New from 20ltd: Shagreen Backgammon Set and Sailing Canoe

The two latest offerings from the online concept boutique 20ltd, a Personally made for 20ltd by Max Parker (heir to The canoe comes from a relative newcomer, 15 year-old, Massachusets-based Caillou, who were inspired by decked canoes of the 1800s. The result is a hybrid canoe-sailboat, that in this case gets the aesthetic benefit of a glossy black fiberglass body contrasted with an ivory sail. …

Potential Energy: Book Giveaway Project

by Passa Chattra Some things in life are still free. "Potential Energy" is a book written by Schist, telling the story of a 30 year-old product designer "struggling to reconcile his role in the creation of useless objects with his wish for a more environmentally sound existence" that the author leaves in various places for people to find. This book explores the power of objects …

BigDog: The Most Advanced Quadruped Robot on Earth

by Passa Chattra Take a cursory look at BigDog and you might think you're watching an agile, newly-discovered species of deer. On closer inspection, you'll realize the animal is in fact a robot that mimics the movement of several animals both real and imaginary. Designed by the engineers at Boston Dynamics and funded by DARPA, BigDog can carry loads up to 340 pounds over rough …