Cool Hunting: "During a visit to Las Vegas we had the opportunity to dig a little deeper with Bally Technologies' Director of Game Development, Brett Jackson. He offered some insight into the surprisingly complex innovation, psychology and design behind the slot machines that illuminate so many casino floors."
Short documentary about the psychology of slot machines
Read an exclusive excerpt from "An Internet In Your Head: A New Paradigm For How The Brain Works "
A few months back, I shared a piece from neuroscientist (and longtime BB reader!) Dan Graham about research into the language we use to discuss and understand the human brain. For years, scientists have relied on computer metaphors as the go-to point-of-comparison for brain function. But in his new book An Internet in Your Head: A… READ THE REST
Is your name spiky or round? Scientific study shows people judge you based on the sound of your name
The bouba-kiki effect (aka the maluma-takete effect) is the name of a phenomenon in which people map certain verbal sounds to shapes, no matter the language. For example, b, m, l and o sounds are associated with rounded shapes while k, t, p and i sounds map to jagged or spiky shapes. Now researchers have… READ THE REST
People have a tendency to add stuff to make something better even when subtraction makes more sense
Engineers and product designers refer to "feature creep," the ongoing addition of new features or options to "improve" something when it would often be better to be subtractive with any changes. According to a new study by University of Virginia behavioral scientist Benjamin Converse and his colleagues, we only consider subtractive changes when we're reminded… READ THE REST
Learn game development with 3 free courses and 30 courses for just $20
When you say you're ready to learn a new skill, how ready are you really? Sometimes, the urge prompts enough curiosity for an interested student to try a course or two. Or maybe you're the all-in type, ready to dive headlong into everything there is to learn about a subject and drink in as much… READ THE REST
This razor blade dryer can help your favorite blades last more than a year
In the grand scheme of the universe, guys don't really have a ton to complain about when it comes to personal grooming and self-maintenance. Sure, there are always a few mostly minor inconveniences here and there, but when considering the insane number of hoops women have to jump through to look and feel their best… READ THE REST
The Fireflower is an architect-designed fire pit and grill, and it's over $90 off
A grill and fire pit are the virtual centerpieces of any summer outdoor event. Unfortunately, most end up being pretty haphazard structures, wood stacked on top of sand or dirt, all lit ablaze with the hope nothing gets out of hand. Then there's the super-ashy cleanup… David Grisham loved enjoying those nights by the fire,… READ THE REST