Ever pondered walking across America? Fancy a gentle stroll from New York to San Francisco all in the name of creativity?
Well, the lads that created WalkUSA View Guy Walks Across America! in a larger map
Skive, the agency I work for, recently moved office and are now located next to a primary school. When the kids aren't indoors learning to read, write, paint, or whatever kids at school do nowadays, they are outside running around and making the most of playtime.
Gazing out the window to the noise I pondered. Why don't we, as adults, 'play' any more? Surley there are huge benefits, for mind and profession, in playing?
This made me think back to a great speech that Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO, gave at TED a few years back (yes I love TED talks) about the powerful link between creativity and play.
This talk is brilliant! I love that idea that when channeled, play encourages a world of endless possibilities. When in a state of play, we are free from self-imposed barriers to sketch, prototype, test - actually create - all in the quest of good, appropriate design.
Watching the news last night and saw a report on a new recycling scheme being trialled by Windsor and Maidenhead Council. RecycleBank aims to reward participants for recycling. The more you recycle, the more rewards points you earn, which can then be redeemed at local retailers.
Originally conceived in the USA, this idea is a good way to encourage us all to do our part. I can't help but wonder though. Are we actually going to end up consuming more, therefore producing more waste, through point redemption?
It is the distant future, the year 2000. The world is very different ever since the robot uprising of the late 90s - Flight of the Conchords
If you've not seen the 'Humans are dead' skit, then it is definitely worth a look. Conchords aside, I was perusing the pages of Laughing Squid today and noticed a video showcasing an Autonomous Quadrotor Helicopter - an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Now what's impressive about this gadget is its precise maneuvering. Developed at the GRASP Lab, University of Pennsylvania, I pondered what other cool toys the GRASP team had. And man do they have some cools toys.
One in particular is a modular robot that reassembles when it's kicked apart. To me, robots that can find their parts after being displaced, then reassemble themselves without any help, is a seriously cool bit of kit.
This did make me think back to the Conchords, Terminator or any other robot dominating sci-fi film or reference. Robots are clearly getting smart.
When will they out smart us?
Binary Solo!
0000001, 00000011, 00000111, 00001111, O, O O 1, O O 1!
Ego surfing, or Googling yourself, is the act of entering your name into the mighty Google-ma-tron and seeing what, if anything, comes back. The more results, the bigger your ego growths.
Well an enterprising chap by the name of Alec Brownstein wanted to pursue a career with Y&R New York. His plan. Play to the egos of Gerry Graf, David Droga, Tony Granger, Ian Reichenthal and Scott Vitrone - top Creative Directors. How? Watch the following.
I love this idea because it's simple, innovative and has proven very effective. He has since won two pencils and a Clio for his idea.
