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Bymerging a plain overhead projector with a more modern digital videoprojector and a computer vision system, Golan Levin and ZacharyLieberman have developed (well, in 2004) what they call Manual Input Sessions. Essentially interactive and dynamic shadow puppets, the vision system analyzes the shadows you cast over the analog project with your hands and augments the output via the digital projector, adding sounds and graphics based on the movements and forms of your hands. Even though this is the sort of thing that’s more proof-of-concept than on its way to the market (for now), if Fisher Price could produce a budget version all-in-one unit, this would make a phenomenal children’s toy—one I would quite possibly have to steal from neighborhood children in exchange for candy. Check out the video and watch through to act 2 (at least) to understand how awesome this stuff is.

Project Page [via gizmodo + WMMNA]

Paul
Cocksedge has managed to fuse art, electricity and light together to
form some very creative pieces. Take “Watt?” for example:
Watt? is designed with purity in mind. The elegant switch is based on the natural conductive properties of the graphite found in pencils.
Connecting two points with the a pencil line completes the circuit and
the light is switched on. When the line is rubbed out the light is
switched off.

Even better is the crystal and laser
chandelier, composed of a Swarovski crystal that catches and splices
the light all across the room, along with a vase that lights up when
there’s a (live) flower present. As Paul’s portfolio requires an access
code to explore, MoCo Loco’s your best bet for good pictures and
details.

Crystallize [MoCoLoco]
Artist Page [PaulCocsedge]
[Via gizmodo]

Here’s a DIY teleprompter for the folks out there who are using web cams to do videoblogging or recording themselves speaking. It’s pretty simple, a couple CD cases and some HTML and you’re good to go. I think as we start using video conferencing more it might be a neat project to put all sorts of things on there, like instant messages, widgets, slides or maybe a RSS ticker, maybe not. Link.

[Via Make]

I just watched Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy opening day, and had to find some toys for it. so here they are via WickedCoolStuff

Marvin The Paranoid Android Action Figure $14.95 "Life, don’t talk to me about life." Marvin the Paranoid Android comes to life in the spaced out comedy The Hitchhiker’s Guide To the Galaxy! This 6" action figure of Marvin is a detailed likeness of the character as he appears in The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy

Marvin 10" RotoCast Figure with Light Up Eyes $21.95 This poseable plastic and vinyl version of everyone’s favorite manic-depressive robot features light-up eyes and a poseable body. The must-have piece for fans of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.

8″ Plush Figure Set $70.75 These movie replica plush are right out of the movie. Each 8″ knitted plush carefully represents Marvin, Trillian, Arthur, Zaphod, and Ford when they appear in plush form during a moment of Infinite Improbability during The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.

“INFINITE IMPROBABILITY DRIVE” Wall Clock Sent in from a anonymous reader.

$20.99 Decorate any room in your home or office with the 10 inch “INFINITE IMPROBABILITY DRIVE” wall clock. Black plastic case. Requires 1 AA battery (included). Buy here

For more Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy products, visit HITCHHIKERS GUIDE FAN STORE & wickedcoolstuff

Wayne White,
a Chattanooga-born artist living and working in Los Angeles, buys
mass-produced thrift-store/garage-sale lithographs and paints amazing 3D word-art onto them. His use of typography is stunning, reminiscent of Chris Ware’s Acme Novelty Library covers.

In his professional life, he’s an acclaimed commercial artist, famously
known as the art director for Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time,” the Smashing
Pumpkins’ “Tonight Tonight,” and the Snapple bottle puppet commercials.
He was also the voice of Mr. Kite and Randy on Pee Wee’s Playhouse,
where he was a set designer and puppet maker. ArtForum reviewed his artwork in late 2002. More information, including more images and a bio, is available at the Western Project.

[Via waxy]

David Pescovitz:

PostSecret is a mail art project where you’re invited to send in an
anonymous postcard with a “secret” written on it. The submissions are
then shared on a blog. This is even more engaging than the old classic Not Proud!
After just four months, the organizers have posted lots of heavy,
funny, creepy, interesting, and real secrets.

Post Secret

Link (via the f blog + boingboing)

By Xeni Jardin:
The work of photographer Michael Garlington has been described as “‘David Lynch meets Leave it to Beaver.” Snip from description of show currently on display at Stephen Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles:

Garlington tours the country in his “Photo Car” — literally a
Volkswagen covered with his photographs. He shoots portraits of
whatever speaks to him - from a contortionist to a fast food worker,
from the disabled to a young patriot, his work is about ordinary
Americans leading ordinary lives, yet there is something awry. Inside
the work is a deeply felt affection for humanity in all its
permutations and expressions, in all its horror and triviality. The
resulting body of work offers a critical, offbeat, and humorous view of
the United States —a portrait of the “belly of the whale.”

Garlington is currently working on a series of California-Mexican
working families living in trailers, struggling for a piece of a
promised dream, and is planning his fourth cross-county photo
expedition in 2005.

Link to show info, and here you will find more info about the photographer, his work, and his art-car: Link. Good god this is an incredible image right here (worksafe): Link (via indienudes + boingboing)

by Greg Tate

How much oxygen did your furniture produce today? In our version of
the future, the things we loaf about on indoors will be as beneficial
as the stuff that grows out back. In the meantime, sculpt lawn
furniture from the lawn itself. Unlike your standard-issue sofa, this
lush greenery is totally organic, requires no synthetic finishes, and
can be brought to life, Golem-style, from salvaged dirt. St. Augustine
tiles create a seamless, living upholstery, or try wheatgrass for a
durable alternative. Ask your nursery about planting tips unique to
your sod. Note: Couch may require mowing. Read more…

[Via readymademag]

Mark Frauenfelder: Stefan Jones says: “In addition to esoteric brands of soap, shampoo, and other grooming products, Sesto Senso sells chewing gum and bubble bath packed in some very strange novelty packaging. They’re like real-life Wacky Packages. “My favorite: Happy Dead Clown Gum.”

[Via BoingBoing]