Until recently, 2-D animation made up the majority of children’s entertainment. The classic Disney films are all done in 2-D, and it wasn’t until the mid-90s that movies and television started using 3-D animation. When children used coloring books in the past, the images they colored looked exactly like the ones they saw on screen. Now, with 3-D animation dominating kids’ movies and television, coloring books can’t offer as accurate of a representation. The Disney Research Hub has developed an app that can look at coloring book images and immediately display a 3-D representation of that image on your tablet. Essentially, this program allows kids to color their favorite characters and see them pop off the page in a matter of seconds. Coloring helps improve children’s fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, so it’s important that we use technology to find new ways to keep them engaged. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/live-texturing-augmented-reality-colored-drawings/
In the United States, over 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year. Sometimes homelessness is because people can’t find work, but thousands of people with jobs still find themselves homeless every year. Becky Blanton is one of those people. Following the death of her father Blanton left a secure job to travel and live in a van, working as a freelance journalist to help pay her bills. What started as an adventure to help deal with the loss of a loved on took a turn when her freelance work dried up. Suddenly she found herself in the same position as thousands of other hardworking, dedicated, Americans. She was no longer on an adventure. She was homeless. There’s a light at the end of this tunnel. Within three years of her experience she found herself standing on the TED Talk stage to tell her story. There is no one set story of homelessness in America, but there are people in need all around us. Give Blanton’s story a listen and remember hope can find a way. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/the-year-i-was-homeless/
Few movie moments have produced more tears than the first five minutes of the Pixar film UP. In it we see a young couple, Carl and Ellie, enjoy many adventures while growing old together. The sequence concludes with Ellie’s death after a living a long and happy life with her husband. In a short amount of time, their characters manage to make us shed tears of joy and sadness as their love unfolds before our eyes. To celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, two 80-year-old grandparents decided to dress up as Carl and Ellie and play a piano duet together. Not only is this video a tribute to characters everyone knows and loves, but their duet is a perfect illustration of two people working together to create something beautiful. Happy anniversary, you two. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/real-life-up-piano-anniversary/
If you’re afraid of clowns then you might want to stay away from the town of Tonopah, Nevada. The extreme small desert town has one notable claim to fame; it hosts what might be the world’s creepiest motel. The Clown Motel is host to hundreds of clown dolls, merchandise and protraits. Every room is equipped with a few clowns of its own along with pictures that would send chills down the spine of anyone who has seen a horror movie. As if it could get any worse, the motel is located right across the street from a cemetery. Despite its creepy aesthetic, the Clown Motel draws visitors from around the world. The motel even has almost unanimously positive reviews on Yelp. Do you think you would be brave enough to spend a night here? Let us know in the comments. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/creepy-clown-motel-nevada/
The Russian military is at it again. This time, they are showing off an innovative re-breathing machine that allows divers two full hours under water without interruption. This is done by converting air breathed out by divers into breathable air through the compression system within the suit. This allows for a number of advantages, the main one being that no air bubbles are produced which provides more stealth. If you’re thinking this is too good to be true, well, you may be right. According to the demonstration, if any water gets inside then there is a chance the entire suit might burst into flames. This might be a considerable problem for a suit that is meant to be worn underwater. But what’s a Russian invention without the possibility of an explosion? Read more: http://www.wimp.com/russian-diver-breathing-machine/
Could you hit a 99mph baseball pitch with a bat? How about with a sword? That’s the challenge swordsman Isao Machii set for himself. Sound impossible? Not for the Guinness World Record holder for “Extreme Speed Cutting With A Katana.” In the skilled hands of this master, the sword slices cleanly through the ball being thrown by a pitching machine, sending each half flying. While this sort of batting technique wouldn’t be allowed on any modern ballfield, we’re lucky enough to have the video for your viewing enjoyment. Now cross your fingers and hope someone introduces Isao Machii to football. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/samurai-cuts-100-mile-per-hour-baseball-in-half/
Off the coast of Africa, surfer Koa Smith strapped on a GoPro camera and set out to catch a few waves. What he captured won him the inaugural “GoPro of the World” prize and $20,000. Koa nimbly surfed through a 27-second barrel wave, a rare wave to catch and even rarer to film on camera. The “GoPro of the World” competition started in May and challenged people to create the most interesting video from anywhere in the world. The competition just ended and the judges awarded Koa the well-deserved prize. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/go-pro-surfing-in-africa/
Web cartoonist Randall Munroe has built a wonderful life for himself thanks to the success of his science and math based comic xkcd. Utilizing the power of math Munroe creates hysterically funny, and thoughtful, cartoons that educate with an occasionally dark sense of humor. Because of his mathematical prowess Munroe is regularly asked oddball questions from his readers, questions that often take on a life of their own when he begins to explore them. In this TED Talk Munroe explores some of the fascinating questions he’s faced from readers, and the journey one of those questions took him on once Google got involved. Sometimes asking questions can be the spark for an adventure. You just have to take the time to try and find the answers. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/the-joy-of-asking-what-if/
Are your days too busy? Do you often find yourself too stressed out to enjoy life? Well, Dr. Daniel Levitin is here to help. Dr. Levitin is a renowned neurosurgeon and he has some simple tips to help you get the most out of your day. According to him, the key is to simplify the process of time management so your brain is free to concentrate on other areas of life, which will ultimately make you happier. Time management is one of the leading causes of stress, so simplifying this area of your life can lead to big changes in your mental health. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/neurosurgeon-daniel-levitin-gives-tips-on-time-management/
Alanis Morissette topped the charts in 1995 with her hit song “Ironic.” But what would the classic song be like if it were written today? Luckily for us, Alanis performed a modern version of her hit so we can know what exactly is “Ironic” about 2015. It all happened on The Late Late Show With James Corden when the host performed with the 90’s superstar to the delight of the nostalgic crowd. The new version contains verses such “An old friend sends you a Facebook request / and you only find out they’re racist / after you accept. / There’s free office cake on the first day of your diet / it’s like they announce a new iPhone the day after you buy it.” Which version do you like better? Read more: http://www.wimp.com/ironic-for-2015-alanis-morissette/
