Project 10 to the 100

Project 10 to the 100 is a Google project that aims to make ‘world changing ideas a reality’. It was launched in 2008 when online users were invited to submit suggestions for projects that would make the world a better place. The project has had more than 150,000 ideas submitted, which have been grouped in […]

LED Contact Lenses

Could this be the end of autocue? Students at the University of Washington are working on developing contact lenses that contain LEDs that will display information to the contact lens wearer; although they have a lot of problems to overcome they are predicting the lenses could become a platform like the iPhone with lots of […]

3D TV

You’ve just upgraded your TV to get digital, so you can relax, right? Maybe not…next year, BSkyB is hoping to launch a 3D channel in the UK that will require subscribers to have a 3D ready TV set. Better get saving. Read more on PSFK. YouTube have already enabled 3D viewing:

Do Lectures

Do Lectures – If you feel like you need some inspiration to get off your arras and do something head down to Cardigan Bay in West Wales on 3rd September for five days of inspirational talks in a woodland setting. Well, actually you can’t because you have to apply in advance and go into a […]

Extreme Architecture

Check out Coolhunting‘s review of  Extreme Architecture, by Ruth Slavid, which features pictures of beautiful buildings ( unsurprisingly – why would you publish a book on ugly architecture?) designed to withstand extreme environments.  The buildings are grouped into chapters according to the environment in which they were built —hot, cold, high, wet and space. They […]

Smart Billboards

According to Iconoculture, Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology, and Research has developed new technology that means billboards will be able to target gender specific ads to passersby by identifying their sex and age. It won’t be long before street lamps flash when you embark on a walk of shame.

Project Natal: Motion Recognition Gaming

Microsoft’s Project Natal allows you to play games – race car driving, martial arts, or even trying on clothes – without using a controller or joystick. When you move your body, the characters within the screen react to your movements. See it in action. Read more.

Megatrends – is Africa the Future?

Blogging superstar Darren Rowse describes attending the recent Future Summit in Australia as guest twitterer. He reports on a talk given by Alison Sander from Boston Consulting Group who described different kinds of trends: linear, cyclical, fads and megatrends. Megatrends are trends that are growing and have the potential to grow exponentially – and could […]

Google Street Maps Art

Google Street Maps has gone live in the UK. Click on a google map and you can zoom in to a street and drive along it with a 360 degree view of the road (great for doing a drive by of houses you might want to buy/rent before schlepping across town to view them). The […]

Bus Stop of Shame

You’ve heard of the walk of shame – now you need to watch out for the bus stop of shame. Fitness First gym have installed digital ads in bus shelters in the Netherlands that flash up your weight if you sit on the seat to wait for the bus. See public humiliation (or maybe public […]

How Benjamin Button Got His Face

Here’s a video that explains how Ed Ulbrich, from Digital Domain worked out how to age Brad Pitt as Benjamin Button – they started with and then soon rejected normal motion capture technology. They then captured a 3-D database of Brad’s face and used data analysis to transpose different ages onto Brad’s face to create a ‘digital puppet’ that could do anything Brad’s face could do. Obviously, it’s much more complicated than that – it took 155 people over two years to make it work. You’ll just have to watch the video:

Siftables

MIT grad student David Merrill has developed a clever matchbox-sized computer that is designed to be used in multiples, like building bricks, and can be programmed to do sums, spell words, tell a story or compose music. Watch the video to see a demonstration:

Google’s Project 10 to the 100th

Google’s Project 10 to the 100th recently asked people to submit their ideas to make the world a better place. They received 100,000 ideas, which they’re now shortlisting the best 100. On 17th March the public will vote for their favourite 20 ideas. A panel will then decide on the best five ideas and Google […]

1,474-Megapixel Photograph of President Obama’s Address

Photographer David Bergman took a 1,474-megapixel photograph of President Obama’s Inaugral address using a Gigapan imager. With a click of the mouse, what looks like a wide shot of Washington DC, turns into a zooming, panning image that allows you to search the crowd for famous faces (or people you actually know). [Inspired by Nicola […]

Trendhunter Videos – Tech

Check out the latest Trendhunter tech trends, including: Futuristic Shopping Experiences, 23 Viral Must-Have iPhone Apps, Ads That Age You, Politics from Space and Bad Breath Detectors.

Trendhunter Videos – Eco

Check out the latest Trendhunter green trends, including: 30 Homes for Nature Lovers, 62 Creative Ways to Contend with Garbage, AV-Inspired Innovations, Self-Powered Tech Homes, Wooden Scooters.

Trendhunter Videos – Science

Watch the latest Trendhunter videos on science: puzzle-solving robots, plasticized human bodies, cyborg contact lenses, cold-resistant string instruments and bizarre medical anomalies.

15 Below – Newspaper Jacket

“Yesterday’s information becomes today’s insulation” in the 15 Below Jacket. Canadian fashion designer Lida Baday was challenged to design a different kind of street wear – a warm coat for homeless people. She designed a breathable, waterproof jacket that can be customised with newspaper – by stuffing newspaper into various pockets, a person wearing the […]

Flying Car

Order your Terrafugia Transition roadable aircraft for delivery in 2010 – it converts from a 2-seater plane into a road-worthy car in 15 seconds and fits neatly into a normal garage. It can be yours for $194,000.

TED: Ideas Worth Spreading

TED is an annual conference that brings together the world’s best thinkers.  It started in 1984, bringing together people from technology, entertainment and design, who are challenged to give their best ever presentation in 18 minutes. TED’s mission is to spread ideas, believing in “the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the […]

Most Contagious Culture and Trends

Contagious have put together their annual round-up of the events, landmarks, technological breakthroughs and viral marketing campaigns that set the ad and marketing worlds alight in 2008. Read it.

Google Street View Performance

Google Street View has revolutionised the way people search for accommodation in the US – get the address and then cruise around the streets to get a good 360 view of your prospective neighbourhood without leaving the comfort of your home.

Now it’s been taken a stage further. Pittsburgh folk staged a number of events to be captured on the 360-degree cameras of the Street View cars, including a 17th century sword fight, a parade and a heroic rescue.

Monocle Weekly podcast

Monocle, the grown-up-sexy magazine on business, design, culture, international affairs and consumer culture has launched a weekly podcast. Subscribe or listen online to interviews, features and reports from Europe, Asia and the Americas.