Objectified (1 of 15)

This is the trailer for a documentary about design and the process behind achieving good design. It is appropriately enough named for the objects themselves--Objectified. Gary Hustwit is the director. He is also the director of 'Helvetica'--a whole documentary about a typeface. (which was pretty good despite common sense)
The trailer looks good. It seems the main focus is on "clean". The shots, sounds, composition, and Helevetica font(whaddya know?) add to the minimal, clean look of the cinematography and ultimately to the message of the movie--good design. I plan to watch and this review this movie in depth in a series of 14 posts. I've seen bits and pieces online on Youtube and so far from what I can gather it seems to be right up the alley of this class. If I can procure a copy, I will post it on my blog for referential sake but I will be as descriptive as possible during each of my segment reviews.

DIY laptop stands

Article: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/cheapest-diy-laptop-stands.html

Yes, these laptop stands are very cool. But I won't dwell too much on that. Let me share my story. I have a Dell M1330. It blows hard. Its honestly one of the worst computers I could have. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but it still sucks. One problem that is rampant with my Dell and many other laptop is over heating. Hence the laptop stand or laptop fan or laptop cooling device. It seems like an accessory that should be unnecessary. If anything, an overheating problem with a laptop is sign of bad laptop design.

A lot of these laptop stands are very simple consisting of four bottle caps or wine works to prop it up. If this is the case, why not laptop makers design elevated laptops to avoid this whole problem to begin with? Because there is money to be made by selling people stands, fans, and cooling devices. That's why.

Wireless Energy Transfer

Is the process that takes place in any system where electrical energy is transmitted from a power source to an electrical load, without interconnecting wires. Wireless transmission is useful in cases where instantaneous or continuous energy transfer is needed.

Moving to wireless is nothing new. The most prominent example is wireless internet. But there also is wireless remotes, controllers, phones, etc. So the gist is clear. People do not like wires. This technology allows for basically anything that has to be plugged in to not have plug. I won't be surprised if I see this technology as commonplace as cell phones in the not too distant future.

HP Touch Smart

HP TouchSmart is a series of tablet PC laptops and touchscreen all-in-one desktop computers designed by HP.

Touch screens. I don't like them, and I think ever will. Touch screen seems to be the next logical advancement of screens, but in actuality it isn't or at least shouldn't. Users have been raised on keyboards. This isnt simply limited to computers but also typewriters. Keyboards are tactile. A button is actually pressed to display information. Touch screens lack that feel. This invokes a different sensation of the user. From a usability standpoint, a touchscreen needs to revolutionize the way we type if it wants to introduce a new peripheral. Think of the iPod touch/scroll wheel. It has never been seen before, but it was widely accepted because exactly that: it was never seen before and it revolutionized the handheld. So far, touch screens emulate keyboard. BIG MISTAKE. Touch screens will never enter the realm of the keyboard. To be successful, its needs to be its own new thing.

I also heard people dissatisfaction with touch screens because their arms get tired. Stop being lazy is what I say. Move more. Touch screens are not asking you give up your sedentary lifestyle. All it is asking is to move your hand a little bit.

Augmented reality

Augmented reality is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are merged with (or augmented by) virtual computer-generated imagery - creating a mixed reality. The augmentation is conventionally in real-time and in semantic context with environmental elements, like for example sports scores on TV during a match. With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding computer vision and object recognition) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally usable. Artificial information about the environment and the objects in it can be stored and retrieved as an information layer on top of the real world view.

I think this is the future in "virtual reality". The typical image of a helmet and nintendo power gloves is a thing of the past. Augmented reality incorporates human's natural sensing abilities with technology rather than replacing them completely. If this is the future, I ponder what the future of the future holds. I guess that would be the future. I suppose instead of being displayed on iPods. I see a pair of glasses with this programming installed. I see governments handing these glasses to tourists. Instant tour guide. That's just one idea.

Lattitude

Google Latitude is a location-aware mobile app developed by Google. Latitude allows a mobile phone user to allow certain people on to track their location. Via their own iGoogle accounts, the user's cell phone location is mapped on Google Maps. The user can control the accuracy and details of what each of the other users can see — an exact location can be allowed, or it can be limited to identifying the city only.

In lecture, this application has been mentioned, but not by name. I think this is a very useful application. My only concern was privacy. There are times when someone wants to be low-key. Of course, the geniuses of Google have worked that in. Honestly, I dont have an earth-shattering or vaguely interesting opinion about this other than an overwhelmingly positive one. Google has done it again.

I would like to comment on the integration of technology into a social relationships. Usually, technology like cell phones or iPods are a social crutch and hinder interactions. This application brings people together literally. Real interaction is a lot better than fake "facebook interaction"(the illusion of interaction) This is good.

City of the future

The Future of cities is a favorite topic of mine.

As telecommunications and technology changes how we live our lives, it is not inconceivable to think that in the near future, we will control every aspect of our world via social media and personal devices. No longer only found in science-fiction, smart-devices and mobile communications are part of everyday life and they can only get more advanced.

Our lives will be even more integrated with technology that even the simplest thing such as talking a walk wont be without its technological aid.

Below is a graphic that goes a little more in depth. Courtesy: America Infrastructure