A father and son team in my region create furniture, jewelry, and beautiful moving sand pictures. These aren't computer displays, they are the real thing!
Liquid mixes with the sand as you turn the display upside down. Take a look at the video to see it in action. For more information, visit Rosey's Unique Products.
Umajin Creative is an application designed for digital storytelling. I haven't had a chance to preview it. I was impressed with the pictures on the website. If you use this application, please leave a comment. It looks kid and teacher friendly. I can see that it has potential!
According to the website, you can "compose multi-page digital documents with rich text, digital photography (including blue screen support), illustrations, sound, video, 3D models, particle fx, interactive functionality, and so much more... runs on both a Mac and PC. It also supports interactive whiteboards and touch screen PC's.. so you can interact directly with the content. With the HP Touchsmart PC you can use real brushes on the screen..to experience digital painting with variable width brush strokes!
Interactive Digital Storybook:
Below: Cool-looking digital brushes.
Above- Sample 3D models Below- Sample of blue-screened cutout images Below: Samples of animated particle effects Seven Custom Functions:
I think the people from Fingertapps are responsible for UMAJIN. Below is a video highlighting multi-touch applications:
I was sitting at the kitchen table, looking at the paperwork I need to finish, and daydreaming about what I want to do this summer, when I came across information about Wet Sounds 2008: A Festival of Underwater Sounds. If you visit the website, move your curser, (or finger, if you have a touch screen) around the page. Bubbles float around, as if you are under water. Unfortunately, the nine pools hosting Wet Sounds are in England.
WetSounds is sponsored by NewToy, a company that is involved in sound design, films, theater, new media, art installation, video art, dance, and radio.
"The audience dips in and floats around, ears submerged, absorbed in sounds coming from underwater speakers".... "Sound travels 4 times quicker than in air, due to the water's density, it is perceived not only by the ears but also by the bones and body. The sensation is similar to a floatation tank effect. The activity promotes relaxation, listening, openness to sound art and enhanced audio perception".
The following is part of a related post from the TechPsych blog about the Phoenix Mars Mission: If you are an educator with access to an interactive whiteboard and can integrate a visit to Mars into your lesson plans during the last days of the school year, a trip to the Phoenix Mars Mission website is a must! The website is well designed and user-friendly.
