Design Corner /////////////////////////////////////////// Pay as You Go with Smartphones Posted: 24 Jul 2011 05:50 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/cZI4qD18XuM/pay-as-you-go-with-smartphones-07142011.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email Why the smart money’s on smartphones as the way to pay for everything you buy /////////////////////////////////////////// The Key to Success? Your Corporate Mission Posted: 24 Jul 2011 05:50 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/IqluHqBzbIQ/the-key-to-success-your-corporate-mission-07142011.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email Great new products often fail because they're launched by the wrong company. Case in point: the Chevy Volt /////////////////////////////////////////// Ziris chair Posted: 23 Jul 2011 08:30 PM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/ivLCCV8DnPc/1056761?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email Foldable wooden chair concept. /////////////////////////////////////////// moment design: 24 issey miyaki store in hakata Posted: 24 Jul 2011 04:50 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/g6UwundNfaQ/moment-design-24-issey-miyaki-store-in-hakata.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email transparent spheres compactly contain and display brightly colored merchandise for a streamlined shopping experience. read more /////////////////////////////////////////// daim yoon + yufan wang: mutic box Posted: 24 Jul 2011 04:08 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/4DIFZa8Xf_A/daim-yoon-yufan-wang-mutic-box.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email the design and sound of a music box is recreated from a combination of mechanical and digital components. read more /////////////////////////////////////////// Rubbery robot Posted: 24 Jul 2011 04:53 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/XjRrx6FNcE8/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email Stretchy connected modules turn everything into an interactive robot Think of the possibilities if the structural components for your very own robot came from whatever you have lying around. Everything is fair game when Gabriel Paciornik’s Plick robot enabler enters the scene. Plick is the culmination of Gabriel’s studies in Industrial Design at Shenkar College, Israel. Working in partnership with the miLab of the IDC Hertzlia, the project integrates product design, electronics, programming, and prototyping. Although there is some clever stuff going on inside the modules, it is the learn-through-play aspect of the finished product that really sets Plick apart. Sensors can be connected to many actuators, and actuators can be connected to many sensors. This way many complex behaviors can be achieved with no programming, and by trial and error learning. Click through for a short video of Plick in action. Currently existing as a rather well refined prototype, the 3d printed modules house Arduino Mini Pro boards that run the simple programming routines. These are connected by those all important rubbery cables, each with a clever little LED debugging device that glows when the cables are engaged. A great way to introduce DIY robotics to the little ones! With toys like these, the next generation of mad scientists will be off to a fantastic start. Plick via Engadget Posted in 3D Printing, Arduino, Electronics + Robotics, Guy Blashki, Toys + Games by Guy Blashki | No Comments /////////////////////////////////////////// Sooyeon Lee - Grand SlamThe Table : Matthew Donaldson Posted: 24 Jul 2011 04:19 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/lsRFhgbiYH4/1117?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email Sooyeon Lee Grand SlamThe Table Tennis Champ Stars in Matthew Donaldson's Slow-Mo Homage to the SportKorean table tennis champion, actress and former model Sooyeon Lee challenges herself to a high-fashion endurance match in today's film by NOWNESS contributor Matthew Donaldson. "It's a vehicle to show how extraordinarily elegant she is," says the filmmaker and photographer, who enlisted stylist Katie Shillingford to emphasize Lee's technique. "The sport requires the body to jolt into action in an aggressive manner that is mesmerizing," she says. "I wanted the clothes to accentuate these movements.” Shillingford commissioned designer Geraldine Chevrolet to create bespoke fringed tights, gloves and a hat, pairing the custom accessories with neon, black and nude jumpsuits, dresses and leggings from Christopher Kane, Mark Fast, Jil Sander and Versace. Originating in 1880s Britain as an after-dinner parlor game, the Olympic sport of table tennis has recently emerged as the boutique pastime of choice, evidenced by actress Susan Sarandon's SPiN, a chain of ping-pong clubs which counts Lee as its ambassador and has locations in New York, Toronto and Hollywood. "It's become very trendy," Lee observes. "It's sociable, you don't need to be super athletic and it's good for the brain." Black jumpsuit with fringing by Mark Fast; boots custom made by Geraldine Chevrolet Grey T-shirt with fringing by House of Holland; blue skirt with fringing by Matthew Williamson; shoes by Christian Louboutin Fluorescent orange dress by Jil Sander; tights custom made by Geraldine Chevrolet; shoes by Christian Louboutin Fluorescent yellow printed dress by Christopher Kane; shorts by Vanessa Bruno; hat and tights custom made by Geraldine Chevrolet; shoes by Christian Louboutin Gold dress with fringing by Versace; shoes by Pringle of Scotland White knitted dress with fringing by Shao Yen Chen; skirt and shoes by Pringle of Scotland Styling by Katie Shillingford Hair by Raphael Salley @ Streeters Make-up by Ayami Nishimura @ Julian Watson Styling assistants: Nell Kalonji and Eluned Stephens Make-up assistant: Mika Shimoda /////////////////////////////////////////// marcelo ertorteguy + sara valente: stereotank Posted: 24 Jul 2011 03:33 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/lPp2VVH672Q/marcelo-ertorteguy-sara-valente-stereotank.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email made out of extra large water tanks, plastic buckets and nylon cords, this interactive installation invites viewers to generate sound with its taut, horizontal strings. read more /////////////////////////////////////////// Arduino: Android and Ethernet Posted: 24 Jul 2011 04:00 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/kCwaEbsNoOk/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email July brings more goodies for Arduino Where would the DIY scene be without Arduino? That nifty little all-in-wonder has lifted the stakes once again, with two fantastic new additions to the open source hardware platform that runs so many of our favorite creations. The first feature that’s got more than a few makers excited is an onboard Ethernet jack. This added connectivity is likely to empower a whole new generation of web-enabled devices, and there is even an optional PoE (Power over Ethernet) module to further reduce cable clutter and get all your hardware talking. Our second noteworthy addition is a board for the Android Open Accessory Development Kit, an add-on that allows Arduino powered devices to become a part of the Google juggernaut via any Android device when in “accessory mode”. Both of these are available for purchase now, either bundled together in kit form or as individual modules. Pair them up with some Ponoko laser cutting or 3d printing, and there are sure to be fun times ahead. via Engadget Posted in Arduino, Electronics + Robotics, Guy Blashki, Technology by Guy Blashki | No Comments /////////////////////////////////////////// margus triibmann: lightweight lightings Posted: 24 Jul 2011 02:06 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/tvGDNOIrOwk/margus-triibmann-lightweight-lightings.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email mimicking the form of a weight, this lighting element can be suspended as individually or together to create a chandelier. an accompanying system also allows conversion into a floor, desk or wall-mounted lamp. read more /////////////////////////////////////////// Glass Loggia House by Allen Jack+Cottier, Vladimir Sitta and Belinda Koopman Posted: 24 Jul 2011 02:22 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/uxO7gB2YXAw/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email An oversailing glass roof and steel mesh curtain protect a two-storey extension and terrace at a historic Sydney house. (more…) /////////////////////////////////////////// NEXT architects + mass studies: woudestein student pavilion Posted: 24 Jul 2011 01:13 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/a1lQJodKF5k/next-architects-mass-studies-woudestein-student-pavilion.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email read more /////////////////////////////////////////// iPhone Fireflies: Mapping the Movements of iPhones in Europe Posted: 14 Jul 2011 04:12 PM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/9YCzmcJAmt4/iphone_fireflies_mapping_the_movements_of_iphones_in_europe.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email As it has become known that iPhones are continuously tracking and recording one's geographic location, a few organizations have tried to make good use of this revelation, in particular by collecting, aggregating and visualizing these itineraries for anyone who wishes to share this data. The latest visualization result made by Michael Kreil is remarkable due to its use of a nicely animated heatmap of sorts. In the movie, shown below (crank up the resolution!), the movements of 880 different iPhones in Europe have been analyzed for the month of April 2011. The result looks like a hive of fireflies, pulsing in and out (to denote the loss of data during the night as phones tend to be turned off), and flying around, in and out of their favorite locations. The animations have been calculated based on real data, or by estimating the routes between known locations. /////////////////////////////////////////// Collusion: Revealing Who is Tracking You when Browsing Online Posted: 08 Jul 2011 01:48 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/02oLpGluo4M/collusion_visualize_who_is_tracking_you_when_browsing_online.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email To appreciate the idea behind the Collusion browser add-on, you should first visit their short online demonstration [toolness.org]. The click-though interface shows how animated network graphs combined with text can tell compelling stories. Content-wise, the demonstration reveals how data collection companies manage to leave cookies in your browser configuration during standard web browsing, while it also visualizes how these seemingly separate companies are actually closely related to each other. Those who already get the idea behind online tracking can head straight to the Collusion Firefox add-on download page, which creates a real-time graph of the tracking activity according to those sites you visit in other Firefox tabs. More detailed information is available here. If you are interested in this topic, you will also appreciate donttrack.us. /////////////////////////////////////////// Visualizing Tweets with Google Earth Posted: 04 Jul 2011 07:59 PM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/xrExePAx_wI/visualizing_nuclear_tweets_with_google_earth.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email Nuclear Mapping [mapping.jp] (Google Earth Plug-in is required) is a real-time visualization of the tweets (purple) and retweets (red) that contain the hashtag The representation of this Twitter communication is combined with multicolored circles, which stand for the geographical locations of all nuclear reactors in the world. More detailed information on individual tweets and nuclear reactors can be accessed through selecting the appropriate icons. An interactive timeline slider rounds of the interactivity features. Via Google Earth Blog. See also Twitter Visualizes the Geographical Spreading of Information. /////////////////////////////////////////// Tender Noise: Sensing and Mapping the Ambient Noise in San Francisco Posted: 07 Jul 2011 03:55 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/BYEnnKELsoE/tender_noise_sensing_and_mapping_the_ambient_noise_in_san_francisco.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email Tender Noise [movity.com] captures, visualizes and maps the noise across Tenderloin, a neighborhood in downtown San Francisco. The map is the result of a collaboration between design studio Stamen, building consultancy Arup and data mapping company Movity (now bought by real estate search engine Trulia). The website aims to highlight the aural quality of everyday streets through visualizing the frequently-logged historical decibel (dBA) levels over a few days period, hereby giving home buyers and renters valuable information about the actual situation before making a large financial commitment in real estate. The environmental noise originating from freeways, cable cars, bars and restaurants seems to be one of the most common complaints of residents, and one the most important factors when deciding on where to live. Therefore, 13 (expensive) decibel readers were installed at several major intersections in the Tenderloin area, which resulted in about 1.6 million data points, lots of questions by the police, and several harassments by local business owners. More detailed information can be found here. Via Datavisualization.ch. /////////////////////////////////////////// Hiroshima Archive: Revealing the Accounts of Survivors with Google Earth Posted: 17 Jul 2011 09:31 PM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/fxAJzCiE_iI/hiroshima_archive_revealing_the_accounts_of_survivors_with_google_earth.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email It has been 66 years since atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and all the remaining A-bomb survivors will have died out in the coming decades. "Hiroshima Archive" [mapping.jp] is a digital archive documenting the consequences of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb. It uses the Google Earth's virtual globe to display valuable information gathered from sources such as Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the Hiroshima Jogakuin Gaines Association, and the Hachioji Hibakusha (A-bomb Survivors) Association. The archive aims to promote multifaceted and comprehensive understanding of the reality of atomic bombing. The project collected the accounts of A-bomb survivors in cooperation with local high school students and nationwide volunteers, which were made available through a "Community of Records". The 3D space provides a panoramic view over Hiroshima to allow access to the survivors accounts, photos, maps, and other materials, together with aerial photos, 3D topographical data, and building models as of 2010. Thnkx Hidenori. /////////////////////////////////////////// CommonCensus Map Project: Revealing Communities of Interest Posted: 18 Jul 2011 08:24 PM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/n4kdQKv9EF8/commoncensus_map_project_revealing_communities_of_interest.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email The CommonCensus Map Project [commoncensus.org] aims to 'redraw' the map of the United States based on the input of its citizens, in order to reveal the boundaries people 'feel', as opposed to the state and county boundaries drawn by politicians. It relies on the reports of over 60,591 people who volunteered to reveal the names of places with which they identify themselves the most, in addition to their favorite sports team. Accordingly, the website present maps on the perception of belonging on two different topics: - Sports, such as how the physical location of fans correspond to that of their favorite team, for leagues such as the NBA (basketball), MLB (baseball) or NFL (football). - Communities, such as how people relate to a major city or a local neighborhood. If you are interested in this, you definitely appreciate the "Connected States of America" project by MIT Senseable Lab, which focused on aggregating and clustering social communities based on mobile phone data traffic. Via a highly interesting post on Why States Matter at the Urbanphile. /////////////////////////////////////////// WikiViz 2011 Competition: Visualizing the Impact of Wikipedia Posted: 21 Jul 2011 12:36 AM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/ctfLoQPLE-A/wikiviz_2011_competition_visualizing_the_impact_of_wikipedia.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email Information Aesthetics has partnered with the Wikimedia foundation to support their visualization competition called "WikiViz". To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Wikipedia, they call for data and information visualization experts, computational journalists, data artists and data scientists to create the most insightful visualization of Wikipedia's impact. Other partners include FlowingData, Visualizing, Periscopic and Unidad International. WikiViz aims to receive effective but compelling visualizations of how Wikipedia impact the world with its content, culture and open collaboration model. The deadline is at Friday August 19, 2011, and most of the jury members should be known to you. The 3 finalist teams will receive funding to present their work at WikiSym conference, an international symposium on Wikis and Open collaboration. This year, the symposium will be organized at the Microsoft Research Silicon Valley campus in Mountain View, California. Potential topics include the imprint of Wikipedia on knowledge sharing and access to information, its impact on literacy and education, journalism and research, on the functioning of scientific and cultural organizations and businesses, as well as the daily life of individuals around the world, or the areas of knowledge, geographical regions, organizations and people Wikipedia has not been able to reach. /////////////////////////////////////////// Proposing an Alternative Way of Visualizing Population Pyramids Posted: 04 Jul 2011 08:42 PM PDT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DesignCorner_feed/~3/e2TulGw1D4Q/proposing_an_alternative_way_of_visualizing_population_pyramids.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email What happens if you like smoothed lines instead of jagged pyramids? In his cautiously titled blog post "Beautiful But Terrible Population Pyramids", Jorge Camoes, author of the Excel Charts blog, proposes an alternative technique to the classical way of representing population pyramids. In his rendition of showing the distribution of various age groups in a human population, each series displays a population by age group (of both sexes) in a given year, from the year 1981 (darker color) to 2050 (lighter color). It rather works well, as at the bottom of the post, he also demonstrates some properly labeled versions, showing the data divided by gender. According to Jorge, this result was achieved through looking for a way to balance the effectiveness of the graph with "grabbing the attention of the viewer". In effect, these beautiful/terrible graphs are simply the result of removing the axes and labels, and replacing the traditional horizontal bars with some smooth splines.
