We geeks love our gadgets. We get bored with simple office instant messaging to co-workers. We get creative. But of course our creativity ties back into our computers and a USB port. It started with ninja-geeks and weapon-shaped USB flash drives. However, that was not enough to spice things up around the office. The USB arms race began and sneaky office warfare has never been the same. Some USB weapons are fun to shoot at your office buddy, but some are used to strike fear in your cubicle neighbor’s heart. Guard your office, guard your room, guard your computer. Here are 17 USB “weapons” made by geeks for geeks, from FAIL to fantastic.

USB Ninja

(image credits: geekstuff4ugeekstuff4u)

Awaken ninja-geek with these weaponized USBs. First there is a USB knife, a Kunai shaped USB thumb drive with 2GB of storage capacity, a great solution for the Ninja spy. Or how about a Shuriken shaped USB which also holds 2GB of storage capacity that you can sneak out of the building or can throw the star to kill your opponent?  These are perfect for the ninja-geek.

USB Bullets, Grenades, Chainsaws, Bombs

(image credits: walyou,gadget4all,i.Saw,ubergizmo)

These are a few more USB weapon wannabes. The flash drive shaped like a large caliber bullet offers geeks both fashion and 1GB of function, plus it might put a bit of a scare into those people who see it. As in don’t anger that geek!  More on the fail side are these brightly colored Grenade USB drives, but they do offer 4GB of memory. These next two should frighten your co-workers at the very least. The i-Saw is USB 2.0 compatible and offers a vicious five-volt trickle of destructive chainsaw power. The Bomb USB is one flash drive that we don’t think people would want to carry around in airports as they might actually get held up by airport security.

USB Tank Missile Launcher Steps Up Office Warfare

(image credits: OhGizmo)

There is no better way to annoy a co-worker than with a barrage of tiny foam missiles with a RC tank that can deliver a payload at a distance from up to 12 feet. It can also be remotely controlled via the included ‘USB Tank’ PC software that allows you to steer the tank and raise of lower the missile launcher. This might offer you some level of deniability since you’ll never be caught holding a remote. There’s no camera on board so you’ll need to have a line of sight in order to properly steer it into position, but it does have a wireless range of about 25 feet to give you a tiny head start when the inevitable and immediate retaliation begins.

USB Powered Gun

Here we begin a tour of USB-powered guns. Get ready to launch your flying foam missile attack on annoying co-workers. These do take some creative thinking, made by geeks to be appreciated by geeks. Those are some things all the USB weapons have in common. We’ll leave it up to you if a USB weapon is fantastic or fail.

DIY USB-Controlled Servo Squirter Water Pump

Straight from a nerd-kit, here is a DIY USB-controlled water squirter weapon. The steps are laid out in great details when you watch the video. The main plus factor to this USB gun is that it does more than fire foam darts or missiles. For example, your co-worker would be surprised to be blasted with water. Or if you have a cat that won’t stay away from your computer, pow-squirt! Kitty should then run away.

Missile Laucher (Lanciamissili) USB

This is a Lanciamissili USB weapon. The USB missile launcher is remotely controlled by a PC with a web cam.That’s right, a barrage of foam missiles and then retribution will be forthcoming from your geeky co-workers. Basically, these USB weapons are all the same, point, fire and shoot. You are free to decide FAIL or fantastic.

Laser-Guided USB Missile Launcher

This USB weapon uses a laser pointer and a web cam. The software tweaked with some custom Visual Basic lines of code equal a laser-guided USB missile launcher.  When a laser pointer is moved into the field of the web camera, the gun turret will move to point and fire its missiles. A person might wonder why you are pointing your laser at them, but they won’t wonder for long  before your missiles attack them.

Wiimote USB Rocket Launcher

This USB weapon is a rocket launcher that uses the Wii remote tilt function to control the launching missiles. Whether or not that pushes this USB rocket launcher from FAIL to fantastic is not clear, but if you are a Wii gamer and would like a USB weapon, then this one might be for you.

Battery of USB Missile Launchers

Clearly this was devised by some ticked co-worker intending to exact a little vengeance. Not a mere USB weapon that launches deadly foam missiles, but instead an entire battery of USB weapons. This is moving closer to fantastic if for no other reason than the chaos it would clearly create in the office.

USB Machine Gun and Rocket Launcher

This modified USB rocket launcher shoots infrared machine gun rounds and foam missiles. One other major difference with this USB weapon is that it was created to do more than wreak office destruction or family chaos. The machine gun can be calibrated to shoot down any remotely controlled toy plane or helicopter.

USB Missile Launcher Pimped to be a Weapon

So we’ve tried to be nice and tried to be polite up until now. This one might have more potential to launch sharp pointy weapons. Put it near to guard your computer privacy and it might work as a deterrent. Yes it gets points for being a USB weapon. Otherwise, FAIL.

USB BB Gun Turret Demo

Straight out of the Virtual Crib is an active defense system. It’s close to deadly and USB-controlled. The creators of this USB weapon suggest that if someone is breaking into your house, you don’t wait for the police to arrive. Instead you drive the thieves out of your house with this USB BB gun. This is much closer to fantastic, shooting BBs and not mere foam projectiles, but the next one is a clear winner.

Auto Targeting Turret Sentry

Now this USB gun is awesome! This one is fantastic! Watch the video and then you too will be wanting one. Lucky you, there is still time before Christmas.

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Buildings should be rock-solid steady under our feet, surely? Our instincts certainly tell us so – but perhaps someone should tell the current wave of architects and designers who seem so intent on rocking our world in a more literal sense than we’re used to. Have a look at these 13 more examples of buildings in motion, whether by illusory trickery or natty mechanics, and ask yourself – are we ready for urban life on the move?

(Images via: Building Design Online and benedict.adam)

In the urban jungle of the future, our survival-senses are going to take a serious battering. What would you do if a waterfall appeared to gush out the side of the towerblock overhead? Anyone not answering “run like the clappers” is probably working in the exciting new world of telematics – the projection of computer imagery on building surfaces. Take the proposal by consultants Body Data Space for a beautiful yet thoroughly alarming depiction of Angel Falls on the side of buildings in London’s Canary Wharf…

(Images via: NuFormer Digital Projections)

…or NuFormer’s jawdropping showcase featuring colorful, crystal-clear imagery thrown onto the side of a monumental building. When the CGI is tailored to fit the architecture, it can appear to rebuild it before your eyes – and the effect is astounding.

(Images via: awidernet)

For a more tangible variety of building facade illusion, we turn to the Hyposurface – an array of nacho-sized triangular surfaces that move in and out according to varieties of input. The result is a wall that behaves like a liquid.

It can respond to preprogrammed pattern-making, to light, to sound…the possibilities seem endless. Want it to mirror the shape of people walking past? It can do that. Respond to the noise of traffic? Check. If the future cityscape is Hyposurfaced, it is going to look busy.

(Images via: Calliope Studios)

Along similar lines is the Flare dynamic building surface. Its array of metal plates is controlled by pneumatic cylinders that alter the surface’s angle to the incoming light, making it lighten or darken like a monochrome pixel.

As this computer simulation shows, the effect is of a living, breathing building surface – one that could play tricks with your sense of perspective (which begs the question, how would drivers feel about buildings that ripple and flow as they pass them?).

(Images via: io9)

But enough of illusions. If it is real movement you are after, try Dubai’s upcoming Shuffle Tower by James Law Cybertecture. Take four elements: residential tower, office tower, gardens, shopping mall. Arrange them on a series of mechanically jacked platforms – and whirl them around. Each section slowly rotates to give a 360-degree view of the surroundings and an ever-changing view.

(Images via: Everingham Rotating House)

The idea of putting a spin on conventional buildings isn’t just confined to the glitzy metropolitan sprawl. This example is in Wingham, Australia (population 4,182) and is descriptively named the Everingham Rotating House. Ever wanted to be able to follow the sunlight as the day waxes and wanes? So have the owners, prompting them to invest a decade into planning and building this 50-ton marvel. Electronics allow the occupants to control the rate of spin, up to a top speed of 160 meters an hour, during which time it would complete two full revolutions.

(Image via: Dynamic Architecture)

Back to the big city. You will have heard of the amazing Dynamic Tower of Dubai (it would be difficult to have missed it over the last 12 months) – but this is just the start of Italian architect Dr. David Fisher’s plans. As well as erecting two signature towers in Dubai and Moscow, Dynamic Architecture have released other concept designs, such as the one shown above.

(Image via: Dynamic Architecture)

The Dynamic tower is being assembled from prefabricated factory-built segments, taking the current obsession with modular design to new heights (sorry). Each module will be built to be self-containing and to draw its power and resources from the central core. Potentially, each section could be replaced wholesale if it malfunctioned – although we would like to see someone replacing the 80th floor of a building without a major kerfuffle.

(Images via: lvsboston and Educared)

One building you can see on the skyline today (if you live in Curitiba, Brazil, that is) is the Suite Vollard – 11 floors of independently rotating apartments. The name comes from a set of 100 engravings by Picasso – and the surrealist painter would surely have approved of an apartment where the view constantly changes and your door does a lap of the room.

(Images via: Michael Jantzen

If you are not fussy about which direction you’re pointing in the morning, keep an eye out for Michael Jantzen’s Wind Pavilion. It is still at the conceptual stage but it’s making a real buzz among the green building sector…because the movement of its lightweight segments (governed by the wind) is involved in generating electricity used to internally light it up at night.

(Images via: Michael Jantzen)

Jantzen further proves himself a mover and shaker in the field of moving architecture with the M-House, a riot of modular panels and transforming spaces. When the wind changes direction, you can change the shape of the house to suit. If you want a house extention (planning permission allowing, of course) then buy a new module and assemble it on the end.  Thanks to the slightly chaotic planking style, rooms can be made as airy or as tightly sealed as you like, according to season, weather or whim.

(Images via: Nitrolicious)

Staying with the theme of adaptability, the 160-ton structure that has just opened in Korea is designed to fit every social function.  Known as the Transformer, the building is a tetrahedron covered with a light-permeable membrane…and when a new type of venue is needed, the entire structure is flipped over to show a new side and a new social identity.

(Images via: design boom)

You are looking at a holiday cottage with a difference. Not only has the internal floorplan been turned inside-out, but the outside – a series of vertically-slatted windows with sliding blinds – can be opened to the light, or locked up to conserve energy and make the occupants feel snug. It’s called the Merry-Go-Round which nicely captures its sense of fun, and while we have questions (what happens with that flat roof when the rain hits?) we love this new face to family getaways.

(Images via: dornob)

And finally a moving building that plays hide & seek with the world. The Sliding House is a home built like a sword in its scabbard. The 50-ton outer skin is on rails and slides back to reveal a greenhouse, allowing the owner to control the amount of light spilling out into the garden at night. It’s also perfect from hiding away from prying eyes. When the shape of our homes can change to suit our wants and needs – how much will they say about us?

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The legendary and mysterious artist, Banksy, has taken over the Bristol Museum for a stunning summer showing: Banksy vs. Bristol Museum. The exhibit opened on June 13, 2009 and ends on August 31, 2009. For those lucky enough to get there, admission to this unique exhibit is free.

Banksy has mixed more than 100 pieces of his own art into the museum’s existing collection. It is the largest showing of Banksy artwork ever and most of the artwork on display has never been shown before in the UK. Because Banksy doesn’t believe in copyright, visitors are welcome to take photos, and that is how we are able to share a glimpse of this exciting, one-of-a-kind event with you.

Welcome to Banksy vs. Bristol Museum

(images via: Banksy.co.uk, lar3)

A notice at the Banksy vs. Bristol Museum introduces Banksy as a local graffiti artist and states that the museum does not condone illegal activities, regardless of the artistic outcome. This special showing of Banksy’s artwork was arranged through an independent agency and the museum staff had no direct contact or communication with the artist. Before Banksy took over the museum, some of the historic relics normally on display were removed and replaced with reproductions.

Banksy Animatronics

(images via: snappycat, dandini, Opal Fruits, Walt Jabsco, Canis Major)

Much of Banksy’s recent work features animatronics. Human and animal models and items we think of as food have been brought to life by the artist, some might argue a little too realistically. A bunny in front of a makeup mirror files her nails, fishsticks swim in a fishbowl, a hot dog cools off and chicken nuggets are hatched and feed on dipping sauce. These pieces are unforgettable, thought-provoking originals.

Humor, Satire and Irony

(images via: Walt Jabsco, lar3, hauggen)

Banksy is a master of finding humor and absurdities in everyday life. He often uses ironic bits of reality to create artwork that makes us smile. Banksy thinks outside the canvas, even when he chooses it as his medium. His artwork cannot be confined within rectangle boundaries.

Banksy’s Message

(images via: snappycat, leoniewise, Walt Jabsco, purplemattfish, Walt Jabsco, bazzz)

Some pieces of Banksy artwork carry a clear message, while others are more subtle and subjective. Banksy often captivates by cleverly showcasing the absurdities and ironies of life and human existence. Often this type of art is thought provoking and leaves you to draw your own conclusions. A reminder that mom loves you no matter what is included in the exhibit, along with the messages that war hurts everyone, animals deserve to be treated humanely and we should all strive for peace and happiness.

Don’t Miss This Unique Banksy Showing

(images via: snappycat, Art of the State, Walt Jabsco)

Although Banksy art can be found around the world, this special installation at the Bristol Museum is the largest collection to date to appear under one roof. Many Banksy fans in the U.K. have already traveled great distances and waited hours in line for the opportunity to see this exhibit. Rave reviews are pouring in and if you have the means to get there, this summer art show is something you will likely never forget.

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Being an artist, of course, necessitates a certain amount of creativity. There are some artists who are able to constantly surprise with their level of creativity, turning out art that is completely original. New York artist Jason Hackenwerth’s art is so distinctive and unusual that it’s safe to say the world has never seen anything like it.

Jason Hackenwerth creates massive sculptures from colorful latex balloons. The same balloons you might see taking center stage at a child’s birthday party. He spends days twisting and attaching the balloons to create huge creatures that are simultaneously bizarre and wonderful.

The creatures look like a strange cross between sea invertebrates, bugs, and alien monsters. When put into a setting like the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History (above), they truly come to life. Their otherworldly anatomy and bright colors make them almost believable as fierce airborne predators.

At first glance, the creatures may appear whimsical or even silly. And they are – but that’s not the whole story. The sculptures begin their lives as jovial, plump celebrations of life. As they age, the trapped air begins to escape. The sculptures that were once full of life begin to sag and droop, reminding us all of the transience of our own lives.

That’s not to say that seeing Jason’s work is depressing. In fact, he sees to it that each installation is full of life and joy. His sculptures are not meant only to hang from the ceiling; they are also wearable. He has made and performed in huge wearable sculptures called Megamites at shows and festivals around the world. Jason’s sculptures bear a surprisingly organic look, so it seems almost logical that they would walk around and interact with people.

Watching the videos on Jason’s website of his balloon creations in action, it’s easy to see why his sculptures have been welcomed in galleries across the country and internationally. He injects fun and playfulness into what he does, and it reflects in the finished product. He could easily take it the other way and highlight the decay of the youthfully rotund creatures. But the message of his art seems to be that life is short, so have fun and be youthful for as long as you can.

(images via: Jason Heckenwerth, Raid Projects, Site Projects, and Blarg)

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(Check out our complete guide to Banksy Art and Graffiti.)

banksy street art cones sinking

(image via: Banksy.co.uk)

Banksy’s art has struck a chord with a huge group of people. They span generations and socioeconomic barriers. They are from all countries, all professions, and all walks of life. The one unifying factor is their admiration of this faceless street artist from Bristol.

 

banksy art car american flag

(image via: Banksy.co.uk)

Curiosity about Banksy’s true identity has been growing among fans and detractors alike. Newspapers, magazines, and television stations have diligently tried to unmask him to no avail. Hordes of everyday people haunt the streets of London hoping to get a glimpse – and a snapshot – of the elusive artist.

Although he’s extremely hard to spot, Banksy isn’t a hermit. On a very few occasions, he has granted interviews with the media. The interviewers themselves can’t even be sure that the man they’re speaking with is the real Banksy. They just have to take it on faith that the notorious prankster is telling them the truth for once.

 

banksy graffiti street art soldier beth

(image via: Banksy.co.uk)

In this early Banksy interview from 2003, Guardian reporter Simon Hattenstone met up with Banksy at a pub in London. The conversation that followed covered everything from why he started using stencils to how much better it is to spend very little time making a piece of art than to slave over it. To this day, many quotes and sound bites attributed to Banksy are taken from that very interview.

 

banksy graffiti cave art

(image via: badjonni)

A more recent interview, erroneously labeled as the first interview with Banksy, seems to depict a slight more world-weary artist. He is forced to duck out of Leake Street, the location of 2008’s Cans Festival, before the interview is over due to mobbing media outside.

 

banksy graffiti wall bethlehem

(images via: BrianSewell.com)

One of the more interesting Banksy interviews was with Paul Wood of BBC Radio 4. Banksy spoke with the interviewer after his trip to Palestine where he painted mural depicting freedom on the wall separating Palestine from Israel. Though there’s no way to be absolutely sure that it was really Banksy’s voice in that interview, it seems clear enough that the words were his.

The notoriously subversive artist does seem to enjoy keeping a record of some of his unavoidably temporary pieces of art. Videos of Banksy painting or installing other works, always with his face obscured, have been passed around the internet for years. Since no one has ever snapped a picture of Banksy, let alone taken a video of him in action that shows his face, impostors abound on the Internet. “Banksy unveiled” videos can be found in droves on YouTube. They range from the downright silly to the obviously faked to the type that really make you question whether they did film the right guy after all.

Aside from all of the faked Banksy sightings, there are plenty of interesting videos about the artist. One of the most publicized is the Banksy mini-documentary from PickardTom. This short film (above) shows the reactions of several Londoners when asked what they think of the infamous street artist.

Banksy’s website houses several videos related to his work; they are mostly news stories, but one in particular is a lot of fun to watch. The video above shows Banksy appearing on the street, spray painting on a blank space where a billboard would usually go, then blending back into the crowd as he walks off.

We can only hope that the secretive Banksy will agree to further interviews in the future, as well as videotaped records of his artistic process. But as he has repeatedly said, the pictures speak for themselves.

Banksy Art and Graffiti 1: Introduction – Who is Banksy?

Banksy Art and Graffiti 2: Graffiti, Drawings and Stencils

Banksy Art and Graffiti 3: Tattoos, Photos and Prints

Banksy Art and Graffiti 4: Art Sold and For Sale

Banksy Art and Graffiti 5: Interviews, Films and Videos

Banksy Art and Graffiti 6: Best Quotes and Sound Bites

Banksy Art and Graffiti 7: Books, Forums and Websites

Banksy Art and Graffiti 8: Locations Around the World

Banksy Art: Books, Websites and Forums

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