Kinetic Architecture

This is quite possibly one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. Seriously. The good people over at Yanko Design introduced the Kinetower, a new build for skyscrapers that utilizes sunlight to transform a building from a traditional straight-up structure to something of a flower. The Kinetower uses a material that is rigid as high grade steel when taut, but flexible when loose. The result is a building that can open itself up to sunlight and wind, meaning a much more energy-sustainable structure. Rather than using man-made electricity, solar and wind energy can be utilized for a building that essentially powers itself. The applications for this design are endless, and with a premium being placed on 'green', I wouldn't be surprised to see the Kinetower in the works somewhere soon. Hopefully the US will get its head on straight and order a bunch of these. Check out some more renderings of the Kinetower after the jump...

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Video Games vs. Real Life

The line between the real and fantastical is something that I ponder on the daily. If not because I love video games, then because our world is oftentimes too rooted in what is real and what isn't. Thus, I always wonder what would happen if the portal between the video game world and ours was somehow opened in a Space Jam-esque phenomena. That is the inspiration for designer & illustrator, Aled Lewis' project Video Games vs. Real Life. Lewis takes some classic video game characters from early video game-dom (sp?) and juxtaposes them with where they would probably end up if given a shot at real life. See if you can name any of the characters after the jump...

Digital Reflex Camera

What does it really take to redesign one of the oldest concepts in the book? Some try to make the old design better by adding on to it and trying to make more out of it. Others, on the other hand go forward by going backwards, simplifying the design. That's the case with Yaniv Berg’s Digital Reflex Camera. Instead of being a typical box-shaped camera with a lens protruding out, the Reflex Camera has a periscope-like design, enabling all you photographers out there to take pictures from a different angle and stance. The designer, Yaniv Berg, took a hint from the cameras of olden days that had their eyepieces at the top of the camera instead of the back. The camera also can be turned on its lens for a unique photo-viewing experience. I know some of you photographers that read the blog wouldn't mind getting your hands on one of these. No word on whether it'll hit the streets, but you can ogle these pictures until we find out...

i-sound Transformable Earphones

Earphones are a necessary evil for those of us who want to take our music with us, but don't want clunky headphones to weigh us down. Earphones are cheap, provide good sound quality and are portable. Yet, one of my pet peeves about them is how easily that misshaped earphones can fall out of one's ear, or just provide bad sound because of their placement. The good people over at Yanko Design picked up a new way to create earphones, which puts a simple cord loop on the earphones so that they can wrap around your ears and hold the earphone in your ear. It's the simplest of tweaks, but it does so much for the design. It's a shame Sony or one of the big electronics companies didn't come up with this idea. This could easily replace those crappy molded plastic earphones that itch and make your ear hurt after a while. Check out some different views of the i-Sound Transformable Earphones...

The Arch Group 'SLEEPBOX'

How many of you guys would sleep in a public place, like a train station or a bus stop? Trust, I find ways to sleep everywhere, but sleeping in public always has the aspect of danger or just plain old exposure that will keep you awake. I suppose that's what the people at The Arch Group were thinking about when they began designs on their SLEEPBOX. The architects see the boxes installed at train stations, airports and shopping centers, where users would rent between 15 minutes and several hours.. Between users, the bedding would be automatically changed, with sheets wound from one roller onto another. While I think the idea is brilliant, especially for Europe and Asia (light rail travel is the norm outside of the US), I can't help but think there are some gross people out there who'd turn the SLEEPBOX into their personal public and drug sex rooms. Also, the whole idea of resting my head where I know thousands have been is just a bit eerie to me (though we do the same thing everyday on public transportation). Even so, the invention is great for people with layovers or foreigners without immediate accommodation. How about you? Would any of you guys (readers) rock with a SLEEPBOX?

The Y-Lock

There's never enough that can be said about simplicity. The act of dumbing down or altering even the most rudimentary of inventions takes a lot more intellect than just creating them. That's because you have to backtrack to the point or objective of the design and find another way to get there. I suppose the guys over at Yanko Design didn't have to go all the way back to the idea of the traditional lock. The Y-Lock, though, is an ingenious modification for people who always have trouble putting their key in the door (me) half the time. It'd probably cut down on broken doorknobs too, since it's just the lock mechanism. One of those things that make you go 'duhhhh'....

Infinite USB Plugs?

Why is it that the Japanese are always on the cutting edge of innovation, yet some of the designs they brew up are so simplistic that you wonder why you hadn't thought of it first? I suppose this is one of those ideas. The good people at Yanko Design dropped another bomb on the head of needless technology, by making the typical USB cord into a pluggable chain of USB cords. It's so simple, I feel stupid. The only thing is that after 4 or 5 plugs, the idea gets a bit cumbersome. I suppose that's why most computers have more than one USB input in the first place. The color coding is a good look too. I hope this gets to the production line soon...

Floating Houses

No longer should sustainability be measured by how little damage something does to nature. Sustainability should show how well something blends into the environment. At least that's the case with Brad Pitt's latest project straight from New Orleans. The house can break away from it’s moorings and rise up up to 12 feet on two guideposts. It acts as a raft and provides the family with battery power for up to three days until help arrives. While the media and the limelight seem to have moved on from the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, there are still thousands of people with damaged housing. Kudos to Brad Pitt for keeping the rebuilding going...

via Morphopedia

What have you done with your life recently?

Now, I don't mean that to say that what Stan Munro has created in his free-time is any more important than health care debates or getting our troops home, but perspective does lend itself to his genius, and that of all quirky personalities. This man has recreated some of the world's most amazing buildings out of about 6 million toothpicks over the course of 6 years. If you can find anyone with that type of passion for anything, then that person has to be truly accomplished in what they love. Like I said before, perspective lends itself to the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make every accomplishment worthwhile. That said, what have you done with your life recently?

via DailyMail