6 posts tagged “design”
Philips Design reveals its next provocative design concept - e-tattoo:
"The e:tattoo project investigates the use of 'electronic' ink that would allow people to have dynamic tattoos with an infinite number of display options. In much the same way as make-up is put on and taken off to suit the occasion, a tattoo could alter whenever desired.
"Tattoos and physical mutilation are amongst the oldest forms of personal expression and identity. Subcultures have used tattoos as a form of self representation; a visual language communicating personality and status.
"Philips Design examines the growing trend of extreme body adornment like tattoos, piercing, implants and scarring. The e:tattoos could change in response to gestures or emotions, which opens up novel ways of communicating and interacting with others."
Have a look at the website SKIN: Tattoo
- there is very nice movie there, very tender and sensual.
I restarted my voyages in Second Life, and after few initial moments of feeling lost and disconnected, re-connected and 'found' my digital selves (ok, may be not all, but major part of them). All in all, I guess I am back to digital normal.
I was always a bit puzzled why I didn't do much of a 'building' in SL; it partly goes to the fact I still don't own a piece of land there, but I also think the reason is bit deeper. I tried to build, few time, never got beyond the usual n00by things, but also never got particularly excited even if with the great creations I build in my imagination.
However, I got immediately thrilled when I see the 'effects', particularly all kind of things people do with particles in SL. I guess, this is the skill I'd love to have most, to be able to create dynamic and interactive systems. Even despite I don't know even the basics yet, I already keep drawing the creations I'd love to build, and writing down ideas of dispersed and distributed formfactors. And of course, the somehow innate magical properties of the design with particles only add to my admiration.
I found a seemingly great place to start with, called Laboratory of Particles [need to add the SLurl here later] where the guys not only show their masterpieces and sell the ingredients of good designs, but also provide a step by step intro to the game, and even generously share their basic tricks.
The only small regretful thing is there is no sandbox to try it out, but well, they are not IBMs of this world (and if I would be IBMs of this world, I'd simply buy and promote them; their school of magic is much closer to the art of programming IBMs is supposedly about).
Both my computers were broken during last few days (first my new laptop gone bust, and then my old 'veteran' PC followed - also because of its much more intensive usage after the break of laptop, I assume).
Usually when for some reasons I am 'deprived' from the Internet, I do experience all the usual symptoms of the 'Internet withdrawal syndrome'. In this case, however, I did cope with it relatively easily, too all my surprise; may be it was because of the hard(ware) reasons, beyond my control. May be because it was not a complete withdrawal - I could access my 'private' online records via my computer in the office (although I simply didn't have time for that).
But the key issue is no, I didn't 'suffer ' without it so much. What even more interesting is that when I finally got one of my computers back from repair shop (a broken fan), I didn't rush to check mails, or blog, or vox, or read friends... I feel a growing... freedom? from all these 'virtual ties'. Quite an interesting feeling to spot, after more than five years of a very intensive engagement with all this 'virtualness'.
The website of their new company is rather bizarre (all Flash, so you can't actually copy any text from it), but it does have a bunch of interesting links, including to the Geke's thesis (Pick & Mix) and few other papers by her, so it's worth checking.
During their double presentation Bas and Geke told (albeit briefly) about their projects (I will make separate posts later to describe about them in more details), as well as about company's plans (understandably vaguely). At the end they got their well-deserved award, a traditional Random Friday's goblet.
Sweden is one of the first countries which decided, quite bravely, to open their Embassy in Second Life (technically speaking, Maldives were the first nations, but the size and complexity of the Swedish project makes them truly pioneers of virtual diplomacy (or is it a diplomatic virtuality?)
More about this project can be found in the article Sweden's virtual embassy in Second Life: Now featuring Geoglobe.I like the design and look&feel of the Swedish House's interior very appealing, and perfectly radiating the 'swedishness' of the Swedes. Those of us who come to Ikea shops frequently, will find themselves very well at home at this site.
Piece of good nice art, cozy furniture and tranquil nature are everywhere, but the real hit of virtual embassy is not am impressive (though a bit claustrophobic globe mentioned in the article). The real gem is the Wallenberg Room, that not just 'tells' but powerfully reconstruct the atmosphere, thrilling and depressing at the same time.
The Swedish Institute who is behind this historical project, managed to create a very powerful experience using a bunch of quite simple tools: you enter the room through a dark, almost black entry, the look&feel of the space is also much darker and sober compared to the rest of the Embassy; there is a background music playing somewhere in a background mixed with children voices which creates very mystical, Pink Floydian ambience. The room is full of the items of those times: a typewriter, an old telephone, posters and old photos on the walls. A fragment the 'street life' is visible from the window (a mere picture, but a very nice visual solution creating strong immersive effect).
The map on the wall is of the 'safe' Swedish houses in Budapest (where Raoul Wallenberg was rescuing Hungarian Jews from Nazis). There's also a link to a web-site describing the Gulag system (where some people believe Wallenberg actually died; though an 'official' version states he died in Lubyanka in Moscow.)
A really moving environment, and tragic story-telling. But also overall, one of the best serious projects I've seen so far in SL, kudos to the guys!
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