Smart use of bicycle light to illuminate the signs on the road. The idea didn't win but the response was overwhelming. It's not new but this is one good example that winning an award doesn't mean your idea is better than others. The response of your clients/users is perhaps the best win.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:25 amVertical Farming Skyscrapers
Imagine the world in 2050 with almost 80% of the planet’s population living in urban centers and our fruit, vegetables and even animals are grown in … skyscrapers. Some serious work is going into this. More photos and video after the jump.
Architect Pierre Sartoux of Atelier SOA has put together this video about his vertical farming skyscraper design.
The Skyfarm
Architect Gordon Graff design for the city of Toronto – 48 floors and millions of square feet of growing space.
Architecture firm Mithun developed a vertical farm building to incorporate various green building strategies in a mixed-use residential and commercial complex designed for downtown Seattle.
The structure is designed as a kind of built organism – completely self-sufficient and adaptive to its surroundings.
The vertical farm project above was undertaken by Chris Jacobs in cooperation with the grandfather of skyscraper farm concepts: Dr. Dickson Despommier of Columbia University.
All-in-one eco-towers would produce more energy, water (via condensation/purification) and food than their occupants consume.
More information at WebUrbanist
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Look at the video that is on the original site. Shows the various angles of the green building. Very interesting and highly useful concept to have agriculture done vertically.
Singapore's plan to be a green city is emerging. This is one of them by Foster + Partners. Many of the new public housing and private buildings now have sky gardens - a feature that is very useful in a highly populated country.
1) The Innovation Mix
According to Carliss Y. Baldwin and Eric von Hippel, the Innovation paradigm is shifting from “Producer Innovation to User and Open Collaborative Innovation”. During the shift, Companies will manage a Mix of Producer Innovation, Open Innovation, and End-User Innovation. Note particularly Figure 3 of the working paper:
http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/10-038.pdf
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6325.html
2) End-User Innovation
End-User Innovation will become more and more prevalent, particularly when the design costs are low. In financial services, for example, users self-provided 85% of functionally novel and important commercial and retail banking services before any bank offered them:
http://ariegoldshlager.posterous.com/users-as-service-innovators-the-case-of-banki
3) Accidental Innovation
Robert Austin adds Accidental Innovation to the Mix: “Companies spend many hundreds of billions of dollars on R&D each year, but the microwave oven was conceived from a melted candy bar, saccharin from an accidental chemical spill, and the Daguerre photo process via a shattered thermometer. Accidents happen—and we're all better off because they do.
In their recent working paper "Accident, Innovation, and Expectation in Innovation Process," authors Robert D. Austin and Lee Devin explore the concept of accidental innovation, how it works or doesn't, and how good accidents can be encouraged.”
Essentials on Innovation all in a post. Enjoy!
I was supposed to get back to the viewing area with a proper video camera. Before the final 50 mintues before the show started, I went off to look at some of the green designs nearby at VIVOcity thinking I could easily get back in time. By then I return a little too late to pass the door. It was already jamming soon after I left the area. Jammed with the rest of the crowd with a mobile phone, this was the video I could get...
Happy Hanukkah anyway ! And MERRY CHRISTMAS! ....... Enjoy the view at the waterfront nonetheless. - @karen_fu 21 Dec 2009 Singapore.
Ingenuis method of folding 1 sheet metal into a furniture. Notice how the folded angles increase the strength of the chair. It doesn't utilise anything more than a perforated sheet metal. However one concern would be the support for the user's back, especially the lower back area. Like the seat and the way the legs are folded - many people actually sit with their legs slighly open apart so the V shape fold is appropriate.
Your Robots your Dream girl. You can also order a robot twin for US$225000 who will probably be immortal. There are possible social implications with this product that needs to be resolved. First off, the realisation of human and robot relationship is now becoming a reality. How would this alone affect society ?
what makes you happy ? The process of using is. Don Norman talks humourously on user experience of products. -- the real attraction / allure to product innovation.
The following eSoles case study was featured in a W. P. Carey School's Center for Services Leadership article:
Glen Hinshaw's start-up company, eSoles LLC, is leveraging smart services to improve an age-old technique of fitting and manufacturing custom insoles for athletes. A professional cycler, Hinshaw several years ago developed a foot problem that doctors said could be corrected by orthotics (insoles). "But they wanted to mold my foot for the insoles using plaster casting material," Hinshaw said. "I used that in art class as a kid."
And when Hinshaw got new shoes -- about once every year -- he had to repeat the process all over again, despite the fact that his foot hadn't changed much. So Hinshaw set out to find a better way to mold a person's foot and digitize the record.
He created a system to take an image of his foot, digitize the image, and then send the information to a machine that would cut an insole with the specific arch or curve he needed for the specific sports he was doing. He built a wireless kiosk to take 3D and 2D images of the customer's foot and create an imprint -- which is then saved on the company's website for the customer to access any time.
In that way, eSoles LLC makes fitting insoles easier -- customers can do it at a wide range of locations, from Sam's Club to PGA Tour shops -- and less expensive, because the service is automated. Perhaps most importantly, Hinshaw said, eSoles has leveraged technology to make the insole fitting process better.
"Machines don't run things by themselves, they need humans," said eSoles CEO Glen Hinshaw. He sees a lot of customer interaction, despite the fact that people are getting fitted for their insoles at an unmanned kiosk, not a doctor's office. "We've received lots of customer feedback," he said.
For example, the company developed a microchip that is implanted in the insole which relays information to the web or a handheld device to help athletes improve their performance. After seeing the product, a doctor asked Hinshaw if he could modify the technology to provide heat and pressure information for people with diabetes, who are highly susceptible to blisters. The doctor's suggestion is now a new product in development at eSoles. "It's about the collaboration between humans and technology," said Hinshaw.
http://knowledge.wpcarey.asu.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1839
Smart process of manufacturing a form fitting shoe sole via real human control.
The development of the skeleton was one of the big events in evolution. For all big animals, except squids and octopuses, it is essential to move and hold their body in position. In 1753 the french natural scientist Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon compared the skeletons of different mammals and hypothesized about the possibility of a common ancestry. Today more then 50'000 vertebrates are know of all kind and size, starting with the 30m big blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) to the 7mm small anglerfish (Photocorynus spiniceps). However, the construction materials and principles of the blueprints are always the same.
1 of 10
Click to view largePhotographs by Patrick Gries.
Amazing evolution of animals - teaches us not only why and how we evolve but also questions us why we could be also cruel to beings who don't harm us ?
Excellent slide presentation on design research.
Continuation from Green Planes & other design issues of real want and need.
Quick post on the winner for the Green Plane competition which was announced on the 19 June 2009 online at GreenAirOnLine site
The Team that won the first prize came from Australia's University of Queensland with the runner up from Singapore's National University of Singapore.
Extract from GreenAirOnLine site :
Team Australia:
The ‘COz’ team has a multinational make-up with
team leader, Michael Heitzmann, of Swiss origin and Alex Ng, originally from Hong Kong. Both are PhD students in mechanical engineering at the University of Queensland. Third team member is Benjamin Lindenberger from Germany, an aerospace engineering student who is undertaking his University of Stuttgart diploma thesis at Queensland.
“We wanted to demonstrate that composite materials made entirely with castor plant fibre can reduce the carbon footprint of aircraft and enhance environmental protection. We are extremely proud to have convinced the jury with our project and we hope it will have a future in aviation,” said Heitzmann.
WINNER:
Video Of Univ of Queenland's Castor plant fibre technology:
http://www.airbus-fyi.com/static/videos/_australia.300.flv
The runner-up was the ‘Solaire Voyager’ team from the National University of Singapore for its proposal to use solar cell technology integrating photovoltaic cells aboard aircraft to generate electricity.
RUNNER-UP:
Video of Solaire Voyager from the National University Of Singapore
http://www.airbus-fyi.com/static/videos/_singapore.300.flv
Complete Paper thoughts linked to Full Paper Part 2 thoughts: About Entrepreunership alertness (EA)
160 Artstories - New Generation Of Paintings, Drawings and Murals (CLUSTER)
Excerpt from :
Isolated Building Studies: Revealing Meaning Through Recontextualization
The Isolated Building Studies are the visual confluence of my interests in urban dynamism, socioeconomic
inequality and photography. By using uniform composition in photographs of buildings with no neighboring structures, I hope to draw attention to new ways of seeing the common impact of divergent investment processes on urban communities.
I've just made replies on definition of research in Chinese, made a quick visit to Twitter and surf back to facebook to find this interesting status remark by Prof Birgit Jevnaker of Oslo, Norway; who is currently working at the Design Institute there. I went to surf on line and find this interesting and related to my current post focus on green design. Here is a video about the topic for now:
Would you choose to cut down carbon foot print by the process of elimination or by designing a another product ? I have always wondered about these 2 issues for various products. Every product has a different user culture and need. However, what intrigues me is the definition of 'need'. It determines whether we need to design another new product or a new policy that won't silently kill us all of our future.
A few issues to kill some brain cells:
If we cut down down gas emissions, but we end up having more flights, would that increase the net output of carbon gases into the atmosphere ?
This could be quite a debate.
Then here's another :
In the process of making the plane itself, we need to consume energy. Wouldn't that increase the carbon footprint as well ?
Now we are really thinking...
If we could make an optimal number of flights every year without increasing flights and even manage to reduce it; then the green technology on aircrafts would prove to be a positive output.
Would the above statement be true ?? I'll let you kill more brain cells to answer that...while I shall continue. For better or for worse, Airbus has conducted an international tertiary competition for designing the best 'green planes' of the future. 5 universities got into the finals :
minphf's design site: Quick note on online Education - Art & Design Education
http://www.academyart.edu/
http://online.academyart.edu/
http://minphf.blogspot.com/2009/04/some-web-20-fun-interactive-media.html
In the last post I've mentioned about online education. There are several colleges which are conducting online degree programs, notably the university of Wisconsin and the University of Illinois in the US. There are a long list of them online, most in the US and some off from the UK. However recently, I've stumbled upon this course by the Academy of Art University based in California appears to be the most successful online art & design college I've found that is very credible.
However there has always been debates on how effective online teaching for design education is concerned. It appears to break new ground in art and design education as far as I've seen online. I will have a further nose in when I have the time. I am curious how they conduct the lessons there. It is possible to use current Web 2.0 technology to run webinars and conduct tutorials and lectures. What I am interested to know is how they exactly run the workshop and labs.
I've just revamped this site all over and added in a discussion hall over at Wordpress. Reason for this is because the process of signing up to comment and discuss is more convenient over there. I've grouped up all the blogger blogs there for my different blog readers to gather and interact in the same area. I've yet to see how effective this is. But at least, quick shot notes of all the blogger notes can be posted there along with any necessary replies. Instead of gissing-guessing around, I might as well try it out.
'Discuss Here' is placed on the navigation tabs on top of the blog posts. It should be easy to spot. Trying this plan of mine out for now.
[reblog from http://academicearth.org/lectures/technology-as-driver-change]
Quick thoughts: This accentuates the thought that with technology too, education will be universal for all who desire to learn. It revolutionizes the way knowledge is delivered. Currently online courses are focused on theoretical studies. However in the near future, we'd probably wouldn't require physical attendance in schools to do even physical investigations and research. It is in fact happening right now for design education and other areas of knowledge.
After posting about Asus Bamboo series and looking for more information about Bamboo,
I thought this would be a good time to add this link from Prof Ranjan:
Design for India: Bamboo Boards & Beyond: Multimedia CD ROM on design explorations for India
[Image from comparestoreprices.co.uk]
quick comment on the product: Cuts in pricing by desiging a product that defines consumer desires to own a status quo product without breaking their pockets and enjoying very good quality coffee in a much novel and quicker way. -- Karen Fu
I've just come across this review on a blogsite about the Asus Bamboo Series notebook PC. It caught my eye recently as a product that has a very unique product identity that spells not only from the cultural aspect but also on the quality aspects. In many ways, Asus is clearly quality conscious to the minute detail. Personally I really like the tactile feel of the bamboo veneer on the product. It gives a spectial overall feel that is both of delight and pride. This notebook is currently on hot sales and retail at S$2598 (US$1700 approx, and around UK£1100), which is a lot less than what the original reviewer stated in British pounds.
[extract from Chris Hall from Pocket-lint.com ]
31 October 2008 11:41 GMT / By Chris HallAsus have never been scared to experiment and in the past we’ve seen various models using different materials including leather.
Their latest incarnation is the U6 series of bamboo notebooks, which Asus claim are their greenest ever, from components through to the covering material, which in this case is bamboo.
Asus says bamboo has an immense tensile strength that rivals that of many metal alloys, so the Bamboo Series notebooks are "highly resilient".
Full details weren’t available, but we grabbed some shots of the new "eco" PC, on show at Stuff Live.
This model features an Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz processor and is estimated to retail for £1349 and should be available mid-November.
The company plans to launch two versions, a 12.1-inch model that weighs 1.57kg and an 11.1-inch model that weighs 1.25kg.
Nespresso - an interesting coffee machine
Related entries in Coffee Machines
What do you think about this coffee machine?
nespresso_1
My take - very cool looking bad coffee! Don’t waste your $259 (CAD)
Nespresso
Nespresso has revolutionized the way of preparing coffee to deliver the ultimate coffee experience for each one of life’s moments of indulgence.
At the heart of this concept is the unique Nespresso trilogy: the hermetically-sealed, iconic capsules with the large variety of Grand Cru ground coffees, the state-of-the-art, easy-to-use, sleek-looking coffee machines, and the Nespresso Club which offers unmatched personal service…
The Nespresso Grand Cru coffee has the best in-cup quality due to unmatched crema, body and taste. And, the great assortment of coffee blends enable Club Members to select the coffees that match their personal taste preferences, thus creating very individual moments of pleasure and indulgence time and time again.
So, you have to not only buy the machine but join a ‘club’ because you are locked into the coffee they provide, and no others. And, crema? I doubt it. Oh, and it’s from Nestlé. Mass market does not equal quality.
[Via gadgetryblog]
(extract from daringtochange.wordpress.com)....I’ve just made a short comment about the thread on Design Sojourn on the topic : Dieter Rams and his 10 Design Commandments and thought that there were other qualities needed to good design, or indeed to a good life since good design value-adds life.
– guts : the courage to change - change on what is really needed in life that doesn’t encourage waste in either unnecessary spending or over buying of certain products.
– discerning critic: the wisdom and intelligence that will enable one to differentiate what is right or wrong by observation and not by what you hear. I think its important for design decisions. Or in any way, making good answers on how life should be live by design.
In reality a lot of issues are thwarted for the sheer desire to make either fame or/and money. If we could all genuinely be honest about keeping this earth sustainable, which really means that we need to look at not only products but also our own quality of thinking as well as the ethical part of our characters; to ensure that this habitat of ours isn’t going to be finished beacuse of our stupidity. Hence being honest to both ourselves and to our living environment is extremely important. It would really not be worth it in the long term to cheat and to deceive what is the natures laws of good living. But there is also another crucial fact that the human civilisation, since the begining of time, has never really fully chosen the path to be just simple and kind… so what should we make of it ? Would this current economic and environment disaster wake all of us up in time ? If it does, its probably a ‘good disaster’ for all to learn…
image from: blog.igloo.com.au/?p=86
Dieter Rams’ 10 Design Commandments
1. Good Design is innovative
It does not copy existing product forms, nor does it produce any kind of novelty for the sake of it. The essence of innovation must be clearly seen in all functions of a product. The possibilities in this respect are by no means exhausted. Technological development keeps offering new chances for innovative solutions.
2. Good Design makes a product useful
A product is bought in order to be used. It must serve a defined purpose – in both primary and additional functions. The most important task of design is to optimise the utility of a product.
3. Good Design is aesthetic
The aesthetic quality of a product – and the fascination it inspires – is an integral part of the its utility. Without doubt, it is uncomfortable and tiring to have to put up with products that are confusing, that get on your nerves, that you are unable to relate to. However, it has always been a hard task to argue about aesthetic quality, for two reasons.
Firstly, it is difficult to talk about anything visual, since words have a different meaning for different people.
Secondly, aesthetic quality deals with details, subtle shades, harmony and the equilibrium of a whole variety of visual elements. A good eye is required, schooled by years and years of experience, in order to be able to draw the right conclusion.
4. Good Design helps a product be understood
It clarifies the structure of the product. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory and saves you the long, tedious perusal of the operating manual.
5. Good Design is unobtrusive
Products that satisfy this criterion are tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained leaving room for the user’s self-expression.
6. Good Design is honest
An honestly-designed product must not claim features it does not have – being more innovative, more efficient, of higher value. It must not influence or manipulate buyers and users.
7. Good Design is durable
It is nothing trendy that might be out-of-date tomorrow. This is one of the major differences between well-designed products and trivial objects for a waste-producing society. Waste must no longer be tolerated.
8. Good Design is thorough to the last detail
Thoroughness and accuracy of design are synonymous with the product and its functions, as seen through the eyes of the user
9. Good Design is concerned with environment
Design must contribute towards a stable environment and a sensible use of raw materials. This means considering not only actual pollution, but also the visual pollution and destruction of our environment.
10. Good Design is as little design as possible
Back to purity, back to simplicity.
requoted off Design Sojourn.com
The elfin MINPHF resides on the equator under the wonderful stratosphere of thoughts, ideas and dreams about an ideal world where all elements of nature and human factors are in harmony. If you want to know more about me, you are free to romp on 'my links' above for some amicable details.In the meantime, enjoy the hunt and more importantly enjoy this site !
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