Italian motorsport safety wear giant Dianese, debuted it’s airbag system (D-air) for motorcycle riders at the Valencia Grand Prix.

The system uses an array of sensors in the suit to differentiate between normal movements on the bike and those particular to an impending crash. When deployed, the airbags protect the rider’s neck. While the system is still in development for commercial use, Dianese hopes to have the system available to all riders in the not to distant future.

[read more here]

Hijacked advertising.

Nice!

[read about it]

We mentioned the concept auto design site ‘Concept Salad’ below. Concept Motors takes the idea of concept design one step further and into a world all of its own.

Daniel Simon has produced a book of stunning visuals and sketch work that is well worth checking out. Based on a fictitious company called ‘Cosmic Motors’ the book goes through the history of the various modes they produced over time, both as sketches and mind blowing 3D images.

Stunning stuff.

[Check out the Cosmic Motors website]

… and watch the vid!

This sculpture has been doing the rounds on the web for some time, but if you have not seen it before, here it is. If you need to know, this pic was taken in Adelaide, South Australia, and is the work of ‘The Glue Society‘. It was originally their entry into Sydney’s 2006 Sculptures By The Sea.

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We are not ones to often plug websites but this one IS pretty cool.Concept Salad is a participation site that caters to the professional and aspiring vehicle concept designers. It’s a process unknown to most but is one of pure inspiration and dreams mixed with a healthy dose of talent.

Even though the site’s still new, there is an interesting collection of work and articles that designers from many walks of life might find interesting.

[Check it out here]

A Reuters tribute to the brilliant and very brave photojournalists that make it what it is. Bearing Witness is an online mini doc. about the ongoing 5 year war in Iraq and the people that bring it to our newspapers and televisions.

See it [here]

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“A short film on the great Japanese artist Hokusai. This won the 1978 British Academy Award for Best Short Factual Film, and was written, directed, and animated by Tony White.”

This is a really nice old school piece of animation with a narration that reminds us of those of our childhood.

And for those that are inclined, an interview with Tony White can be [found here].

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Everyone worldwide should be disgusted. Those who design products that are then made in China should know just what sort of government they are supporting. If they had doubts, they shouldn’t now.

Got to say though, China is bang on for timing. Bring on the Olympics…. or not.

East Sydney saw the invasion of the T today as various new T-shirts on hangers were spotted placed high in trees and light posts on Oxford street.

Several people were busy trying to nab a T for themselves but there seemed to be no clear message being conveyed (though the above T WAS a Virgin Mobile T). Clever viral marketing? Or maybe something to do with the new American Apparel store being opened down the road?

It seems it’s just not Japanese animators that have an obsession with robots…

Around the world more research dollars are being invested into the world of robotics than ever before, in an attempt to find ways to improve the human work condition by removing them from hazardous or menial work environments.

This video by Boston Dynamics shows us just how far attempts are coming. The motion stability displayed by the ‘Big Dog’ is truly astounding.

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