Gizmodo: goldfish

Chumby Hack Brings Social Networking To Goldfish

Sean Fallon — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:42:00 EST

Goldfish must get lonely in those little bowls. I'm sure that's why designer Bruno Fosi used guts from a Chumby to create a device that allows you to automate an aquarium and bring it online.

The details on the "My Chumby's Fish" design are pretty thin, but it appears that sensors monitor conditions inside the tank and report details back to you. Because it's Chumby heart utilizes a wireless connection, other fish lovers with this device can interact with your fish and feed it remotely via your own personal goldfish network. By "interact" I mean that the fish can see each other via webcam, you can talk to it via a microphone and use "shake and tap movements" to simulate vibration and air bubbles. Yeah, this is a bit over the top for something you will probably flush down in the toilet in a week—but then again, most design concepts are out there to begin with. [Yanko]

RhythmFish Helps Your Goldfish Say "I Love You" (or "You Suck")

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:45:00 EDT

RhythmFish is a suction-cupped USB webcam concept that sticks to the side of a fishbowl, tracking the movements of your little shiny-scaled compadres. Sensors inside the bowl measure the "currents" made by fish swimming, and your computer combines both data feeds into a visualization meant for "inter-organism communication." Talking to goldfish? From the looks of the invention, I thought designer Sangmin Bae had seen one too many Terry Gilliam flicks, but on second thought, he may just be addicted to American Dad. [Coroflot via OhGizmo]

Infinity Aquarium Is a Goldfish Freedom Simulator

Sean Fallon — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Your goldfish may never truly be free, but if you had one of these infinity aquariums you can trick them into thinking they are thanks to a design that "loops the fish around in an infinite tunnel of water and glass." It's like a mini fortress of solitude for your little underwater friends—giving them a life precious semi-freedom before you unceremoniously flush them down the toilet. Not surprisingly, the "Swimming Around In Circles" aquarium is only a concept at this point.

[Yanko Design]