THE PAVLOV POKE – A SHOCKING WAY OUT OF FACEBOOK ADDICTION

First a minute; then ten; then before you know it, two hours have passed stalking God knows who. Next to the Internet, social media is probably the greatest thing that ever existed – until you couldn’t take your eyes off that blue, blue screen, that is. It’s uncontrollable, untameable, almost like being possessed by a social hungry poltergeist. But thanks to two Ph.D candidates at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Robert R. Morris and Dan McDuff, social media addiction can now be shocked out of you in an effort curb this counter-productive habit.
Image above via robertrmorris.org

Image via robertrmorris.org

Coining it the Pavlov Poke, after the famous Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov who published his experimental success on thoroughly starving conditioning dogs, these two IT geeks have created a system that will literally send electrical pulses to the user if they spend too much time on social media or other distracting websites. Now, how about that?

And spicing up your hairdo while you’re at it.
Image via tomcrutchfield.wordpress.com

As the brain registers your displeasure of being shocked, your behaviour will tend to be modified to avoid encountering the shock again, thus staying off social media as a whole (unless, of course, you’re a masochist or the shocking stimuli happened to come from one too many videos of Miley Cyrus twerk-ing – we all can’t seem to take our eyes off that).

Call it inhumane, call it barbaric, but these two have a damn good point that we should all be looking to solve. Social Media has gone far from being used as a social tool to keep in touch to being the cause of thousands of users feeling inadequate about themselves after a good session of stalking fake-internet-plastic displays of their friends “lives”. It is by time something be done about it.

Hmm, maybe a stick-on “Facebook patch” next?

Image via abcnews.go.com

BY NISHA 
http://www.360celsius.com

SNAIL KISSES

It’s most likely you would at least flinch, or make a mad dash for the nearest salt dispenser if someone held a snail to your face. Those little buggers are just plain icky, leaving a trail of slime and nasty looking poo in the garden. Now get this, Snail Facials are becoming all the rage now, with the trend spreading from Tokyo (why am I not surprised) to the UK recently – attracting a growing clientele of both men and women with the guts for it.

The treatment costing some £50 involves placing a trio of snails on the face for 20 minutes ,with a dermatologist on hand to keep them from wandering into your orifices. The reason why someone in their right mind would do this, is because that otherwise icky trail left by snails has been found to be high in proteins, anti-oxidants and has anti-bacterial properties. On top of that, the treatment promises the instant result of leaving your face with a glow, and snail extract has been making waves in the beauty product industry for quite a while now.

Of course, not just  any old snails are used for this sort of treatment. Those used are specially farmed garden snails (quite possibly the sort that taste best in a creamy garlic sauce), and are only reused after a four day rest. Furthermore, those who go for the facial are advised not to use any chemical based products before treatment so as not to contaminate the escargo… I mean snails.

At the moment, more research is still being conducted to determine the long-term results of the treatment, so you just might want to take this one with a pinch of salt before subjecting yourself to something otherwise ridiculously gross.

BY A.MAN 
http://www.360celsius.com

MCDREAMY IS THE NEW FACE OF SACOOR BROTHERS

Patrick Dempsey is the Hollywood superstar who is the face of Sacoor Brothers’ new autumn-winter collection, chosen for his versatility and charisma. With a career of over 25 years, the actor is now the star of Sacoor’s world campaign, which was launched in Los Angeles.

Better known as “McDreamy”, Dempsey is the charming and romantic ‘Dr Shepherd’ in the TV show Grey’s Anatomy. With almost 70 films in his career, Dempsey has worked with names as well-known and as diverse as John Turturro, John Malkovich, Ashley Judd, Julia Roberts and Hilary Swank.

A real lover of life, the actor currently lives in Malibu, in California, with his wife Jillian and their three children, a girl aged 11 and twin boys aged 6. Motorsport is one of his great passions and he often takes part in races such as the 24 hours of Les Mans and Daytona and he owns a GT class race team. He is also an avid collector of vintage cars and sports cars.

Considered a sex symbol and one of the most charming men in Hollywood, Patrick Dempsey is the highlight of Sacoor’s new campaign and shows off the quality of the items in the next collection coming to the shops.

The elegance and sophistication the brand has accustomed us to have inspired the campaign concept – “Share” – and characterize a collection where the warm, soft and comfortable clothes enhance the elegance of the Men’s, Ladies’ and Boys’ lines, using quality raw materials and with tailor-made service.

This association with Patrick Dempsey and the public figures in the brand campaigns is to ensure that Sacoor Brothers continues improving its position, standing out for the excellence of its products and services.

BY KOGIV 

http://www.360celsius.com

MUTTS GO WIRELESS

Some of us can’t bear to be away from our canine and feline companions, and wish we could keep an eye on them when we’re out. Afterall, an empty house can be a dangerous place, not just for your furry friend, but also for your furniture. Well, thanks to modern technology, you can now get in touch with that lonely pet of yours from miles away, feed, and even play with them with these nifty gizmos.

PetziConnect
For owners who simply have to check in on their beloved companions, PetziConnect by Petzila presents a solution. This wall mounted device is equipped with a treat dispenser, which you may activate remotely via any mobile device or computer with an Internet connection, and this is complemented by a wireless HD camera and speaker which allow you to speak to and view your bundle of joy.

However, do be warned that the official video demonstrates the device with a pint sized Chihuahua, and it would stand to reason that a larger breed, like say, a German Sheppard would most likely rip the box off the wall in hopes of a treat bonanza. Also, while it is cited as a tool for dog owners, we see no reason why it shouldn’t work for cats.

Petcube
Alternatively, there’s Petcube, which allows you to play with your pets, especially the hyperactive type that becomes the bane of neighbours due to boredom. Via an internet connection and an app, this cube as its name suggests, allows you to beam a laser dot in any direction, allowing your pet an invigorating game of chase (cats and dogs simply go nuts for laser lights).

In addition, the device measuring 4-inches also packs a 720p video camera and microphone for live feeds, and the laser light is a low-intensity type that is safe for your pet’s eyes, even if they look at it directly.

BY A.MAN 

http://www.360celsius.com

EDIBLE PLATES – NO MORE ‘DOING THE DISHES’

Rollware has combined creativity with disposability to create a unique kind of crockery – the kind you can eat. With their set of laser cut rolling pins, all you have to do now is make a couple of rock and rolls, and you’ll be left with some pretty pastries that double up as handy plates.

The idea behind this culinary innovation was to create a revolutionary dining style that is customisable yet practical. Instead of eating off plates, you’ll be eating plates. Period.

Image via yatzer.com

Rollware consists of 8 rolling pins in total; 4 patterned pins to imprint your desired style onto the dough, and another 4 rolling pins that cuts the dough into 4 different plate sizes, depending on the course and the kind of dish you are preparing. Since the rolling pins still needs applied pressure when rolling the patterns onto the dough, the user has the power to customize the definition of the designs on each piece, thus creating somewhat unique designs for each piece of edible plate.

Image via yatzer.com

Image via designtaxi.com

Image via designtaxi.com

Image via yatzer.com

Imagine what kind of place the world could be if you never had to wash up again after hectically preparing your masterpiece meal? Just make sure you set the table with placemats first, or you’ll end up with a crumbling disaster.

BY NISHA 

http://www.360celsius.com

COFFEE SHAPED COFFEE : MUGS FOR THE ULTIMATE CAFFEINE ENTHUSIAST

If coffee could talk, I’d vote it in for prime minister – that’s how true my affection is for this bittersweet heart-pumping beverage (plus at least it wouldn’t fall asleep during parliament meetings). But one look at this eccentricity, and I have to admit didn’t need my old pal caffeine to jerk me awake for the day.

In an assigned project by the Shenkar Academy of Engineering and Design in Israel, students were asked to redesign an aspect of the coffee ritual. With this odd yet inventive effort by student Gilad Davidi to create an inception-inspired, coffee-within-coffee mug, no doubt, you can now consume your cappuccinos and lattes in a cup that takes the shape of coffee molecules – C8-H10-N4-O2 to be precise (science, b*tch!).

What do you think, yay or nay? Personally, I like to start my day enjoying my cup of morning brew in complete normalcy if possible, without being weirded out by a brain-like visual, but hey, to each his own eh?

(All images via toildrop.com)

BY NISHA 

http://www.360celsius.com

ONE MAN’S POISON, ANOTHER MAN’S HIGH

There are many snakes out there that can make a grown man scream just by making an appearance; there are even more that can easily kill a grown man with one bite. But instead of screaming or getting killed by snakes, this man has been milking deadly snakes of their venom and injects it into his body for the past 20 years. He has no idea how he is surviving, nor is he sure if he would drop dead tomorrow, but he seems to be doing pretty well after two decades of self envenomation!

Why? How? What the f***? Watch this intriguing documentary by VICE to find out!

BY KENNETH LIM 

http://www.360celsius.com

HILARIOUSLY DEADPOOL – GAMEPLAY REVIEW

The Marvel character Deadpool is an acquired taste – being a schizophrenic, narcissistic, ‘merc with a mouth’. In a nutshell, almost a bipolar opposite of Wolverine considering he ‘stole’ that adamantium clawed bub’s healing factor. While the character has been too zany to have his own series, or movie (which has been talked about but has yet to see the light of day), he’s made appearances in numerous Marvel games and cartoons, and now has his very own game (for the Xbox, Playstation and PC), which does certainly deliver on that trademark zany Deadpool sense of humour.

“Wee…”

While the storyline and action throughout the game would most definitely delight any hardcore fan of the character, those unfamiliar with the character are most likely going to brush it off for for it’s otherwise monotonous hack, slash and shoot gameplay. Features include an upgrade system whichallows you to unlock and beef up your weapons and attacks as you collect DP points from combos and coins littered throughout the game, while the X-Men make brief cameo appearances only to be mocked in Deadpool style.

“WHEEEEEE!”

AI is pretty clumsy. However, this is compensated for by the swarms and swarms the game throws at you – with the action punctuated by the protagonist’s insults towards the player and hilarious exclamations. On that note, it’s one of the few games where the main character constantly talks to the player and refers to you in the third person, which to an extent makes gameplay a tad more engaging.

While gameplay is repetitive, and puzzles barely challenge your intellect, the game is a short one, which any veteran gamer will breeze through in a couple of hours – allowing the story to quickly progress and provide closure before it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. All in all, it’s a great game if you’re looking for simple action and a good laugh, but barely has any replay value.

BY A.MAN 

http://www.360celsius.com

WHO’S FLOATING IN SPACE?

Hey you. That’s right you. The one with the finger on your mouse scroller. While you’re right there rooted to your seat, surfing the Internet, want to know what else is going on? (Image above via gwcdigitalarts.com)

Six people are floating in space. At least that was when I last checked yesterday. This awesome website, actually lets you track who’s in space right now, risking their lives as we carry out our mundane daily routines. You can even check out the profiles of each of these spacemen and see how long they’ve been wondering around in no-man’s land.

Check out the spacey updates for yourself here.

BY NISHA 

http://www.360celsius.com

URWERK’S WORK

For URWERK, a precision timepiece should have at its base a movement that is accurate, reliable and long lasting. Such a movement should meet specific criteria including accuracy in 5 positions between -4 seconds and +6 seconds over 24 hours. However, while it is one thing to regulate an accurate watch in the controlled world of a workshop, performance in the sometimes-extreme real world, i.e. on the wrist, can be very different. Changes in position and temperature, and shocks, can all adversely affect isochronism (timing regularity) of a wristwatch. The challenge with EMC was in developing a mechanical watch that can be regulated by its owner to obtain the finest chronometric performance. EMC is the first precision mechanical watch that enables timing to be both easily monitored and easily adjusted by its owner.

With EMC, not only can the wearer obtain the precise timing rate on demand, they can then use that information to accurately adjust the timing of their watch to suit their own personal rhythm.  Electro Mechanical Control (EMC) is the world’s first precision mechanical watch in which the timing can be monitored and adjusted by the user to suit their lifestyle – EMC is fully interactive.

Please note that EMC is a fully 100% mechanical watch. The electronics have absolutely no effect on the movement; they only enable monitoring of the movement’s precision in a similar way that the electronic speedometer or rev counter of a car has no effect on the mechanical engine and gearbox.

EMC features a deconstructed dial with four separate indications: A clockwise tour of the displays, from top left, presents the: on demand, precision indicator (instantaneous rate delta δ)  ranging from -20 to + 20 seconds per day; seconds dial with counter-balanced seconds hand; hours and minutes; and 80-hour power reserve indicator. Turning EMC over reveals the fully in-house movement with the integrated circuit board – the EMC ‘brain’ –, the top of one of the two mainspring barrels near the crown and the top of the balance wheel and optical sensor on the winding handle side.

“Our idea for ​​EMC goes back almost six years and is a natural continuation of my work as a watchmaker,” says Felix Baumgartner, co-founder of URWERK. “Like all watchmakers, I have on my bench a Witschi – an instrument to test the precision of my work. This impartial and uncompromising judge ‘listens’ to the rhythm of the balance and makes a verdict on the performance of the movement by measuring the timing rate, the number of seconds the movement gains or loses in 24 hours. This device is what I always refer back to; you might say it’s my only boss in the atelier!”

 
The audacious idea to incorporate a Witschi-like measuring instrument in a mechanical watch became a veritable quest for URWERK. “EMC allows you to obtain a reliable and accurate piece of data on your timepiece at the touch of a button – information that until now has been the preserve of professional watchmakers,” says Baumgartner. “Using this information, you can fine-tune one of the most exciting, most jubilant mechanisms invented – the mechanical watch – all by yourself.”

 

At its heart, EMC has a triple objective: to show how external parameters (positional changes, temperature and pressure) influence the timing of the movement; to enable the wearer to adjust the timing; and to facilitate interactivity between the timepiece and its owner.

EMC is inherently a precision mechanical watch with an in-house movement conceived, developed and crafted in the URWERK ateliers in Zurich and calibrated by URWERK in Geneva. The movement meets the most stringent quality control, with its chronometric performance tested in five positions during a 30-day cycle to ensure that it meets the highest standards for a precision watch.

To monitor and evaluate the mechanical movement, an” electronic brain” was then needed.  Olivier Evalet, a software developer who is passionate about software and computer engineering, has been instrumental in helping this bold project succeed: “The idea was to use precision optics, i.e. light, to measure the precision of a mechanical movement. The accuracy we managed to achieve is better than 10 microseconds. And we have created a reliable system that is designed to work over the long term. The power for EMC’s electronic “brain” derives not from a simple battery but a super capacitor that even after 100,000 to 200,000 charge/discharge cycles loses very little performance. We also chose a high-frequency oscillator with an extremely long life – its instability is only 3 parts per million over a full year.”

EMC marks the dawn of a new era, that of an interactive smart mechanical watch allowing the owner to gauge the precision of their timepiece’s chronometric performance and fine-tune it to better suit their daily rhythm and pace of life.

BY KOGIV

http://www.360celsius.com