Granted, these kind of people aren’t just on Facebook; they’re actually all over the web. The social network is just kind of a concern, because it’s a site that many of the younger ones frequent lately. Some go on Facebook for the connections or for the networking, but since they’re kids, you can expect them to go online a lot as well for the games. With this in the mind, the Kidsocial network geared specifically towards kids was born.

What makes it different from traditional social networks is that random people can’t just “friend” or add other people up if they don’t know each other in the real world. Kidsocial does this by generating “secret friendship codes they can pass out to their real-world friends at school or by text message.”

When the code is entered, the two kids are connected and their parents will automatically be informed about the new connection. This only applies to those under 13 years of age, though. Those who are already 13 and up can use the site just like Facebook.

Kidsocial isn’t just a social network either; it’s being branded as a social entertainment network, so you can expect a lot of media content on the site as well.

[via Coolest Gadgets]

With this in mind, René Lee set off to work on designing a revolutionary printer with the busy office in mind. After spending a lot of time doing research and drawing up initial designs, Lee came up with the Arc Printer.

It’s basically a round printer that stacks printouts from different documents accordingly in a circle. Users can just walk up to the printer, find their stack, have a quick chat or say hello to the others who are also grabbing their documents, and go.

With this design, Lee has managed to transform the printer “from a heavy utilitarian equipment into something more elegant and emotional.”

I’d definitely love to see one of these at my office.

[via Utilitarian Things]

I mean, we have social sites for video games, artwork, and music aficionados. Why not one for independent writers? But here’s some good news: it’s coming. Or rather, it will come, once the Leebre project gets funded on Kickstarter.

Basically, Leebre is a social community where readers and writers can connect. But more than that, it can provide authors with a multitude of tools and resources to publish their work independently. The site will not only allow writers to post manuscripts online, but will generate eBook formatted content, as well as give their content a professionally typeset look, then release them with the appropriate Creative Commons license. Writers can put their bios and book previews up online, place “donation” buttons on their works so readers can show their appreciation or even contribute to charities.

For now, the Beta site is focused on publishing fiction, but there’s no reason why it couldn’t support any sort of content. I think Leebre will become a very cool site if it gets fully released, mainly for the fact that more people would be able to gain access to literature that would otherwise remain unpublished. I say this, given the lack of resources that many of these independent authors find themselves in.

If you’re interested in supporting Leebre, head on over to Kickstarter and contribute what you can.

As you can see from the pictures, AIDA has its own set of facial expressions, to help it “establish an affective bond” with the driver. I guess it is more pleasing to interact with something that has a face, as opposed to talking to the air like the Hoff used to do with KITT, but won’t it become a distraction?

What I like about AIDA though is its ability to familiarize itself with the needs and habits of a driver, like one’s usual destinations, or how one drives. It will then combine that information with real-time data like traffic or weather, stuff that may not be immediately available to the driver, to give hints and tips:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

What do you think? Will AIDA be a helpful companion, or a nagger that you won’t be able to kick out of the car?

[via MIT via Popular Science]

Home will allow users to create their own 3D humanoid avatar and interact in an environment that is strikingly similar to Second Life (but with PS3 quality graphics.) PlayStation 3 online users will be able to create their own virtual “apartments” which they can decorate to their own aesthetic and show off personal content such as videos, photos and other media from their PS3′s hard drive.

The launching point for Home will be a “lobby” where you can walk around and browse your gaming collection and even play mini arcade games (although it’s not known if there will be a cost for these games.) Gaming and content publishers will also be able to join the community and set up shop with their own products and services. Check out this video of the service in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Home is expected to be totally free, and should go into a Beta test later this Spring, with a full roll-out later in 2007.

[images via Kotaku]