What would you like in a house? A roof. Central air is nice. Some insulation probably. Maybe a fireplace if you like that. A yard for the kids with a white picket fence for your dreams. What about a freaking rideable scale train that goes completely around the entire property? Yeah, you know you want that. You want it bad.
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We’ve seen people use the Oculus Rift to simulate beheadings. BeAnotherLab used the virtual reality headset for something less morbid but no less interesting. The organization’s The Machine to be Another was an “artistic investigation” in which the Rift was used to give participants first person views from actual people.
In one experiment, participants were told to direct the movements of a performer – if they moved their hand, the performer would move their hand as well, if they walked, the performer walked etc. The participant wore an Oculus Rift, through which he or she saw real time footage from a camera mounted on the performer.
The participant could also make the performer pick up objects scattered throughout the experiment area, at which point the performer would say something about the object they picked up. It was like a first-person video game, except you’re controlling an actual person and exploring the real world.
In another experiment, two participants – one male and one female – became each other’s performer. The pair had to synchronize their movements, which is why you can see them being slow and tentative in the video below. The idea was to put the participant in the body of the opposite sex. Note that the video below contains nudity:
Amazing isn’t it? Perhaps studies and experiences like this will be a lot easier to pull off when computer graphics become more life-like. Imagine you’re a browser and head to The Machine to be Another website for more information.
[via The Verge]
A small robotics company called UFactory is working on the uArm, a small version of the industrial robot arms we often see tirelessly moving about in modern manufacturing assembly lines. The uArm is about the size of a desk lamp and is controlled through an Arduino-compatible board.
The current build of the uArm is made largely out of laser cut wood or acrylic and uses four off-the-shelf servo motors. It also has three different “hands”: a gripper, a suction cup and a small circular platform.
uFactory currently has a Windows program that lets you control the robot through a mouse or a keyboard. They’re currently working on Android and iOS apps too.
The company also wrote an Arduino library for uArm, so if you’re familiar with the language you can program the robot through that as well.
uFactory promises to make its design files, hardware and software open source after its Kickstarter campaign ends.
Pledge at least $185 (USD) on Kickstarter to get a uArm assembly kit as a reward. I’m waiting for Iron Man fans to reenact this scene with their armored pets.
[via Gadgetify]
Like in Game of Thrones, where the Iron Throne was forged from the swords of all the enemies Aegon the Conqueror defeated, this Cyclosa spider uses its dead enemies’ bodies to build a big fake spider decoy design to sit on. Seriously, the spider uses its victim’s insect corpses to construct a larger spider-shaped design on its web to scare off potential predators. That’s so badass.
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When you have a newborn son and want to give him some cool toys, I can’t think of anything better than making something yourself. That’s what Jonathan G. did here, making these cool laser-engraved wood blocks for his child.
He started his work on them before the baby was even born, but didn’t finish until his son’s first birthday. Look at the image here and you will see why. These are some nicely detailed alphabet blocks, clearly made with love. There are 36 blocks in all. They cover the English alphabet and ten digits, showing 134 images of people, animals, monsters, robots, vehicles, organizations, devices, tools, and objects from some of our favorite movies, TV shows, books, comics, video games, and more.
You can check out all of the individual block designs up close on Flickr.
Great job, Jonathan. It looks like your son’s geek education is off to a great start.
[via Nerd Approved]
Go ahead Android users, roll your eyes. But this is new territory for iOS gamers. A jailbreak app called Controllers for All makes the PlayStation 3′s Dualshock 3 controller compatible with all games use the controller support introduced in iOS 7. So all those new MFi controllers? You can forget about them now.
Assuming you already have a jailbroken device running iOS 7, all you need to do is download Controllers for All, pair your Dualshock 3 controller with your iOS device by following these simple steps and you’re good to go. Here’s a mouth-watering demo video from the app developer, Ori Kadosh:
All current MFi controllers cost about $100. A Dualshock 3 controller costs $35 (USD). Controllers for All costs $2. Jailbreaking is free. You do the math.
[via ModMyi via Touch Arcade]
…or do wear it. I don’t know anymore. Ubisoft’s take on assassins morphed from a dude who was at least trying to be discreet to death-dealing mob lords and empire-building pirate captains. So a large ring marked with the Assassins’ symbol – why do they even have a symbol anyway? – made from genuine sterling silver or gold is just a grain of sand in Obvious Beach.
Order the ring from Paul Michael Design for $275 (USD). Then fly a red and white plane and drop a nuclear bomb on your next target, making sure to skywrite “WE WORK IN THE DARK TO SAVE THE LIGHT WE ARE ASSASSINS” as you make your escape. I’m sure no one will notice.
Strap yourself in your chair. Put down the coffee mug. And make sure you have an empty stomach because you’re about to take a ride in a flying roller coaster. Or well, the closest thing there is to a flying roller coaster. The video below gives you the backseat cockpit view of an ultra low flying RAF’s Typhoon frontline jet fighter. The sights are incredible, the speed is fierce and the turns are just ridiculous. What a powerful machine.
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Prince Armory has been making stuff for cosplayers, armor and weapon collectors since 2007. They have all kinds of detailed custom armor creations. Their newest design looks like it comes straight from the pages of a DC Elseworlds comic book.
This suit of medieval style leather Joker armor is colorful and creepy and is perfect for the Clown Prince of Crime. The suit is made of seven hardened leather pieces: A Jester’s Helmet with Joker Mask, Breastplate, Drama Face Pauldrons, Breastplate, Jester’s War Skirt, Cuisses/Knees/Greaves, and Articulated Jester Shoe Sabatons.
The detail is crazy. One can only imagine how cool Medieval Batman would look fighting this guy. I would not want to go up against this Joker. He is even creepier and more insane than usual.
Be sure to check out the full, hi-resolution images of this masterpiece over on DeviantArt.
Jeffrey Brown’s Darth Vader and Son and Vader’s Little Princess might be the cutest Star Wars retcon ever. The books feature a caring Anakin looking after Luke and Leia. Gentle Giant Ltd. is going to release a limited edition bundle of the two books, which will include adorable figurines of the Skywalkers.
The Darth Vader and Son sculpture depicts Anakin getting a Rebel Alliance necktie from Luke. It’s not like the Sith would have merch anyway.
The Vader’s Little Princess sculpture sees Leia make heart cutouts out of her dad’s cape.
The bundles will also come with copies of Brown’s sketches plus a full-color illustration printed on board. You can pre-order the bundles right now from Gentle Giant. Both the Darth Vader and his Son bundle and the Vader’s Little Princess bundles cost $150 (USD) each, but you can also get both in one set for $280.
[via Gotham News]
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