The Keyboard Monument

Russian artist Anatoly Vyatkin installed a giant replica of a Cyrillic QWERTY keyboard made of 86 stone blocks, each weighing up to 1,000 pounds. The Keyboard monument (which in some circles also goes by the name "Claudia") is a permanent outdoor sculpture located in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where it remains a prominent tourist attraction.

The landmark, which was designed to mimic an IBM PC keyboard, incorporates a piece of technology into the natural landscape, promoting the idea of integration and inviting passersby to interact with it. Pedestrians in the area often find themselves playfully hopping onto the "keys" of the installation, despite knowing it serves no immediate function. The installation provides a whimsical bit of art for the public that is still very relevant. It will be interesting to see how future generations perceive it once keyboards have become obsolete.

Top image by SparkleStarCat

Image by Andrew Sebrant


Image via publiciti


Image by Hope Zaostrovnyh


Image via 1001chudo.ru


Image via English Russia


Image via English Russia


Image via publiciti

Map Made from Wood Matches

U.S.A. (burnt/unburnt) is a 2011 installation by Paris-based artist Claire Fontaine. Art of “Evidence of Bricks” at the 2011Time-Based Art Festival. 

Fontaine has made somewhat of a name for herself with her match installations and flaming geography, most recently completing a similar U.S.A. map at Queens Nails Gallery in San Francisco. Unlike the installation in Portland above, the Queens Nails artwork was actually set on fire, and while it may not have gone exactly as intended, the final post-flame artwork is impressive nonetheless. 

Amazing Transparent Smartphone

Smartphones have been pushing the envelope of our technological capabilities most notably symbolized by the Steve Jobs led Apple powerhouse up to present-day. They are considered the most influential technology on everyone’s list. Samsung recently introduced its flexible OLED screen, which offers us a taste of what is on the frontier of smartphone evolution. The Taiwanese company Polytron has now stepped into the fray to give us a preview of what a futuristic, sci-fi tech infused phone may one day look like.

Polytron Technologies, a worldwide leader and manufacturer of optical and electronic vision glass, recently unveiled the world’s first transparent phone. Yes sci-fi lovers, the first iteration of Tony Stark’s phone has been created. Though only a prototype, it is clear from the images released that not all of the phones components are yet capable of being transparent. The device is essentially a phone-shaped piece of glass with a small, cen.

The smartphone industry is assuredly fiercely competitive, and any technological edge a manufacturer can get is sure to earn them a handful of interested consumers. Though the benefits of a transparent phone are not immediately apparent at this time, Polytron remains hopeful by stating that the technology may be available by the end of 2013. The time frame might be a stretch, but the results are there nonetheless - reality is plowing full-steam ahead toward the technological possibilities predicted in many of our favorite sci-fi media. Maybe if we can somehow get these smartphone manufacturing companies to collaborate, Tony Stark’s phone would be a reality. 

Amazing Land of Giants

American firm Choi + Shine Architects designed these conceptual electricity pylons shaped like human figures to march across the Icelandic landscape. Each pylon would be assembled from modular parts, which could be adapted into various positions to given the impression the the statues are walking, climbing or crouching. The 30-metre tall statues would be supported on concrete footings and are an alteration of the steel frame used by existing pylons. Called Land of Giants, the project was originally submitted for a 2008 competition held by Icelandic transmission company Landsnet and the Association of Icelandic Architects.The design was one of four winners at the recent 2010 Boston Society of Architects Unbuilt Architecture Awards. 

This design transforms mundane electrical pylons into statues on the Icelandic landscape.Making only minor alterations to well established steel-framed tower design, we have created a series of towers that are powerful, solemn and variable. These iconic pylon-figures will become monuments in the landscape. Seeing the pylon- figures will become an unforgettable experience, elevating the towers to something more than merely a functional design of necessity.

The pylon-figures can be configured to respond to their environment with appropriate gestures. As the carried electrical lines ascend a hill, the pylon-figures change posture, imitating a climbing person. Over long spans, the pylon-figure stretches to gain increased height, crouches for increased strength or strains under the weight of the wires.

In addition, the pylon-figures can also be arranged to create a sense of place through deliberate expression. Subtle alterations in the hands and head combined with repositioning of the main body parts in the x, y and z-axis, allow for a rich variety of expressions. The pylon-figures can be placed in pairs, walking in the same direction or opposite directions, glancing at each other as they pass by or kneeling respectively, head bowed at a town.

Despite the large number of possible forms, each pylon-figure is made from the same major assembled parts (torso, fore arm, upper leg, hand etc.) and uses a library of pre-assembled joints between these parts to create the pylon-figures’ appearance. This design allows for many variations in form and height while the pylon-figures’ cost is kept low through identical production, simple assembly and construction.

The pylon-figures are designed to provide supports for the conductors, ground wires and other cables all within required clearances. These clearances are maintained in the various shown positions. The towers are largely self-supporting, sitting on concrete footings, perhaps with the addition of guy wires, depending on requirements of the loading wires.Like the statues of Easter Island, it is envisioned that these one hundred and fifty foot tall, modern caryatids will take on a quiet authority, belonging to their landscape yet serving the people, silently transporting electricity across all terrain, day and night, sunshine or snow.

Project Type: High-Voltage Pylon Competition

Location: Iceland

Type of Client: A public company (that owns and runs the electrical transmission system in Iceland).

New or Reno: New – Pylon design competition.

Special constraints & site description: The pylons were intended to be constructable, affordable and durable.

Design challenges & solutions: We sought to make an iconic, unforgettable pylon, that created an identity for Iceland and the power company.

Original/Adaptation: The design is original.

Unusual/innovative building components: Each structure is composed of a kit of parts, minimizing construction costs.

Sustainable design elements: The structure is predominantly recyclable

Material use: Steel, glass and concrete

Amazing Animal Prosthetics

People have been applying prosthesis to help the handicapped ones ever since the Egyptians – but probably only recently we realized, we’re not the only ones suffering the pain on Earth. Unlike people, animals can’t cry or complain about the pain, and the less resilient ones lead a much shorter and harder life in case of any accident. Even though veterinarians do provide considerable help, more serious surgeries or even usage of a special prosthetic is a fairly recent thing the humanity started doing for the animals.

While in the wild, animals can get hurt in a number of different ways, be that a disease or an accident, getting harmed by a human or larger predators, or any other. However, now more and more centers worldwide are applying mechanisms to help the animals recover from the injury and live as normal of a life as possible. Check out some inspiring examples of the how people have helped the animals by fitting them with a prosthetic needed!

Eagle

This bald eagle, named Beauty, was shot by a poacher. After three years a group of volunteers made her a prosthetic beak, which was a key to her survival: an eagle, which has to be hand-fed, is eventually euthanized, and Beauty was once again able to grasp food herself. 

Motala the Elephant 

Motala, aged 50, lost a foot after he stepped on a land mine. Luckily, Thailand is the one country in the world with an elephant hospital running, and dedicated workers could take care of Motala. 

In the picture below, you can see Motala, age 50, who lost his foot after stepping on a land mine. Thanks to the dedicated workers at the elephant hospital located in Lampang, Thailand, the elephant received a new prosthetic leg.

Fuji the Dolphin

Due to a necrotic disease, 75% of Fuji’s fin had to be amputated. It was the Bridgestone company, one of the largest manufacturers of tires, that created a silicone replacement for Fuji, making her the first dolphin with a prosthetic fin. 

Horse

Riley’s leg bone began to deteriorate due to a contaminated metal plate that was inserted. Due to the injury, the mare had to be put down, but the sanctuary staff decided to try a pioneering operation, which gave Riley an artificial limb and saved her life. 

Tuly the Tortoise

While hibernating, Tuly had her leg chewed off by a rat. It was saved by fitting a toy tractor’s wheel to it.

Oscar the Cat

A passer-by found Oscar injured by a combine harvester; as advised by a local vet, the owner of the cat from Jersey contacted a doctor in England, and after lots of x-rays being sent back and forth, the cat had two prosthetic legs fitted, as well as a rehab in the UK before coming back home.

Cassidy the Dog

Cassidy was found wondering in streets, underweight and missing a leg: after one family decided to adopt and take care of the dog, they found a facility that could create a prosthetic limb, making Cassidy the first dog to receive such treatment. 

Uzonka the Stork

Uzonka was injured by an unknown person, and had to undergo 5 preparatory surgeries, before it could have a prosthesis attached to its bill. 

Rubber Man

Actually, Vijay has earned the nickname “Rubber Man” in his native country of India, for performing incredible flexibility stunts.

Vijay is able to wrap his legs over his head, wind his arms around his back, crawl his body through a tennis racket and even drink from a coke bottle held between his toes. The 27-year-old shop assistant says his passion for extreme flexibility tricks comes from watching Jackie Chan movies when he was a kid.

Vijay Sharma discovered his unusual talents when he began taking martial arts lessons, so he could follow in the footsteps of his idol. He started crawling into tight spaces, curling up in boxes, and before he knew it, he was earning the title of  “Rubber Man” in the Limca Book of records. That’s India’s version of the Guinness Book of Records.

Te ambitious young man has made appearances on national TV shows and won the silver medal in a body flexibility tournament, and says he will stop at nothing to reach the international fame he deserves. Maybe he could learn a thing or two from Rubberboy

Tallest Girls From All Over The World

Here the collected of tallest girls from all over the world.