Pleo

Pleo is one the first toy robots that comes close to artificial life. Kind of creepy, but mostly cute–Pleo is open source, allowing programmers to add functionality. Here's the designer Caleb Chung, inventor of many toys (including Furby) discussing his new $10 million invention.

Airless Tires?!

Okay, so this is about a year old, but I still find it incredible! Check out this German demonstration video on tweels, the first airless tires by Michelin.

Google on Gay Rights?

It's quite rare that such a huge company takes a political stance. Check out Google's personal blog post for the company's position on gay rights (in relation to the Proposition 8 campaign in California).

Accessibility

Apple has an agreement with the state of Massachusetts to make iTunes 8 accessible to the blind.

Feng-GUI

Feng-GUI (Graphic User Interface) encourages you to upload a screenshot of your website, as it will predict how your user's eyes will navigate the page. It scans your photo for factors such as color, orientation, density, intensity and size.

Zazzle

Zazzle allows you fully customize your shoes. You can even upload your own images to apply! Plus, it's freakin' cheap (only 60 bucks a pair).

Bigman

If your computer can handle it, check out Bigman

Mashed Potatoes

Everyone these days seems to love a good mash-up. This appears to be a current trend both in music and video editing. How is it that we can accept the appropriation of previous material as a new form of art? Here are two examples.

Girl Talk's brilliant mixing of nostalgic pop songs, displayed here by the videos associated with them.



and a YouTube remixing of "Saved by the Bell."

Amaztype

Amaztype uses Amazon to generate your search results in the form of the word/phrase that you searched with, presenting it in piles of books.

Created by Keita Kitmura and Yugo Nakamura.

Also, check out Yugo's portfolio site.

Red Issue

Check out this website with a sweet form of navigation (drawing arrows to take you to each page, and circles to zoom in)

Red Issue

Barcinkski & Jeanjean

Barcinkski & Jeanjean is an amazing interactive firm stationed in Amsterdam. They're doing some great work melding all forms of media (Flash, Papervision, Java, Bluetooth and user participation).

Check out the online version of an installation they completed last February. Each audience member could contribute an instrument to a song, simply by activating their phone's Bluetooth. Try it!

CoolIris

CoolIris. Download it. Probably one of the best things you can do to your browser. And, it's free! Seriously, it'll blow your mind.

BumpTop Desktop

Why can't our virtual desktops mimic our real workspace? Is a virtual desktop that is completely flooded with icons really organized?

Tangible User Interfaces

We're so used to the convention of moving our cursor around a screen, and clicking on variables that will either be manipulated or trigger a manipulation. This requires more steps for us to process, and is far from intuitive. Your finger alone can act as the perfect stylus, allowing your brain to completely focus on the material at hand.

Throw out your mouse and crack your knuckles. Here are some great advancements from the past couple of years with tangible interfaces.

Sony Bravia

Okay, so this is a couple of years old. But, I found it influential enough to archive it.

250,000 bouncy balls were released down Filbert and Leavenworth Streets in San Francisco.



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Here's another with clay in NYC.

Photosynth and Seadragon

Slow Motion for Me, Baby

I think we take for granted the immense amount of brain processing undertaken every second. Enjoy these:

Jonathan Harris

Jonathan Harris, social commentator and visual storyteller, speaks about his phenomenal We Feel Fine project, and introduces his incredible Universe project.

Follow his other projects.

Uniqlo Grid

Really awesome, multiple-user interaction. This is a great piece which challenges the idea of collaboration.


Uniqlo Grid

Newton Virus

Okay, so I know this is a bit old, but I love when software utilizes Mac-specific hardware, such as Mac's built in gyro.