Posted under Slices of Awesome
Designed by Shahar Peleg, Mirror Tic-Tac-Toe cleverly supplies only half X’s and O’s to play with, which become “whole” once they’re placed on the board, thanks to their reflections.
Source: DVICE
Posted under Slices of Awesome
These wall mounted aquariums will add an atmosphere of life and sophistication to any room or office. As the tank is fully mounted on the wall, there’s no need for a stand or table, thus drawing the eye directly to the tank. The low profile of these aquariums match the modern look of plasma TV units. They can be mounted at any height keeping them at eye level and away from small pets. All necessary equipment is included and fully integrated behind the frame, leaving nothing but the natural beauty of the fish and water for the viewer. Various sizes and colours are available both in glass and acrylic versions. These can be purchased through MIKAZA HOME, based out of Ottawa, Canada. Prices range from $350 to $750.
Source: freshome
Posted under Slices of Awesome
TreeHugger has a great article on electric cars they have featured over the years. Click on the picture to check it out.
Posted under Slices of Awesome
The FANAWAY is a sleek ceiling fan that features retractable blades and is “easily retro-fitted with an alternative light.”
When switched off the fan blades automatically retract and conceal, visually transforming the unit into a slim, modern light pendant. Turning on the fan creates a centrifugal force which deploys the blades to circulate air within a room.
Source: The Next Big Thing Award via Likecool
Posted under Slices of Awesome
In competition with some of the world’s greatest architects, Snøhetta has won the competition about designing Saudi Arabia’s new Cultural Center. Saudi Aramco - the world’s largest oil company - is the client.
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz set the cornerstone for the Cultural Center which will house a museum, library, theater, cinema and more. The building reflects the history of oil in Saudi Arabia and is different from the country’s architectonic traditions with its abstract and spectacular form.
Source: Bustler via Boing Boing
Posted under Slices of Awesome
Nemo 33 is a recreational diving center in Brussels, Belgium that is home to the world’s deepest swimming pool. The pool itself consists of a submerged structure with flat platforms at various depth levels. The pool has two large flat-bottomed areas at depth levels of 5m (16 ft) and 10m (32 ft), and a large circular pit descending to a depth of 33m (108 ft). It is filled with 2,500,000 liters of non-chlorinated, highly filtered spring water maintained at 30°C (86°F) and contains several simulated underwater caves at the 10m depth level. There are numerous underwater windows that allow outside visitors to look into the pools at various depths.
Source: Geekologie
Posted under Slices of Awesome
When I was in New York City a while ago, I noticed that someone in the West Village had put a bunch of potted plants below the sidewalk grates outside their building. I really was taken by the subtle sidewalk garden.
Source: Boing Boing
Posted under Slices of Awesome
In an impressive mix of visual sciences and sci-fi, the ICT Graphics Lab at USC has created a low-cost volumetric 3-D display that brings every kid’s hologram dreams closer to reality.
When projecting video frames into a rapidly spinning mirror, close to 5,000 individual images are reflected every second within the surface area and come together to create a real-space three-dimensional object.
The system also updates itself in real time (at 200Hz), adjusting to the height and distance of the viewer, producing an image that will “stay in place,” (or rather, that “adjusts its projected perspective.”)
Ultimately, this breakthrough in 3-D holographs is another key push toward the technology’s inevitable conclusion. It’s only a matter of time before our own Princess Leias tell us we’re their only hope.
Source: Wired
Posted under Slices of Awesome
Still living in the 20th century with your old monophonic theremin? The AirPiano will get you the hand-waving polyphonic goodness you’ve been waiting nearly 100 years for.
The AirPiano is an innovative musical interface which allows playing and controlling software instruments simply by moving hands in the air. Above the AirPiano is a virtual matrix of keys and faders, each assigned with MIDI messages and ready to be triggered.
Source: Likecool
Posted under Slices of Awesome
Babak Parviz, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the University of Washington, has created contact lenses that contain electronic circuits. He’s also going to add microLEDs so that the lenses will be able to display things on them. This would make them one of the tiniest personal displays ever made.
While a prototype has been created it is months away from being powered up. The current ideas for powering it up are via radio waves and miniature antennas attached to the lenses or by using solar cells.
Parviz hopes that his invention will be able to be useful in a variety of ways including computing, gaming and medical applications.
He left off one critical use that these contact lenses would be great for, namely becoming an international super-spy.
Posted under Slices of Awesome
Compared to traditional residential houses built on the ground, the aim of building an earth house is another: Not to live under or in the ground, but with it. The earth-house concept uses the ground as an insulating blanket that efficiently protects it from rain, low temperatures, wind and natural abrasion. An earth house does not have to be built under the ground, it can be placed onto naturally grown terrain.
The earth house concept uses its surroundings as an advantage – the surroundings are not adapted to the building, the house is shaped in order to preserve the natural environment.
Source: freshome
Posted under Slices of Awesome
Boats, just like their vehicular cousins on highways everywhere, tend to guzzle a lot of gasoline. And with the well-documented price increases of gasoline making getting behind the wheel of anything with an engine feel like getting punched in the face, boats are increasingly being left at the dock.
The Czeers MK1 is a beautiful 10-meter boat that’s covered in photovoltaic solar cells. The power it generates from the sun allows it to hit speeds of up to 30 knots, or about 35 miles per hour. While it won’t win any races at that speed, it’s plenty fast for most people out on the water. And when you don’t need to pay $100 to fill it up every week or two, you really won’t care all that much about going any faster.
Source: The UberReview via DVICE
Posted under Slices of Awesome
A rotating skyscraper is slated to be built in, wait for it — Dubai! The structure, designed by Italian architect David Fisher, has floors that can each rotate independently of one another. Allegedly the building will be powered entirely by wind and solar energy via outer solar panels and wind turbines between the floors. I’m curious to see how that works out. I’m also curious how you and your neighbors decide who gets the ocean view and when. I’m guessing it involves threats and/or a good amount of weapon brandishing.
Source: BBC News via Geekologie
Posted under Slices of Awesome
Rainbow jello is probably the most beautiful dessert I have ever seen. It also happens to be very easy to make your own. Taste the rainbow!
Source: Do Better via Serious Eats
Posted under Slices of Awesome
It is Thursday, and the New York Times Homes section takes usually takes us into million dollar designer digs; it is a nice change to see a modest 435 square foot home for three that cost far less. It doesn’t look small, and according to the Times, actually appears spacious, airy and serene. A friend describes it: “To me, what’s lovely about this space is that someone born in India and someone born in Holland, both with a design sense, have created a space that feels very Japanese, that reflects the Japanese ability to live in small spaces gracefully.”
“Each space - for sleeping, cooking, eating, and socializing - is separate, and yet it flows together seamlessly in what anybody else would call a very small space.”
Source: New York Times via TreeHugger