NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) describes itself as “a center for the recently possible.” Put another way, it’s where artsy people go to build some cool stuff with tech. So we went to the program’s spring exhibition, to see what madness they dreamed up.
Keyboard island, ho! Although what looks at first like random keystroke skyscrapers is actually much more purposeful; each button visualizes how often you use it. We are an E-crazed people, indeed.
Touchscreens have lessened the need for physical interactive components in devices. But sometimes, they make things, like games, better. Imagine needing to use specially shaped objects to solve a puzzle, or facing a mini-robot standing on top of your screen?
The not-so-cleverly-named turntabletar is something that should never be used IRL. Still, there's no denying its novelty. Two midi turntable controllers have been melded with a mixer and strapped to something resembling a guitar neck. But instead of fret bars and strings, the neck has a crossfader, which, of course,…
The post-apocalypse recession is bound to be a doozy. If you don't have the stomach for looting (why aren't you in heaven, pussy?), or don't have a gold stockpile, you'll probably have to barter for basic survival needs.
You're probably on camera right now. Wave hello. If you were wearing this line of Cold Flare jewelry from a pair of ITP students, you'd be invisible—or at least, anonymous(er).
Mind control. The thought that somebody else could control everything you do is kind of creepy. Even in a crude form, as you can see in little experiment from four ITP students, called Human Puppets. [ITP]
Any half-competent bartender can pour a decent layered shot. Unfortunately, there's a lot of not-so-competent bartenders out there. Enter Pousse Cafe, a voice-controlled shot dispenser from three ITP students that perfectly layers every shot, every time. [ITP]
Simple, but great: Each drawer in Nick Yulman's song cabinet plays music, with the rhythm changing as you pull the drawer out further. By mixing up various drawers and rhythms, you can create a bajillion permutations of music. [ITP]
Don't want to punch in a long password every time you unlock your phone, but wanna make sure nobody can get inside if you lose it at a...coffee shop? Michael Knuepel's digital signet rings unlock iPhones like a key. [ITP]
This weekend marks the celebration of the Vimeo Festival + Awards, which brings together experts and achievers in online video. And, some pretty spectacular visual artists, merging DIY tech ingenuity with brilliant sculpture. And we've got the highlights below.
Unlike traditional mood ring voodoo, Poker Face measures bodily conditions like pulse and galvanic response to assess your mood, revealing it on the iPhone's display—and a wristband vibrates when you're starting to feel like a prick.
The Life Dress is a glowing dress made out of dragon skin, LEDs, wires, and Arduino hardware that models the life and death of cells. It is squishy. I imagine Milla Jovovich wearing it out with Bruce Willis, killing aliens.
Data empowerment through iPhone apps. That seems to be the running theme. Project Noah—for networked organisms and habitats—is a location-based eco-field guide, submission-powered wildlife spotter, and mission dossier. And it's pretty slick.
The way it moves, it's unnatural—it made me want to jump out of my skin.
The idea behind Mobile Logger is simple: Logging and analyzing trip data—particularly from bikes—via open source iPhone app that collects a ton of data, from route and noise level, to speed and altitude, aggregating it for cool visualizations.
I.C.U. began as a project to explore mind control, but, constrained the limits of like, reality, it was boiled down to the next best thing: Eye control.
If you've never been to one of the twice-a-year shows held at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program, you're missing the weirdest, coolest, most insanely inspired geek projects around. We'll be highlighting the best stuff, but you can check it out yourself:
The Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU's Tisch School is where all kinds of ridiculously creative techno-wizardry happens so it's pretty exciting they're seriously opening up the program with a Summer Camp for grown ups. Do check it out. [ITP]