Gamers Will Love the Tokyoflash Loading… Concept Watch. Or not.

There may come a time when the ubiquitous loading screen that shows up in many games and computer software may no longer be needed, but if Tokyoflash approves this watch concept by a clever fellow named Max, we’ll always remember how we never cared for it at all.

tokyoflash loading watch by max

Like other Tokyoflash watches and concepts, the Loading… concept significantly abstracts its function. In this case the watch displays what looks like a loading screen from an old computer. There’s a lot going on here but it’s actually waaaaay simpler than some other Tokyoflash watches.

tokyoflash loading watch by max 2

Each segment in the upper bar corresponds to one hour, while the lower bar displays thinner segments to depict seconds. The first number beside the lower bar displays the minutes – i.e. 07/60 = 7 minutes – and finally the percentage beside the upper bar indicates which half of the day it is. If the percentage displays a value between 1 and 50, it’s a.m. It follows that any percentage value from 51 onwards means that the time is in p.m., except for two values: 99% and 100%.

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Max set it up so that 12:00 am will have a percentage value of 99%. This also means that there is no 100%. That sounds like a gamer’s nightmare, but if you think about it, time doesn’t really finish loading does it? Besides, would you want it to?

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As of this writing, there are still more than 12 days left for people to vote for the concept to become an actual watch. Head to the Tokyoflash blog if you also want to vote for it. I just had a better idea: a Progress Quest watch. You’re welcome, Internet.

[via Gajitz]

Geeky Wedding Invitations Adorned with Circuit Boards and Blinking LEDs

Wedding invitations don’t get any geekier than this. Bill Porter and his fiance Mara really wanted to come up with invitations that popped and screamed geek all the way. With their wedding theme being ‘Circuits and Swirls,’ the power couple put their heads together to come up with DIY invitations that involved circuit boards and embedded LED lights.

led circuit wedding invitationsLike most couples, Bill and Mara’s main constraints were time and money, but they were able to get the job done – and by that, we mean all of 50 wedding invitations – by being resourceful and smart about it.

Each invitation had a battery and several blinking LEDs built into it which were controlled by a microcontroller. They embedded a light sensor into each invitation as well, which signaled the LEDs to light up when the invitation was opened.

The coolest part? When the light level detected by the sensor falls below a certain limit, a secret Morse code message is flashed for the guest to figure out.

led circuit wedding invitations envelope

Bill detailed how the invites were conceptualized and made on his blog, which you can check out right here.

[via Hack a Day via Dvice]

Body Language as an Art Form

You can tell a lot about a person’s mood or disposition by observing his or her body language. For example, when a person’s pissed off or annoyed at you, then their arms are most likely crossed over their chest.

Aside from their moods, you can also surmise a few things about the person based on how they move. For example, dancers are usually more graceful in their movement and poses, like the dainty hand position you see below.

Wearable SculptureOf course, their hands get into position without the metal guide that you see above. That metallic thing you see, however, is a part of artist Jennifer Crupi’s series of wearable sculptures and it’s called “Ornamental Hands.” This and the other pieces in the series explore human nature and highlight communication by looking at a person’s body language and gestures.

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My favorite would have to be the “Empathy Table.” It’s basically a table with indentations on the surface where two people sitting across each other would have to put their hands and arms in, to assume a position of empathy.

Which one’s your favorite?

[via designboom via Laughing Squid]

Iron Bounty Hunter: Is He Tony Fett or Boba Stark?

This Iron Man/Boba Fett sculpture is awesome. Matthew J. Hideousboi painted after seeing a Boba Fett helmet painted as Iron Man for the As You Wish Helmet Project, a charity event that raised funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, by getting artists to make their own custom Boba Fett and Clone Trooper helmets. Personally, I think that Matthew’s version is better.
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I would love to see this guy in a movie. Maybe now that Disney owns both Marvel and LucasFilm, we will someday.

[via Stan Winston School Facebook Page via Albotas]

[P.S. I had no idea the Stan Winston School of Character Arts even existed. If you dream about doing character design or special effects, you can become part of the whole process by subscribing to the school and getting step-by-step videos. Pretty soon you too will be making badass creatures and aliens for yourself.]

Kirby Amigurumi Doesn’t Suck

Check out this Kirby amigurumi. Isn’t he adorable? Of course he is. Well, when he isn’t kicking your butt in Super Smash Bros. that is. Kirby sucked in that game. Literally. That’s what I like about Kirby. He can suck up his enemies and spit them out. If you are a fan of Kirby, you’ll want to cuddle with this cute little guy.
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This pink puffy dude was handmade by Etsy artist Emilie Meguid who will even customize it for you if you request it.

He is a bunch of crocheted fun waiting to happen – that’s what he is. Just imagine the adventures that the pair of you will have together, snuggling in bed, snuggling on the couch, snuggling while you play the latest Kirby game…

King’s Landing Recreated in Minecraft: Pixels are Coming

I know you can’t wait for the third season of Game of Thrones when it hits at the end of March. Me too. Well, here is something to help tide you over until then. This amazingly detailed Minecraft King’s Landing was created by the people at Westeroscraft – who are gradually recreating the entire domain of Westeros using only Minecraft. And even though it is awesome, it makes me sad because we still have to wait for next season.
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I want to watch it now! I’ll just take a deep breath instead, and absorb all of detail of King’s Landing. Just look at all of those buildings, the docks, the countryside. This city is alive – though we all wish King Joffrey wasn’t.

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The only thing missing is an immense battle with green wildfire spraying over the ships in Blackwater Bay.

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Hit this link for a gallery of hi-res images. They did an amazing job. But I still want to watch the show now!

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[reddit via Nerd Approved]

LEGO Macintosh: The Only Time I Want to See My Apple Bricked

Ah, the original Macintosh computer. It was an amazing machine to have in your home, especially when most of the other available computers were a bit more complex to use. The Macintosh made things easier, with its graphical user interface, and apps like MacPaint and MacWrite. While it’s not as functional as an original Mac, this LEGO version is still pretty cute.

chris mcveigh macintosh lego replica

This miniature LEGO replica of the classic Macintosh was created by Chris McVeigh (aka PowerPig), a Canadian toy photographer, t-shirt designer, old school gamer and LEGO builder from Halifax. This little LEGO Macintosh is a replica of the one shown in an early ad for the computer, featuring the iconic ‘hello’ scrawled across the screen using MacPaint.

chris mcveigh macintosh lego replica ad

Chris soon plans on posting a building a guide for who want to make this at home. In the mean time you can download his Digital Designer plans for a LEGO iMac, iPod and iPad. I wonder if you could put a Raspberry Pi and an LCD screen into this little build and actually make it into a working Hackintosh?

[via Gizmodo via designboom]

Solid Snake Amigurumi Will Sneak His Way into Your Heart

We’ve seen an amigurumi of Old Snake before, but I like the young Solid Snake much better than that bitter – but heroic! – old fart. Which is why if I had this amigurumi I would hug it so tightly a ration would come out before I even dropped it.

metal gear solid snake amigurumi by sam wilding

But since he’s just 5.5″ tall, it’d be easier to squeeze him with one hand than give it a full CQC hug. But look at that awesomely stitched beard. And that mullet! Good thing he doesn’t have a crocheted cigarette or I would’ve given in and bought it, shipping be damned.

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You can order the impressive Solid Snake amigurumi from Sam Wilding’s Etsy shop PixelBlock for $30 (USD).

[via Gamefreaks]

Enter Key Doormat: Type with Your Toes

Show your guests that they’re welcome, while at the same time letting them know you’re a true computer nerd with this fun doormat from Russia’s Art Lebedev.

enter key doormat

The Enter Key doormat, aka “Enterus Korvrikus” – which sounds like one of those captions on a Road Runner cartoon – is the perfect addition to any geeky front door. It’s made from durable coconut fiber, so will actually help trap dirt, mud and dust while also looking cool. Though once you hit this Enter key with your feet, there’s no “Undo” key.

Grab the Enterus Kovrikus doormat for appx. $41 (USD) over at Art Lebedev Studios.

The Blanket Chair: Who Needs Snuggies?

There’s something awesome about comfortable chairs, in which you can spend hours reading, working or simply chilling. This concept chair integrates a blanket into an all-in-one comfy package, allowing you to take advantage of its cuddliness.

blanket chair cozy armchair aga brzostek

The Autumn/Winter Chair was created by Polish fashion designer Aga Brzostek. The cover of this chair is like a big jumper, which is one of the reasons why it has sweater-like functions. It’s perfect to use as a cozy place during chilly winter nights. Hard foam was used for the structure of the chair. The seat and backrest were covered in softer foam for even more comfort.The cover is made from reclaimed wool to help keep you warm and toasty.

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The cover is adjustable and removable, allowing users to change the look of the chair to their own preferences. It’s even got a handy pocket for holding magazines or books.

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While this is still just a one-off concept piece, I suppose you could always ask your grandma to knit a similar cover for your favorite chair, but that could be quite the undertaking.

[via dezeen]