The Gordon touch

It seems like everything Peter Gordon touches turns to gold. The Kiwi superchef boasts an ever-expanding global portfolio of restaurants, from Dine and Bellota in Auckland to Changa and Müzedechanga in Istanbul. But his latest venture is also his most ambitious: the launch of a Kiwi restaurant in the heart of London’s ultra-competitive West End. But what about food miles and the carbon footprint? Will New Zealanders get the first look in when he’s hiring? And how will he juggle his international interests from the UK? Idealog put these—and many more—questions to him.

More … Save for later with Instapaper

Sweet solution to an unsavoury problem

Igloo-shaped, pollution-eating devices called “Poo-Gloos”. Sound a little bit out of left field? Don’t dismiss the idea just yet; they’re now being marketed under the more sophisticated moniker of Bio-Dome, and a study shows they can in fact clean up sewage as well as any run-of-the-mill, million-dollar waste treatment plant. Harnessing the power of bacteria and aeration, they only use as much energy as a 75-watt bulb. It’s a solution that could save towns and cities outgrowing their current facilities major cash.

More … Save for later with Instapaper

How the Hobbit was nearly hobbled

Tax breaks, law changes, labour disputes, international drama—you’d be forgiven for simply hunkering down, holing up and waiting for the whole Hobbit saga to blow over. Or it might all have flown right over your head. Whatever the case, it’s all behind us now, thankfully, and Denis Welch has kindly compiled an easily-digested overview of the events which gripped Aotearoa from start to finish.

More … Save for later with Instapaper

Master of puzzles

In another entertaining human vs machine showdown, Google software engineer (and Sudoku beginner) Casey Ho, faces off against 2009 Sudoku national champion Tammy MacLeod. She gets off to a good start, but armed with a Google Goggles-equipped Nexus S smartphone, it isn’t long before he catches up…and nails the solution.

Media mingle

There’s a new scholarship on the journalism block, and the lucky recipient will be winging his or her way to Webstock 2011 to interview big names from overseas tech companies and fill their contact books with New Zealand’s own web glitterati, plus attending the Onya Awards. Who’s behind this golden opportunity? That would be Allaboutthestory.com, a start-up online marketplace for news stories and cartoons (co-founder Michael Koziarski will be speaking at Webstock, along with major players from the likes of Tumblr, The Pirate Bay and Microsoft). Applications close on January 30; see here for more information on how to apply.

More … Save for later with Instapaper

Music to the ears

If you needed evidence of just how far 3D printing technology has come, the fact that the MIT Media Lab has managed to create a musical instrument with a minimum of human input should do it. A working flute was produced using a Objet Connex500 rapid prototyper, which can print on multiple materials simultaneously.  The four separate pieces represented a 15-hour print run, after which they were assembled by hand and became the recognisable (and functioning) flute you see here.

More … Save for later with Instapaper

The amazing disappearing tank

Frontline battles will never look the same. A British firm BAE Systems is developing an “e-camouflage” system that would render tanks almost invisible to others. Basically, the vehicle would project imagery of the surrounding environment (colours, line, shapes), and the images on its exterior would change with the surroundings as it moved. Scientists reckon they can translate the concept from paper into technology, with the aim for British troops to employ it in Afghanistan in the future.

More … Save for later with Instapaper

Green machine

He may look a little freaky, but this is the face of a robot which scientists say could represent a big breakthrough for autistic children. Probo uses human-like social cues and can give hugs and express feelings, which psychologists hope will help kids learn to identify emotions and practise interacting with others. Probo is currently being tested on an exchange programme at the psychology department of Babes-Bolyai University in Romania.

More … Save for later with Instapaper

Waging war on lurkers

Hands down, this is a truly epic advertisement—and for such a mundane household item! Shot more like a film trailer than a commercial, it keeps you guessing till the end.

Novel concepts at CES

Personally, I couldn’t think of anything worse than glowing cereal boxes, like these induction-powered ones as seen at CES. Supermarkets are stressful enough, without mounting a full-on assault of the senses. Soup that cooks itself, though? That we could do with.

More … Save for later with Instapaper

Quote of the week

New Zealand is the most beautiful wilderness country, but sometimes New Zealanders are too obsessed by the country rather than focusing on what specific people are doing.

- Peter Gordon delivers his verdict on where Aotearoa is going wrong.