: Knicker Pickers
Knicker Pickers is my new favorite website. It's a virtual dressing room for intimate wear (read: bras and panties!). I posted a picture of a sportswear selection there, but that's only because I was looking for the most SFW screencap I could find. I've been perusing the site for several months, and can remember when they only had three models. Well now they have five and the site is better than ever! You just pick whatever delicates you want the model to wear, and then you can make her turn around, come closer, come closer and then turn around, and walk away. It's awesome. I mean I'd never buy anything from the freaking site, but that hasn't stopped me from seeing every outfit. Even my girlfriend likes it. And by "likes it" I mean she makes me tell her how imperfect the girls look and how beautiful she is. The same thing she used to do at strip clubs until I started leaving her in the car. Now I know what you feminists are thinking, and yes, I leave a window cracked if I'm parked in the sun.
Knicker Pickers Dressing Room (probably NSFW seeing how it's a bunch of chicks walking around in thongs)
May 16 2008 Lonely No More: Bed A Virtual 2-D Girlfriend
INBED is the brainchild of NYU student Drew Burrows. Drew is a really lonely guy that decided a 2-D virtual girlfriend would be way easier to bed than a real 3-D one. And he was right. The girl is projected onto your bed from the ceiling and interacts via "infrared-sensitive" light. If you curl up on your side she spoons with you, and if you lie on your back she stretches out beside you. Plus, if you're feeling amorous and try to kiss her she raises her rear into the air and beckons you to "tap that". Just kidding, no chick would ever do that -- she just buries her head in a pillow and ignores you like your girlfriend does whenever you're feeling procreational.
UPDATE: Okay, I know I said there was no woman that would ever do that, but I got to thinking and figured in the off chance that one of you lady readers out there might do that, could you please contact me?
NYU Student Creates Virtual Girlfriend - Shame She's Only 2-D [gizmodo]
Apr 22 2008 Interactive Hologram Chick Looks Kind of Like Natalie Portman, Should Be Princess Leia
We've seen promising holographic technologies here at Geekologie before, but nothing with the sexy interactive potential of this thing. The people at LM3Labs have created a hologram technology that can be controlled by hand, arm and (presumably) penis gestures. The system is called AirStrike, which conjures up images of a massive bombing run and not doing it with Princess Leia while a trashcan robot watches like I hoped. So I'm going to have to suggest they change the name to something a little more catchy. You know, something that gives potential customers a better idea of how the technology can be utilized. I'm thinking My Virtual Prostitute or maybe just Holowhore.
LM3Labs' Airstrike interactive holograms, because they can [engadget]
Thanks to Ryan, who doesn't need a holographic girlfriend because he can have as many of the real thing as he wants, for the tip
Mar 18 2008 Rock Band Mod Uses Real Guitar String
Rock Band just not real enough for you? Would playing a string instead of a strum-bar help? If so then this is the mod for you. All you have to do is dremel and drill the hell out of your guitar and install it. The patent pending kit is available on eBay with a starting bid of $75 plus an ultra-freaking-ridiculous shipping price of $24. You know, that's what I hate about eBay sellers -- their unbelievable shipping charges. I mean, this kit is two pieces of wood, some springs, screws and wire. What the French toast? It's like the time I bought a book and didn't realize the seller was asking $40 shipping. You know what I told that jerk? I told him I didn't want it anymore and if he even thought about leaving me negative feedback I'd find out where he lives and kill his whole family. I take my 100% positive feedback seriously.
Another picture of the unassembled kit and a video of it in action after the jump.
Dec 14 2007 Interactive Cooling Fan Art Exhibit Is Neat
Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde has created a piece of art that would give the guy responsible for this thing a raging boner. The piece is entitled Flow 5.0.
Flow 5.0 is an interactive landscape made out of hundreds of fans which reacts to your sound and motion. By walking and interacting the visitor creates an illusive landscape of transparencies and artificial wind.
Basically the fans adjust their direction and speed based on your movements around them, making for a very cool experience (!). It's on display until January 3rd in Ljubljana, Slovenia at the Kapelica Gallery. If anyone goes or has seen it, feel free to let us know how it is. I won't be able to make it, so I'll just have to settle for my own fan art, which are pictures of me that my adoring fans have sent in. Like this one, from Shirley Stevenson, age 8, of Dayton, OH. It's a crayon picture of she and I hanging out on the playground. Very well done Shirley, but from the look of your drawing, you could afford to lose some weight. Get to the gym and draw me another picture in 10 years, when you're not such a little piglet.
Two more pictures and a cool (!, I did it again) video after the breeze.
Continue Reading " Interactive Cooling Fan Art Exhibit Is Neat "
Nov 7 2007 Pressure Sensitive Table Lights Up, Is Thin
The pressure-sensitive DeLighTable lights up when you rub your hand across it. If you set down a glass the drink will glow from beneath. The actual surface is only 2 cm thick and runs on 12 volts of energy. They're made to order from KLOSS and start at $2,300. There's a video demonstration after the jump, but it leaves something to be desired. It kind of reminds me of my friend's pressure-sensitive table. It was made out of wood, and was pressure sensitive to car keys and pocket knives. Very long lasting. I bet some of my best penis doodles are still visible to this day.
Video after the touch.
Continue Reading " Pressure Sensitive Table Lights Up, Is Thin "
Oct 8 2007 Interactive LED Coffee Table Lights Up
The Interactive LED Coffee Table, designed by Because We Can and Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories, is a coffee table with LEDs that is interactive. They are motion sensitive, and light up as you pass objects over them. When they don't detect motion anymore, the blinking slowly fades. You can purchase one for $1,990, or get a do-it-yourself kit starting at $350. I'm so glad these are available, because let's face it -- a coffee table just isn't a coffee table until it gives you a seizure.
Product Site [thanks to the very bright HelenKate for the tip]
