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Philips Research shows off dandy Lumalive
We're certainly no strangers to electroluminescent or LED-lit visual cacophony 'round these parts, even when occasionally integrated into clothing. But you or your buds score +400 nerd points if you're brave enough to sport Philips Research's new Lumalive, a low-power flexible array of colored LEDs meshed into a garment's fabric, which they're prepping to show off at IFA Berlin. Apparently the "high-impact medium" can be used to deliver "dynamic ads" -- as if our clothing wasn't already enough an advertisement (then again, maybe our threads can start paying for themselves). Either way, media isn't the only thing it's good for; as usual, Philips is taking on the color therapy angle, positing the mental health bebefits to be reaped by those exposed to the soothing, mood-enhancing shades when, for example, their curtains are Lumalive enabled.[Via Physorg]
Make a scarf-book to read on UK-departing flights
As we all know by now, getting a flight out of the UK has been a tad difficult the past few days, but new security measures have enforced a dreadful new restriction that bans books and magazines from accompanying you on your voyage. Unless you're a well-regarded dignitary or just plain lucky when passing through those checkpoints, chances are you won't have any good 'ole fashioned entertainment to keep your brain busy while cruising in the clouds -- but the oh-so-clever minds over at Boing Boing have found a perfectly legal and boldly fashionable (or not) way to circumvent the system. Dubbed the scarf-book, the book / article of clothing is crafted by printing text (your own masterpiece or other works released under a creative commons license, of course) onto iron-on transfer paper and then afixing it to a lengthy piece of cloth. Your new text-covered wardrobe accessory can then be safely worn as a scarf, headwrap, belt, or whatever else you can imagine, leaving little doubt that you mean no harm while boarding your flight. Although these heightened security precautions are likely to relax as time goes on, there are those of you with impending reservations that may go stir crazy without reading material to pass the time, and hey, there's nothing wrong with getting all wrapped up in a good book, eh?
New tabards are all the rage
I play on a number of servers, and a fashion is spreading through them -- players are donning new tabards everywhere from Ahn'Qiraj to Zul'Gurub. The two items, Tabard of the Argent Dawn (left) and Tabard of the Scarlet Crusade, surfaced in the last patch.The Argent Dawn tabard is obtainable as a result of the invasion event. Initially, you have to take ten Necrotic Runes to the Argent Quartermaster at Light's Hope Chapel. Finishing this quest will activate an Argent Quartermaster, and you can then trade more Necrotic Runes for items like mana potions and Consecrated Sharpening Stones (+AP against undead). For ten runes, the tabard is yours. I found this tedious to solo, but when grouped with a mage and a couple of others the runes flow heavily.
1983 Apple T-Shirts
The Mothership!, a Mac site "dedicated to the preservation of Apple computer history," has come across a catalog picture of a quirky piece of Apple schwag hailing from 1983. Surely, even back then it is apparent that Apple covered all the bases, offering colors, styles and sizes for the entire Apple-obsessed family.While I'm glad Apple's branding and marketing have come quite a ways since 1983, I still wish they'd offer some kind of catalog to score schwag like this. Aside from the schwag that Laurie picked up for me when TUAW made the trip to this year's Macworld, how else am I supposed to get my fix?[via digg]
Phoenix Wright shirt: HOLD IT!
We just can't get enough of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. The game has wormed itself into our very thought patterns, with even a normal conversation between friends becoming an unbearable struggle against suddenly objecting and pointing out the many contradictions in their testimonies. Naturally, there's no way we could possibly overlook this awesome attorney apparel. Follow the link, place your order and look ridiculously stylish as you slam desks and point dramatically![Thanks Christopher!]
Sex sells in Second Life
The boundary between virtual reality and the real world never ceases to bewilder, and this Wired article marvels at the amount of cold, hard cash changing hands in Second Life. Several Residents have given up their day jobs to work exclusively in this MMO, and it's a tidy earner for many others.Especially appropriate for this time of year, the Sex & Games blog points out that a large proportion of the objects being sold in SL are sexual in nature. An in-world gift would certainly be a novel approach to Valentine's Day.
