emoticons

Emoticons say it all! They are the new universal language! And they go on to prove that a picture is equal to a thousand words!
Human communication depends not only on the verbal language used, but also the body language, especially facial expressions that change with every emotion. The eyes, and the lips are the two most effective organs when it comes to communicating a complex range of emotions.

An Emoticon (emotion + icon) is a graphic that builds on this idea! From happiness to sadness, from embarassment to gratitude, there is always a combination of dots and lines, that could convey the emotion.

The first use of emoticons can be tracked back to the 19th century, while the first digital form was introduced on the net by Scott Fahlman in a message. The text of his original message posted on the Carnegie Mellon University board goes thus:

19-Sep-82 11:44    Scott E  Fahlman             :-)

From: Scott E  Fahlman <Fahlman at Cmu-20c>

I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers:

:-)

Read it sideways.  Actually, it is probably more economical to mark

things that are NOT jokes, given current trends.  For this, use

:-(

Other notable computer scientists who participated in this thread include David Touretzky, Guy Steele, and Jaime Carbonell.

This was followed by the use of Japanese 'kaomoji' that could be understood without tilting one's head. Byte Information Exchange (BIX) used similar looking icons around the same time.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoticon

Today, we cant imagine how bland our digital communication would be without them.

pretend

The need to pretend to be 'something else' or someone else is a very basic human tendency. The need to create a world of your imagination, where you can choose to be anyone you like and live a life that seems impossible in the real world, is the basis for creation of 'virtual reality' .

'Second life' is one such world of imagination that you can populate by creating a new identity or 'avatar' for yourself. You can build your own world, object by object, choose a profession, make friends, buy and sell property, almost about anything ... with only your imagination to limit you.

Philip Rosedale (of Linden Lab), the creator of this online virtual world, shares his ideas and thoughts in the video...

silence and cacophony

'Soundpool: The manufacturing of silence' is a sound sculpture and an interactive audio installation by artist Steve Heimbecker, who creates art work related to multichannel sound systems, large scale sculpture, video montage, installations, muti channel data representation, etc.

His work is based on 'his fascination with the architecture of space, and the measurement of time within space' His art is usually a composition of many layers of visual, sonic, sculptural and digital information to be experienced and understood by the viewers.

The installation is made up of 8 giant paintings that also function as audio speakers. When activated, the audience is surrounded by a silent, but physical 3 hertz vibration, within a machanical cacophony of electric machinery.

Visit http://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/media.php?NumObjet=7550 for an interesting video showing the above sound sculpture in action.

source: http://www.steveheimbecker.net/

   

animals and their weapons

Photographer and founder of the ‘Weapon of Choice’ photo project, Richard Johnson had a difficult childhood. One amongst six siblings Mr. Johnson was a victim of frequent abuse of all kinds. He very poignantly says that verbal abuse is the easiest and is resorted to often especially when it is directed towards children. In his project he wanted to show the power of verbal abuse. He wanted to initiate a conversation about the problems of domestic violence, child abuse, and bullying. Makeup artists have very ingeniously painted hurtful words on the subjects which make the message loud and clear.

Credits: photos and information

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/richard-johnsons-weapon-of-choice-project-shows-the-impact-of-verbal-abuse/story-fnixwvgh-1226934796784

change

Change, often considered  a word with a slightly negative tone, is in fact, the prime force that effects a lot of good that happens in this world. 
We live in cities that are constantly changing... archaic old towns getting transformed into metro cities, in the process losing a lot of their original life and character. This is true about many cities that have become increasingly 'vehicle' centric .. like this part of Seoul had become a few decades ago. 
It took the will and belief of the Mayor, Lee Myung -bak and the people of Seoul who supported him, to convert a busy, congested flyover that divided the North and South part of the city, into a vibrant public space with trees, water, birds, fish and people!!!
The Cheonggyecheon Urban renewal / Urban Landscape project, designed by SeoAhn Total Landscape and created by the Seoul Metropolitan Facilities management Corporation, is a shining example of how Design can help cities change .... for the better!

Conceptual site plan presented in 2002 by the Research Center Director of the Seoul Development Institute, Seoul Metropolitan Government.Image source Plataforma Urbana, http://www.plataformaurbana.cl/copp/displayimage.php?pos=-2419

source: https://lafoundation.org/research/landscape-performance-series/case-studies/case-study/382/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheonggyecheon#mediaviewer/File:Korea-Seoul-Cheonggyecheon-01.jpg

web

Nail art by Ilham Irawan 

Credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3B5gu1RWDg

http://naildesigns2014.blogspot.in/2012/11/nail-design-spider-on-web-nail-art-pen.html

good nights sleep

Sioin Queenie Liao is a free-lance artist living in California, USA. A mother of three boys, her artwork focuses on her children. Photography was initially her hobby. Drawing inspiration from the beautiful works of Anne Geddes and after seeing the work of Ms. Adele Enersen with her sleeping daughter Ms Liao began to experiment with similar ideas with her three-month-old son Wengenn. Inspired by fairy tales and their illustrations she created the backdrop with cloth and stuffed toys and household materials and transformed a sleeping baby into a piece of art. So while Wengenn slept he had no clue how many stories and lands he went and visited.

Credits:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2478344/Dreams-come-true-Mother-takes-adorable-photos-capturing-sleeping-son-flights-imagination.html

http://wengenninwonderland.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tLfIxLLUxM