Pulse | Shapeshifting emotion visualisation

Pulse is a live visualisation of the recent emotional expressions written on the private weblogs of blogger.com. These emotional expressions are parsed according to a list of synonyms and transform a physical shape shifting object, which was created analogous to Robert Plutchik's psychoevolutionary theory of emotion. Markus Kison is a Berlin based artist, working in the field of digital media art / physical computing. Pulse was created in may 2008 during his diploma thesis in the digital media class at the University of the Arts Berlin. Check the video too!

Space Collective | The Future of Everything

'Where forward thinking terrestrials share ideas and information about the state of the species, their planet and the universe, living the lives of science fiction. Conceived by Rene Daalder in collaboration with Internet designer Folkert Gorter, assisted by editor Aaron Ohlmann, is an attempt at universal broadcasting. SpaceCollective will broadcast to the universe, beaming to outer space a month by month digital time capsule of human civilization.'

The Emotion Organ by Amanda Steggell

Synaesthesia is the name of a rare clinical anomaly where people experience unusual and very real sensations, such as the taste of shapes, or the colour of sound.

'The Emotion Organ is a synaesthetic simulacrum machine where players can explore the sensational interplay of feeling, seeing, hearing, smelling and motion. It is also a time machine - a re-engineered pump organ from 1895 that combines both old and emerging technology and builds upon a trajectory of several centuries-worth of ideas about synaesthetic phenomena.
Without electricity it can be played as a conventional musical instrument, but when plugged in the organ produces varying combinations and intensities of sound, light, colour, scent, vibration and movement. When played it stimulates a highly subjective, cause-and-effect sensory immersion. When experienced as a spectator, the subjective affect of the player is modulated through the hypnotic visual effects of a propeller-screen, processed organ sounds and emitted scents.'

Absolut Machines | Absolut Quartet

The Absolut Quartet is a multi-instrumental music-making installation combining art and technology to create the equivalent of a classic human quartet. It is an 'automated multi-instrumental orchestral machine, a large-scale electromechanical sculpture consisting of three instruments and thousands of parts, working together to create one piece of music. The main timbre is a marimba played by balls shot from a robotic cannon. Other components include a series of wineglasses played by little robotic fingers and an array of robotic percussive instruments'.
Prepare to be amazed > check the video!

The musical installation is on display at New York and you can get the chance to interact with the machine by logging in to absolutmachines.com. You will enter a 4-8 second theme, and the machine will generate, in real-time, a unique musical piece based on the input melody you have provided. (via)

Saint B Mp3 Player

Saint B Mp3 Player designed by Manworksdesign.

Smellovision

Japanese scientists have developed a sophisticated electronic nose that is capable of sniffing an object then reproducing the smell. One of the most ambitious devices Professor Takamichi Nakamoto's team has built is a sophisticated "odour recorder" which can sniff an object and then reproduce its smell using a host of chemicals.If you present the recorder with a shiny red apple, the electronic nose will take a cursory sniff, analyse the odour and then draw up a recipe of chemicals needed to recreate it.

via BBC News Science and technology

Google vision

A bright young designer from the U.K is developing a system that will have tag and name exactly what your staring at. Google Vision is a conceptual product developed by Callum Peden, for the worlds favorite search engine. The product provides the user with a truly unique information hub by combining GPS, OLED technology and advanced image recognition in the form of a retractable screen device.

The Global Positioning System will see the end of wondering the streets asking for directions and the small roller ball will allow for easy navigation of the flexible screen. Brilliant for identifying landmarks whilst on holidays, Google vision acts as a personal; tour guide.As well as this, advanced image recognition will mean Google Vision can target well known landmarks. Then using the increased coverage of wireless internet, provide the user with information on their surroundings wherever they may be.

Seitz 6x17 Digital shoots at 160 Megapixels

from engadget.

USB Subculture

USB, an abbreviation for a technical user interface, is nowadays often used as a synonym for a universal connection. originally only used by computer experts and nerds, this so-called former high-tech standard has developed into an every-day item and low-tech symbol for such universal connections. This is is an example of technology being clearly understood and accepted by the general public. something democratic evolves and develops and therefore often even receives a totally different usage than was originally intended. given the current, often exotic use of USB, it would even be argued that there is a 'USB subculture'!