Check out this very surreal and calming video. All of the graphics were generated using a 3D Mandelbulb Raytracer written as a Pixel Bender filter by Tom over at subblue. It works in After Effects but can run fairly slow since all of the calculations are done on the CPU. Apple users can view the 3D fractals in real time using Quartz Composer which uses the GPU for the calculations. To install in After Effects just copy the .pbk files into a Pixel Bender folder in the plugins directory. To install in Photoshop, you will need to download and install the Pixel Bender (x86 | x64) plugin in the Adobe Extension Manager. Once installed, just copy the .pbk files into the folder \Adobe Photoshop CS4\Pixel Bender Files\. You can run the filter(s) in Photoshop by choosing Filter > Pixel Bender > Pixel Bender Gallery. Download the 3D Mandelbulb Ray Tracer.

“The entire film is created from two sequences of continuously morphing Mandelbulb fractals. The rendering was made using a plugin I am developing for After Effects.”
(via Tom @ subblue)

Download other great Pixel Bender plugins from subblue.

Music by The Formula on hohumrecords.com

A project by Evan Roth with software development by Chris Sugrue, Graffiti Analysis 2.0 is an openFrameworks application that tracks motion of a graffiti tag and represents it digitally in three dimensions, accompanied by particle effects, somewhat stylized generative animations are generated.

Inspired by what began as his thesis project Graffiti Taxonomy and his involvement in the Graffiti Research Lab, Evan continues to explore Graffiti typography. Amongst many other things he is also in the process of co-founding F.A.T. (Free Art & Technology), Brooklyn’s first and only R&D lab for the public domain. Evan studied Parsons Design + Technology MFA program where he now teaches subjects ranging from visual programming to internet fame to geek graffiti (a course labeled “an invitation to break the law” by city council member Peter Vallone Jr.). You can read more about Evan and see his other work at evan-roth.com

Graffiti Analysis 2.0 software is still in development but the source code and downloads will be made available soon on evan-roth.com.

(via Zach Lieberman)

YikeBike

It’s great to see brilliant minds at work. I’d rock one of these.

YikeBike is a statement about using smart technology to solve the problems of our increasingly congested, polluted, stressful cities. It is the first commercial expression of the mini-farthing concept, created up by a bunch of successful entrepreneurs, engineers and dreamers. The YikeBike employs state-of-the-art technology, engineering and industrial design to create a new class of personal transport.

(via YikeBike.com)

This demo — from Pattie Maes’ lab at MIT, spearheaded by Pranav Mistry — was the buzz of TED. It’s a wearable device with a projector that paves the way for profound interaction with our environment. Imagine “Minority Report” and then some.

MIT Media Lab.

claytronics

Pretty Insane! Talk about some forward thinking technology. This is going to revolutionize everything. This project combines modular robotics, systems nanotechnology and computer science to create the dynamic, 3-Dimensional display of electronic information known as claytronics.

Check this out: Claytronics – Carnegie Mellon University.