Our editors have compiled a list of the “Top 5 Strangest (or Coolest) Art-Inspired Gadgets” for your enjoyment. Which ones are your favorites?

5. Light Brix

Unlike its predecessor, Light Brix uses a “modular light system for architecture, which reacts to the electromagnetic fields generated by touch” — producing some very interesting effects as seen above. It consists of a custom designed electronic circuit, plastic shell, and an aluminium structure. Video here.

4. Thermopainter

Osaka University researcher Daisuke Iwai has developed a new technology which allows people to paint using thermal vision technology. Video here.

ThermoPainter can detect temperature change regions on a sensing surface as touch regions when objects hotter or colder than the surface touch it. In the system, users can use a physical paintbrush with hot water and an airbrush with cold water in spite of paint as they use in the real world, and even use their own fingers, hands, and breaths directly because of their own body heat.

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3. LED Throwies

A throwie basically consists of a 10mm diffused LED, lithium ion battery, and a rare-earth magnet all taped together.

LED Throwies are an inexpensive way to add color to any ferromagnetic surface in your neighborhood. Throw it up high and in quantity to impress your friends and city officials. Throw it up high and in quantity to impress your friends and city officials.

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2. PixelRoller

Put simply, PixelRoller is the coolest paint roller we’ve ever come accross. It “paints pixels, designed as a rapid response printing tool specifically to print digital information such as imagery or text onto a great range of surfaces” and is applied by the user with continous strokes.

PixelRoller can be seen as a handheld “printer”, based around the ergonomics of a paintroller, that lets you create the images by your own hand.

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1. I/O Brush

At first glance, it looks like your standard brush, but upon closer inspection you’ll find integrated LEDs, touch sensors, and a camera. The I/O Brush basically “lifts up and captures photons”, allowing artists to draw with “special ink” picked up from their immediate environment.

I/O Brush looks like a regular physical paintbrush but has a small video camera with lights and touch sensors embedded inside. Outside of the drawing canvas, the brush can pick up color, texture, and movement of a brushed surface.

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A technology, gadget and video game enthusiast that loves covering the latest industry news. Favorite trade show? Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.