This seems like the kind of invention we’ve needed for a long time now-a virtual dressing room that allows you to try on clothes without all that nudity and pointless human interaction.

There are no salespeople to hard sell you into buying that ill fitting garment, you simply try it on for size via touch screen and see what you think for yourself. Here’s how it works:

The ‘Swivel’ system works by using motion-sensing technology of Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect, and a live video feed as ‘mirror images’.

When users stand in front of the system, the webcam would project an image of the user on the connected screen, along with shopping categories, such as clothing, jewelry and handbags.

To try on items, users wave their hands to select categories and items. Items would be digitally overlayed on the live image of the users.

When users turn to their sides, the items would also move along with their bodies.

Swivel takes into account the body types, and would make the items appear as it realistically would. The system also gives users recommendations with their outfits.

Users may also layer items, or change backgrounds to “put the look into context”, and send an image of the final look to friends and family for approval.

The Jetsons had this technology way back in the 1960s, so why has it taken us so long to integrate this technology into our modern shopping routine?

Link

Going on a little vacay but can't seem to untether yourself from your gadgetry? Well, Marriott's Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel may just have the kick in the pants you need to unplug and disconnect.

The hotel will require guests that buy the "detox" package to surrender their gadgets at the door:

This is chance to revive yourself from an over stimulated world. [...]

Your laptop, cell phone, and all other digital devices must be surrendered upon check-in, and will be held for you until your departure. Prior to your arrival, the television, phone, and ihome dock station will be removed from your guest room and replaced by literary classics.

Link - via The Next Web

Used and banged up gadgets are usually considered as ugly by most people, but not to Remy Labesque of design mind’s Object Oriented blog. He considers them "Aged to Perfection" (though that’s not enough to consign the gadgets to the trash heap of obsolescence – or e-waste recycling, after he took the photos):

The truth is that consumer products are ‘new’ for a very brief moment when they are first removed from the packaging, but spend the great majority of their useful lives as ‘used’ products in the process of decay. Many welcome the breaking-in of products like a leather wallet or a pair of jeans as this wear can be aesthetically-pleasing. The Japanese have a term for this, “Wabi-sabi”. Wabi-sabi can be used to describe the aesthetically pleasing wear of an object as it decays over time. It’s a notion that embraces the transience of objects and celebrates the purity of the imperfect. Aging with dignity is a criteria designers should recognize in their efforts. I’m thinking of a future when products are designed not for the brief moment when they are new, but for when they have been aged to perfection.

Link – via Core 77

Japanese toy manufacturer WiZ isn’t about to wait for your answer, and has released the Charatter bear, a toy that – of course – reads incoming tweets in a shrill, grating octave. This particular author follows 52 people and receives a tweet about once every 90-120 seconds. Imagine how quickly this bear would drive a man insane.

But incredibly, WiZ says that sales of Charatter are off the heezy. And at $28, it’s not exactly the least affordable way to aggravate oneself.

Techi has the video clip: Link

I have four teenagers who each have various small rechargeable gadgets. The chargers are hooked up all over the house, which means cords go everywhere. This little project might make things easier for parents and dogs who tend to trip over cords. It’s a pocket to hold your device as it’s recharging -made out of a shampoo bottle! Find the instruction at Make. Link -via Unique Daily

Elevator shoes that work like a real elevator -going up and down as needed, controlled by an iPhone app. -via Nag on the Lake

No matter where you are or what you are supposed to be doing, you can be watching TV! Block out everyone around you and stay in your own little world with the TV Hat! Now there’s no reason to ever turn away from your personal video experience, whether you are at work, in your car, or at the beach! As a commenter at Metafilter said, “a feed bag for your eyes”! Link -via Metafilter

Dorothy Miller, an 87-year-old grandmother, uses Twitter every day to keep in touch with her family, but she uses no computer. Instead, she uses a fax machine and a service called Cellery that posts the messages to her Twitter page.

I don’t usually write to my daugher that much because she talks to much. And that she takes up too much of our time, but she can read my twitterings here and she can see what her mother’s doing and know that her mother’s okay …

Go grandma, go … or better yet, tweet, grandma, tweet!

– via mycelery

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by DCC42.

Nänni confirmed my theory: “You are absolutely right. A rectangle with sharp edges takes indeed a little bit more cognitive visible effort than for example an ellipse of the same size. Our “fovea-eye” is even faster in recording a circle. Edges involve additional neuronal image tools. The process is therefore slowed down.”

Professor Nänni is saying that rounded rectangles are literally easier on the eye. Put another way, compared to square-edged rectangles, rounded rectangles are more computationally efficient for the human brain. To me, this is a revelation. An idea that at the very least demands more investigation.

Link – via twitter

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Lee.

Grab your barf bag and get ready to strap yourself into the Buzzball. Best described as a hamster ball for humans, the Buzzball delivers a unique rollercoaster ride where the pilot is in complete control of the ride experience.

The product is still in the development phase but looks like a blast. The Buzzball is a dual motor configuration that enables its pilot to control the motion and direction of travel via control triggers and provides power to the driving wheels. The amount of power each wheel receives determines the Buzzball’s direction of movement.

Link

From the Upcoming Queue, submitted by whitespace.

The water vapor looks like Stitch is belching off something foul, but the only bad thing about it seems to be the price tag. At $120, this Stitch humidifier may just be leaving your wallet in tatters.

Link