Moshi Monsters

December 11, 2007 | 1 Comment

London-based gaming agency Mind Candy have developed a new social-networking sites for kids called Moshi Monsters. Instead of creating their own user profiles, kids can adopt their own monster. Users can choose the colour and name of their monster before taking it home. Every monster has a personality that changes and develops as you play with it. Treat it badly and it will misbehave, treat it well and you will have a very happy little monster. Kids can play puzzles and feed their monster and they can also customise the house that it lives in. Users can also make other monster friends and communicate with them by leaving messages on a regulated pin board. Source: Cool Hunting.

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Animaton, Blog, Community, Marketing, Social network, newsRight

You are my Sunshine

December 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Escape Partners and production agency Park Village have created a very brave but hilarious video for Greenpeace to promote the use of energy efficient light bulbs. The video shows a sequence of scenarios whereby the actors use a slightly different source for their lighting. With The Office’s Martin Freeman providing the voiceover for the ad, this is certain to generate huge WOM for the charity.

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Advertising, Bizarre, Blog, Charity, Environmental, Video, newsRight

The Key to Reserva

December 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment

This is fantastic. JWT teamed up with RSA films and hired the talents of Martin Scorsese to create a brilliant homage to Alfred Hitchcock for Spanish Cava brand Freixenet. The ad is shot in mockumentary style with Scorsese showing off his lighter side through great acting along with his brilliant direction. At over 9 minutes this requires a little patience but it is well worth the wait.

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Advertising, Blog, Film, Video, newsMiddle

Second Life calling

December 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Second Life developer Linden Labs have created a way for avatars to receive phone calls whilst they are actually in Second Life. Users phone numbers will be connected with their avatars and using the existing voice technology, they will be able to receive calls.

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Blog, Community, Mobile, Social network, newsRight

Talking CD cases

December 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Pre Vu have launched a new talking CD case. The talking case allows you to send someone a video or music CD (or anything the size of a CD) with that extra bit of “you” attached—your own voice giving a personal 60 second greeting.

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Bizarre, Blog, Invention, Music, Technology

Second Life for the blind

December 10, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Students at IBM in Ireland have designed an audio equivalent of the virtual world Second Life using 3D sound to create a sense of space. When the user enters the virtual world, the items are described as well as their positions. There is also sound attached so for example, if there’s a tree nearby the user will hear a rustling of leaves. Each avatar will have a sonar attached to give them an idea of the environment they’re in, and they will be able to communicate with other members through a technology that uses text to speech software that reads out any chat from fellow avatars in the virtual world that appears in a text box.

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Blog, Community, Internet, Social network

Google gas stations

December 10, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Google will launch a series of internet connected pumps with Google Maps across 3,500 gas stations in the US. The pumps, made by Gilbarco Veeder-Root, will help travellers find local attractions (hotels and restaurants for example) and will be free of charge. Google’s Karen Roter Davis saying that the move is part of Google’s drive to make its services available whenever and wherever people need them.

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Blog, Innovation, Technology

Digital paint brush

December 4, 2007 | Leave a Comment

“I/O Brush is a drawing tool that explores colours, textures, and movements found in everyday materials by “picking up” and drawing with them. I/O Brush looks like a regular paintbrush but has a small video camera with lights and touch sensors embedded inside. Outside of the drawing canvas, the brush can pick up colour, texture, and movement of a brushed surface. On the canvas, artists can draw with the special “ink” they just picked up from their immediate environment.” This is a really great innovation and I am waiting for the consumer product version to launch. Source and images: MIT Media Lab

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Bizarre, Blog, Creativity, Design, Innovation, newsMain

Barcode revolution

December 4, 2007 | Leave a Comment

This is not new, but it is still cool which is why I am writing about it. Design barcode are a collective based out of Tokyo who design barcodes which reflect the product on which they appear. They have firmly established themselves in Japan and have recently partnered with PACARC, LLC to take the produce to the United States. I haven’t seen this being used within the UK market as yet but if any of you have, please post a link in the comments box as would love to see brands start to bring innovations like this to every element of their product.

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Bizarre, Blog, Business, Design, Marketing, newsLeft

Social networking for bumps

December 4, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Someone had to do it. Yes, Foops is a new social network due for launch in April 2008 for bumps. Now you don’t even have to be born to have your own profile page. Until the site is launched, the information available is currently limited but I will provide a full write up after launch.

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Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Bizarre, Blog, Community, Social network, newsMiddle