Technabob » delete

Lose/Lose: Shoot to Kill (Your Files)

Technabob — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:37:04 +0000

I’ve seen some weird mini games in my time, but this one might just take the cake. While the gameplay mechanics of Lose/Lose might look like any other space-alien-shooter, the consequences of playing incorrectly are so much greater.

You see, every time you shoot an alien, you lose. That’s because each alien represents a randomly selected file on your computer’s hard drive. And each successful shot deletes the chosen file. Now what sort of fun is that? Except maybe on someone else’s computer, right?

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Zach Gage, the creator of Lose/Lose, explains the seemingly meaningless gameplay as follows: “By way of exploring what it means to kill in a video-game, Lose/Lose broaches bigger questions. As technology grows, our understanding of it diminishes, yet, at the same time, it becomes increasingly important in our lives. At what point does our virtual data become as important to us as physical possessions? If we have reached that point already, what real objects do we value less than our data? What implications does trusting something so important to something we understand so poorly have?”

So I guess the point is that you’re not supposed to kill the aliens at all. So if you manage to ram yourself into an alien and your man dies, you’re rewarded with the best part of the game – the game deletes its own executable. Whee.

Download Lose/Lose at your own risk.

Me, I’m sticking to Uncharted 2.

[via Sensible Erection via TIGSource]

Digital Recycle Bin Saves Deleted Files

Technabob — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:46:00 +0000

Currently just a conceptual design, the TEMPO is an external storage device that’s designed to prevent you from losing files you accidentally delete. The clever thing about it is that it actually looks like a little recycling bin (although it might be mistaken for a cup of really black coffee).

Created by industrial designer Franco Cagnina for Intech, the TEMPO connects via Bluetooth to your Mac or PC and automatically stores backup copies of files as you delete them. As you fill the drive, a series colored LEDs on the side of the device indicates how full the “bin” is.

This is one of those great examples of utility and intuitive interface design coming together. I really hope that Intech does end up producing these.

[via MoCo LoCo]

Best Way to Destroy a Hard Drive

Technabob — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:55:29 +0000

If you’re concerned that someone might find your corporate secrets (or your nasty web surfing habits) on your used computer’s hard drive, check this out. The appropriately named BREAKS-EASY is a device designed to ensure that nobody can find the skeletons in your closet.

Much like those can crushers you use to recycle cans, the BREAKS-EASY is designed to crush any hard drive into smithereens. If you happen to have a lot of drives to destroy (or have limited upper-arm strength), you might want to check out one of Orient Instrument’s high-powered automatic hard disk crushers.

While I personally think a sledgehammer or a large magnet does the trick, this seems like it might be a little more fun.

[via Akihabaranews]