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“ACK?” – is a signal used in computing to indicate acknowledgement of receipt of a packet, and also a common exclamation of surprise but it’s also the title of the installation that represents the vision of the Milanese practice Pierandrei Associati for which the human space is no longer characterized by a rational juxtaposition of components but by a forest of suspended bamboo and metal tubing.

There’s a whole lot of esoteric rhyme and reason why this exhibit exists but the main gist is a series of sounds naturally reverberating off the hollow tubes of bamboo and metal as you bump into them. You get lost in this world on dynamic sound and light. Perceptions change as I’m sure any would crashing into a bunch of hollow tubes, but the sensorial data stimulates different emotions and connections you share with other visitors in the exhibit. Think of it as a wondrous interactive labyrinth where nature meets technology. Visitors can even leave personal messages on the tubes - the proverbial “I was here!”

The exhibition was on display during Salone del Mobile for Tecno (office furniture) but I’m not sure if you can still see it. Let me put this on my to-do list.

Designer: Pierandrei Associati

The Suspended Cedar Chest floats unlike conventional cedar chests - made of sustainable woods cedar and bamboo. A map of the world is inscribed on the underside of the recycled acrylic panel and stainless steel pins are placed where the family has traveled to. The souvenirs are stored in the  chest for keepsakes.  Not exactly contemporary but modern enough for people who are usually afraid of big plastic as big pieces in their home decor. I think the designer should have taken it a step further and somehow illuminated the surface.

Designer: Jeffrey Barrett

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Talenthouse, a purpose-built online platform for all artists and creatives, launched today at http://www.talenthouse.com.

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In his brand new exhibition, photographer Richard Nolan-Neylan explores the Danish bicycle as an art form.

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A new incarnation of Cooliris, the free plug-in that transforms your browser into an interactive and infinite 3D Wall of content, has just been released.

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E-pens Create is a new digital pen designed for drawing, handwriting and easily editing creative projects and photos on a PC or laptop.

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Trademark of the Coach: his ever-present Clipboard and whistle. A little twist however, the whistle stays, only the clipboard gets modern; its the E-Ink Electronic Coach Playboard. Using E-Ink technology (for longer battery life), the clipboard can be used to draw out strategies for multiple games like baseball, basketball, football, soccer, etc. Templates of the field/court come pre-loaded, just choose your game and start drawing out the moves using your finger. The instructions can be reviewed and replayed numerous times, till the athletes get the game-plan perfected. Go get em tiger!

Designer: Gordon Yeh for Iota Creations

Many of us park our cars at the railway station and then catch the local train to work or wherever it is that we have to go. Building on this theory is the Paracité, a single person commuter car that plans on putting the car itself on the rail tracks. Generally there is a 5 miles free space between two trains on a regular railway track. This free space and time can be utilized by these commuter cars to get people going on to their destinations. Essentially just hop into Paracité and drive up to the station and skip the train and wait for your turn; use the tracks till your destination and then drive off in it for the remainder of the journey. Sounds like a neat idea but could become a logistical nightmare for the stationmaster to handle trains and cars!

In case you missed it, the car has a retractable arm that acts as a balance on the railway lines and covers the distance between the tracks. Its tucks away neatly to the side when on the road.

Designer: Matthias Pugin

It’s the DOT: Direct On-demand Transport. It’s aimed foremost at London. It’s a small non-poluting vehicle that not only works on a giant organized system that reduces traffic and travel time to a minimum, it’s made to encourage car-pooling as well. Each unit can combine with another unit to create a larger unit. And boy are you gonna enjoy the way the vehicle works.

The vehicle’s wheels are magnetically levitated by motors on either side of the unit. Sequential acceleration and braking allow the vehicle to turn, while the back wheel is in place for stability.

The vehicle runs on Li-On batteries, recharged by solar panels on the roof of the vehicle. The batteries can also be charged at any number of special zones in the city through induction charging.

It’s all the good parts of a personal vehicle with the cost and environmental goodness of public transport. Being able to travel to several locations in the city in a short amount of time is imperative to the modern professional (or anyone who’s not a cube-liver.) Ending humankind’s war on nature, that’s imperative too. These roller cars would be just lovely!

Designer: Varun Niti Singh