Walking around in your favorite video game worlds was probably a dream of every young gamer. These floor mats from JBox can’t exactly put you into a game, but they can help you recreate one in your home. The Quest 8-Bit Mat Sets feature the recognizable blocky graphics we all know and love from the early days of video gaming.

There are four sets, and each comes with four blocks. Two are “base” blocks (like grass) and two are “special” blocks (like treasure chests). The foam blocks all interlock to form a soft, cushy surface on which to sit and while away the hours playing vintage Super Mario Bros games.

For just $6.85 a set, the blocks seem like a rather good deal…but you would need an awful lot of sets to re-floor your entire living room. If you did manage that feat of nerdery (and questionable home decorating), you might just be able to play a life-size game of The Legend of Zelda with a few willing friends.

The post Walkin’ On a Dream: Floor Tiles Put You in 8-Bit Games first appeared on Gajitz.

The trend of prominently displaying your home stereo system has faded into the realm of tackiness. Whether it’s the wall-mounted squares of the classic Bose surround sound system (were we supposed to believe those speakers were unobtrusive, floating up there in the corner?) or, god forbid, the old component towers, these systems have antiquated connectivity and are very aesthetically unpleasing. Amina Technologies has a very modern solution.

The company’s iQ series works like modern electronic instruments – electrical engineering is crossed with acoustic sound manipulation. Best of all,  the AIW5X Dual-Channel speaker is flat, can be built into walls and in a world first, can be covered with up to 2mm of plaster. They quite literally become invisible. Amina’s website claims they offer more creative freedom by “allowing designers and builders a very high quality wall or ceiling finish ready to accept a decoration of choice (paint, paper, etc).” Are they expensive? Of course. But the sound quality and uses for the AIW5X are enough to no doubt attract a myriad of sound enthusiasts.

The post Plastered: New Invisible Speaker Can Be Built Into Walls first appeared on Gajitz.

Diners and restaurant critics seem to agree that the noise level in a restaurant can make or break the dining experience. But it’s a fine balance – too much noise and customers feel crowded and overwhelmed; too little and they feel like their conversations can be overheard by absolutely everyone in the place. A restaurant in Berkeley, California has come up with a high-tech solution to the noise conundrum.

Comal, a Mexican restaurant owned by ex-Phish manager John Paluska, is using a combination of microphones, speakers, a digital processor, and absorption materials to create a totally unique noise control system. The first step in transforming the space into a sound-friendly one was to install plenty of sound-dampening material: wood fiber acoustic panels, fiberglass duct liner and even some recycled denim jeans.

A network of 123 speakers and microphones are distributed all throughout the dining room, hidden by art and other design elements. The microphones pick up the sound from the restaurant and feed it through a digital processor. Then it’s spit back out into the dining room based on commands from an iPad. A restaurant manager walking around the dining room can decide what level of sound is appropriate and even designate different levels for different areas. So far, it’s kept Comal – the first restaurant to use this technology – at a calm and conversational volume.

The post Restaurant Quiets the Crowds With High-Tech Sound System first appeared on Gajitz.

The phrase “she lit up the room when she walked in” is about to get a lot more literal. Electronics giant Philips has unveiled plans to introduce a glowing, color-changing wall covering that will provide a whole new layer of ambient lighting and customizable room decor. The flexible panels will combine LEDs with sound wave response, making the lighted wall covering react to certain sounds in the room. Music, movies and even conversations will be able to affect the way the room itself looks.

The panels are flexible aluminum designed to dampen sound in a large room, so they could be doubly useful in business settings to create a more intimate atmosphere. The shifting colors can be programmed to the user’s taste in order to create a specific mood – then changed at will to create a whole different feeling for the next event.

Philips doesn’t say when the panels will be available or how much they might cost, but the concept seems to be geared more toward businesses than individuals. It isn’t hard to see how a hotel, restaurant or dance club could make good use of glowing wallpaper. But there is also something to be said for having dancing lights covering the walls of a living room.

The post Glowing Wallpaper Makes Room Design Totally Customizable first appeared on Gajitz.

Traditional wall outlets are ugly and can’t accommodate many AC adapters, leaving you hunting for new places to stash your gadgets while they’re charging. One Japanese company has a fresh idea for how to make the lowly wall outlet look like a positively stylish part of your living space. Node 12050, an innovative wall outlet design from design firm Metaphys, lets you plug in several AC adapters with none of the awkward jockeying for outlet space that you have come to expect from standard wall outlets. It’s like a power strip, but prettier.

Of course, like most new concepts, there may be a few kinks to work out. Node 12050 may or may not be as sturdy as our typical wall plugs, perhaps posing a safety hazard from plugs falling out of the grooves. There is no space for the third “ground” prong common to many American appliances. And there’s an obvious safety risk that goes along with an electrical outlet that doesn’t look like an outlet – imagine a curious child exploring those two continuous grooves with a sharp object. But to be fair, some risks are present with conventional outlets, as well. And since this product isn’t currently being offered for American homes, it’s a moot point for those of us living in the US.

One of the coolest things about Node 12050 is the indicator light in the middle which turns red when the power load is getting to be too much. The light alerts you before a power surge takes place, which is great if you happen to be watching the outlet at all times. And who knows – with such an attractive outlet, you may just want to.

The post Out of Outlets? Plug-Anywhere Interior Wall Power Strip first appeared on Gajitz.