Laser Lip Balm
The idea for a possible antenna configuration – which is basically a chip capable of producing a very wide spectrum of electromagnetic waves and effectively functions as an EMP device – was born of necessity and the author’s search for ways to muffle the signals and signal channels in his own environment in order to avoid having his ticket checked on the tram. Such a device emits a strong electromagnetic pulse that disables other devices in their surroundings; since the author did not consider it right to afford this effect to everyone around him, he decided to interrupt the frequencies used by Zagreb Electric Tram (ZET) devices. Given the laser transmitter’s precise architecture, it is able to target the device we want to block without blocking the surrounding devices. After further research, the artist realized that he could adjust the frequencies to amplify other frequencies, burn through soft materials, and even induce a strong magnetic effect on simple metals (such as the ones in locks). This genuine tiny device for rebels is equipped with a screen with already programmed frequencies for a specific action and need, and two buttons for easy selection and discharging, all compactly packed into a Melem lip balm container. The use of signal jammers (silencers) is prohibited by law – if you were caught with such a device you would be fined, which is why the laser comes in lip balm form, because who would guess that a lip balm could pack such a powerful punch.
Self-sustainable Computer
In today’s modern age, almost every household has a computer, whereas the larger the computer, the higher the electricity consumption, which causes overheating. That is why computers have built in fans for cooling, which in turn introduce dust into the system, affecting their own breakdown. Despite rapid development of computers, the human data processing needs are increasing, and this project offers an answer to these problems. The artist researched renewable energy sources, types of computer interfaces and alternative methods of data processing. This computer uses regular rechargeable batteries, but it also uses thorium that charges the batteries with its decomposing radioactivity, which is why the computer has never been recharged since it was turned on. The device uses a data processing infrastructure similar to the one found in cell phones, except its elements are much bigger – this type of configuration is much more economical because it hardly overheats, while the elements such as the CPU, RAM, etc. are much closer to each other, allowing for easier communication between them and a longer lifespan of the device which is able to keep up with new software demands. In this work, the key research factor is computer-human interactivity and its possible variations. With advances in technology, we have become accustomed to screens and flat surfaces, whereas this computer is not equipped with a navigation screen: instead its interface invites users to manually interact with the device, stimulating movement and making the interface easier to understand.
The Specs 2.0
The Specs 2.0 are a new form of smart glasses that turn any flat surface into a work surface, or any space into a whole new world. They involve MR (mixed reality) technology that does not use translucent screens, but instead employs lasers that emit the desired image or object directly onto the optic nerve through a small prism located in the glass of the spectacles. The glasses themselves are a computer, mapping the space around them, thus eliminating the need for screens, televisions, monitors, mobile phones, paintings on the walls or holograms. A designer’s job no longer has to be limited to a 2D screen, rather they can virtually display their product in 3D as if it were placed in the “real space”. Fans of VR games will no longer have to worry about consoles and heavy VR headsets - instead they will have everything they need in one place. The idea came out of a need for something convincing and more user friendly, which is why the design of the glasses is also simpler and more light-weight. In order for the glasses to create an even greater sense of reality, they are set to stimulate the optic nerve responsible for spatial awareness, making the virtual spaces not only look big, but feel big as well. Technology of this type could change our everyday life, from our daily media consumption, the way we communicate, the work we perform, to the way we have fun.
