Pinterest is a vision board-styled social photo sharing website and app where users can create and manage theme-based image collections. The site’s mission statement is to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting”. Pinterest is managed by a team based in Palo Alto, California.

Microsoft today launched a Web site, The Art of Touch, that lets Netizens create their own digital paintings.

On the site, which uses HTML5, users can select three different width paint brushes as well as six effects that alter each “brush stroke” with mouse movements. The palette of pastel colors are pre-selected, generated as would-be artists move their mice at different speeds. So when users slide their mouse slowly, for example, they can create a ribbon of red surrounded by starbursts of blue and yellow.

For Microsoft, the idea is to generate interest in its “Touch” series of mice, though, the site works with any mouse, or even a touch pad on a laptop. It doesn’t work with tablets, such as the iPad, where finger strokes move or resize the screen.

Ben Reed, a senior manager in Microsoft’s hardware group, calls the effort a “social experiment.” Microsoft’s goal is to engage consumers and raise awareness of the company’s products.

The company has recruited three generative artists to create special effects for the site. One of them, Norwegian artist Marius Watz, said he was intrigued by the possibility of users tinkering with his creations, something that doesn’t typically happen with his art.

“As an artist, you’re not usually that promiscuous with your work,” Watz said. “I’m pleased that it is irreverent.”

Users can print out their work, share on social networks, or even create T-shirts, coffee mugs, and the like featuring their work through a connection with Zazzle. And Microsoft is holding a contest, where the top vote-getters can win a computer and mouse.

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Cambridge University Spaceflight landing predictor – a web-based tool for predicting the flight path and landing location of latex meteorological sounding balloons.

Using the same Street View technology that powers Google Maps, the program lets viewers experience a virtual 360 degree tour of the gallery of their choice and select the artwork they want to explore. Some of the artwork will be featured in high resolution; all of it will have a related history attached and even YouTube videos where applicable.

Users are also able to create their own gallery made up of their favorite pieces from the collections. The “Create An Artwork Collection,” feature also lets users comment on each painting and share the collection with others.

The museums participating include, Altes Nationalgalerie, The Freer Gallery of Art Smithsonian, National Gallery (London,) The Frick Collection, Gemäldegalerie, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMa, Museo Reina Sofia, Museo Thyseen – Bornemisza, Museum Kampa, Palace of Versailles, Rijksmuseum, The State Hermitage Museum, State Tretyakov Gallery, Tate, Uffizi and Van Gogh Museum.

“The Google Art Project is a powerful example of how digital technology can help art institutions work in partnership to reach out globally, to new audiences and enable works of art to be explored in depth and with stunning clarity,” said Dr. Nicholas Penny, Directory of the National Gallery, in a statement.

In total the Google Art Project features 385 gallery rooms, 486 artists, and 1,061 high resolution artwork images.

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Google Demo Slam is a term to glorify the use of technology to it’s best extent and make you say wow. Not everything is what you think it is so it’s time you click the above link and check it out yourself!