You can now save energy and impress your friends at the same time thanks to a new Kinect hack. The Kinect home automation system
uses Kinect's ability to sense people to track their movement in
the room and adjust the lighting accordingly (see video above).
It
even knows to dim the lights when you settle down to watch a movie and to
turn them back on when you want to take a break.
Read more about this system here or find out about all the latest Kinect hacks in our regular round-up.
If you enjoyed this story, you might also enjoy this video in which Kinect helps to build 3D micro-models of people.
"Born to be viral" is our new weekly slot for incredible videos that we think deserve to go wild across the web
Ever wondered what it looks like when a hacker attacks a computer and tries to break into someone's account?
Now Ben Reardon of Dataviz Australia has created a stunning visualisation that shows a single attack on a voice-over-IP (VOIP) server, similar to those used for Skype. Hacked VOIP servers are often used for black-market communications and cheap calling-card scams.
In the video above, the server is shown on the left, where the accounts of the people signed up to make calls are represented by blue bubbles. A hacker's attack comes from the right, launching small white and red bubbles that represent scans from a malicious computer program. The battle that plays out is slowed down by 25 per cent.
3D printers seem to be able to create pretty much anything these days, from flutes to bikes. But a new Kinect hack called Fabricate Yourself uses the technology to create the ultimate accessory for the super vain - a 3D printout of you.
For those in long term relationships missing their loved-ones, software like Skype can keep you close. But when your partner steps away from the screen to go and make a cup of tea or have a bath, you're left waiting by the monitor, sadly staring at an empty chair.
If that sounds like a familiar scenario, you might appreciate this video.
Our January best of the web round-up features a solar-powered race car, frisky butterflies, a gesture-controlled robot, and high-tech yarn made of carbon nanotubes. You can also watch a sneaky cancer drug in action, blood cells infected with malaria, an ancient predator reconstructed, and the best of exoplanetary art. And let's not forget the sunset that no human eye has ever seen.