diff --git a/interface/CMakeLists.txt b/interface/CMakeLists.txt
index f147ada803..829ccbff06 100755
--- a/interface/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/interface/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -99,10 +99,6 @@ find_package(OpenNI)
 find_package(UVCCameraControl)
 find_package(ZLIB)
 
-# link the stk library
-set(STK_ROOT_DIR ${ROOT_DIR}/externals/stk)
-find_package(STK REQUIRED)
-
 # let the source know that we have OpenNI/NITE for Kinect
 if (OPENNI_FOUND)
     add_definitions(-DHAVE_OPENNI)
@@ -126,7 +122,6 @@ include_directories(
   ${LEAP_INCLUDE_DIRS}
   ${MOTIONDRIVER_INCLUDE_DIRS}
   ${OPENCV_INCLUDE_DIRS}
-  ${STK_INCLUDE_DIRS}
 )
 
 SET(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -isystem ${OPENCV_INCLUDE_DIRS}")
@@ -136,7 +131,6 @@ target_link_libraries(
   ${MOTIONDRIVER_LIBRARIES}
   ${OPENCV_LIBRARIES} 
   ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES}
-  ${STK_LIBRARIES}
   fervor
 )
 
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index 86b420f7f4..6f70c89f3b
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ using namespace std;
 static char STAR_FILE[] = "https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/highfidelity/stars.txt";
 static char STAR_CACHE_FILE[] = "cachedStars.txt";
 
+static const bool TESTING_PARTICLE_SYSTEM = false;
+
 static const int BANDWIDTH_METER_CLICK_MAX_DRAG_LENGTH = 6; // farther dragged clicks are ignored 
 
 const glm::vec3 START_LOCATION(4.f, 0.f, 5.f);   //  Where one's own node begins in the world
@@ -2006,6 +2008,10 @@ void Application::update(float deltaTime) {
     _audio.setLastVelocity(_myAvatar.getVelocity());
     _audio.eventuallyAnalyzePing();
     #endif
+    
+    if (TESTING_PARTICLE_SYSTEM) {
+        _particleSystem.simulate(deltaTime);    
+    }
 }
 
 void Application::updateAvatar(float deltaTime) {
@@ -2449,6 +2455,10 @@ void Application::displaySide(Camera& whichCamera) {
         _myAvatar.render(_lookingInMirror->isChecked(), _renderAvatarBalls->isChecked());
         _myAvatar.setDisplayingLookatVectors(_renderLookatOn->isChecked());
     }
+
+    if (TESTING_PARTICLE_SYSTEM) {
+        _particleSystem.render();    
+    }
     
     //  Render the world box
     if (!_lookingInMirror->isChecked() && _renderStatsOn->isChecked()) { render_world_box(); }
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.h b/interface/src/Application.h
index acb2263cbf..c6bbd4eec2 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.h
+++ b/interface/src/Application.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "ui/ChatEntry.h"
 #include "ToolsPalette.h"
 #include "Swatch.h"
+#include "ParticleSystem.h"
 
 class QAction;
 class QActionGroup;
@@ -366,6 +367,8 @@ private:
     
     GeometryCache _geometryCache;
     
+    ParticleSystem _particleSystem;
+    
     #ifndef _WIN32
     Audio _audio;
     #endif
diff --git a/interface/src/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/Avatar.cpp
index ab57d6d0df..88559ffdb1 100755
--- a/interface/src/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Avatar.cpp
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ Avatar::Avatar(Node* owningNode) :
     _elapsedTimeMoving(0.0f),
     _elapsedTimeStopped(0.0f),
     _elapsedTimeSinceCollision(0.0f),
+    _speedBrakes(false),
+    _isThrustOn(false),
     _voxels(this)
 {
     // give the pointer to our head to inherited _headData variable from AvatarData
@@ -420,8 +422,21 @@ void Avatar::updateThrust(float deltaTime, Transmitter * transmitter) {
             up;
         }
     }
-}
     
+    //  Update speed brake status
+    
+    const float MIN_SPEED_BRAKE_VELOCITY = 0.4f;
+    if ((glm::length(_thrust) == 0.0f) && _isThrustOn && (glm::length(_velocity) > MIN_SPEED_BRAKE_VELOCITY)) {
+        _speedBrakes = true;
+    } 
+     
+    if (_speedBrakes && (glm::length(_velocity) < MIN_SPEED_BRAKE_VELOCITY)) {
+        _speedBrakes = false;
+    }
+    _isThrustOn = (glm::length(_thrust) > EPSILON);
+
+}
+
 void Avatar::simulate(float deltaTime, Transmitter* transmitter) {
     
     glm::quat orientation = getOrientation();
@@ -559,9 +574,14 @@ void Avatar::simulate(float deltaTime, Transmitter* transmitter) {
         const float STATIC_FRICTION_STRENGTH = 20.f;
         applyStaticFriction(deltaTime, _velocity, MAX_STATIC_FRICTION_VELOCITY, STATIC_FRICTION_STRENGTH);
         
-        const float LINEAR_DAMPING_STRENGTH = 3.0f;
+        const float LINEAR_DAMPING_STRENGTH = 1.0f;
+        const float SPEED_BRAKE_POWER = 10.0f;
         const float SQUARED_DAMPING_STRENGTH = 0.2f;
-        applyDamping(deltaTime, _velocity, LINEAR_DAMPING_STRENGTH, SQUARED_DAMPING_STRENGTH);
+        if (_speedBrakes) {
+            applyDamping(deltaTime, _velocity, LINEAR_DAMPING_STRENGTH * SPEED_BRAKE_POWER, SQUARED_DAMPING_STRENGTH * SPEED_BRAKE_POWER);
+        } else {
+            applyDamping(deltaTime, _velocity, LINEAR_DAMPING_STRENGTH, SQUARED_DAMPING_STRENGTH);            
+        }
         
         //pitch and roll the body as a function of forward speed and turning delta
         const float BODY_PITCH_WHILE_WALKING      = -20.0;
diff --git a/interface/src/Avatar.h b/interface/src/Avatar.h
index 777b4dca59..653971c3e5 100755
--- a/interface/src/Avatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/Avatar.h
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@ private:
     float       _elapsedTimeMoving;             //  Timers to drive camera transitions when moving
     float       _elapsedTimeStopped;
     float       _elapsedTimeSinceCollision;
+    bool        _speedBrakes;
+    bool        _isThrustOn;
     
     AvatarVoxelSystem _voxels;
     
diff --git a/interface/src/ParticleSystem.cpp b/interface/src/ParticleSystem.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3c27f3a8df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/interface/src/ParticleSystem.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+//
+//  ParticleSystem.cpp
+//  hifi
+//
+//  Created by Jeffrey on July 10, 2013
+//
+
+#include <glm/glm.hpp>
+#include "InterfaceConfig.h"
+#include <SharedUtil.h>
+
+#include "ParticleSystem.h"
+
+ParticleSystem::ParticleSystem() {
+
+    _numberOfParticles = 1500;
+    assert(_numberOfParticles <= MAX_PARTICLES);
+    
+    _bounce             = 0.9f;
+    _timer              = 0.0f;
+    _airFriction        = 6.0f;
+    _jitter             = 0.1f;
+    _homeAttraction     = 0.0f;
+    _tornadoForce       = 0.0f;
+    _neighborAttraction = 0.02f;
+    _neighborRepulsion  = 0.9f;
+    _tornadoAxis        = glm::normalize(glm::vec3(0.1f, 1.0f, 0.1f));
+    _home               = glm::vec3(5.0f, 1.0f, 5.0f);
+    
+    _TEST_bigSphereRadius = 0.5f;
+    _TEST_bigSpherePosition = glm::vec3( 5.0f, _TEST_bigSphereRadius, 5.0f);
+
+    for (unsigned int p = 0; p < _numberOfParticles; p++) {
+        _particle[p].position = _home;
+        _particle[p].velocity = glm::vec3(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f);
+        
+        float radian = ((float)p / (float)_numberOfParticles) * PI_TIMES_TWO;
+        float wave = sinf(radian);
+        
+        float red   = 0.5f + 0.5f * wave;
+        float green = 0.3f + 0.3f * wave;
+        float blue  = 0.2f - 0.2f * wave;
+        
+        _particle[p].color    = glm::vec3(red, green, blue);
+        _particle[p].age      = 0.0f;
+        _particle[p].radius   = 0.01f;
+    }
+}
+
+void ParticleSystem::simulate(float deltaTime) {
+    
+    runSpecialEffectsTest(deltaTime);
+ 
+    for (unsigned int p = 0; p < _numberOfParticles; p++) {
+        updateParticle(p, deltaTime);
+    }
+}
+
+
+
+void ParticleSystem::runSpecialEffectsTest(float deltaTime) {
+   
+    _timer += deltaTime;
+
+    _gravity            = 0.01f  + 0.01f  * sinf( _timer * 0.52f );
+    _airFriction        = 3.0f   + 2.0f   * sinf( _timer * 0.32f );
+    _jitter             = 0.05f  + 0.05f  * sinf( _timer * 0.42f );
+    _homeAttraction     = 0.01f  + 0.01f  * cosf( _timer * 0.6f  );
+    _tornadoForce       = 0.0f   + 0.03f  * sinf( _timer * 0.7f  );
+    _neighborAttraction = 0.1f   + 0.1f   * cosf( _timer * 0.8f  );
+    _neighborRepulsion  = 0.4f   + 0.3f   * sinf( _timer * 0.4f  );
+
+    _tornadoAxis = glm::vec3
+    (
+        0.0f + 0.5f * sinf( _timer * 0.55f ),
+        1.0f,
+        0.0f + 0.5f * cosf( _timer * 0.75f )
+    );
+}
+
+
+
+void ParticleSystem::updateParticle(int p, float deltaTime) {
+
+    _particle[p].age += deltaTime;
+
+    // apply random jitter
+    _particle[p].velocity += 
+    glm::vec3
+    (
+        -_jitter * ONE_HALF + _jitter * randFloat(), 
+        -_jitter * ONE_HALF + _jitter * randFloat(), 
+        -_jitter * ONE_HALF + _jitter * randFloat()
+    ) * deltaTime;
+    
+    
+    // apply attraction to home position
+    glm::vec3 vectorToHome = _home - _particle[p].position;
+    _particle[p].velocity += vectorToHome * _homeAttraction * deltaTime;
+    
+    // apply neighbor attraction
+    int neighbor = p + 1;
+    if (neighbor == _numberOfParticles ) {
+        neighbor = 0;
+    }
+    glm::vec3 vectorToNeighbor = _particle[p].position - _particle[neighbor].position;
+    
+    _particle[p].velocity -= vectorToNeighbor * _neighborAttraction * deltaTime;
+
+    float distanceToNeighbor = glm::length(vectorToNeighbor);
+    if (distanceToNeighbor > 0.0f) {
+        _particle[neighbor].velocity += (vectorToNeighbor / ( 1.0f + distanceToNeighbor * distanceToNeighbor)) * _neighborRepulsion * deltaTime;
+    }
+    
+    // apply tornado force
+    glm::vec3 tornadoDirection = glm::cross(vectorToHome, _tornadoAxis);
+    _particle[p].velocity += tornadoDirection * _tornadoForce * deltaTime;
+
+    // apply air friction
+    float drag = 1.0 - _airFriction * deltaTime;
+    if (drag < 0.0f) {
+        _particle[p].velocity = glm::vec3(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f);
+    } else {
+        _particle[p].velocity *= drag;
+    }
+    
+    // apply gravity
+    _particle[p].velocity.y -= _gravity * deltaTime;       
+
+    // update position by velocity
+    _particle[p].position += _particle[p].velocity;
+    
+    // collision with ground
+    if (_particle[p].position.y < _particle[p].radius) {
+        _particle[p].position.y = _particle[p].radius;
+        
+        if (_particle[p].velocity.y < 0.0f) {
+            _particle[p].velocity.y *= -_bounce;
+        }
+    }
+    
+    // collision with sphere
+    glm::vec3 vectorToSphereCenter = _TEST_bigSpherePosition - _particle[p].position;
+    float distanceToSphereCenter = glm::length(vectorToSphereCenter);
+    float combinedRadius = _TEST_bigSphereRadius + _particle[p].radius;
+    if (distanceToSphereCenter < combinedRadius) {
+    
+        if (distanceToSphereCenter > 0.0f){
+            glm::vec3 directionToSphereCenter = vectorToSphereCenter / distanceToSphereCenter;
+            _particle[p].position = _TEST_bigSpherePosition - directionToSphereCenter * combinedRadius;            
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
+void ParticleSystem::render() {
+
+    for (unsigned int p = 0; p < _numberOfParticles; p++) {
+        glColor3f(_particle[p].color.x, _particle[p].color.y, _particle[p].color.z);
+        glPushMatrix();
+        glTranslatef(_particle[p].position.x, _particle[p].position.y, _particle[p].position.z);
+        glutSolidSphere(_particle[p].radius, 6, 6);
+        glPopMatrix();
+    
+        // render velocity lines
+        glColor4f( _particle[p].color.x, _particle[p].color.y, _particle[p].color.z, 0.5f);
+        glm::vec3 end = _particle[p].position - _particle[p].velocity * 2.0f;
+        glBegin(GL_LINES);
+        glVertex3f(_particle[p].position.x, _particle[p].position.y, _particle[p].position.z);
+        glVertex3f(end.x, end.y, end.z);
+        
+        glEnd();
+        
+    }
+}
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/interface/src/ParticleSystem.h b/interface/src/ParticleSystem.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..38eb0a1777
--- /dev/null
+++ b/interface/src/ParticleSystem.h
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+//
+//  ParticleSystem.h
+//  hifi
+//
+//  Created by Jeffrey on July 10, 2013
+//
+//
+
+#ifndef hifi_ParticleSystem_h
+#define hifi_ParticleSystem_h
+
+const int MAX_PARTICLES = 5000;
+const int MAX_EMITTERS  = 10;
+
+class ParticleSystem {
+public:
+    ParticleSystem();
+    
+    void simulate(float deltaTime);
+    void render();
+    
+private:
+
+    struct Particle {
+        glm::vec3   position;
+        glm::vec3   velocity;
+        glm::vec3   color;
+        float       age;
+        float       radius;
+    };  
+
+    struct Emitter {
+        glm::vec3 position;
+        glm::vec3 direction;
+    };  
+    
+    float      _bounce;
+    float      _gravity;
+    float      _timer;
+    Emitter    _emitter[MAX_EMITTERS];
+    Particle   _particle[MAX_PARTICLES];
+    int        _numberOfParticles;
+    glm::vec3  _home;
+    glm::vec3  _tornadoAxis;
+    float      _airFriction;
+    float      _jitter;
+    float      _homeAttraction;
+    float      _tornadoForce;
+    float      _neighborAttraction;
+    float      _neighborRepulsion;
+    float      _TEST_bigSphereRadius;
+    glm::vec3  _TEST_bigSpherePosition;
+    
+    // private methods
+    void updateParticle(int index, float deltaTime);
+    void runSpecialEffectsTest(float deltaTime);
+};
+
+#endif
diff --git a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelConstants.h b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelConstants.h
index 30a0427292..421c03f3b6 100644
--- a/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelConstants.h
+++ b/libraries/voxels/src/VoxelConstants.h
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ const glm::vec3 IDENTITY_RIGHT = glm::vec3( 1.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f);
 const glm::vec3 IDENTITY_UP    = glm::vec3( 0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f);
 const glm::vec3 IDENTITY_FRONT = glm::vec3( 0.0f, 0.0f,-1.0f);
 
+const bool LOW_RES_MONO = false; // while in "low res mode" do voxels switch to monochrome
+
 const int TREE_SCALE = 128;
 
 const int NUMBER_OF_CHILDREN = 8;
diff --git a/voxel-server/src/VoxelNodeData.cpp b/voxel-server/src/VoxelNodeData.cpp
index 2fba3e511b..971b6f8eaa 100644
--- a/voxel-server/src/VoxelNodeData.cpp
+++ b/voxel-server/src/VoxelNodeData.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ VoxelNodeData::VoxelNodeData(Node* owningNode) :
 void VoxelNodeData::resetVoxelPacket() {
     // If we're moving, and the client asked for low res, then we force monochrome, otherwise, use 
     // the clients requested color state.    
-    _currentPacketIsColor = (getWantLowResMoving() && _viewFrustumChanging) ? false : getWantColor();
+    _currentPacketIsColor = (LOW_RES_MONO && getWantLowResMoving() && _viewFrustumChanging) ? false : getWantColor();
     PACKET_TYPE voxelPacketType = _currentPacketIsColor ? PACKET_TYPE_VOXEL_DATA : PACKET_TYPE_VOXEL_DATA_MONOCHROME;
     int numBytesPacketHeader = populateTypeAndVersion(_voxelPacket, voxelPacketType);
     _voxelPacketAt = _voxelPacket + numBytesPacketHeader;
diff --git a/voxel-server/src/main.cpp b/voxel-server/src/main.cpp
index 917031b317..cf59f226db 100644
--- a/voxel-server/src/main.cpp
+++ b/voxel-server/src/main.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ void deepestLevelVoxelDistributor(NodeList* nodeList,
     // If we're starting a fresh packet, then... 
     //     If we're moving, and the client asked for low res, then we force monochrome, otherwise, use 
     //     the clients requested color state.
-    bool wantColor = ((nodeData->getWantLowResMoving() && viewFrustumChanged) ? false : nodeData->getWantColor());
+    bool wantColor = LOW_RES_MONO && nodeData->getWantLowResMoving() && viewFrustumChanged ? false : nodeData->getWantColor();
 
     // If we have a packet waiting, and our desired want color, doesn't match the current waiting packets color
     // then let's just send that waiting packet.