Hasta La Ideas

Leave your mark in a massive notebook filled with handwriting for the future

by
Bryn Chernoff

Starting at Tokyo’s Mori Art Museum in 2006, Cameroon-born artist Bili Bidjocka and Lausanne-born curator Simon Njami have been traversing the world inviting creatives of varied professional backgrounds to write on the blank pages of eight enormous books “as if it were their the last opportunity to hand write something.” Their project, called Ecriture Infinie, emphasizes the gestures of writing and the flow of pen on paper rather than actual content.

The project is a celebration of handwriting, and a call to attention around the 3,500-year-old practice that is rapidly fading from our daily lives. Each statement is filmed as it is entered, serving as a reflection on the process of writing and a documentation of the varying writing styles at this point in time. Once complete, each book is then sealed and hidden in a secret location until discovered.

The eighth and final book in the series is a collaboration with Moleskine, who created a massive version of their signature blank notebook and debuted it last week in Mantua, Italy at the Festivaletteratura.

Contributions can also be made to the project online, by submitting a video or images of your writing. The video created by Moleskine for the project shows great examples of the myriad ways people are contributing and the infinite styles of handwriting people possess.

Capture big-time adventures hands-free with this tiny waterproof camera

Expanding the range and versatility of their exceptional hands-free camera line, today Contour launches the latest addition to the family, the Roam. The new gadget maintains many of the great features of previous Contour models while adding its own twist. At the top of the list, the Roam has the ability to film underwater up to one meter. Also sporting a 170-degree wide-angle lens, it rotates and, when using the built in laser level, guarantees a perfectly-leveled shot. The Roam is now the most affordable in the Contour line-up—an achievement made possible without shedding too many features from its siblings.

The Roam includes an “Instant On-Record” switch, a single toggle that powers up and starts recording, eliminating stress about whether or not you’re rolling. Just over five ounces, the feature-packed device can record 1080p, 960p and 720p video all at 30 frames per second. As with the brand’s other products, the camera has a multitude of mounts, from windshield to helmet, to keep you capturing your adventures in any conditions.

The Roam sells from Contour’s online store for $200.

Engineering smallness: our video on the latest micro-subcompact to hit the U.S.

Our latest video takes a closer look at Scion’s new U.S. model, the iQ. We had the chance to check out this tiny car when the brand invited us to Manhattan Beach, CA, finding that when it comes to size and price, it’s a nearly a head-to-head rival with another recent micro car to hit the States, the Fiat 500. Having taken that car for a spin too, the big difference is the experience of the interiors. Watch the video to learn how Scion’s engineers made a small car feel roomier than meets the eye.

Our behind-the-scenes video of Brooklyn’s animatronic master

For our latest video we trucked deep into Brooklyn, NY to explore Mechanical Displays, Lou Nasti’s fantastic studio. Nasti is the animatronic mastermind responsible for installations around the globe, most notably some of the most iconic Christmas displays on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. Obsessed with robotics since childhood, he’s been doing it professionally for over 30 years, applying an uncanny mechanical skill reflected in his “can do” approach to modern technology. We were lucky enough to spend the day in Nasti’s studio learning some of his tricks and getting a sneak peek at some upcoming projects.

New software streams all your favorite videos to your iPad

Adding to their suite of streaming video utilities, Boxee recently released the Boxee for iPad application, introducing massive potential for streamlining online video experiences.

Designed for all iPad users, the app consolidates all sources for online video into one location with three separate pipelines—Friends, Watch Later and Featured (edited by Boxee). With the ability to link to Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr, it automatically populates your feed with new videos from “friends” across social networking platforms.

For those who don’t spend workdays watching videos sent by coworkers, great aunts or your mom’s college roommate, “Watch Later” lets you queue up videos from TED, YouTube, Cool Hunting or any number of other video sites for viewing at your leisure.

The sister desktop software, Boxee Media Manager, works with the iPad app to turn your machine into a iPad-friendly media server. For either Macs or PCs, the media manager wirelessly stream all video content—in any format—from computers directly to iPads, eliminating the need for conversion or using third-party serving software. Those who already own the Boxee Box, the brand’s physical device, you can use Boxee for iPad to stream any of videos directly from iPads to your home TVs, perfect for watching scared kittens or baby badgers on the big screen.

As digital media providers fight it out, it’s rare to find a company offering streaming coverage in so many forms and for such a wide audience. The fact that Boxee designed their app for both Mac and PC users, that it easily works as a media server and is directed at their current customer base as well as non-Boxee users is quite an impressive and comprehensive approach for D-Link. The ability to aggregate online videos might not be for everyone, but the other features are worth the download alone—considering both Boxee for iPad and the Boxee Media Manager are free.

This increased transparency, allowing for greater access and user experience, is part of what has made us Boxee fans from the beginning. Hopefully, this new move sets the stage for more thoughtful, well rounded utilities like this, just the tip of the iceberg for the future of streaming media.