Hasta La Gadget!

Where would we be without the world’s graduate art projects? In the case of Markus Kayser’s Solar Sinter, we might never have seen the day when a solar-powered 3D printer would turn Saharan sand into a perfectly suitable glass bowl. Well, lucky for us (we suppose) we live in a world overflowing with MA students, and awash in their often confusing, sometimes inspiring projects. Solar Sinter, now on display at the Royal College of Art, falls into the latter category, taking the Earth’s natural elements, and turning them into functioning pieces of a burgeoning technology. Solar Sinter uses the sun’s rays in place of a laser and sand in place of resin, in a process that is perhaps more visually stunning than the results. See for yourself in the video after the break.

Continue reading Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video)

Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Following the only logical path one can take after building a working 15x scale Atari joystick, Jason Torchinsky is pulling together all the Apple IIs that can be had for a quick concert. Those not already entranced by chiptunes will want to give LA neighborhood art space Machine Project a wide berth on Saturday, where participants will use a 16 step sequencer to get something like music out of the system’s timer circuit. Those interested in checking it out can check the source link for details, but if you actually have an Apple II laying around (and aren’t in the middle of a game of Oregon Trail, that’s serious business) you’ll want to show up around 6 p.m. to get things arranged.

Free concert in LA this weekend, bring your Apple II originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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These fully-functional wireless Rotobot mice from designer Aaron Ristau will make you look seriously cultivated when people drop by your apartment. In our eyes, that means they officially join the esteemed ranks of typewriter-themed Works of Art, but unfortunately it also means they cost $180 — which might be hard to stomach when you realize that each one is just a non-ergonomically modded $25 Logitech M305. Hey-ho, everybody needs at least one peripheral to be their geeky equivalent to good cutlery. And no, that CSR Elite in the cupboard doesn’t count.

Rotobot mice: the best use of typewriter keys since the typewriter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We came across an amusing campaign from Morinaga while researching interactive website advertisements. Used as a PR ad for Morinaga’s popular Creap product (a powdered milk), aimed at attracting a wide audience, the campaign allows users to virtually experience the work of a barista through the web. Latte Heart Message allows its audience to conjure up a Latte Art masterpiece of their own simply using their mouse and creative imagination, and send it to whomever they please, such as their family, friends, or significant other via Facebook, Twitter, or email.

After being guided through a brief tutorial on how the game works, the user then begins his artwork by pouring Creap crème into a virtual cup of coffee. A digital toothpick is then used to shape the crème into whatever the user desires. For those who need a bit of a kick off, an option is given to use one of the site’s templates, ranging from a simple heart to a beautiful 3-leaf clover. Finally, with the help of some chocolate syrup, a concluding touch is added in the form of a cute message or design.

When the user is done with their accomplishment, they are given the option to send it to whomever it was intended for. The other party is even informed of the time spent on making the piece, how many times it was started from scratch, and a meter showing how much “thought” was put into it. This information is modified accordingly to the category of the recipient, bringing a much more personalized touch to interactive campaigns. As we can see, Morinaga is aiming at connecting with consumers on a more intimate level than the advertising norm in Japan.

For the consumers who are not easily satisfied or impressed, Morinaga has a special campaign from June 1st to July 15th where (only) after sharing their latte art on Facebook or Twitter, the creator is given a chance to win a vacation to Italy, their very own espresso machine (with a latte art kit), and other prizes, there is also a free app downloadable on iTunes (Pocket Latte Art). Japanese companies are beginning to understand the importance of social media sites (and the widespread usage of smart phones) in their dynamic ability to widen the campaign’s reach. By adding the Facebook/Twitter option and a smartphone app, it is interesting to see how Morinaga has categorized its intended coffee-consuming audience. Brands are finding new ways to grab the attention of customers by appealing to their latest forms of communication with their peers. To gain a competitive advantage over other companies and leave a lasting impression in the consumers’ minds, the importance of standing out and reaching to them on more personal levels is evident.

With the emergence of interactive advertising campaigns like Latte Art Message, web marketing in Japan is taking a new turn as it moves away from simple text and pictures of beautiful (or “kawaii”) Japanese women to attract consumers. Utilizing the efficient collaboration of SNS and advertising, brands will be able to market their products/services in a much more effective manner and it will be interesting to see what sort of new campaigns will be brought to us in the near future.

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Nintendo’s Wii U controller is a gaming display, video conference device, and yes, a stylus-toting tablet, but no such tool has been announced for those other consoles, so PS3 and Xbox 360 owners who want to get their sketch on will have to turn to THQ’s new uDraw GameTablet instead. Tablets for both gaming systems were announced last month, and today we had a chance to paint on the big (HD) screen at E3. Though the drawing surface feels just as roomy as the Wii version, the tablets are noticeably smaller than last year’s counterpart, with the obvious absence of a Wiimote holder taking credit for the device’s reduced footprint. That Wiimote also made it difficult for lefties to tackle the tablet, but no such issues exist on the PS3 and Xbox versions. Other major design changes include shifting stylus storage from the rear to just above the touch surface, and trimming some girth off the instrument itself.

Both tablets will be coming in November for less than $100, though specific pricing has yet to be announced. For now, you’re limited to uDraw Studio and Pictionary on the game title front, which appear noticeably sharper in HD, though otherwise similar to the versions we used with the Wii. THQ has promised more games for future release, including Disney Animator, though reps weren’t able to confirm any other titles or dates. We had a chance to draw in both games, which respond to both the stylus and hardware buttons for brush selection and other functions, such as undo and navigation. A rep pointed out that the new versions are also more sensitive to stylus pressure, adjusting brush thickness based on how hard you press, for example, but we didn’t find that to be the case. After you’ve spent a few minutes concocting your next digital masterpiece, you can fire off your work of art via email, instead of just sending it to an SD card like on the Wii version. Overall, there’s nothing groundbreaking here, but if you’ve been looking to balance out your Halo and Resistance by sketching honeybees and rainbows (or making your console a bit more kid-friendly), then uDraw may be worth the investment.

Tim Stevens contributed to this report.

Continue reading THQ uDraw GameTablet goes HD, we go hands-on (video)

THQ uDraw GameTablet goes HD, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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