Maserati Competition “Design Driven” Awards Dream Garages

July 27, 2009 in Content, Design

As the only automaker in the luxury class that utilizes a master design firm – legendary Pininfarina – Maserati has found there is an affinity between its brand and those who appreciate fine design.

Earlier this year, Maserati and Architectural Digest magazine together invited individuals who appreciate fine design in general and cars in particular to join in a competition titled “Design Driven.”

Two categories – Existing and Concept – asked entrants to submit a garage design that included a noted architectural element, uniqueness and individuality, while providing a complementary environment for a Maserati car. Approximately 125 entrants sent in text, images and illustrations through an online portal, with more than 18,000 visitors enjoying the site.

Winners include Holger Shubert’s existing Los Angeles garage, as well as the design of Chris Altman, of Stubbs Muldrow Herin Architects of South Carolina, in the concept category. All entries can be viewed at http://www.DesignDriven.us.

“Our goal has been to open a conversation with those who place a premium on design and expose them to the unique qualities of Maserati,” commented Mark McNabb, President and CEO of Maserati North America.

The Category Winners are:

Existing Garage Category Winner – Holger Schubert of Los Angeles, California

Holger Schubert’s garage was designed with two main objectives in mind: to create a pure and restrained minimalist environment that allows one to focus on the car as a piece of art, and to create the ultimate experience for the driver to arrive at home. The gallery-like environment objectifies the car during the day and dramatically projects its shapes onto both window walls at night, paying homage to the art of automotive design.

Automotive Showroom and Leisure Centre

July 13, 2009 in Content, Design

French architects Manuelle Gautrand Architecture have designed a car showroom and leisure centre for Cairo, Egypt. (Manuelle Gautrand Architecture also designed the C42 showroom and brand experience for Citroën on the Champs-Élysée in Paris.)

The program is a mixed-use one, with show rooms dedicated to several car brands, and also a lot of common facilities, around leisure: several cafés, a food court, a media park, two cinemas. The richness of this program is very interesting; with the potential of giving a vibrant place of attraction to the new district Allegria.

Original link by Dezeen

Canon unveils augmented reality dinosaur show in Japan

July 9, 2009 in Digital Communications, Product, Technology

Canon’s just unveiled its new augmented reality display in Chiba, Japan, and we have to say, we’re thinking about heading over there to check it out… and hopefully experience what it’s like to be eaten (virtually) by a T-Rex. Featuring 260 dinosaur specimens, the display makes us of a virtual reality viewer — one for each person roaming round the exhibit — putting the dinosaurs at a “distance” of about 5 meters. The exhibit will make use of various Canon products, including an inkjet printer, an LCD projector and several different cameras. The dinosaurs will be on display starting July 18th until August 1st, so you probably want to just go ahead and book a flight right now.

Canon, the event space at the venue of the exhibition, “Dinosaurs over time!” Technology exhibit area Miku strike called reality experience.

Mixed reality technology, video technology, a fancy blend in real time real world and virtual world can be enhanced to visualize the video now realize more than Virtual Reality . In this section, scope and look through the site-wide viewing angle, high-resolution cards developed by Canon, the CG and real space because of the emergence of three-dimensional dinosaurs. Total length of about 5m in front of me like as if you are a real triceratops, you can experience the space filled with a strange feel.

Other venues in the digital SLR camera on the back of large specimens of a large dinosaur MAMENKISAURUSU “EOS 50D” to take visitors, inkjet printer “PIXUS MP630” to present the fly in the photo printing Services conducted in addition to drawing a picture, LCD projector “WUX10” theater with a large camera network “VB-C60” and the live broadcast using the technology and working in various Canon products.

Canon is a special sponsorship for the exhibition, we hope to provide the opportunity to contribute to fostering a spirit of inquiry and imagination in science and biological children.

Canon Homepage	canon.jp canon.jp
“Dinosaur 2009 – Miracle in the Desert” OFISHARUHOMUPEJI	http://www.kyoryu.jp

Force feedback controller allows you to “touch” CGI objects

July 2, 2009 in Product, Technology

We’ve seen interesting 3D peripherals like the Novint Falcon combine multi-axis movement and force feedback to create immersive experiences in the past, but a new research project called the H.VR Editor takes the idea to the next level, allowing you to “touch” and interact with CGI objects. Objects respond according to a pre-programmed graph of hardness values, and the system is capable of simulating texture and events like button presses. That should make the system a hit with product developers everywhere, but we’re waiting to see if the folks at DeviceAnywhere pick this up to build the ultimate cellphone testing lab.

link provided by engadget