PS3 Motion Controller confirmed for next spring, finally ready for its close-ups

Binnekort kan iedereen "Wii'en" met zijn playstation....

clipped from www.engadget.com We've heard plenty about Sony's PS3 Motion Controller, but we hadn't actually seen a press shot of it until now. Looks pretty PlayStation-ey, wouldn't you say? Sony has also confirmed that spring 2010 is the launch window (with those rumors of a March date in Japan floating around). It can't come soon enough! At the TGS announcement Kaz Hirai reiterated that the controller will meet the "stringent" requirements of hardcore gamers -- which is always a comfort, no matter how much of that gamer-pleasing will have to come from the actual games themselves. Hit up the read link for Joystiq's live coverage of the Sony keynote from TGS!

Living on water, ‘WHY’ Not!

Mooi,.... heeeeel mooi...

clipped from www.thedesignblog.org For the seafaring consumers Wally-Hermes Yachts (playfully shortened to WHY) are a wonderful mix of luxury and “green.” French luxury brand Hermès and Monaco-based yacht maker Wally have come together and delivered a yacht concept that is simply marvelous. Hi-tech equipment, modern structure and humongous living spaces characterize WHY. Recently unveiled in Italy, WHY has a 58 meter long and 38 meter wide hull with no superstructure. It comes with three decks, a 25-meter swimming pool on board as well as a 36-meter beach along the back. Despite all this extravagance, WHY incorporates solar panels all along its exposed surface (900 square meters of it) and reduces consumption of fuel. Also thrown in are recycling arrangements for all organic and inorganic waste. WHY is currently being tested in a specialized tank testing facility in Gothenburg, Sweden. The results would show the viability or otherwise of this brilliant yacht out at sea.

Thermodynamic Cooler preserves food by cooling effect of evaporation

Back to basics? Of net niet...

clipped from www.thedesignblog.org Winner of the Green Life Design Competition, announced today, the “Thermodynamic Cooler” by Rochus Jacob is an innovative cooling system that doesn’t require electricity and preserves food and fruit by the cooling effect of evaporating water. Made of bio-plastics, clay and glass foam, the stackable cooling system can well replace your pantry, second fridge or an advanced fruit bowl. Comprising two pots, one inside the other, the cooler is filled with wet glass-foam that evaporates to cool the temperature by several degrees, thanks to the laws of thermodynamics, to chill the inner clay pot covered with a damp cloth. The rapid fall in temperature annihilates harmful micro-organisms and preserve the perishable foods for a longer duration.

PlayStation Eye Research Paves the Way for Auto Generated Avatars, Augmented-Reality Porn

clipped from gizmodo.com Sony Labs has demoed some advanced facial recognition that it's researching for the PlayStation Eye. The system figures-out gender, knows where you're facing, and even tracks mouth movement. And eventually, the tech will make its way into new PS3 games. Through its various points of detection, the system can recognize individual faces and overlay a different model for each person. And that's where things get a little more interesting. Aside from augmented-reality uses, Sony imagines the tech being used to generate virtual world avatars on the fly...[DigInfo]

Pro Golfer Advertising with LCD-Loaded Bag

clipped from gizmodo.com It's a marketing ploy that may quickly spiral into Rodney Dangerfield's legacy. Pro Bag Ads is a company installing sun-resistant HD LCD displays into the bags of pro golfers. These LCDs then play advertisements for companies like "19th Hole Wines" during tournaments—we assume without sound—while the caddies enjoy the extra heft of a TV and batters on a midsummer day. So far, they've only signed up one guy, 2009 Senior PGA Champion Michael Allen. The chief flaw, beyond the general tackiness, can be seen in the lead shot. Stitched logos appear brighter than that screen. Oh, and when Tiger misses his first put because a Cialis ad enters his periphery, trust me, these guys are finished.

Man vs Machine: Deep Green Pool-Playing Robot Ready to Hustle

clipped from gizmodo.com What IBM's Deep Blue computer is to Chess, Deep Green may soon be to the felt table. The impressive system of cameras and robotic gantries, from the computer vision lab at Queens University, is already at a "better-than-amateur level". What's also cool is that the technology has spun off an augmented reality projection. It basically lets you cheat and line up shots like you can playing a pool video game. I'm betting it won't be long until we see that sort of thing show up in night spots where drunk folk can appreciate the eye candy. Oh, and unless you're a handbag trance fan, turn down your speakers for the video.

Audi R8 Spyder

Habba habba!

clipped from www.uncrate.com What do you add to the fastest, sexiest Audi ever made? Open air. The Audi R8 Spyder ($TBA) is a new drop-top version of Audi's signature Supercar, featuring a 5.2 V10 engine pumping out 525 hp, twin oval tail pipes, a brushed aluminum frame for the windshield, a retractable soft-top, all-wheel drive, and all the LED lighting a geek could ask for.

Mantra: Automated system for immediate rescue on beach

clipped from www.thedesignblog.org Increasing beach casualties during the peak season has been an alarming issue for lifeguards across the world. Providing a solution, British designer Adam Scott in collaboration with BSA (British Surfing Association) has designed an automated life saving system for beach lifeguards that promises better surveillance and minimizes causalities in coastal areas. Dubbed “Mantra,” the beach rescue system lies on the seabed during peak season, just off the coast, and uses small hairs on its surface to collect and store sustainable energy from tides and waves, known as “Super Cillia Skin.”

Andrea air purifier uses indoor plants for air purification

clipped from www.thedesignblog.org Natural plants are perhaps the best and most effective air purifier which not only provides fresh air to breath healthy but also beautifies the surroundings. Harnessing the natural process of air purification, Harvard designers Mathieu Lehanneur and David Edwards has come up with an innovative air purifier that makes use of indoor plants to filter air. Dubbed “Andrea,” the eco-friendly air purifier absorbs toxic gases to filter them through the leaves and roots of the plant within and puffs out fresh air. Moreover, you don’t need expensive or hybrid plants for this, because plants as universal as Spathiphyllum (peace lily), Dracaena marginata (red-edged dragon tree), Chlorophytum comosum (spider plant) and Aloe vera are ideal for air purification. The natural air purifier will be available by this autumn for $199.