Thursday, October 28, 2010
Green Electronics
http://www.fastcompany.com/1698390/greenpeace-guide-to-greener-electronics-hp-moves-up-apple-falls-down
This is interesting. Most of us have a certain level of awareness when it comes to being green. We think about emissions from cars, not using excessive/ unnecessary amounts of water or electricity, etc. While I consider myself a fairly aware person when it comes to being green, I know I certainly haven't ever thought about what is used to actually make the electronics that I use everyday. And when I choose to buy a new phone or laptop, I certainly don't think about which brand is greener as part of making my choice. This article was kind of an eye-opener in that way. Maybe in the future it will be one of my considerations. Luckily, I already own a nokia phone, so does that balance out the fact that I have a macbook?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Immerse yourself
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/business/26road.html?_r=1&ref=technology
This technology sounds kind of amazing. Its a device that you hang on your chest when you are watching a movie and it sends barely noticeable vibrations that can trigger sensations and emotions because it activates the part of the brain responsible for emotion and sense of self. Thus, watching a movie, you will feel a lot more immersed in the movie. It works for normal movies with normal sound but will make you have a much more intense experience. Sounds really cool, but also kind of scary: do I really want to physically realistically feel like I'm being shot at, drowning, heart broken, etc?
The maker is trying to sell it to airlines as it would make time go faster if you are so immersed in the movie.
This technology sounds kind of amazing. Its a device that you hang on your chest when you are watching a movie and it sends barely noticeable vibrations that can trigger sensations and emotions because it activates the part of the brain responsible for emotion and sense of self. Thus, watching a movie, you will feel a lot more immersed in the movie. It works for normal movies with normal sound but will make you have a much more intense experience. Sounds really cool, but also kind of scary: do I really want to physically realistically feel like I'm being shot at, drowning, heart broken, etc?
The maker is trying to sell it to airlines as it would make time go faster if you are so immersed in the movie.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Updated Data Visualization
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| Click here to view full-sized version |
- Use of scale to emphasize the data most useful and important.
- Shortening of text to make it more concise.
- Questions are now on a straight line vs. on a slant as in the previous version.
These were the main points that I remember coming up. But please let me know if you have any other suggestions or ideas for things that could be better or if these changes are successful in making it work better or not.
Monday, October 25, 2010
iPad for consuming, not creating
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2010/04/jeff_jarvis_and_parsons_students_agree_on_ipad--its_for_consuming_media_not_creating_it.html
I actually came across this article a while ago. It talks about how the iPad is primarily for cosuming media and not creating it. Issues mentioned are the lack of a camera, a usb plug, and flash. Things that are in this article considered deal-breakers even for something as simple as blogging.
When I first read this article a couple of weeks ago, I completely agreed and didn't think that was really anything new. To me the iPad seemed like just a fun little device that was more for on-the-go web-browsing and amusement than anything else. Now I wonder if maybe we are jumping to conclusions and not giving it a chance. Maybe it just takes time before people find their different ways of utilizing it. I just came across this article now and since my last blog post was on David Hockney's iPad art, I realized I might be changing my mind on the breadth of opportunities offered by the iPad.
I actually came across this article a while ago. It talks about how the iPad is primarily for cosuming media and not creating it. Issues mentioned are the lack of a camera, a usb plug, and flash. Things that are in this article considered deal-breakers even for something as simple as blogging.
When I first read this article a couple of weeks ago, I completely agreed and didn't think that was really anything new. To me the iPad seemed like just a fun little device that was more for on-the-go web-browsing and amusement than anything else. Now I wonder if maybe we are jumping to conclusions and not giving it a chance. Maybe it just takes time before people find their different ways of utilizing it. I just came across this article now and since my last blog post was on David Hockney's iPad art, I realized I might be changing my mind on the breadth of opportunities offered by the iPad.
Babies treat social robots as sentient beings
http://www.kurzweilai.net/babies-treat-social-robots-as-sentient-beings
A study was done with babies to see how they would relate to them. After a robot was introduced and the robot was included in a simple children's game, the babies then treated the robot in a way similar to how they treat humans. I think this is interesting because I think it shows how quickly robots could theoretically be integrated in our society. It would only really take one new generation before having robots around would be perfectly normal and accepted.
A study was done with babies to see how they would relate to them. After a robot was introduced and the robot was included in a simple children's game, the babies then treated the robot in a way similar to how they treat humans. I think this is interesting because I think it shows how quickly robots could theoretically be integrated in our society. It would only really take one new generation before having robots around would be perfectly normal and accepted.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
iPad Art
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-features/8066839/David-Hockneys-iPad-art.html
David Hockney is having an exhibit of his iPad art in Paris. The exhibit will feature several iPads mounted on the walls displaying his various sketches created in the app "Brushes". It's cool to see the iPad being used in more interesting ways and for more interesting purposes than just emailing, watching movies, and other entertainment like games, etc. Also, I think it's great to see an someone somewhat older adapting the iPad and using it in place of the older medium, the sketchbook. Hockney describes the iPad as being a great replacement for his sketchbook and that he enjoys the option of sending his pictures out immediately upon finishing them, I think the quality of the picture is also very interesting, since it is "painted" with his thumb, it is like a completely new technique and creates a new sort of style.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Amazon to Launch Kindle Singles e-books
http://www.kurzweilai.net/amazon-to-launch-kindle-singles-e-books
Amazon announced that they will be launching a new type of "book" called Kindle Singles. These are books that are ca. 30 to 90 pages in length, equivalent to a couple of chapters of regular books.
If I understand correctly they mean they will be looking especially for any articles, stories, etc. that fit this length description. To me this seems like they are just looking at catering to people who will spend more in the long run if each single purchase is of a lower price (the Singles would be significantly cheaper than regular books) and to people who are getting used to reading less and less due to the internet. This also pertains to my last blog entry on a new book discussing how the internet is changing how our brain functions. We are getting more and more accustomed to always only taking in small pieces of information and reading lots of little different short tidbits and skimming many articles quickly and shallow. Basically, I guess I'd have to say that I do not like where this development is going. If even things that are being marketed as books are being altered to fit our "internet brains", then the demise of books really doesn't seem very far off at all anymore.
Amazon announced that they will be launching a new type of "book" called Kindle Singles. These are books that are ca. 30 to 90 pages in length, equivalent to a couple of chapters of regular books.
If I understand correctly they mean they will be looking especially for any articles, stories, etc. that fit this length description. To me this seems like they are just looking at catering to people who will spend more in the long run if each single purchase is of a lower price (the Singles would be significantly cheaper than regular books) and to people who are getting used to reading less and less due to the internet. This also pertains to my last blog entry on a new book discussing how the internet is changing how our brain functions. We are getting more and more accustomed to always only taking in small pieces of information and reading lots of little different short tidbits and skimming many articles quickly and shallow. Basically, I guess I'd have to say that I do not like where this development is going. If even things that are being marketed as books are being altered to fit our "internet brains", then the demise of books really doesn't seem very far off at all anymore.
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our Brains
http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-shallows-what-the-internet-is-doing-to-our-brains
I'd be interested in reading this book. I think the internet is certainly changing the way we function and think. The article mentions that books were intended to focus our attention and promote deeper thinking and concentration on one topic. This stands in stark contrast to the way the internet works for us. The internet enables us to take in small bits of a large variety of information. We are getting more and more accustomed to skimming and probing and and less practiced in really delving into a subject. With all the talk about what form books will take on in the future, at this point we often assume that books will take on a digital presence. But if the book and the internet have such opposite functions is it even realistic to think that the book can be transformed into a digital version without its function and purpose also being altered?
I'd be interested in reading this book. I think the internet is certainly changing the way we function and think. The article mentions that books were intended to focus our attention and promote deeper thinking and concentration on one topic. This stands in stark contrast to the way the internet works for us. The internet enables us to take in small bits of a large variety of information. We are getting more and more accustomed to skimming and probing and and less practiced in really delving into a subject. With all the talk about what form books will take on in the future, at this point we often assume that books will take on a digital presence. But if the book and the internet have such opposite functions is it even realistic to think that the book can be transformed into a digital version without its function and purpose also being altered?
Sustainability in Design Education
http://www.core77.com/blog/featured_items/the_challenges_of_teaching_sustainability_the_rcas_approach_by_clare_brass_and_octavia_reeve__17566.asp
This is an interesting article about how some design schools are including sustainability in their education plan and the challenges of teaching sustainability. I think its good that the idea is to try to incorporate sustainability as a general constant criteria in designing, rather than an additional thought that is considered once whatever it is has already been thought up and designed.
This is an interesting article about how some design schools are including sustainability in their education plan and the challenges of teaching sustainability. I think its good that the idea is to try to incorporate sustainability as a general constant criteria in designing, rather than an additional thought that is considered once whatever it is has already been thought up and designed.
Heat-charged cell phone
http://www.core77.com/blog/technology/this_just_inbox_patrick_hylands_copper_phone_uses_heat_for_power__17599.asp
This is an idea for a phone that would charge itself by using heat using heat-transmitting copper. Even just keeping it in your pocket would be good enough to keep it charged. I would love to have a phone that didn't need to be charged. It would be great not to have to worry about the battery dieing anymore. Not to mention that it would also be good for the environment.
This is an idea for a phone that would charge itself by using heat using heat-transmitting copper. Even just keeping it in your pocket would be good enough to keep it charged. I would love to have a phone that didn't need to be charged. It would be great not to have to worry about the battery dieing anymore. Not to mention that it would also be good for the environment.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Rescue Robot
http://www.kurzweilai.net/robots-on-tv-rescue-bot-knows-um-what-you-mean
The idea is to use a robot in rescue missions to find injured people in need of help. The robot can understand commands and go search for bodies, recognize them, and then report back. It's a great idea and could potentially be very useful once the robot is further developed. At this point though, it doesn't seem to be very effective though, since the robot doesn't have much flexibility in its movements and thus would probably not be able to really function very efficiently in a real life situation.
The idea is to use a robot in rescue missions to find injured people in need of help. The robot can understand commands and go search for bodies, recognize them, and then report back. It's a great idea and could potentially be very useful once the robot is further developed. At this point though, it doesn't seem to be very effective though, since the robot doesn't have much flexibility in its movements and thus would probably not be able to really function very efficiently in a real life situation.
3D Printing
http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-rise-of-the-3-d-printers
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/the-rise-of-the-3-d-printers/?ref=technology
These 3D printers are really exciting. I would love to get a chance to try one out. It seems like it offers so many new interesting creative opportunities and there are so many unexplored options of what one could do with these printers. In the NYT article it is also mentioned that there are open-source versions that go for as little as 650 dollars. While that is still very expensive of course, it is much more reasonable than what they can also go for, which can be as expensive as 20,000, so it is nice to see that the prices are going in the direction of being more reasonable and therefore making these printers accessible to more people. I am very curious to see the further development of what people do with this.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/the-rise-of-the-3-d-printers/?ref=technology
These 3D printers are really exciting. I would love to get a chance to try one out. It seems like it offers so many new interesting creative opportunities and there are so many unexplored options of what one could do with these printers. In the NYT article it is also mentioned that there are open-source versions that go for as little as 650 dollars. While that is still very expensive of course, it is much more reasonable than what they can also go for, which can be as expensive as 20,000, so it is nice to see that the prices are going in the direction of being more reasonable and therefore making these printers accessible to more people. I am very curious to see the further development of what people do with this.
Texting with no hands
http://www.kurzweilai.net/look-ma-i%E2%80%99m-texting-with-no-hands
http://gigaom.com/2010/09/29/look-ma-i%E2%80%99m-texting-with-no%C2%A0hands/
This seems like a very useful app that could go a long way in helping people be safer drivers. I know there are already apps out there that do this (turning speech into text messages and also reading text messages out loud so that you don't need to look at the screen while driving), however there are still a lot of issues with this software. The reviewer seems to be of the opinion that this software works better than the previously available options. I think there should be a function that the program can read out loud what the text says before you send it so that you can be sure that the program accurately recorded what you said.
http://gigaom.com/2010/09/29/look-ma-i%E2%80%99m-texting-with-no%C2%A0hands/
This seems like a very useful app that could go a long way in helping people be safer drivers. I know there are already apps out there that do this (turning speech into text messages and also reading text messages out loud so that you don't need to look at the screen while driving), however there are still a lot of issues with this software. The reviewer seems to be of the opinion that this software works better than the previously available options. I think there should be a function that the program can read out loud what the text says before you send it so that you can be sure that the program accurately recorded what you said.
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