Device Attaches to shoe to transform Kinetic Energy into Electricity

Inspired by the skaters, Argentine designer Soledad Martin has come up with a cellphone charger concept, based on the modern way of transforming movement into electric energy called the “kinetic energy,” thanks to the nanogenerator system. What is interesting about this charger is that you can attach it firmly to your shoe and just go outside and practice any kind of sport or even just go for a walk and charge the battery attached to the device. So when you are running low on battery, just remove the lid and attach the USB cable to juice up your mobile phone right there on the street .In addition, the charger comes with interchangeable straps with snap buttons so the user can choose what color to wear.

http://fgadgets.com/future-gadgets/phone-charging-device-attaches-to-shoe-to-transform-kinetic-energy-into-electricity

Jason de Caires Taylor’s underwater sculptures

Jason de Caires Taylor’s underwater sculptures create a unique, absorbing and expansive visual seascape.

http://www.underwatersculpture.com/pages/artist/about.htm

Brighten up that room.. with concrete?! Kneet.

       Concrete has a sometimes-bad reputation as a harsh, rigid, cold-to-the-touch and straight-edged material. Litracon is doing a great deal to change that image of concrete through a score of creative and sustainable applications for their patented light-transmitting concrete. 

      Filled with optical fibers that run from one end of a poured piece of concrete to the other, these prefabricated blocks and panels effectively transmit light from one side to the other. Colors and light remain remarkably consistent from end to end, but with a natural variation from the pouring process that actually softens the effects considerably.

      The fibers can transmit light to over 50 feet and, as they occupy only a small percentage of the total concrete block or panel, they do not significantly effect the structural capabilities of the poured pieces.One could imagine all kinds of artistic as well as functional applications for this new-and-improved form of concrete. Daylighting possibilities abound and all with potentially much lower heat loss and cost and with greater durability.
      Perhaps best of all it puts another broad-ranging, highly versatile material choice in an architect’s or builder’s structural tool kit – what designers do with this solid-but-see-through substance ultimately will probably surprise us all.

http://dornob.com/see-through-light-transmitting-concrete-material/

Peektures

My favorites from: http://haha.nu/creative/creative-photos-by-chema-madoz/

Furniture Design Guidlines

Here is a kneet website for some pretty straight forward furniture design guidelines.

http://www.whitemountdesign.com/FurnitureDesign.htm

"Golden Age of Furniture ( 1700-1799)

Late Jacobean 1160 -1680
Queene Anne 1702 - 1714

Georgian 1714 -1745

Chippendale 1749 - 1774 ( Queene Anne cabriole legs, complex , ornate carving)
Hepplewhite 1750 - 1790 ( tapered legs, clean lines, fine construction, curved pieces)
Sheraton 1790 - 1810

Classic Revival

Shaker 1784 - 1850
Federal 1790- 1825

Victorian 1800 - 1850

Biedermeier 1800 - 1850
Regency 1811 - 1820

Art Nouveau 1875

Arts & Crafts 1876 - 1916

Modern 1900 - Present

Bauhaus 1919 - 1933
Art Deco 1920 - 1930

Contemporary

Scandinavian

A few modern , well-known furniture makers

Sam Maloof contemporary furniture maker (California)

James Krenov contemporary furniture maker (Scandinavian influence)

Wendell Castle contemporary furniture maker

Jere Osgood contemporary furniture maker"

Kneet Shape for a Desk

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY2D_CMxL8R_4Y-0Op-oUJ-9gibaHmIylHOrudeKXSMKUiar8tvaM2bU2APEKvLi-NufUWhpfjzdRWUsHojYj8mW0QjQ3nlR1_gTg9961MKoko1F9ZwtJfaJ0le8uKhs-iEokTjoN4YU/s1600-h/DSC03798.JPG

Elegant and Creative Ways to Maximize Space Under Your Stairs

We’ve seen a lot of indoor arrangements where the space under the stairs is completely neglected. This usually happens because the owners fear not to overcrowd the living room or hallway. In this post we would like to present 15 creative and elegant ways on how to effectively use the space under your stairs without “damaging” your home’s appearance. In fact, we think the ideas below will help improve the overall design of the rooms where they are put to practice. If you are living in a small crib and feel the need for more space, you might consider improvising a bookcase, a home office or an entertaining area. We particularly like the cozy extendable bed in the first photo, which could turn out to be a good solution when receiving guests. The aquarium and fireplace are two other original methods of making the most out of the area beneath the stairs. Check out the photos for more inspiration and if you guys have any more ideas, we would love to read them.


http://freshome.com/2010/11/10/15-elegant-and-creative-ways-to-maximize-space-under-your-stairs/

Asus Ecobook

Asus Ecobook notebook (with 11.1" or 12.1" widescreen)

True to its name, Ecobook is made of recyclable plastic -- discounting the metal components and the statement-making bamboo case. The interior is lined with cardboard and not a single component is painted, sprayed or electroplated. Ecobook is also designed to be easily taken apart and be self-serviced by the owner:

The Ecobook Concept was disclosed last year but it wasn't until this November that Asus gave it a suggested going price. SRP is around $59,900.

Quite a lot, but then again, it's bamboo-clad. :)

Ecobook will be initially available in Taiwan.

Preetee Wood Kitchen

ElektraVetro White by Ernestomeda – Black and White Kitchen with Curved Island

Ernestomeda is a young and dynamic company which offers a lot of excellent kitchen designs. Its kitchens stand out by perfect quality and pleasantly surprise by awesome designs. One of the most attractive models is ElektraVetro White made in modern minimalist style. It combines the charm of curved lines and strictness of color solution. Black and white colors greatly mark its elegance and originality. White kitchen cabinets with black aluminium frame are in an amazing harmony with curved black island. This kitchen island provides enough space for comfortable cooking and having a breakfast by several persons. If you like a trendy design then this kitchen could become a good choice for you. You could find more technical characteristics and other useful information about this curved kitchen on Ernostomeda site.

http://archtopia.com/tag/black-and-white-kitchen-design/

Digitally Fabricated Bookshelf | dbd Studio

An organic curving surface was created in Rhino that stretched from floor to ceiling and overhead, terminating at the existing bulkhead. 17 sheets of 3/4″ birch plywood were then CNC milled to notch together and form the undulating, gridded mass.

http://plusmood.com/2009/12/digitally-fabricated-bookshelf-dbd-studio/

The Myrkr Chair

The Myrkr Chair is designed and built by Christopher Warren for WORD [Warren Office for Research and Design]. It was originally designed and built for a gallery exhibition called The Page, in which a reading area of various chairs and tables was needed to examine artists’ books. The exhibition is in the Guggenheim Gallery of Chapman University in Orange, California and runs through March 12th, 2010.

Old Norse for “darkness”, Myrkr is conceived of light and shadow. Its design answers the modern call for material efficiency and the utilization of technology; however, the common contemporary desires for thinness and gloss have been replaced by volume and subtlety.

"Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides." Jun’ichiro Tanizaki, In Praise of Shadows

For Myrkr, modern fabrication techniques have been combined with traditional assembly methods. The lounge chair has no metal connections, but rather is made from a single laser-cut sheet of 12mm plywood and 144 dowels. It has been dipped in black aniline dye and finished with lacquer. Myrkr is light, very comfortable, and surprisingly stable.

http://plusmood.com/2010/02/myrkr-chair-word/

Cardboard Record Player

Audio engineering company GGRP Sound sent a 45rpm record in a corrugated cardboard sleeve that doubles as a record player. You can play and scratch using a pencil. big pic

Winscape virtual window

Winscape virtual window by Rational Craft. As the viewer moves around, dual 1080p images move the opposite direction, providing the convincing illusion of looking out a real pane of glass at the incredibly detailed scenery beyond.
Music is Annen Polka by Johann Strauss.

Portfolio binding?

Simply put, this blog is for me to record neat things I find and want to save for reference.

My first post is for this plywood binder. Possibly nice inspiration for my portfolio binding.