Sounds been a hot topic in the past few years. Pictured right are “Glas Platz”, glass speakers, an elegant solution to those large ugly looking speakers. This technology also works by using the SoundBug, which is a device you slap onto to any hard surface, and whala, that surface projects sounds. Below are a few more sound based inventions I’ve come across. Enjoy!

SoundBug -surface speaker device
Feonic Tech products- a bunch of sound concepts
Glas Platz -glass speakers
HyperSonicSound(HSS) -directed sound
AudioSpotlight -directed sound
Herman Miller Babble -White noise for your cubicle

Litracon made the blogsphere last year, but it’s making second rounds. Litracon is concrete reinforced with fiber optic strands, hence creating a semi-translucent material with some magical results. As for a new material, great, but what are the new and valuable applications? I haven’t seen any great application yet, but I’m sure there are some in the works. Anyhow, check out their site, think up some great applications, and post them here.

Litracon

Talk about sustainability in design. These cute bears are made out of, well, Tofu!

“SOYSILK® is a fabulous, cutting edge fiber made from soy. – it’s earth-friendly and from renewable resources. No petroleum products are used. “

Tofu Bear
SoySilk (the creators of silk, bamboo, tofu, and other such innovative fabrics)

“Royal College of Art grads Michael Cross and Julie Mathias joined together as London-based design studio Wok Media in 2004. Wok Media’s Sprinkle Carpet consists of hundreds of individual “poofs” that congregate to form a larger mass, with the shape and size left to the user’s discretion. Each part is weighted with silicone disc bases, providing a non-slip walking surface. The Sprinkle Carpet pieces are conveniently machine washable and can be easily gathered for compact storage.”Wokmedia
via core77

Oryon technologies introduces Elastolite, the crushable, washable, moldable, and irresistable cool EL sheets. Elastolite can be printed directly on fabric and most other substrates.
I received a sample of this material at the TED conference from the Inventables crew. I can’t wait to see applications for this magical and tangible material.Oryon Technologies

Who says food can’t be cute. Creator Shawn Smith at Shawnimals offers these delightful plush porks along with other cute creations.via coolhunting
shawnimals
myplasticheart

Stefano Giovannoni brings us a beautiful gem like vacuum. It’s about time someone made one that I don’t hide in the closet!!! The pricetag is a bit scary but it’s ooo sooo pretty! Very much the ipod of hand vacs.MOMA Store

I’ve noticed a growth in mainstream “Create-It-Yourself” products. Usually I’d only see these options in a hobby store, but it’s nice to see some hitting the mainstream with style. It’s a definite question of “mass customization”, success or a mess. Are consumers willing to pay more for a blank canvas and a sense of individualism? Do they want to do more?(Betty Crocker Egg Cake Case)

Puma Mongolian Grill (Desgin your own shoe)
Bytrico Chalkboard Shirt
Adicolor Shoes, via SneakerFreaker
Timbuk2 Artist Canvas Bags
Sketch On Munny Vinyl, Kidrobot

Did it fool you? It fooled me! It’s amazing how the smallest details trigger your perceptions. These cute pincushions by Alesina Design appear to be inflated by air, but are in fact filled with polyester fibers. Can simple elements within a design, such as these air valves, entirely change your perception of an object? For sure! I’d love to see more examples of visual triggers like this one. As far as I know, these colorful soft objects might be hard painted pieces of concrete, but who knows.Alesina Design

update: seems you can buy these through this company, kikkerland.

I love it when design integrates opposites together. Molodesign brings to us “felt rocks”, the soft and pliable rocks that are irresistibly playful. It’s great how kids today are hugging ugly dolls, talking sponges, and now theses soft rocks! I’d buy a truck load of theses felt rocks to throw around my office for brainstorms!via notcot
molodesign

You think Google Earth is cool? Well, get ready to be blown away by Spore, a PC game by Will Wright, creator of The Sims and Sim City.
I’m not sure what kind of cpu power this game will require, but you pretty much create and affect every single element within a galaxy and let time happen through “procedural” content development.
The magnitude of this game is ridiculous and you feel like a god of a god! Check out the video of Will presenting Spore at the 2005 Game Developer’s Conference!Google Video of Spore
GameSpy Article

Fashion designer Alexander McQueen has a collaborative partnership with PUMA to bring out a refreshing line of men and womens shoes. The line-up includes a series of shoes inspired by the human DNA. Go to ‘hotspot’ in Pumas website to get the full story on the design methodology. The series will be available at select retailers Spring 2006.

AlexanderMcqueen.Puma Site
eLuxury