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Since 2006 we've been making a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn.
This website is an ongoing exploration of what GOOD is and what it can be.

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cool idea for an great study space -- build it inside the Commons!

I told some students about a class I lead a few years ago where a group of students and I proposed some renovations for the Commons. We suggested building some "tree houses" back by Commons C (the egg room) as innovative spaces for teams to gather and work. This is picture is something like the ideas we pitched. I still think these would be awesome to have there....Find out more about this real tree house here.

Powered by RAIN!

In keeping with alternative sources of power, how about rain?! This is pretty amazing: use rain drops to power LEDs. If you can light up an umbrella this way, could you light up a room on a rainy day? Could you create a ceiling that creates the illusion of sunshine, powered by rain, so it turns on automatically on rainy days? How about something like this on our cars, along with photovoltaic cells on the roof, plus the kind of dynamic energy recovery the Prius already uses to power its battery, plus...who knows?

why didn't I think of this

I can't count the number of times I have plugged in something to charge -- cell phone, camera battery, GPS unit -- and had no place to put the unit itself. But, unfortunately, I always had my "user-centered observation" button turned off. Now I see this and I think, "DUH!".

Powered BY the people!

This is a great idea for green energy: powered generated BY people walking! It's called piezoelectric My mind is spinning with the possible applications. Think of all the places where hundreds or thousands of people walk every day. Then, think about harnessing energy from their foot steps. Pretty amazing! It looks like one of those ideas that might be catching on, in a big way!

What we think might make us happy...

Often does not.

Back to the Beginning

While taking a break from grad school apps, I was roaming around on digg.com and found a few articles talking about neuroplasticity and cognitive fitness....interesting stuff

Can Everyone be an Einstein?
Are Our Brains Becoming "Googlized?"

Additionally, on gizmodo.com (man do I waste a lot of time on the internet...or do I?--read the googlized article) There are tons of examples of people tinkering with gadgets to make them better--prototyping, if you will.

Toothpick speakers, DIY MacPro, DIY Mac Four finger Gestures

Anyhoo, gizmodo also always has posts about the coolest new gadgets (whether already released or still in the making), so i suggest looking there for some inspiration if you ever need it.