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News, insight and tips from the social web.
The Hoop blog covers the evolving digital landscape, social media, mobile communications, content marketing and also includes 5 top finds and Fish on Friday. Feel free to make comments.
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5 top finds #41 »
Hyperrealistic drawings, sun assisted QR code, Android mirrors, fully automated student bedroom and a handmade suit for....a hand. It's a great end to the week with 5 top finds.
1. Photo realistic drawings
[image from The Sun]
Yes, this image is what the title says, a pencil drawing. These amazingly real pieces of art are by Paul Cadden, who recreats photographs using little more than a pencil.
The Scottish born 47-year-old's work is described as hyperrealism and has earned him a spot on the Artist of the Year 2011 shortlist for his drawing, 'Painted context.'
Currently, Cadden's work is on show at the Point One gallery - which focuses on hyperrealism - in Pimlico, London. For a full range of his work, visit his website here.
2. Sunny QR code
E-Mart, Korea's answer to Wal-Mart, found themselves struggling to sell during the lunch hour. Many of the shops were close to empty and their sales graphs looked like a shopping basket, dipping in the middle of the day.
However, rather than accepting the slump in sales and making cuts, E-Mart decided to embrace mobile by installing a 'shadow QR code' outside stores that is only scannable between 12 and 1PM.
The unique QR code works by using the shadows available when the sun is at a certain point in the sky. At mid-day, the shadows fall perfectly into place to complete the code, making it available to scan. The most amazing thing is that it worked, pushing lunch-time sales up by 25% and giving the company more media exposure. Then again, we aren't that shocked as we know mobile works.
3. Android rearview mirror
[Image from Tech Beats]
The car and the mobile have always had a close relationship, with mobile telephony in cars dating back to 1960. Even now, with the huge popularity of handheld devices, many people integrate the two by having the phone synced to their dashboard.
Of course, this wasn't going to end there and the next step has been made, in a rather James Bond gadgety way. At this year's CES, one company called Rydeen showcased their new rearview mirrors with a built in Android operated touchscreen. Currently, Rydeen state that it is a research tool but a production version could hit the shelves by 2013.
We are not entirely sure if having a touch screen built into your rearview mirror is the safest idea, with texting while driving being such a danger (this video was so close to making 5 top finds) but it is interesting nonetheless. With it, you can unlock the ability to check weather conditions, traffic reports and the Hoop blog without having to pull out your mobile phone.
4. Automated dorm-room with emergency party button
There probably isn't any demographic lazier than the male undergraduate student. Waking times usually vary between 12PM-3PM and making dinner means finding a pizza coupon. However, one student was particularly proactive about being inactive as he built, what he calls, B.R.A.D (Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm).
Controlled by motion sensors, remote controls, iPhone, iPad and speech, the Berkeley student's room is set up so well that throwing a party is as simple as hitting an emergency red button. What must have taken a while to set up, the hours put in are saving precious time throughout the day.
5. A handmade suit
[Image from Wallpaper*]
UK based design, fashion and art magazine Wallpaper* recently commissioned Dutch artists Lernert & Sander - along with London based production company White Lodge - to make a short film showcasing the handmade quality of Brioni's bespoke tailoring.
The short film, which shows the making of a particularly tiny suit, was shown at Brioni HQ for Wallpaper*'s handmade exhibition, celebrating quality hand made products.
It is amazing to see how a bespoke suit is made, let alone a very small one designed for a hand, who models the suit with such grace you'd be forgiven to mistake it for a human model.
Categories: 5 top finds
Tags: Android, Art, Hyperrealism, Mobile, Paul Cadden, QR code, Wallpaper
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5 top finds #32 »
Doggie paddling, record breaking crowdfunding, tech sings the blues, food art and what's wrong with technology blogging. It's 5 top finds...
1. Underwater dogs
Think pet photography can be a bit boring? We did too – until we saw Seth Castell's work with some canine friends in a swimming pool. Pure genius!
2. Kickstarter goes seven figures (twice)
Last week, disruptive crowdfunding platform Kickstarter (where people pledge money to support creative projects) made history. They had their first ever project, the Elevation Dock, reach $1,000,000 in pledges. Four hours later, Double Fine Adventure broke the $1M barrier – shortly after reaching the project's $400,000 funding goal in just 8 hours. The Kickstarter blog has the details...
3. My printer is a singer
It's not every day you hear an HP printer and a hard drive(!) cover The Animal's hit single 'The House of the Rising Sun' from 1964.
4. Hirst light sliced
We're in love with 'Low-Commitment Projects', the collaborative project between two American artists Brittany Powell and Tae Kitakata. The 'Sandwich Artist' is definitely a tasty treat!
5. It's not about the pageviews
With the slow death of print media, digital journalists/bloggers are having to pick up the pace of publishing content online – more pageviews bring more advertising revenue.
However, quantity does not always mean quality, as ex-professional blogger MG Siegler discusses in this insightful post.
Categories: 5 top finds
Tags: Art, Content strategy, Digital strategy, Photography, Reputation, Social media, Startup
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5 top web finds this week. »
We've compiled our 5 favourite things from around the web this week.
1. Old books and newspapers become sculptures.
First off, we'd like to point you in the direction of the fantastic sculptures of Tuscon, AZ artist Nick Georgiou. Inspired by the "death of printed word", Georgiou recycles old books and newspapers to create 3D sculptures.
See more on Nick's website.
2. Living the Charlie Sheen dream.
It's been pretty hard to miss the very public meltdown of Mr. Charlie Sheen. Would it have been so public without social media? It certainly has played its part in publicising Sheen's fall from grace – with his Twitter account shattered the Guinness world record for reaching 1million followers.
There have been some pretty amusing quotes during the saga of Sheen's interviews with the press (if you've missed them see his best one here). If you've missed the comedy gold that are the Charlie Sheen quotes, fear not. Living the Sheen Dream have collected the best and weirdest for your perusal.
See more at Living the Sheen Dream.
3. The Ice Book.
It's rare that we see something so amazing we have to stop what we're doing to give it our full attention. This was the case when we saw Davy and Kristen McGuire's Ice Book video.
Taking a Canon 5D Mark ii, an old Macbook with After Effects, some builder's lights and a green cloth that they improvised as a makeshift green-screen, Davy and Kristen created a tiny, magical miniature theatre show. This truly has to be seen to be believed.
See the Ice Book video here.
4. Powerful photographs reveal destruction of Japan.
With the full horrors of 11/03/11's earthquake and tsunami still unfolding, some of the photographs detailing the unbelievable disaster are truly astonishing.
Boston.com has a selection of some of the most powerful photographs from Reuters and the AP whilst ABC has compiled interactive before-and-after satellite photos which you can see here.
5. Wrangler's 'Stunt' campaign.
Wrangler, purveyors of fine American denim, do something a little different in their latest advertising campaign for the 'We are Animals' series.
By doing things a little different; we mean taking 3 Hollywood stunt people and setting them on fire, firing them out of a second floor window 25ft off the ground and firing them over an exploding car (but not all at the same time). Yes, it is truly that mental.
See the behind-the-scenes video here and see the full gallery here.
Categories: 5 top finds
Tags: Art, Photography, Sculpture, Social media