Gummi: First Flexible Computer

May 31st, 2008

Gummi, designed at Sony Computer Science Laboratories by Carsten Schwesig and Ivan Poupyrev, simulated a credit-card size flexible computer, that could be used to, for example, navigate subway maps. A touch screen on the back allowed for positional input, while bending back and forth allowed for zoom operations [Site Link].

PaperWindows: The First Foldable, Hi-Res Paper Computer

May 31st, 2008

Designed by David Holman and Roel Vertegaal at the Human Media Lab in Canada, PaperWindows was the world’s first foldable paper computer. PaperWindows simulates hi-res, full-color e-ink display through projection. Shape is tracked using a Vicon computer vision system, and projections of real computer windows are corrected for the shape of the paper before being projected back. The experience is one of true electronic paper. Folding, bending and earmarking can be used to page down and otherwise navigate documents. [Paper Link]

CMU Claytronics Concept

May 30th, 2008

Concept video by CMU’s Computer Science Department showing a future display in which molecular voxels, or Moxels, build up display elements physically, in 3D [Site Link].

Sachiko Kodama’s Ferrofluid Sculptures

April 22nd, 2008

The Ferrofluid dynamic sculptures by Japanese artist Sachiko Kodama dance fluidly along a programmable choreography. They are the first in a new category of fluid art forms capable of adopting shapes interactively, and a forerunner of kinetic displays to come that will project physical 3D shapes through molecular voxels (Moxels) made out of smartdust [Site Link].