Tech Innovations
Bacterial Ads
Glowfungi is a new communication medium made from glow-in-the-dark bacteria created by CURB, a company that provides sustainable advertising and corporate communications. As well as disco fungi they have created ads and messages in wood, crop fields, moss and dust. Visit CURB to see more. Hat tip: Springwise
Xtranormal Text to Video Magic
Xtranormal allows you to make an animated movie, using a choice of sets and characters within minutes. You just type in your script, choose your protagonists, music and camera angles (or let it decide for you) and bingo, you have a mini-movie. Click on the hash/pound sign for a couple of examples:
Typeface
Typeface is a computer programme that scans your facial features before coming up with a custom designed typeface. Produced by students at the Copenhagen Institute of Interactive Design it is one of several programmes that encourage interaction and play between user and computer. Explore more programmes here.
OK Magazine Celeb Spotter App
OK magazine has developed an app that locates celebrities’ whereabouts by pinpointing popular celebrity hangouts and logging which celebrities are likely to be spotted there. If users of the app upload a geotagged photo of a celebrity they could find their photo featured in the magazine. Read more on The Next Web.
Disaster Communication Dog
Messenger Dog is a communication system that allows people caught up in disasters, such as earthquakes. to communicate with their loved ones to tell them they are OK. Messenger dogs wearing special high tech vests are equipped to record geo-tagged audio/video messages. The recording device is triggered by the dog sitting down; the dogs are [...]
Hands-Free Driving
Engineers at Berlin’s Free University have invented a car that can be controlled just by the driver’s eyes. The technology combines a complicated network of infrared cameras, GPS, wi-fi, laser 3D detectors and a drive-by-wire mechanism. Read more on PSFK.
Mind Controlled Robot
Robert Oschler has written a software program that allows him to remotely control a robot using just his mind and facial expressions along with an Emotiv EPOC 14-electrode EEG headset. Read how he did it – and how you might too - in Extreme Tech
Hobo Homes
Inventor Paul Elkins has spotted a new housing niche: portable homes for the homeless. He’s designed a pushable shelter (which looks something like a cupboard) that is fitted out with chair, desk, kitchenette and toilet. It’s so comprehensively kitted out it’s been dubbed the Cadillac of homeless shelters. Check it out on his blog. Via [...]
3D? No Thanks
Robert Ebert questions the rush towards 3D movies in a Newsweek article. He argues that 3D degrades rather than enhances the viewing experience, with distracting poor quality, nausea-inducing images devlivered at a price premium. Read his full list of complaints.
Making Soldiers Smarter
The Pentagon is attempting to map the human mind with the aim of making soldiers as mentally ready for war as they are physically. The Department of Defense Research and Engineering is soliciting proposals from engineering companies who can come up with “innovative concepts to solve the listed defense-related scientific or engineering problems.” On their [...]
