The Impending Death of the Password
Thanks to companies like MobileIron, device passwords (believed to date back to the 1960s, thanks to an MIT time-shared computer) may be on their way out once and for all. Since most people use weak passwords for the majority of their logins and companies oftentimes offer flawed storage and security systems, the default security option isn’t the most intelligent one anymore. Instead, companies are beginning to rely on verification from other devices (phones, watches, etc) and your unique make-up (with biometric verifiers like Apple’s Touch ID or Face ID). Much like how unlocking your phone also unlocks a multitude of apps, MobileIron’s “zero sign-on” would do so for a suite of logins. MobileIron’s CEO, Simon Biddiscombe says, “I just stare at my device, and my device knows it’s me, and the enterprise opens access to the various services I need.” Read more at Fast Company.
Artist Doug Aitken’s Mirror-Surfaced Hot Air Balloon
Set to travel from Martha’s Vineyard to the Berkshires, a mirrored hot air balloon will reflect Massachusetts back upon itself this July. As part of Doug Aitken’s “New Horizon” public art installation, commissioned by the oldest land trust in the world (known as the Trustees), the nomadic sculpture will tether at site-specific, art-oriented celebrations. The flight path of the mylar-covered aircraft will also grant many of the people in-between an opportunity at awe. Read more at Travel + Leisure.
Lamborghini’s Restored Arancio Miura P400
Made famous in 1969’s The Italian Job, this glorious Lamborghini Arancio Miura P400 was long-believed to be destroyed, as per the film’s plot. But a confession years later revealed that the on-screen collision involved a different Miura—one that was already damaged pre-shoot—and the hunt for the original began. With many aiding the search, the car surfaced, returned to Polo Storico (the brand’s classic division) and began a lengthy verification process that included consultation from Paramount, Enzo Moruzzi and other Lamborghini employees who had a hand in making the vehicle. Some 50 years later, chassis #3586 has been restored to its stunning current state. See more photos and get further details at designboom.
Sonos Conducted a Study on Audio’s Health Benefits
Referred to as the Brilliant Sound Survey, a comprehensive body of data derived from an online questionnaire highlights much of what many music-lovers believe to be true. Conducted by home audio company Sonos and several research partners, the survey incorporated insights from 12,000 people in 12 countries. Some of the stats astound: 74% of participants said listening to music helped them reduce stress, 58% believe music boosts their mood at work, and 40% admit that music has made them cry unexpectedly. Additionally, some 70% say that people with “good” music taste are more attractive. This information and much more can found at the Sonos blog.
The History of the Iconic Moka Pot
The single-serve espresso machine first appeared in Italy in 1901. More than 30 years later, Alfonso Bialetti popularized an even more democratic coffee maker for home use: the Moka Express. This version (now patented) became an iconic symbol of Italian coffee culture—simple yet dignified. The historically significant eight-sided machine helped to make at-home coffee brewing possible at a much larger scale. Today, the Moka Express can be found in institutions like the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and in homage-like variations, such as Alessi’s Moka which appeared at Milan Design Week this year. Learn more at MOLD.
3D-Printed Organ Capable of “Breathing”
Bioengineers at Rice University and the University of Washington crafted a first-ever 3D-printed “breathing” organ. Developing an organ that can maintain (aka breathe and transmit oxygen) has proven to be the most difficult part of the research: growing living cells is simple, researchers argue, but keeping them alive is much more difficult. This lung is 3D-printed from soft gels which allow it to expand and contract, and a complex system of vascular networks built from the same material allows for the transmission of oxygen to connected blood vessels. Visit designboom to read more and watch the development in action.
Architectural Digest’s Favorite Buildings in Each US State
From the Frederick R Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis to the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington, West Virginia, Architectural Digest’s list of the best-designed buildings in each US state recognizes internationally acclaimed architecture and unknown gems alike. There are houses designed by former presidents, forward-thinking designs from the early 2000s, Pritzker Prize-winning health clinics and much more. Peruse the full list at Architectural Digest.
Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily in Link and on social media, and rounded up every Saturday morning.