Cool Hunting
| 10 January 2006view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Forecasting Umbrella
by Josh Rubin
During CES last week Ambient Devices announced a few new items in their line-up. Most exciting is the Forecasting Umbrella, which has a handle that pulses blue light when there's a good chance of rain. The device is connected to Ambient's proprietary network which allows it to know where it is and then download the local weather report. Next time you head out the door just glance at the umbrella and it will let you know if your should bring it along. Brilliant simplicity.
Ambient also announced a new Magic Mirror that looks like a plain mirror until you approach it—time, weather, traffic, stock or other information appear behind the glass and around the perimeter. Lastly, their series of information displays (weather, traffic stocks, etc) will be updated to use eInk for greater legibility.
ITP Winter Show 1
by Josh Rubin
This episode is an overview of NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program Winter show featuring three exciting student projects. Highlights include a physically immersive device for musical expression, a tangible clock and also an intelligent light shade.
No Skool
by Ami Kealoha
For the release of Thundermutt 2.0, the second edition of Thunderdog Studios' own vinyl toy, Tristan Eaton, the founding designer of the company, teamed up with New York graffiti legend Seen to create the piece, which will be launched at the opening of their show this Friday, 13 January at Showroom NYC. Inspired by old trains, the limited edition toy (only 100 were made) features a removable head that reveals the name and date of the show, comes in three different colorways, and will be available for $25 at the opening and $30 thereafter. The exhibition runs through 31 January, 2006 and will also include over 30 collaborative silkscreened posters and paintings.
Cork Cuff
by Ami Kealoha
Wine-loving "cork dorks" need not worry about this cuff from Donna Piacenza of Chicago-based Studio 1a.m; made from recycled stoppers, they're no threat to the preferred method of plugging wine bottles. Using a single block of ground-up corks that have been formed using environmentally-friendly adhesives, Piacenza cuts the recylable, flexible, and water-repellant bracelet from the slab, which can be used to store the unconventional accessory. Or, with the cuff removed, the elegant C-shaped negative space makes a fetching display piece (pic after the jump).
Available for $48 from Studio 1a.m.
via Inhabitat
