Wednesday 31 March 2010

Slick Sunset magazine mock-up for iPad




The creative potential for advertisers is remarkably clear upon viewing this quick mock-up of what a digital magazine cover could look like on the iPad.  Jesse Rosten's idea here is to take the familiar design and branding of Sunset Magazine and add motion.

Born to reshape the internet and looks certain to significantly alter the whole publishing industry, the iPad; doesn’t run Flash. If your website uses Flash, it won’t play well on the iPad. Turns out, a lot of people want their sites to look pretty on the iPad. So the internet is already starting to look different.


Over the foreseeable future I believe the iPad is likely to shake up the whole spectrum of news and entertainment media delivery systems, both on and off line.

Monday 29 March 2010

Cymatics: Sound waves manifest light mandalas


Is there a connection between sound, vibrations and physical reality ?

Evan Grant is a creative technologist and founder of Seeper, a collective pushing the envelope of interactive arts. In this video he demonstrates the science and art of cymatics, a process for making sound-waves visible. Useful for analyzing complex sounds (like dolphin calls), it also makes complex and beautiful designs.

The example he shows from Pink Floyd's, The Wall makes me wonder if there may be a screen saver or iTunes visualizer plug-in  out there somewhere, already  ?

Sunday 28 March 2010

The Bluetooth Electronic Didgeridoo



This is wild news, bluetooth technology has recently been upgraded to meet normal wireless transmission speeds and distances. Kyle Evans timing could not have been better. The video documents a live performance in the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, wherein the competitors were given five minutes to describe and perform their instrument.

He created the instrument by experimenting with combining the organic sound qualities of a didgeridoo with the advanced signal processing capabilities of modern computer programming and sound synthesis.

More than just a musical instrument and a computer interface, but an entirely new class of instrument. Hey it might seem like playing a wii game except once you start using it your simultaneously Composer and Performer all at once. Heck this must make practice like a rehearsal, every time ?

Friday 26 March 2010

Virtual band, Gorillaz with Stylo



is an entertaining, short, action packed tragic comedy thriller about a team of bad ass gorilla stooges speeding down the road. This exceptionally cool cinematic graphics video was created by Mario Ucci and features special un-invited guest Bruce Willis.

Gorillaz is a virtual band founded by Damon Albarn from Blur in 1998, with comic book artist Jamie Hewlett designing and drawing the band. They can be found in the Guinness Book of World Records under "Most Successful Virtual Band"Stylo is their single from their recently released Plastic Beach album. Go here to read a review about them and their new album.

Thursday 25 March 2010

WallScope: Interactive gigapixel display

Students at the University of Tromso in Norway have created a larger than life interactive display wall using 28 projectors, creating a  22 megapixel, display. Interaction with the display simply involves placing your hands in front of it. I really dig the snapping fingers zoom in and out gesture, though.

This video shows how to navigate a 13.3 gigapixel image of Tromsø, Norway on the 22 megapixel display wall, using a custom, camera-based multi-touch interface and a custom system for high-performance navigation and visualization of high-resolution data sets.

The images here, are by photographer Eirik Helland Urke, gigapix.


Gigapixel images are great, but navigating them on a regular sized display through a slow web browser isn't such a great experience, you may also need be patient when viewing the video.

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Yellow Star: Reactive Kinetic Sculpture


The Yellow Star hangs from the ceiling, like a chandelier without lights. Each link has a motor and a motion sensor creating slow jarring movements. This outline of the amoeba-like shape changes as people move through the space. It can see itself move, triggering more movement, cool chain reactions and behavior patterns. It's something between an animal and a toy.


The work intently intrigues and amuses me all at once, but its best without audio,

Perhaps it's also reacting to that as well ?

Meridith Pingree is a Brooklyn-based artist who works in drawing and sculpture. Much of her work is concerned with physically tracking human behavior and traffic patterns using quasi-scientific, homespun, reactive sculptures. She uses sensors to pick up on people’s energy and movement throughout a space. Her work exists as amplifications of this subtle energy, creating unconventional, complex portraits of people and spaces

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Virtual Choir perform via computer web-cams

From Virtual Choirs

Eric Whitacre directs and conducts a virtual choir, comprised of signed Acapella singers via their computer webcams. In this amazingly cool example of virtual art the choir sings Lux Aurumque.

The population of the choir comprises representatives of 12 Countries:
Austria, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, The Philippines,
Singapore, Spain, Sweden, UK and USA.

If you interested in auditioning for the next virtual choir for a one night concert on June 15, 2010 at Carnegie Hall, then go to Eric Whitacre's website and sign up.

Monday 22 March 2010

New Twist on Flexible woman



Dam shame about the background noise, but this young lady has got the easy flow elbow in these tricks.

The first trick only requires the ability to hyper-extend your elbow. You need significant flexibility in your shoulders and wrists to achieve the second trick.

Possibly some people can do the 360 turn when the hand starts pointing towards them. Doing it from pointing away from you is freakish, huh ?

Sunday 21 March 2010

Cool old piloted Flying Segway


The vehicle in this video was nicknamed "The Flying Pulpit". It is a small, light-weight Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) system. It is powered by a modified Williams F107 turbofan aircraft engine. It can be be operated by and carry one person and is controlled by leaning in the direction of desired travel and adjusting the power. It can move in any direction, hover, accelerate rapidly, and rotate. It can fly for up to 45 minutes and travel at speeds up to 60 miles per hour (100 km/h).

Its difficult to ascertain if this revolutionary flying platform ever succeeded into industrial production, details of its existence are sketchy and the US defense department documents it as an historical object !

Thus this video appears to have been handi-cam captured from a video monitor in a video exhibition at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio.

I'm left pondering why this cool flying Segway is being neglected ?

Saturday 20 March 2010

Nature by Numbers


is a short computer graphics (CGI) animation of how our use of numbers and geometry throughout history gave rise to our ability to scale and proportion our architecture and scientific graphic representations of our lifeworld.

If you are looking for more information: the theory behind the movie, stills and screenshots showing the work in progress then check out 3D graphic designer Cristóbal Vila's, Etérea Studios.

This persuasively charming animation is exquisitely sound synced with "Often a bird" by Wim Mertens.

Thursday 18 March 2010

Jane McGonigal believes Gaming can save the world.


Game designer Jane McGonigal from the Institute for the Future, reports in this video, that games like World of Warcraft give players the means to save worlds, and incentive to learn the habits of heroes. Here she asks; What if we could harness this gamer power to solve real-world problems ?

Her aim in this video is kind of metaphysical, she's attempting to push our thinking beyond the notion of winning the virtual Epic game, into game changing our approach to solving real world dilemmas, like global warming.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

The Amazing Lyrebird of Australia



are most notable for their superb ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment, we see and hear in this short unseen video footage, David Attenborough getting somewhat unsettled during the making of one of his documentaries.

"Lyrebirds are among Australia's best-known native birds. As well as their extraordinary mimicking ability, lyrebirds are notable because of the striking beauty of the male bird's huge tail when it is fanned out in display; and also because of their courtship display. A group of Lyrebirds is called a musket." Source

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Oceanic Acidification


I wonder how many of us are aware that 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity ?  But it is only in the last couple of years that scientists have begun to realize the impact that global warming and the burning of fossil fuels is having on the biodiversity of our marine life.

The video here gives us a little window of information on the rise of acidification in earth's oceans and the profound affect its having on the food chain around coral reefs.

"for those hesitant to accept the science of climate change, one thing that may be easier to digest is the problem of ocean acidification. It doesn’t take rocket science or more than elementary biology to understand that all life needs balance to survive. Drastically tip the ecological scale too much and too fast in any direction, and you’re asking for trouble. This is why rising levels of acidification—largely due to the ocean’s being forced to absorb more carbon emissions—have many fishermen and scientists fretting:"

"the ocean is becoming more acidic because of carbon-dioxide emissions that are damaging coral reefs, decimating populations of tiny animals at the base of the food chain and eating away at the shells of clams, mussels, and oysters.” Source


If we aren't prepared to accept this and begin to act on cutting greenhouse emissions now, then this startling and deeply disturbing news puts at risk the future of our children's well being !

Monday 15 March 2010

A Depressed Whale





Its funny how stupid this quirky animation is !

But I guess the whale could arrest the fish for not having a concealed weapon permit ?

Sunday 14 March 2010

Transformation: concept designs from a sphere


Andre Baran poses a design question, in his transformation video:  "How much complexity fits into a sphere ?"

"The theme of this study is the mechanical transformation, a change of the form. The 5 items that have arisen here, fall back in form and process of change on analogies from nature. A sphere, the simplest geometric shape that we know, serves as a starting form."

With the use of Blender (an animation application) Andre unravels the sphere to create visually pleasing, conceptual designer objects, producing a well rounded media art video with a clever use of the music track Cellule by Silence.

Saturday 13 March 2010

Epic Kittez: Time lapse dolly prototype test


Mi Lapse is in the process of engineering an open-source software and hardware motion control system for time-lapse photographers and videographers.

The video here was captured whilst testing the first (v1) of three prototype dolly designs. The prototype used here weighs about 15lbs (6.8Kg) total and is 72" (184cm) long with about 60" (150cm) of travel x 8" (20cm) wide

This test was conducted with 'slim' (node 122) the simple pearl script interface. If  your curious to see a source file, 1mm-ish per move macro accuracy test, and the prototype itself, then click here.

The salubrious soundtrack is Midnight by Serphonic

Friday 12 March 2010

Scintillation by Xavier Chassaing


is an experimental media art work made up of over 35,000 photographs. and it combines an innovative mix of stop motion and live projection mapping techniques.

Xavier's goal was "to make the video as visually surprising as it is when kids see glitter and sequins for the first time"

He was attempting to recreate the experience of seeing fire for the first time and has sought to make the instrumental music track by his friend Feddan not interfere with the sensory reaction to the piece.

Thursday 11 March 2010

A concept boat that flies and glides


or Zep'lin by Renault is an enticing blue-sky concept developed by industrial designer Damien Grossemy who set out  to explore a new design language of electric vehicles, during a five month internship at Renault.

He imagines the use of solar panel sails and electric propulsion allowing a yacht like zepplin to fly throughout our future airspaces.

"Featuring a vertical architecture, the concept vehicle by the French designer can change direction quickly and land anywhere without the need of infrastructure. Generating energy from solar panels located on the top, the Zep’lin can tilt toward the sun, thanks to the ingenious rudder system, for optimum energy generation. Moving like a sailboat, the Zep’lin is a new symbol of eco-commutation." The Design Blog 

Grossemy has come up with a land anywhere vertical architecture that incorporates a propeller drive, flexible wing and rudder system that would enable the craft to tilt sideways to make the most of the Sun's rays. Beats me how it could possibly work in anything other than blistery conditions ? Perhaps a low altitude aerosol navigatior ?

Wednesday 10 March 2010

The Windowfarms Project


In this video Britta Riley introduces us to her home based vertical hydroponic window farming project. She sources her containers from the recycle bin of her apartment complex and purchases the other materials from the local hardware and planting shops.

If it's really productive, this little project provides maybe 1/20th of the food she consumes, however its more so a matter of taking some control of producing what you consume, no matter how small a quantity, it gifts a feeling your doing something for the environment !

Nevertheless this little project has spawned the ability of giving people a means to collaborate on research and development of these vertical hydroponic food-growing curtains through their community website, which in her words has resulted in R&DIY (Research & Develop It Yourself) culture.

If they really intend on growing anything more than a few salad herbs I would hazard a guess that they are going to have to turn their brick-walled apartments into glass curtains !





Tuesday 9 March 2010

Female praying mantis eats male after mating



The praying mantis mating season is the summer time. After mating the female praying mantis will eat the male, and in this video begins with the head.

The reason the male survives even though his head is gone is because his ganglion is in his abdomen. The ganglion is like a brain but more so a cluster of neurones that acts kind of like a brain and it connects certain systems of the body together.

Monday 8 March 2010

Brian Eno makes music to create a more desirable reality


I have been listening to, and appreciating Brian Eno's music since he starred as the feather-crested electronic keyboard genius of Roxy Music forty years ago. Since then he has been hailed as a pioneer, with his revolutionary experiments in ambient music and audio visual art and as featured producer on benchmark albums by David Bowie, Talking Heads, U2 and Coldplay.

The video here is the first part of a documentary directed by Nicola Roberts wherein  we learn some snippets of his thinking, such as transcendence which he equates with looking at stones and pebbles on a beach.

I coincidently have pebbles and rocks as a background image on my twitter page with which I too reflect upon, when not thinking or twittering. I feel its worth sharing with you, dear readers of nevertheless, that this is my 1000th post.

Go to More Dark Than Shark for everything about Brian Eno.

Sunday 7 March 2010

A little metaphysical Scrabble





Craziest is a quaint but entertaining short story by Liz Dubelman.








Saturday 6 March 2010

Pink Terror by Mike Barzman





Beautiful, but creepy, destruction filled media art video, of scary masked men throwing, shooting, and breaking stuff in 1000fps slow-motion with audio from a Stephen Hawking interview and techno-music playing in the background.

Friday 5 March 2010

Cool new take: on one man acapella band with iPhone



Les Ramens shows us how easy it is to create a simple harmonic vocalized tune on an iphone. It was wonderful for the amount of effort it appeared to take.

He uses Everyday looper, an iPhone application that provides four audio tracks as you record and manipulate as you want.

The application costs $4:99 (iTunes link) and is bound to become a useful tool for many a tune maker and muso. Although I think with a little practice and a dose of inspiration other iphone users may also rinse some creative genius from this clever application.

Wednesday 3 March 2010

OK Go: Cinematic Panorama Rock Video



While I stagger stumble my blog experience into uncharted waters of online structure, this video, pushes our viewing appreciation around a challenging space, divided into two floors of an open plan factory. The video and song production is the result of a time lapse technique and provides a wealth of unexpected surprises as the camera swims and swoons us through a panoramic cinema of pure gravity.

This immense media art project was directed by James Frost, OK Go and Syyn Labs. Produced by Shirley Moyers. The song This Too Shall Pass is from the the album "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky"

Pretty cool and fun all round really !

Tuesday 2 March 2010

IMMERSE





is a stunning suspenseful entertaining short media art video by weareom with lighting by Mihai Sibianu with sound by Alin Flaidar and edited by Dan Mateescu.








Monday 1 March 2010

Cool projection animation





from Ukrainan animation artist animtr, appears to imitate an air brush painting texture

The flow of the animation is well paced with a popular music track, hey whats it called ?

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