The unexpected benefits of new technology

It’s exciting and inspiring to see technology being repurposed with such dramatic results. This video shows how the Microsoft Kinect is being used as part of therapy for autistic children at the Lakeside Center for Autism in Washington. Although there were certainly many goals and inspirations for the design of the Kinect, it is unlikely that autism therapy was one of them. In a world where profit is the ultimate motivator for most big projects like Kinect, it’s good to see that profit is not the only outcome, as well. Hopefully, the next step is taking that technology and creating content that further enables its use as a therapeutic tool.

Wind Map

Wind Map

I find this map of wind patterns across the United States strangely entrancing. This isn’t data that was previously unavailable; there are wind maps out there on various popular weather sites. But this map makes wind patterns fascinating and beautiful, which in turn makes people think more about the potential of wind and wind power. That is, if they can stop staring at the map for a second…

Building blocks that blink, beep and teach – Ayah Bdeir

People who have Lego or DIY circuit project ideas may find this interesting

Nano Self-Assembly origami like structures

“Drawing inspiration from biological fabrication in nature, engineers are seeking to self-assemble structures from the bottom up. The Gracias Lab at The Johns Hopkins University has developed a relatively easy, precise, and cost-effective process by which the 2D templates of semi-tethered “faces” can self-assemble into controlled 3D structures by utilizing the natural phenomena of surface tension as well as thin-film stress. “

Buckle in

Inspired by a toy, the ‘buckliball’ — a collapsible structure fabricated from a single piece of material — represents a new class of 3-D, origami-like structures

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/buckliball-collapsible-structure-0326.html

Computational Origami

Several years ago, I ran across this article in the New York Times which introduced me to the field of computational origami. I was fascinated. I remember being amazed that such beautiful forms could be made from folded paper. From that point onward, I became interested in math and its fingerprint in the shapes and forms occurring in nature… the spirals in seashells, the patterns in a flower’s petals, the shapes of feathers and leaves, the branching angle of arteries. Tonight’s movie ‘Between the Folds’ reminded me of this.

let the art look back at you!

let the art look back at you!

The Free Universal Construction Kit

3D-printed adapter bricks allow interconnection between ten kids’ construction toys

Golan sez, “The Free Universal Construction Kit is a collection of adapter bricks that enable complete interoperability between ten popular children’s construction toys. By allowing any piece to join to any other, the Kit encourages totally new forms of intercourse between otherwise closed systems—enabling the creation of previously impossible designs, and ultimately, more creative opportunities for kids. As with other grassroots interoperability remedies, the Free Universal Construction Kit implements proprietary protocols in order to provide a public service unmet, or unmeetable, by corporate interests.”

The Free Universal Construction Kit offers adapters between Lego, Duplo, Fischertechnik, Gears! Gears! Gears!, K’Nex, Krinkles (Bristle Blocks), Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoys, Zome, and Zoob. Our adapters can be downloaded from Thingiverse.com and other sharing sites as a set of 3D models in .STL format, suitable for reproduction by personal manufacturing devices like the Makerbot (an inexpensive, open-source 3D printer).

From http://boingboing.net/2012/03/19/3d-printed-adapter-bricks-allo.html

Proun – Extremely Trippy Abstract Art Game

Taking abstract landscapes and converting them into an addictive 3D journey makes for one hell of a trippy experience. The brilliant soundtrack also adds a lot to the experience. Proun… A ball rolling through insanity.

LINK: http://www.proun-game.com/

The Cat That Got The Milk

Fun game with beautiful visuals and funky sound. It takes some abstract works of Kandinsky and makes a game of navigating the crazy landscape created by it. Fun and extremely simple.

LINK: www.thecatthatgotthemilk.com