Happy Leap Day! Enjoy these vintage photos, courtesy of NPR.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Microsoft Surface
I'm changing the layout of my blog a little, and making it a bit more structured. I'm devoting Wednesdays to technology. In the world today, the pace of technological innovation is increasingly rapid. I know this and it scare me a little. But I also know that if I stay abreast of it, I will not be left behind. To that end, I'm going to explore some of the innovative technologies out there.
Today's topic: the Microsoft Surface! It is basically a touch screen computer, but it is so much more than that! Each pixel in the screen is able to "see" what is above it. And the pixels together can form images and figure out how to react.
It can interact with physical objects, such as credit cards, if it is linked to a cashier system. The video suggests that it can also figure out that you just put a cell phone down and make the pictures explode onto the table for quick sharing. It looks like they are already marketing the surface system for bar/restaurant tops and point-of-sale displays, which are my first two thoughts.
I'd like to get one, but I have a few reservations about the system. First, the screen is integrated into a computer, which means that the computer is likely not capable of upgrades. That means that, despite it's cutting edge nature, you'd have to get rid of the system in a 5-6 years. I think a screen with a connection to a box that could run the software on it would be a good product to sell to early-adopters of the technology. It's also missing a text-specific input device. I'm sure that with vision sensors under your fingers, you could come up with some pretty interesting vision input methods, but I'm sure that hasn't been explored yet.
Today's topic: the Microsoft Surface! It is basically a touch screen computer, but it is so much more than that! Each pixel in the screen is able to "see" what is above it. And the pixels together can form images and figure out how to react.
It can interact with physical objects, such as credit cards, if it is linked to a cashier system. The video suggests that it can also figure out that you just put a cell phone down and make the pictures explode onto the table for quick sharing. It looks like they are already marketing the surface system for bar/restaurant tops and point-of-sale displays, which are my first two thoughts.
I'd like to get one, but I have a few reservations about the system. First, the screen is integrated into a computer, which means that the computer is likely not capable of upgrades. That means that, despite it's cutting edge nature, you'd have to get rid of the system in a 5-6 years. I think a screen with a connection to a box that could run the software on it would be a good product to sell to early-adopters of the technology. It's also missing a text-specific input device. I'm sure that with vision sensors under your fingers, you could come up with some pretty interesting vision input methods, but I'm sure that hasn't been explored yet.
Monday, February 27, 2012
4 C's of Social Media
In my SM class, we learned bout the 4 C's of social media. communicate, connect, collaborate, co-create content. I guess that could be construed as 5 or even 6 C's, but I'll let that slide. :)
The communicate and connect aspects are the ones most used today by businesses. They are attempting to get to their customer base in a way not before attempted (connect) and to blast them with marketing information (communicate). That basically is a one-way communication method. It forces the business into a person's life, which consumers have been fighting for years.
The trick is to engage people through the last 3rd and 4th C's. Getting your consumers to talk to you, work with you, and create content with you is the best way to keep them engaged. To do that, you have to have a conversation. You have to allow the consumer voice to be heard. And you have to respond authentically to them.
To be a true social media hub, you have to be an orchestra conductor. You have to bring together a profoundly different mix of online voices towards a single purpose. In fact, the orchestration idea is being used to create new art projects. This weekend, I'll be involved in a collaborative project with hundreds of swing dancers that will be used to explain quantum computing! And all the collaboration will be done over the internet.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Book-Bound Artwork
Wholly crap!!! This website is un-freakin'-believable! The artist cuts designs out of books with surgical tools, making entire 3D diagrams out of a single book! Check out one of the pictures from the site below.
I can't believe the intricate work needed to make works of art like this. It reminds me of an artist I saw who used layered colored construction paper to do make similar effects, but with much less detail or depth.
The artist uses an existing item, in this case layered paper, to create an exciting works of art. But the artist doesn't do it with words, which are the traditional message conveyed through books. Instead it is a visual message.... This is like sending a picture attached to a txt message on a phone. But so much more cool! It also reminds me of flip books because it tells a story in 3D. I wonder what it would look like to have an overlay like this as a flip book....?
I can't believe the intricate work needed to make works of art like this. It reminds me of an artist I saw who used layered colored construction paper to do make similar effects, but with much less detail or depth.
The artist uses an existing item, in this case layered paper, to create an exciting works of art. But the artist doesn't do it with words, which are the traditional message conveyed through books. Instead it is a visual message.... This is like sending a picture attached to a txt message on a phone. But so much more cool! It also reminds me of flip books because it tells a story in 3D. I wonder what it would look like to have an overlay like this as a flip book....?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Impossible Photography
I listened to a Ted Talk by Erik Johansson, at this link. He discusses his desire to create photo-realistic images using photoshop. He seems to be a modern incarnation of M.C. Echer, an artist famous for perspective drawings that were not possible in a three dimensional world.
One thing he said struck me quite profoundly - his comment that he felt traditional photography was limited. It is all about the setup. For a photograph, you have to set up the right lighting conditions, the right scene, and have the right film in the right camera. And so the photography process ended when you snapped the picture and created an indelible image. With Photoshop, he was able to extend the creative process beyond taking the picture. Technology allowed him to modify photography, allowing him freedoms previously reserved for painting and drawing.
Overcoming a limitation is a great way to come up with innovative processes and products. For instance, Google Docs allows collaborative editing of google-formatted presentations, documents, and spreadsheets. They worked to overcome the barriers to collaborative editing by taking advantage of cloud computing and storage technology.
If I look at another traditional media - sculpting - what can we come up with from there? The ability to digitize and recreate sculptures at different locations? A tracking glove or other device that allows you to sculpt in 3D using analog tools? How about an installation where you combine the two and have a single piece of art that can be modified by others, where you can highlight its evolution over time?
My first inclination is to put photography in its own category, because it has such a clear delineation between setup and post-processing. I'm going to continue looking for other places where people move the immovable, or could if they wanted.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Leadership vs. Management
These two often are used interchangeably, but I've learned in grad school that they should be applied to two distinct, but important, qualities. I've heard several ways to define the two, and all definitions point to dramatically different purposes and applications.
One that has stuck with me is that Management is the ability to produce results, while Leadership is the ability to produce change. Managers take the current situation and existing processes and get them to be the best they can be. Managers are concerned with things like efficiency, continuous improvement, and other ongoing improvement initiatives. By definition, they are not focused on, nor produce, chance because that interferes with the system's functioning. Leaders look at the current situation or processes and, instead of asking "How can we make this better?", they ask "Should this be the way it is?" Leaders take into account the external situation, including competitive drivers, cultural trends, and a variety of other factors. When they analyze something, they are prepared to make changes that will benefit the system in the long term, but my cause problems in the short term.
It is important to notice that the two seem like they are mutually exclusive. Managers refine and preserve while Leaders change. But they are both important skill sets for anyone who seeks to be the head of a team of any size. Each person in charge should be able to get the most out of their reports and systems, but should also be aware of opportunities for improvement through drastic change. So what school has given me is the ability to think both as a Manager and as a Leader. I naturally think more as a leader, and have been spending my conscious effort on managerial topics. I'm very excited to try them out.
Friday, February 17, 2012
S(CAMPER) attempt for Tissues
The S in the SCAMPER acronym stands for Substitute. It asks you to look at your product innovation and try identify what you can substitute in the product makeup that would make it an innovative product. I've found a list of questions to ask at this website, and am going to post here what I've come up with. I'm going to try to use the S to come up with some ideas for how to change facial tissue.
Let's see. Repackage the box as oval from cube for aesthetics. I could have tissues be a stand in for building blocks. That could be a way to get more schools buying boxes, if they could double as building or stacking boxes when empty. Maybe they could be a stand-in for temporary storage. Have removable covers to protect against the elements. Redesign the package so it can fit into different types of spaces. Engineer it so it fits in a standard container, then sell refills? Change the name from facial tissues to clean cloths, and make them way more durable. Put antibacterial agents on them to protect against infection. As part of the advertising campaign, you could crowd-source a new name. Is there some way to disassociate them from colds and the sniffles? Associate them with feeling better and relief - almost a medical bent. I feel most tissues are focused on preventing embarrassment for having a runny nose.
Feelings: Two things jump out at me while using SCAMPER. First, these are great at sparking ideas. I got a lot of leads that I likely wouldn't have without the suggestive questions and lateral thinking directive. The other is that once you get a few ideas, the boundaries of a given letter may make some people uncomfortable in voicing new ideas. It took me a few minutes of consideration before I allowed myself to run with some ideas up there. Trying to force my thought process into areas dictated by "Substitute" wouldn't have worked well for creative thinking.
Do you have anything that's been bothering you that you want to Substitute out to make it better? Product or Process here. :)
Do you have anything that's been bothering you that you want to Substitute out to make it better? Product or Process here. :)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Ballbot
Well, here is something very interesting that I figured I'd share - Ballbot! This gentleman came on a Ted and chose to discuss his new robot. The interesting thing about it is how it moves. It has a single ball under it, rather than a set of wheels. To control itself, it has three wheels that turn to move the ball underneath it. The control wheels are in turn driven by a control box, that compares the robot's upright posture with its current equilibrium. With all of that, it stands upright without seeming to do anything (aside from the 100+ adjustments per second). It also has some interesting modes that allow it to act as a bit of a toy.
Off the top of my head, I want to get three of those with bumpers on them and use them for juggling. There are a lot more uses, though, than that. Mobile serving trays? Chairs that run up to you when you're ready to sit down? Drives for equipment in a warehouse? You could change the ball to be more grippy and durable, and have an outdoor version. Single-wheel high-speed vehicles? Positioning is important. It could be a geeky new toy, or a badge of honor for the super-rich, or the next big elderly conveyance. It could end up representing the decadence and decline of the American way of life, if its image isn't actively managed. :(
What I'm trying to say is that the dancing robot routine at the end is cute, but definitely not all that can be done with it - especially if it has some programming already built in. I can't wait to see one that can take rough surfaces. That one looked like it couldn't function effectively off of a smooth surface like a wood or concrete floor. Also, maybe there is some way to make it generate its own electricity from solar, so it can be used as a pack robot outside? Possibilities are quite numerous.
Off the top of my head, I want to get three of those with bumpers on them and use them for juggling. There are a lot more uses, though, than that. Mobile serving trays? Chairs that run up to you when you're ready to sit down? Drives for equipment in a warehouse? You could change the ball to be more grippy and durable, and have an outdoor version. Single-wheel high-speed vehicles? Positioning is important. It could be a geeky new toy, or a badge of honor for the super-rich, or the next big elderly conveyance. It could end up representing the decadence and decline of the American way of life, if its image isn't actively managed. :(
What I'm trying to say is that the dancing robot routine at the end is cute, but definitely not all that can be done with it - especially if it has some programming already built in. I can't wait to see one that can take rough surfaces. That one looked like it couldn't function effectively off of a smooth surface like a wood or concrete floor. Also, maybe there is some way to make it generate its own electricity from solar, so it can be used as a pack robot outside? Possibilities are quite numerous.
Monday, February 13, 2012
SCAMPER and Ideation
The process of ideation can be difficult for some people, me included. But when coming up with ideas, there are many processes that can help out. One that's both easy to remember and very useful is SCAMPER. It is an acronym that stands for:
When I read about SCAMPER, it strikes me that it works better with products than a service. All the examples I've found of applying SCAMPER have been for vaccuum cleaners, cups, electronics, and a host of other products. That said, I'm sure it can be adapted for use with services, as they all have intangible parts to them that can be changed through the use of these methods. I can't wait to give SCAMPER a try.
- Substitute
- Combine
- Adapt
- Modify
- Put to another use
- Eliminate
- Reverse
When I read about SCAMPER, it strikes me that it works better with products than a service. All the examples I've found of applying SCAMPER have been for vaccuum cleaners, cups, electronics, and a host of other products. That said, I'm sure it can be adapted for use with services, as they all have intangible parts to them that can be changed through the use of these methods. I can't wait to give SCAMPER a try.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Barcoding Artwork?!?!?!
Well, I"m just flabbergasted! The Wall Street Journal posted an article that discussed how companies are starting to gussy up barcodes! When I've worked in packaging, I'd always thought of them as a necessary space-wasting technology. Now, as I understand it, some companies are making the barcodes into doodles. One was a school bus, one was a patch of flowers. One was a city skyline!
If you're able to incorporate a barcode like that successfully enough into your product, you could get it into the logo! For example, if you have a logo of a Scottish man in a kilt, you could design the kilt pattern so it is actually a 2D barcode! Or you could have a snowy background with a barcode. Or a smiling face, with barcode teeth. And all of them could reinforce your brand.
If you're able to incorporate a barcode like that successfully enough into your product, you could get it into the logo! For example, if you have a logo of a Scottish man in a kilt, you could design the kilt pattern so it is actually a 2D barcode! Or you could have a snowy background with a barcode. Or a smiling face, with barcode teeth. And all of them could reinforce your brand.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Divergent Thinking
Have you ever day-dreamed? The answer is yes, as sure as I'm wearing my comfy sweatshirt right now. And your subconscious is great at divergent thinking. It takes a theme floating around in your head (important or not) and builds a narrative. Your dream will be unique, often interesting, and sometimes surprising. Your brain follows a strand of story, filling in the details as needed.
Divergent thinking is the same way. You use ideation techniques, some of which I'll explore during another post, to expand the number of ideas you are working with. At the end of a divergent thinking session, you have hundred(s) of ideas that you can refine and combine until you have a working solution to a problem.
Divergence is not difficult when you are in the right frame of mind and are surrounded by people who are supportive. The problem is that some people jump to quickly beyond divergent thinking and straight into the next step, Convergent Thinking. To prevent that, the leader has to enforce rules. Such as No Criticizing Ideas! Even using negative words, such as "but" can stifle a person's creative mind. Using "And" builds on ideas, while not shutting an idea down. Its a classic improv trick.
Divergent thinking is the same way. You use ideation techniques, some of which I'll explore during another post, to expand the number of ideas you are working with. At the end of a divergent thinking session, you have hundred(s) of ideas that you can refine and combine until you have a working solution to a problem.
Divergence is not difficult when you are in the right frame of mind and are surrounded by people who are supportive. The problem is that some people jump to quickly beyond divergent thinking and straight into the next step, Convergent Thinking. To prevent that, the leader has to enforce rules. Such as No Criticizing Ideas! Even using negative words, such as "but" can stifle a person's creative mind. Using "And" builds on ideas, while not shutting an idea down. Its a classic improv trick.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Colors - Moods and Meanings
Since I'm hoping to get into design, I was intrigued when I found this infographic on color and its symbolism in the United States. And I liked how it even gave some insight into how corporations choose logo colors.
When I was young, a friend used to have people over every Friday night for a dance party in his basement. It was a little lame, but I was 14 and had a really fun time. He had an adjacent bedroom with a king-sized bed that everyone used for relaxing. It was lit by exactly one bare light bulb in the middle of the ceiling. Originally it had a red bulb in it, and everyone liked it because it gave the room a calm, relaxed atmosphere. But when it burnt out, and was replaced by a blue light, everyone stopped hanging out in that room. It had lost its relaxing vibe, and picked up something much more energetic, despite being about the same brightness.
Ever since then, I've paid attention to how color affects people and their moods. It's also given me reason to pay attention to a person's favorite colors. I haven't noticed any patterns yet, but a certain lady I know loves the color yellow, and she's one of the most bright, energetic people I know.
When I was young, a friend used to have people over every Friday night for a dance party in his basement. It was a little lame, but I was 14 and had a really fun time. He had an adjacent bedroom with a king-sized bed that everyone used for relaxing. It was lit by exactly one bare light bulb in the middle of the ceiling. Originally it had a red bulb in it, and everyone liked it because it gave the room a calm, relaxed atmosphere. But when it burnt out, and was replaced by a blue light, everyone stopped hanging out in that room. It had lost its relaxing vibe, and picked up something much more energetic, despite being about the same brightness.
Ever since then, I've paid attention to how color affects people and their moods. It's also given me reason to pay attention to a person's favorite colors. I haven't noticed any patterns yet, but a certain lady I know loves the color yellow, and she's one of the most bright, energetic people I know.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Happiness Advantage
Train your brain to be more positive, and you receive a host of benefits. Hm... The benefits of a positively oriented brain are familiar to me. I wonder if following the five suggestions they have would make me even happier. Follow these suggestions for 21 days to improve your happiness doesn't sound so hard.
3 Gratitude - Writing three things each day that you are grateful for makes your brain begin scanning the world for positive rather than negative things.
Journaling - If you write about a positive experience, it allows your brain to relive it.
Exercise - Teaches your brain that your behavior matters
Meditation - Allows your brain to get over the cultural ADHD created by our multitasking culture
Random Acts of Kindness - Write 1 email every day praising or thanking one person in your social support network.
Let's see... I'd say that if you do each of these things every day, we'd be talking about 40-60 mins/day. I'm going to give it a shot and try it out! :)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
3D Printers
3D printing is super awesome! It allows you to repeatedly deposit layers of material, eventually creating a full three dimensaional object. They run off CAD designs, and can create an enormous number of different objects. Additionally, it can also create those objects using a crazy big number of different materials. Reading today, I found out that there are 3D printers that can work with many different types of metals, plastics, food (such as frosting), and even human tissue (printered bladders are real). You can hear about a printed human kidney here.
I've been thinking of the application possibilities for this type of technology. The most blatant is to replace traditional manufacturing, specifically fabricating a part out of a single material. That would likely be with single-material printers, but could become more robust with multi-material heads based on the sophistication of the system. You could also sell items to people over the internet that are able to be printed on a 3D printer. This one is more problematic until the technology become pervasive in the consumer home. That said, you can certainly use it for artwork and small through-the-internet sales of artsy or specialty products.
I'm very excited about this technology, and am thinking about investing in a 3D printer of my own. To do so, I'd need to overcome a couple barriers - the biggest one is that I don't know how to design 3D objects in CAD software. Not impossible, but something I'd have to learn.
I've been thinking of the application possibilities for this type of technology. The most blatant is to replace traditional manufacturing, specifically fabricating a part out of a single material. That would likely be with single-material printers, but could become more robust with multi-material heads based on the sophistication of the system. You could also sell items to people over the internet that are able to be printed on a 3D printer. This one is more problematic until the technology become pervasive in the consumer home. That said, you can certainly use it for artwork and small through-the-internet sales of artsy or specialty products.
I'm very excited about this technology, and am thinking about investing in a 3D printer of my own. To do so, I'd need to overcome a couple barriers - the biggest one is that I don't know how to design 3D objects in CAD software. Not impossible, but something I'd have to learn.
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