One good way to prevent computer components from filling up landfills over the next few thousand years is to use them in artistic ways. Steven Rodrig did this in 2009, creating electronic sculptures using old printedcircuit boards (PCBs). His portfolio, seen here, showcases a variety of designs, including insects, flowers, reptiles, cityscapes, and more. Granted, these sculptures will still end up in landfills one day anyway. His heart was in the right place, at least.
Zoom Why not use those old, scratched-up CDs and DVDs to create unique ornaments for your tree this holiday season? As shown above, almost anything could work--motherboards, graphics cards, old modems, or hard drive platters--you name it. The disc-based versions would probably be a better choice, reflecting the strands of lights draped nearby. Heck, for an even geekier tree, you could paint unused Ethernet cables to replace the garland. Old CPUs and fans, sporting festive colors, could serve as unique makeshift decorations, too.
Zoom David Maloney hoarded old PC components over the years and boxed them up in his garage so that one day they would be recycled into "some sort of project." The idea of a coffee table came to mind after spotting a pile of black walnut from a tree he cut down years ago. "It's basically two tables," he said. "One internal table to screw the boards to and another set of wood frames with glass that slide on top of the board table. It's basically a wood diorama. It will be very easy to swap out thecomputer boards with something else once we get tired of the look of the boards."
Zoom The Blazer Pentium 1.0" shoes are part of Gabriel Dishaw's "Junk Art" collection, using what appears to be mutilated motherboards and other PCBs. Completed in just three weeks, the shoes are a men's size 9.5 and they weigh approximately 15 pounds. "This sculpture is part of a shoe series I'm currently working on where I revisit some of my favorite classic sneaker silhouettes," Dishaw said. "With this piece, I again tried to create a complete piece with both box and shoe. Notice some of the details--shoes lock down inside of the box for easy portability. I also tied this piece around a theme, Pentium, which is the name of Intel's chips. You will notice this is repeated throughout the shoes and box."
Zoom Finding the source behind the Mouse Robot was difficult. However, Nihat Ustundag apparently created it, which is one of many designs incorporating unused mice, peripheral components, and various objects. A few other examples of his designs include a porcupine, an alligator, a potted plant, some kind of four-legged beast comprised of keyboard keys, an airplane, and more. Honestly, this mouse robot resembles Jar Jar Binks from the Star Warsprequels--must be the reptilian-like face.
Zoom Enter "PC hamster cage" in the Google search field and you'll pull up multiple versions of monitors turned hamster cages. Unlike the variation shown above, one model incorporates a white and pink Hello Kitty design and a hinged top for easy access. Another hamster cage employs what appears to be a transparent iMac chassis mounted on a clear stand. In this instance, a hole was drilled into the side for an entrance to access the interior without moving the front grille. The version seen above doesn't seem to involve anything special, and it simply uses an old PC monitor husk to provide a unique rodent resort. If anything, the designer should have included some kind of lighting using LEDs or a miniature disco ball.
Zoom What better way to recycle old hard drives than to rip them apart and use the pieces to construct a miniature motorcycle? Created by Alex Andromeda, the model shown above is called Champion and features a DC motor for an engine and a belt-driven rear wheel. "The idea came from finding the symmetric metal pieces, which are used as the motorcycle frame," the bike's description reads. "The fender, gasoline tank, seat, and wheels are chosen according to the model size." Champion is 11" x 6" x 4" and is also comprised of VCR parts. A second motorcycle, the Unlimited Drive, is more hard drive-specific, and its magnetic platters serve as wheels. According to its description, this version represents "the spirit of independence, and Unlimited Drive means thousands of [gigabytes] of hard drives [are] driven on the Internet data highway." Ultimate Drive is a little larger than Champion, measuring 18" x 7" x 7".
Zoom Here's a good example of making good use of a stockpile of computer monitors--provided that they still work, of course. This particular wall--called Mauritian Sunset--was one of six designs created by Sandy Smith over in the UK.
"I started this body of work in January 2005 using a pile of broken and obsolete computer equipment I had salvaged from skips and offices," Smith said. "I set about making these work again, then used them as building blocks to create various architectural structures." Another one of Smith's structures consisted of a wall of 26 monitors supported by empty PC shells, forming a towering, multi-colored cross called Crucifix. Smith ended his particular series of artwork in January 2006.
Zoom Need a way to cool that hot cup of coffee or tea? Why not connect a small chassis fan or--better yet--an old GPU fan to the power supply? The rigged fan seen above looks just right for a small cup. For those wanting to take the cooling fan concept a step further, it may be possible to assemble a device with five or six fans positioned directly in front of the display that can cool your face or fingertips. Throw in a few LED cooling fans and you might have an annoying display of lights along with a light breeze.
Zoom Obviously, the PC chassis pictured above doesn't really brew coffee. While at first glace it looks like it is the real deal, what gives it away is the illuminated strips lining the burners. Still, the idea is amusing--converting a coffee maker into a PC-like device that would match the rest of your desktop. The drawback here should be obvious: the risk of spilling a pot of hot coffee all over the desk. Electrical-shock risks and burn issues aside, a matching brewer sitting next to your PC could spark heating problems. With that said, perhaps a coffee-brewing PC machine should remain in the kitchen. The idea was neat for a moment, at least.
Zoom Admit it: you've tried to create music by using a group of glasses filled with various levels of water, or you picked up a marker and started beating it on the desk, PC chassis, monitor, and keyboard trying to create some kind of makeshift tune. James Houston took that idea to the next level by grouping obsolete hardware and peripherals together to mimic Radiohead's Nude. The mechanical ensemble included a Sinclair ZX Spectrum 8-bit PC (guitars), an HP Scanjet 3c scanner (bass), an Epson LX-81 dot matrix printer (percussion), and a group of hard drivesto distort vocals. To see this band of old fogies in action, check out the YouTube video here.
Zoom Turning a chassis into a mailbox is both a nifty and dangerous idea. On one hand, it would certainly be original when compared to the other dull and unimaginative mailboxes lining the street. Heck, it might even put a smile on the mail carrier's face. But on the other hand, this physical inbox could alert would-be thieves to a tech-savvy geek who probably has a stockpile of electronics at the designated address. There's also a question of whether a chassis would be able to resist the elements and keep the mail dry. It would certainly give the neighbors something to gossip about.
Zoom Who needs to drive down to Walmart and purchase a new grill when a handy substitute is hanging out in a pile of old hardware? As seen above, someone took an empty chassis, dumped in a pile of coal, and decided to cook several sticks of meat. Based on the image, it seems that the backyard cook didn't bother to close the PCI slots or drive bays--sealing those holes would be ideal, keeping the fiery coals and heat intact. Then again, it might be even better to shove the chassis in the ground, leaving the opening exposed for a PC-themed barbecue pit.
Zoom It's not hard to find jewelry made from computer components on the Internet. The earrings seen above came from GeekGirl Jewelry, which offers many circuit-based designs. Other creative individuals have used memory chips,keyboard keys, CPUs, power buttons, USB drives, and even miniature circuitboards. Wearing hardware-based jewelry will likely prevent anyone from landing a hot date unless they're attending CES, Computex, or a Tom's Hardware office party.
Zoom Looking for a way to spice up a party? Why not create a working beer dispenser with a computer chassis. The style doesn't really matter--you can use an old PC case with a rear pull-off shell, an Apple G3 case, or even a Sun Microsystems server box. Taking a different direction, some PC modders have even created unique, beer-themed PCs (which don't involve actual beer) like the Bubbacomp, which is a working rig in the shape of a large beer can, and the Heineken Beer PC, which mimics a case of Heineken. Want to take the simple route? Just installa beer bottle opener on the side of the chassis.
Zoom This option may be a bit tacky, but using a PC chassis as a bird feeder is definitely an interesting way to repay Mother Nature. As seen above, this person merely secured a chassis to a tree using lots of rope--keyboard included. Can't get the birds to land? Chances are they don't want to be seen coasting anywhere near the geeky resort.
Zoom Last year, this tribute to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was seen in the lobby of motherboard manufacturer Asus' headquarters in Taiwan. As you've probably guessed, this "painting" is actually a collage of old motherboards and computer chips, comprised as a tribute to the famous artist as well as the technology that has propelled the company to the forefront of the industry. The collage was reportedlycreated by actual Asus designers--CEO Jonney Shih said the company encourages its designers to foster "any kind of crazy ideas." This Mona Lisa tribute isn't anything close to crazy--it's downright spectacular.
Zoom What better way to make a statement about your PC roots than to sport a ride caked with circuit boards? Granted the image shown above is possibly fake, but there could be a way to demonstrate your dedication through a real crafty paint job or a full-body printed wrap with components cemented onto the surface. Instead of fuzzy dice, throw on a pair of 5.25" floppy disks around the rear-view mirror. On the hood, engrave an Intel Inside logo.
Zoom If all else fails, take all the unused hardware out to the back yard and go to town with a handy bat, golf club, machete, or axe. There's no denying it--we've all been there, wanting to rip the rig to shreds because a PCI card isn't behaving with the rest of the hardware, or the installed graphics card just isn't as vigorous as it was in its younger days. Some of the more hateful components thus far have included modems, CD-ROM drives, and printers--all of which eventually need a little "me time," Jason Vorhees-style. Honestly, the bigger the better. Bonus points if you play a little Geto Boys as you abuse your hardware, a la Office Space.
Fuente: http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/553-recycle-unused-hardware.html
17/10: Actualización: Desde Google Buzz, Leandro Laporta recuerda éste video, relacionado con éste post :)
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