Amazon Noir

The Amazon Noir Robots used amazon.com to access a huge digital library. They tricked around with the "Search Inside the Book" function of amazon.com until it gave away the complete volumes of copyright protected books. This was carried out by sending 5.000 - 10.000 requests per book. During this process over 3000 books were reassembled into pdf-format.

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Cheap 3D printer

A cheap self-assembly device capable of fabricating 3D objects has been developed by US researchers. They hope the machine could kick start a revolution in home fabrication – or "rapid prototyping" – just as early computer kits sparked an explosion in home computing.

via phraktle

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E-paper plant to be built in Germany

Once built it will manufacture circuits crucial for the development of novel gadgets such as electronic paper.

Unlike silicon, plastic circuits can be made using simple printing techniques and could dramatically reduce the price of consumer electronic goods.

The factory will be built in Dresden, known for its strength in silicon technology.

bbc.co.uk
slashdot.org

An Evolutionary Architecture

An Evolutionary Architecture investigates the fundamental form-generating processes in architecture, considering architecture as a form of artificial life, and proposing a genetic representation in a form of DNA-like code-script, which can then be subject to developmental and evolutionary processes in response to the user and the environment. The aim of an evolutionary architecture is to achieve in the built environment the symbiotic behaviour and metabolic balance found in the natural environment. To do so, it operates like an organism, in a direct analogy with the underlying design process of nature.

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Fake virtual friends for sale

Are bullies in Second Life mocking you because you don't have hundreds of hot friends on your MySpace or Friendster page? A new service called Fake Your Space launched a couple of days ago that allows you to rent some fake cyberbuddies. You can add them as friends and they will leave comments on your page each week for 99 cents per month per friend.

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Blossfeldt fractals

Dynamic composition of plant forms, based on photographs by Karl Blossfeldt from the 1920's, and generated through algorithms similar to Lindenmayer Systems.

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The 2006 Genetically Engineered Machine Competition

The 2006 Genetically Engineered Machine Competition just finished last week, with 37 teams competing against each other. The teams are using genetic assembly bricks like LEGO blocks to build genetically engineered organisms.

iGEM 2006
Registry of Standard Biological Parts
Open WetWare

Telestreet

The Italian Telestreet movement is a network of close to 200 pirate television stations which have appeared since 2002 to counter the media monopoly of Silvio Berlusconi.

via miska

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Sketch Furniture

The Swedish design group FRONT has developed a method to materialise free hand sketches. Pen strokes made in the air are recorded with Motion Capture and become 3D digital files; these are then materialised through Rapid Prototyping into real pieces of furniture.

via Ricardo & Geppetto

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Tree Drawing

Tim Knowles creates drawings independent of his own hand, using elaborate apparatus or time consuming practices. Interested in the process of drawing Knowles invents experimental and playful procedures to introduce chance and unpredictability into his work. Often he will employ and expose mans relationship to nature, in an ongoing series which will feature in the exhibition, Knowles attaches pens to the tips of branches of various trees; placing paper in front of them he allows the chance movement of the wind to dictate the composition of the final drawing. The artist surrenders final control of the work, questioning the authority of the artist whilst allowing the fundamental and primordial characteristics associated with drawing to be communicated.

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