Erosion - by Michael Aranda

Erosion is one of the most successful video production pieces I have stumbled across on the YouTubes. Michael Aranda, a self proclaimed nerdfighter, and host of channel - Arandavision - has combined his interests in video and sound production, as well as editing, and musical talent in a number of creative endeavors.

This is a wonderful example of creating a piece specifically for a target audience. At 2:31, the duration is quite appropriate for the youtube community attention span - typically anything over 3:00 minutes gets significantly fewer views due to people not wanting to "waste 4:00 minutes of my life on such a(n) [insert slanderous remark] video." In contrast to most YouTube videos, the production value of the video is quite high. It appears as the Michael does not shoot for the typical YouTube video, but instead strives to provide his subscribers with a quality designed experience through a convenient medium. In doing so, Michael is able to set himself apart, yet remain within the confines of self-made associations of the YouTube community.

Michael's ability to so beautifully integrate natural sounds into the soundtrack of a wonderfully shot exploration of the unknown has earned my greatest admiration.

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Marco Tempest: Augmented Reality Magician

Marco Tempest takes a wonderful creative leap in taking one of the oldest of magic tricks - the everday card trick - and combines it with some very cutting edge technology - real time 3d graphics through augmented reality. Marco is known as a "virtual magician" or a "multimedia magician" for he continuously uses new technologies - from cell phone cameras, to stop motion, 3d graphics, and iPhone applications to betray our expectations in new and creative ways.

The story he tells is wonderful. The trick is very well planned out and structured, yet it feels as though he is telling it to you around a campfire. We are wowed by the realtime graphics, yet he couterbalances this quite complex technology with a simple story with a meaningful message. Yet ultimately, it is from a magicians old box of tricks in which he truly catches us when we least expect it.

If find it ironic, for much of Marco's magic uses the "magic" of digital graphics to give the trick depth and interest, yet it is still the old-style slight of hand magic from which he successfully performs his magic. All immediate rationale, would assume that he, like most magicians that use camera trickery, editing, and graphics, is using at a crutch to complete his task.

Marco realizes how to embrace new technologies, while simultaneously holding firmly to his past interests. He uses these technologies to capture his ever-evolving target audience's wants - and in doing so has found his niche in the entertainment community.

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A Twist to Closet Space

I found this to be a quite original idea. Closet space has always been something of limited volume - and according to a quite large % of the population, much too limited for one's taste. The prototype above designed by Irina Alexandru attempts to improve our closet packing efficiency. Inspired by the efficiency of packing of two strands of DNA, Alexandru decided to design his... well more coat-hanger than closet, in the shape of a helix - thus maximizing the number of hangers able to be hung in a given area.

Granted even though Alexandru is correct in stating one can hang a lot more hangers, the idea of hanging clothes - of which have varying lenghts - greatly complicates the matter. If everything were short - say for hanging hats or skirts, then this design world work wonderfully, but if we were to hang say... a coat... efficiency would be minimal at best.

I cannot deny that this was a wonderfully original idea, yet reality of the targeted use seems completely improper. Hat hanger.. sure. Clothes hanger... probably not.

This is yet another reminder that even with greatest design intent and creativity, one must never forget the ultimate purpose of the product - its use.

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The Dyson Air Multiplier

The Dyson Air Multiplier is a welcome re-evaluation of the typical household fan. Instead of using blades and rotors like typical fans to speed up airflow, Dyson used its know how in airflow technologies, to devise a device that takes in a small quantity of air, accelerate this air, then propel it outward along the rings. The air surrounding the fan is then accelerated up to 15x by induction. [A more detailed description and accompanied video may be found in the source at the end of this post.]

I enjoy this design, for it truly is "thinking out of the box." Dyson took an everyday object, an object that wasn't screaming to be improved upon or replaced, and completely re-engineered it anyway. Given my engineering background, I am well aware of the many pitfalls of re-engineering. The process of re-engineer typically results in wasted time, wasted energy, and improvement on a product that may not need improvement. But this device isn't such a design. Dyson completed changed the process, and in doing so vastly improved the overall product. No longer will dust buildup and dangerous blades be an issue. A true laminar flow of air will result in much more efficient cooling, as opposed to the very turbulent design we are used to. An the aesthetics of the device are wonderful. The huge loop of whites and grays scream a modern openness.

The only pitfall to this wonderful creation... the price. At $300.00 all practicality is thrown out the window. For $40.00 one could buy two fans that match the output of this one. And granted yes, it is a wonderful design combined with great technology, the final cost may leave it nothing more than a novelty.

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Computopia

This image, entitled "Computopia", is a composition of a number of images featured in a 1969 Shonen Magazine. At 40 years old, this image describes an eerie future in which computers have become our instructors (disciplining us when necessary of course). Granted this depiction of modern schools is quite off, there is an eerie sense of resemblance in the image. These small computers with displays, aren't that far off from students in college with their laptops, sitting in rows, watching a lecture being displayed via PowerPoint. The only thing missing from this photo is of course the instructor, granted again this line is blurred further given the prevalence of online courses today. And although, yes, we do not get punished for incorrect answers, we are punished for our successes and failures in using such a device proficiently.

I imagine when this image was first made, such an idea of a class educated by a computer seemed absolutely proposterous. Yet as technology continually evolves such an image becomes less and less fantastical. Yet the chilling feel reamins constant, regardless of time, regardless of current technological advancements.

If that fear of losing our control in such a world has always remained so constant, than my question is this: were these Japanese magazine designers in 1969 more ignorant about the future, or are we now?

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Net Neutrality and Wireless Carriers

On October 22, 2009, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) stated that it will begin consideration of network neutrality rules that would apply to wireless networks. Before then, wireless networks had been exempt from the already established principles for broadband carriers. These principles are the following:

1. Consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice;
2. Consumers are entitled to run applications and services of their choice, subject to eh needs of law enforcement;
3. Consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network;
4. Consumers are entitled to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers.

The current strategy used by nearly all wireless providers directly contradicts a number of these principles. Thus quite a heated debate has begun and continues as to whether such, or similar, rules shall be adopted.

From the perspective of an Internet user, there are both pros and cons to such an adaptation. Currently, wireless providers have formed an artificial shortage given stringent network requirements for specific carriers. Granted some carriers, such as at&t vs Verizon operate at different mobile standards (GSM and CDMA respectively.) Regardless, many carriers such as Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile all share similar protocols, yet do not allow for shared network access by users.

Reasons for such tactics are quite obvious - given contract requirements, data usage plans, etc. a single carrier may increase revenue while forcing their customers to use their network only. In using such a model consumers are not being entitled the right to connect their choice of legal device to a network - instead consumers are being told that they may only select a specific group of devices.

If instead carriers were open to any consumer, no specific network required, the ready availability to Internet access of some kind would be much more available - for instance in rural areas where often only only a single wireless carrier prevails.

Another object of debate is that of data used. Currently, cell phone providers have the ability to block or slow down the speed of specific applications at their digression. If wireless networks were unable to block such applications, greater bandwidth would be used for such applications as Internet calling and video streaming. Cellular networks do not want this, for it would inherently slow Internet speeds for everyone in a specific area that is near a specific individual that downloads huge amounts of data continuously.

Therefore, networks would be forced to completely redesign their data plans. No longer could their be an "unlimited data" package, but instead networks would have to charge people by the byte used - regardless of for what purpose.

I feel as though such restructuralization would be a good thing. On paper it may seem that you would end up spending more money, but if your data usage rates are about the current average for others on your network, then I would expect very little change. But, if you were someone that uses huge amounts of data continuously, you would be charged with some very large bills - probably resulting in less extraneous usage.

The debate obviously has both pro's and con's, but from a betterment of humanity viewpoint - I feel that net neutrality would result in much greater strides in Internet communication. In wireless networks, there are often limitations due not to cellular device technologies, but instead the network of which the device is on. For example, the iPhone has an application that would allow streaming of home video anywhere with Internet access (wifi or 3g provided by at&t). Yet this application cannot be used on the 3g network for at&t cannot handle the bandwidth constrains given the multitude of iphone users. Yet Blackberry users have a similar application on at&t, which they have the choice and may use on 3g. Such discrepancies are choices I feel the user should be making, not the carrier.

If I want access to a particular technology that exists, and am willing to pay for it, then I should be allowed to use that technology. Carriers should just adjust prices accordingly to ensure overall stability of network infrastructure.

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What nook you reading?

Tuesday, October 20, 2009, Barnes and Noble officially announced their new E-book reader, and direct competitor to the Amazon "Kindle 2", the "Nook." The Nook is an E-book reader employing a 6in E-ink display for a mediated reading experience as well as a 3.5 in lcd for UI navigation. Paired with Wifi, 3G through At&t, as well as a 2GB internal memory, with a micro SD slot for expanding, and a very stable linux-based Android operating system design by Google, this device truly becomes game chaning. All of this on top of the $250.00 entry level price has forced Amazon to likewise drop the Kindle's price. Finally, true, fair competition may proceed.

That which makes this device such a game changer is a greater availability to the public. At $250.00, the device becomes no longer just a luxury to a plausible purchase for say the student that doesn't want to carry to many textbooks. Or, given its ability to zoom text, an aid for the visually impaired news reader.

Regardless how accessible this device is, it is that which it represents that captures my interest greatest. The Nook, as all e-book readers, is trying to capture the book/newspaper market. An integration of old media into a new media device. As we have seen throughout much of history, old media does not typically fade away, but instead takes a back seat to the next big technology. Yet with the implementation of E-ink and E-readers, we are not replacing, but reorganizing a long held standard. Sure E-ink isn't quite as tangible as a piece of paper, nor can you fill a library with E-books, but you can carry a library in a single device. Some people are for and against the adaptation of such devices, for it seems to represent a phasing out of libraries - a symbol of human being's acquired knowledge, and the idea that such knowledge is accessible to everyone.

Yet in the dawn of Internet, such information is still here, it has just been rerouted to servers and web pages. Yet one cannot truly pry themselves of that comfort of "curling up with a good book." - very little positive can be said about curling up with my computer.

I see these E-book readers as wonderful attempts to lead the information age forward, yet there are still many problems to be resolved. Most significantly is that of establishing a library-type atmosphere. Most e-book readers are marketed as devices to read books you have purchased, but what about renting a book at the local library? There is some news that a few companies are devising such strategies, yet it is a much more global adaptation that is needed for E-books to truly succeed. Secondly, these devices need a more efficient input strategy. Thus far neither Amazon nor Barnes and Noble has developed a truly efficient, and simple, means of taking notes! The possibility of pairing such a device with a computer lcd interface could help, which is what the Nook is trying to do.

Ultimately, studies have cited that although the e-book reader could aid in the education process, there are some limiting practicalities currently holding it back - most strongly those cited above. If these design flaws could be met, as well as continuing price drops I see an exciting integration in the not too distant future.

And if you still aren't sold on the idea I will leave you with one last message:
think of the trees.

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Piece of Mind - Vancouver Film School (VFS)

This short film designed by Ori Ben-Shabat is a wonderful representation of Visual Media. Ordi edits the film in such a way that time passes not smoothly, but instead like the ticking-pendulum of a clock. Though time slowly progresses forward, we see a an incremental back and forth movement of time. These movements, which are perfectly dictated in the soundtrack written by Collin Janz, seem to represent the true nature of our perception of time. Though yes it a a smooth, continuous occurrence, it is not without its ever-present grasp - holding us in a moment in the past while simultaneously plunging us a second into the future. Ultimately, our mind works in the past, it works at a moment behind the moment of which we are living.

Not only does this film dictate a creative use of motion, but also a creative use of of tangible, though unreal objects, as metaphoric representation of the main characters mind. The small balls that are following towards him at the beginning, and that follow him as he walks away seem to represent a fluidity, a natural path your life is following. A destiny of sorts that leads the character to whatever path he may take in his life.

The cube machine is directly paralleled to the Rubix cube that the main character is trying to solve. He can control this cube, make choices, make decisions, yet similarly the cube may try to control him - push his interests in varying directions. He seems initially unaware of the cube as tries to force and guide his decisions, though finally he sees its intent, and dislodges it from his mind. The cube was attempting to capture the interest of the man, to convince him what he should want to do, what he should like. Yet upon an epiphany he seems to realize that he in fact is in control of the device, the cube.

The cube seems to be a representation of societal forces on our decisions in life. Yet in realizing its existence, and our ability to control our life's grasp, no longer do we need this device, this box, from which to operate and understand, and function. Ultimately, the man escapes its grasp, and walks freely - wherever his life seems to lead him.

This short film is a representation of beautiful metaphor, wonderful 3d animation, and truly creative pacing and scene transitions. My only qualm with the design is a failed grasp as to the drummer scene. It seems that was to represent the man's desires, or possibly forced desires. Yet it is unclear which.

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Volution Bluetooth Headset Concept

The Volution Bluetooth Headset is quite interesting. It isn't a huge digression from typical headset technologies, yet it is able to approach an acceptable level of cool. The design implies a single touch-to-answer button surrounded by growing concentric rings. The microphone input is a tiny pink segment at the end of the ring. An alternate view of the device may be found below:


The design itself seems to symbolize our visual representation of sound. The concentric rings seem to be capturing this sound, funneling it to the wearer - like a satellite dish or one of those supersonic-hearing toys you may have played with as a kid. Granted this design is not technically necessary, it does give a futuristic aura - as do most concentric ring designs. From the side is almost appears to be that of a planet such as Saturn, with its many rings.

Overall, I feel as though this is a wonderful design. It strays far away from the overused Jawbone-like design, yet retains it's representative use by the user and passer byes. The deep pink contrasting the white portrays feelings of class and elegance while simultaneously nodding to the future (or at least the future as we currently envision it).

This device does imply an earing-like design; therefore, it may look a bit more natural to employ two devices, one in each ear. Such a device could then be used as a bluetooth headset - ultimately a much more useful and marketable product.

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d*light Huggable Pillow

The d*light Huggable Pillow by Yanko is truly a beauty to behold. Using a few batteries and some LEDs (of which do not produce excessive amounts of heat) we see a design with both purpose and visual asthetics. I particularly enjoyed the design of this pillow for it beautifully conveys metaphor in structure and meaning. The warm, glowing inner lights represent comfort, warmth, safety. Yet a soft pillow in itself should represent quite similar attributes. In putting these two objects together the target audience not only feels the satisfying hug of a soft pillow, but sees and "feels" the reassuring warm glow. Granted warmth produced by inner lights would be warranted, I imagine it was avoided for safety reasons.

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A Slight Regression

Days after my last post, I stumbled upon this... well... creative use of lighting. Indeed this is a jump in cross-referenced technical devices, but unlike the last post - this results in huge failure. This fast-food parking-lot-streetlight-turned-lamp is a monstrosity to design. The idea of curling up with a good book to the yellow-brown glow of a streetlight behind me is laughable at best.

Streetlights are not a sign of comfort, but that of menace. Granted this viewpoint has grown from film after film of protagonist (damsel in distress) running from the antagonist (huge crazy guy carrying any of various blades/chainsaws/blunt objects/etc) though parking lot, conveniently littered with obstacles to the protagonists demise. The designer missed the point of a household lamp - IT IS IN THE HOUSEHOLD. I must give the designer credit for blurring this line, yet he did not do so successfully. Such implementation in say, a scary basement or gym seems a bit more applicable, though ultimately the error lies in purpose of design.

Some objects can be redefined in interesting ways - a representation of technological advancement and creativity. Yet this lamp represents a digression of such advancements. Street lamps are not hugely energy efficient, the light they cast is harsh - likewise filling a room with harsh shadows. A room is to be filled, to glow of light. And though yes this is truly an assumption on the part of the author, no one can disagree that a parking lot is not an optimal living quarter... so why bring the parking lot to the living quarter?

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