Bic advert improv
6 May
Archive | May, 2008
Putting the cart before the horse
5 May
Abdolhadi Mirhejazi, a Dubai based inventor, wanted to come up with something truly innovative, a 100% green vehicle. The result was the Naturmobil, a one horsepower vehicle, that literally, runs on horsepower. Unlike traditional horse-drawn carriages, this horse rides inside, behind the driver, shielded by an all-weather canopy. It’s built out of lightweight polycarbonate materials and has a complex gearing system that allows for speeds up to 80 km/h, with average cruising speeds around a more humane 20 km/h. The horse trots on a fibreglass treadmill, generating enough power to propel the 300 kg vehicle, which rides on six motorcycle wheels. The excess power generated is stored in a battery pack, which powers the electrical systems, and lights. When the horse gets tired, sensors pick up its increased heart rate and body temperature, shut down the treadmill, and power the vehicle by the battery pack for up to 20 minutes before the power starts to run out. No word on the degree of inevitable stench of a cooped up horse, although a waste bin is provided for to gather up its poop while on the road. In a world of petro-conflicts, oil shortages, and skyrocketing gasoline prices, this isn’t as absurdly humorous as it might have seemed a few years ago.
Phonebook art
5 May
Cuban born artist Alex Queral has a fascination with the human head, and using materials such as old telephone books. Using just a razor knife and acrylic, he creates extraordinary three dimensional imagery.
