Demented Genius Award: Massimo Banzi, Tinker.it

Toy hacking

(Credit: Tinker.it)

As you may know, we have a fondness for intelligent people who create unorthodox new works of twisted inspiration. Our Demented Genius Award occasionally goes out to acknowledge these important accomplishments of whimsy and circuitry. Today's award goes to Massimo Banzi, interviewed Friday on NPR.

Banzi, of Tinker.it, uses toy hacking to teach electronics and industrial design at a university in Milan, Italy, and in workshops all over the globe.

For the full story, listen to NPR's interview and watch the video instructing viewers on how to wed a frightful motion-sensing mewling cat to a remote-control submarine and a blinky LED raver toy.