The View From Above: In Hard Focus Round-Up (August 5, 2011)

Video Games Hitting the Road: Those nostalgic for old racing arcade games will get a kick out of this Augmented Reality hybrid from Garnet Hertz, artist and contributor of ConceptLab. Design Taxi reports that Garnet has taken a SEGA Out-Run, installed it on a golf cart frame, and added webcams that translate real world driving into the video game. While racing on-screen, the 13 mph speed limit of the golf cart ensures no speeding ticket in the real world. See for yourself above. 

'I Do' Just Got A Whole Lot Easier: According to a company press release, Since1910.com, the online site for engagement rings, now offers a AR-esque 'Try It On' feature via webcam. Only for their Tacori rings thus far, a user is able to put a paper band on their finger and see the actual ring. Interesting to see jewelers recognizing the  massive amount of online shopping potential customers do and their effort to replicate the in-store experience online. 

Chocolate > Carrots for Night Vision? Remember the lies your parents used to tell to get you to eat vegetables? Well, a study out of the University of Reading in England might have just proven them wrong. On Scientific American today, the recent research showed that cocoa flavanols (antioxidants from cacao beans found in dark chocolate) temporarily enhanced the sharpness of vision and improved cognition among those tested.