563. Quickie Web: Video: Megaminx December 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Quickie Web.add a comment
The Bright Idea: the Megaminx, a Rubiks Cube on steriods. The video: some guy solving it in a minute and a half. Via Neatorama.
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562. Bright Idea: Sunny Person December 19, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product.1 comment so far
Here is a calming and whimsical little novelty toy from Japan: Hidari no Tami (Sunny People). Solar powered, for $30 (Buy it here); via PopGadget.
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554. Bright Idea: Wastebasketball October 10, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product.1 comment so far
Catchy name, catchy idea. By Labexp; Via MoCoLoco.
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520. Bright Idea: Blobbing September 15, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Experience, Plaything, Video.add a comment
I can’t wait to do this one day: get launched off an inflatable raft. Via Uniquedaily.
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508. Quickie Web: Plaything: Morpthing September 11, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Quickie Web, Website.add a comment
Blend faces of two celebrities (from hundreds of choices) or photos you upload. I tried a couple of combinations in an attempt to make the most beautiful woman ever, but since they don’t have photos of Helen of Troy and Cleopatra, I had to settle for Jessifer (Jessica Alba + Jennifer Lopez). Try it out HERE; via Ursi’sBlog.
(P.S. Honey, I was too lazy to upload a picture of you, my dear wife. A blend of you and your twin would actually be the most beautiful creature of all time. In all the parallel universes out there. Can I buy that XBox 360, now?)
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499. Bright Idea: Backyard Waterparks September 7, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Experience, Plaything, Video.add a comment
I hope to one day have a waterpark in my backyard. The first clip is of a basic backyard set-up, but I included it because of the star of the clip: a fun loving dog (via Neatorama). The second clip is of a show that featured an amazing family backyard waterpark in AZ (watch the first minute).
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470. Quickie Web: Music Maker: JamStudio August 28, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Audio, Plaything, Service, Website.add a comment
This amazing website is for the musician and novice alike. Simply and instantly make your own songs, which you can sing or jam along with. Get inspired.
For example, here is the quick ditty I composed in 30 seconds: choose chords D, G, A, then G; pick Guitar1, Drums1, and Bass 11; change tempo to 112; then hit play. Rock on, my fellow composers. Make up your own lyrics, and play along with your guitar, if you have one. Shnickity-shnaps! Please try it out HERE; Via RGS.
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455. Bright Idea: the Patriot Magnum August 23, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product.2 comments
Finally, a single-shot paintball gun. The Patriot Magnum requires no CO2, just a pump of the lever, and provides strategic, single-shot action. If you want more skill and finesse in your armed combat (and not the typical expensive rapid-firing of regular paintball) this gun is for you (depending on how far it can really shoot). Buy it HERE (£20); via CoolestGadgets.
P.S. If you like paintball, check out the postings of one of our loyal readers, at the Bird Man’s Blog HERE.
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450. Bright Idea: MyMinigolf August 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Plaything, Product.add a comment
Set up a putt-putt course anywhere you want with MyMinigolf. Imagine these 9 holes around your office suite, your neighborhood block, or throughout a dorm hall or condo (with each room/unit pairing a hole with a different beverage that you can only sample if you make par). Check out their website HERE; via Core77.
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387. Quickie Web: Plaything: Monoface July 18, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Quickie Web.1 comment so far
Monoface is an amusing and well-produced website where you create thousands of different faces by “mix-n-matching” the various mouths, noses, heads, and eyes. Have fun. Check it out HERE; via Neatorama.
I can see why everyone here is white, but the next version should have all races, with a skin tone adjuster (to make a smooth overall color match).
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376. Quickie Web: Plaything: Snowdays July 16, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Quickie Web.add a comment
This is an engaging and whimsical snowflake creator. Create your own unique hexagonal beauty with Snowday’s simple and easy online interface. Users can post their snowflakes online to share, with the option of adding messages. Check it out HERE; via Neatorama.
375. Bright Idea: The Bungee Trampoline July 16, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Experience, Plaything, Product, Video.1 comment so far
I filmed this clip of this Bright Idea earlier this month. I regret not paying the $7 to give this a try (we were running late for a home-cooked dinner when I came across this). Apparently, it can hold up to 200 lbs. The 13 y.o. girl on before I filmed was doing flips.
The clip is 38 seconds long.
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366. Bright Idea: the Waboba Ball July 11, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product, Video.1 comment so far
This small $7 Lycra-covered polyurethane ball bounces on water. The company also has another version made for pools (lower bounces).
Looks like a lot of fun: check out the video clip below (1:42).
Waboba website HERE; Buy it HERE; via UberReview.
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356. Bright Idea: Tag Ball June 21, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Game, Plaything, Product, Video.2 comments
Tag Ball is the poor person’s Paint Ball. Despite having to wear velcro everywhere, this seems like a pretty Bright Idea. I also prefer this single-shot challenge over the expensive and lazy rapid-firing typically found with Paint Ball. Check out their website HERE. The clip is a 30 second commercial.
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354. Bright Idea: the Shockball June 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product.2 comments
Play catch (or more specifically, Hot Potato) with the Shockball, which emits a shock at random intervals. Rubber-lined to protect it from the inevitable drops to the floor, this plaything sounds like a scream.
I would also use it in my car, for a jolt of adrenalin to keep me awake when I start getting drowsy. Buy it HERE (Aus $30); via UberGizmo.
(P.S. In wrote about a similar IdeaSpark* in a previous post, here.)
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351. Bright Idea: Zero Blaster June 20, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product, Video.add a comment
This is a neat and gimmicky toy. The Zero Blaster can launch fog rings up to 14 feet, and costs $20 (buy it HERE). An included water-based, non-toxic liquid is required. Check out these video clips to see it in action.
1) A cute 1.5 minute clip of puppy chomping at the rings.
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2) A longer, informative clip of the various tricks you can do (3 min).
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To see larger rings being produced, go HERE.
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347. Bright Idea: Wooden Toy Robots June 18, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Art, Plaything, Product.add a comment
Made by Japanese toymaker Take-G, these wooden toy robots are an original, and somewhat counterintuitive, fusion of style and substance. See more HERE, via Hemmy.
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335. Bright Idea: Hungry Piggy Bank June 6, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Video.add a comment
Coins…mmm, Yummy. Check out this cute 13-second video. It looks like a cousin of Keepon, the dancing robot. Via Tokyomango.com.
Hmm, I wonder where the coins come out? Wink, wink…tee, hee.
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333. Bright Idea: Xtreme Sledding June 4, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Experience, Plaything, Product, Video.add a comment
Wow. This looks like a blast. I wonder if my wife will let me pick this up as a hobby? Xtreme sledding provides lots of control and stability, and being that close to the ground, it must be thrilling. Best of all: no snow required. This clip is 1:42 minutes long; via Trendpimp.com.
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301. Bright Idea: Rocking Blanket April 26, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Experience, Plaything, Product.add a comment
I wish they made an adult version of this rocking blanket. And I also wish I had two trustworthy friends who were giants with iron-gripping hand strength. I also wish I could fly and become invisible and stop time. Buy the kid version blanket HERE (40 Euros); via Swissmiss.com.
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284. Bright Idea: The Apartment Slide April 19, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Experience, Plaything, Product.3 comments
Why not? It’s fun, and saves energy wasted during elevator-usage. Similar to the London Public Slides. Via random-good-stuff.com.
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281. Quickie Web: Muscial Plaything: Desktopblues April 17, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Audio, Plaything, Quickie Web.add a comment
(Note: the image above is not functional; go HERE to play). Tap into your inner musician and jam along to the blues. Anyone can make great music with this simple and fun web toy. Simply turn the “radio” on, then randomly hit the various colored buttons: Orange = Guitar riff, Purple = Vocals, Green = Vocal + Guitar.
And if you feel really creative and brave, actually make up and sing your own verses out loud. Singing the blues was never so much fun. Check out this great web musicmaker HERE (noisegames.com).
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280. Bright Idea: the Airzooka April 17, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product, Video.1 comment so far
I remember coming across this in a toy store and loving it. Hiding at the back of the store, I was able to shoot an invisible ring of air at my friend as he walked in a little later. From 15 feet away, I messed up his hair and innocuously shocked the crap out of him. He didn’t know what hit him until I emerged from behind the boardgames display giggling like a little school girl (little school boys chuckle…and I was giggling). What simple and safe fun, for $15. Buy one HERE
To get a visual sense of how this toy works, watch this cool 35 second video of smoke ring generators. Via Make.com (where you can also learn to construct a home-made version).
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258. Bright Idea: Waterball March 29, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product, Video.add a comment
This Bright Idea takes squirt guns to the next level: it launches little balls of water. You can shoot 40 waterballs in about a minute, and each filling can hold 175 waterballs. Though it is probably not as much fun as a Supersoaker, the Waterball is an original spin on a classic toy. Check out their website HERE; buy it and read reviews HERE
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254. Quickie Web: Video: Virtual Soccer March 27, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Marketing, Plaything, Product, Quickie Web, Video.add a comment
I have seen this technology before (as interactive advertising), but have decided to post this particular 44-second clip because it includes a cute dog (rather than kids being engaged by marketing and products). See more of this technology HERE (Reactrix.com); via UberReview.com.
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246. Bright Idea: Keepon, the Dancing Robot March 23, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product, Video.1 comment so far
There needs to be more dancing in the world. Get inspired by Keepon (as in “Keep on dancing”), a squishy robot that can dance to the beat of music and video. This prototype can detect a beat, then bop in time with it. I can’t wait until this little guy gets mass produced and becomes an international best-seller, like Tickle Me Elmo.
This video clip is sure to make you smile:
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245. Bright Idea: Hurricane Balls March 23, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product.add a comment
These toys have an incredibly simple design. But get them spinning, and then blow on them to accelerate the revolutions, and these Hurricane Balls can spin at 8-10 k rpms, for as long as 2 minutes. Though the novelty would wear off quickly (unless you came up with some sort of game), it is worth watching parts of the 2.5 minute video clip (of a 2-sphere unit, and a 4-sphere unit). Via TechEBlog.com.
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243. Bright Idea: Portable B Ball March 23, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product.1 comment so far
Bring the mountain to Mohammed. Play basketball anywhere you can drive your car/SUV. All you need is a trailer hitch and $500. Check it out HERE. Via BornRich.org.
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236. Bright Idea: The XBoard March 18, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Experience, Plaything, Product, Video.add a comment
I always found jet-skis to be underwhelming. I would be excited to rent one (at $80/hr), but then I would soon get kinda bored after about 15 minutes.
However, this XBoard looks like it would really be a thrill. They can reach speeds of up to 60 MPH. Buy one for about $10,000 (via TahitiPetey.com). Watch a few moments of this video below to get the idea (via Webfish.com).
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231. Bright Idea: Carpet Skates March 17, 2007
Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Plaything, Product.add a comment
If these Fun Slides actually glide really well, carpet skating looks like it could be fun. Especially in hotels. Buy them HERE
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SparkBugg.com 