Artist Erik Nordenankar had an interesting idea for a self portrait. He would send a GPS device around the world to specified coordinates to draw the largest image the world has ever seen. Well, the largest virtual image the world has ever seen.

The GPS tracking device was put into a briefcase and sent away with the DHL transportation company which flew it around the world using travel instructions given to them by the artist. It took them 55 days to finish the route and deliver the tracking device to the artist who downloaded the date to his computer to create the drawing from it.

The drawing was created in one stroke that passed six continents and 62 countries and a total length of 110664 kilometers.

continue reading "GPS Drawing ?"

I discovered two very interesting tech demonstrations at the TechEBlog which I had to post about. The first is a next generation destruction CG tech demonstration that looks ultra realistic. If they could implement something like that in games it would be awesome.

“Using particle-based tools, the Extreme Loading technology generates iterative visuals with the added realism of material based physics. According to the developer, it can be used to design a destructible set — simulations can be run long before the set is built — and the resulting 3D files can be brought into Maya or comparable package for dressing and compositing.”

The second video is a dynamically transparent window that responds to the movements of people passing by. Using a camera, passers-by are tracked, and the data is processed by a system that controls custom-built interactive windows on the facade.

continue reading "Two interesting tech demonstrations"

I was always intrigued by isometric art for some reason. perhaps the simplicity of it all is the thing that gets to me, I don’t know. To create it though, you either need some appropriate apps, or some wicked Photoshop skills and I have neither. While poking around at Lifehacker today I found a post on Cubespace, a great online tool helping you live the isometric dream.

The tool isn’t too complicated, you can see an isometric world with the ability to drop various colored cubes into the field. You can also delete cubes, replay the animation (showing the design in progress, and you can save the art. Not a whole lot to it, but very effective. In fact, the only thing I was missing was a tool to create objects, or strands of cubes, it would be so much easier to create big shapes this way. The editor features some cool building animations like when you put down a cube, or when you delete it. Not very useful, but nevertheless cool.

On the main page there is also a nice gallery of recent and popular art and you can see that some people are really talented. While browsing through, you can even click and view their animations, although it’s a shame you can’t edit and save for yourself. If you have some designer veins in you, take a look at Cubespace, it’s a fun tool!

continue reading "Easy and free isometric art designer"

Feels like Geek-day today. After the virtual girlfriend article I present you another article that falls into the geeky but cute category. This time it’s Papercraft Toys by Cubeecraft, a website that is offering free papercraft model downloads that can bring a smile on the old and young.

Now this would not be that geeky if you would not be able to download models like Stormtroopers, the Master Chief, Kirby, NIN - Ghosts I-IV (!) or Mario. Each model is designed to fit on a standard piece of A4 letter paper and nothing is keeping you from creating your own army of Stormtroopers, Iron Mans or Batmans.

“Each toy features interlocking tabs for construction - eliminating the need for tape, glue or other messy adhesives. To download click on the model you would like then save the template image.”

continue reading "Cubeecraft Papercraft Toys"

I have seen my fair share of geeky stuff on the Internet and the Virtual Girlfriend definitely makes it straight to the top. Geeks don’t have girlfriends, that’s what people believe and while it sometimes may be true it more often than not is not, except for gay geeks maybe who tend to have boyfriends instead. (sidenote: wow there is even a website with that name but no content yet)

If you do not have a girlfriend yet you probably dislike sleeping alone. While it definitely has some advantages most people prefer the historical two humans per bed approach. If you are one human short you can instead try the virtual approach which adds a virtual girlfriend to your bed that responds to your reactions.

If you lie on the back for example she snuggles up next to you, lie on the side and the spoons on you. The only difficulty so far is that she only exists in 2D which means that you cannot feel her at all.

continue reading "Virtual Girlfriend Bed"