Choosing between two themes
Two themes research
Research related to the first theme
all photos - "100 Chairs in 100 days" project by Martio Gamper [1]
- new materials?
- how to combine a chair and a lighting?
- how to combine a chair with the table?
- space-adressing issue
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Research related to the second theme
Aura Powered Suit fuseproject by Yves Behar [2]
Boarder City, Mexico, London Design Biennale 2016 [3]
- innovation
- use of technology fot the best future fot the world and society
- thoughts about various people, especially those in need
- engineering and technology
- helping others
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[1]http://martinogamper.com/project/a-100-chairs-in-a-100-days/
[3] http://www.londondesignbiennale.com/countries/mexico
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The "Arrival" movie
The "Arrival" movie
[1]
I found this movie to be very philosophical and hard to understand from the first time. Although at first it seems to be an ordinary science-fiction movie, I felt there were some parts I need a clarification on and so I went on to YouTube and watched some additional videos which helped me to explain the Symbolism and hidden meanings behind different details:
*HANNAH-a palindrome word- the name which reads exactly the same way from both sides, no matter where you begin...< Right at the start of the film, we are introduced to the daughter of the main character, and here there is an idea of the name having no beginning and no end- pretty much the same way as this film, the story in it is told- the past in interrupted by the future and the present, they all go together, happening almost simultaneously.
*The circles with which aliens speak have no beginning and no end- just a continuous loop - which also goes very well with the idea of the time being treated not as a linear amount of time, but rather as a something "unstoppable", continuous and infinite.
*As the main character understands more of an alien language, she begins to see more and more visions of the future <------ I was wondering, whether it would be possible by aliens, robots, AI we create ourselves to give us something back, in return to us creating them? Can they actually teach us something we didn't know ourselves before?
*As the story unveils, the scientists begin to understand that the aliens came down to Earth to give the humanity a gift or some sort of a weapon... Towards the end of the film, we learn that humanity will need to help aliens and in order to do this, people will need to learn their language, ie learn how to communicate with them. When a person begins to learn their language, the brain essentially gets re-wired and once you can totally understand their language, you begin to truly have all of the power- you will gain the ability to travel through time- as did the main character, doctor Louise Banks. However, this is not the time travel as we can imagine it, but rather a time-travel mentally- in Banks' brain, she was able to have the visions of the future. Moreover, now as she understood the aliens entirely, she was able to manipulate ink herself.
*Time is an eternal circle, so the concept of the future or the past is meaningless.
all based on the [2]
Another video I watched to gain a better understanding of the hidden meaning beyond the film had those thoughts embedded. I tried to understand the:
*Considering aliens came to share their experience and knowledge with the rest of the world, cinematographer of the movie imitates eye-opening with the framing when Louise comes up to talk to aliens herself as well as the shape of the alien's spacecraft reminds us of a contact lens hence telling us we should Open our eyes/
Screenshot of the video I watched explaining the symbolism behind the Arrival movie
*Aliens, otherwise called as Heptapodes (because of the 7 legs they have), have the anatomy which resembles Ishtar stars- the symbol of fertility, love, war and power (see the image from the video)
*11.11, the movie's release date esoterically represents illumination, awareness and being able to see beyond the norm - hence we see the main actress being able to do anything from walking upside down, to her going beyond and looking into the 4th dimension of time.
*The main point the film makes, should make us all ask ourselves: "If we are all to come together for the greater good, would we? If there is a chance we can talk things out, should we?" . Many people ask the question "Would you like to know when or how you die", but not many ask "Would you like to know how you'll live?". As we see in the movie, Louise knows about her daughter's death from cancer, she also knows about the years of love she doesn't want to give up and knows that her arrival is more important than her departure.
based on[3]
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[1]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2543164/
[2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpIFm4O2YvU
[3]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-EQ9IhDRKc
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Key:
-important
-thoughts
-questions I ask myself
-hyperlinks
"Chappie" movie
"Chappie" movie
[1] "Chappie" movie poster; secondary research image
I have decided to stick to my usual way of researching and analyzing films- I was making notes while watching:
- The difference of Chappie to other robots is that they have been programmed to have a certain input info and hence have a special output ( ie as the robots were programmed to help the police, they knew how to act in dangerous situation, fight etc), however, Chappie was the robot who previously was a police robot, then was damaged and needed to be removed, however was re-programmed to have consciousness, hence becoming the first true AI.
- 16:15 Deon Wilson (the main character, developer of armour-plated attack robots from weapons manufacturer Tetravaal) created AI with self-consciousness. "World's first full AI. Smarter than a human. It can write music, and poetry, decide whether he likes art or not ".
- 26 min- robot, later called Chappie, started to work- he began acting like a child and gangsters together with Wilson started to teach him everything you would normally teach a child. <------ Chappie does, however, look more mature firstly because he is a robot, secondly, because he learns and memorizes things quiet quickly. Do we actually need to make machines/robots/AI who have self-consciousness? How long would it take us to teach them all we want them to learn? Do we know how we can prevent them from learning something we do not want them to know? Can we force them to act the way which is favourable for us? Can we shape their behaviour and mind the way we want it in order to, for example, make yourself a killing machine?
- 48 min - Chappie experienced first "real-life" lesson- he got hit and badly damaged by bad boys, to whom he was brought by the gangster, Ninja, who wanted Chappie to serve him as a killer and a help to rob people <------ Do we have to put robots through those "life lessons" like we do with people? If we want to teach them something bad, do we actually need to harm them? Is it not possible for robots to be told/programmed of something, somehow discussed the situation rather than putting a conscious (almost) human being into a risk of being stabbed to death?
- In the end - Chappie, together with his maker, Deon, used the helmet in order to get all the information downloaded first from Deon's brain into a robot so that Deon's body is dead, but his consciousness is moved into another, robotic body. Then same they performed with Chappie - as his battery ran out, but his consciousness was moved into another robot, he still lived. <------ Is it actually possible to use some sort of a device to transport your/someone else's memories into a computer and then upload it to a robot of some sort? Will we not lose any abilities? Any senses, any memories, the way we see and treat the world? Do we actually need to transport our brains from our natural, actual body into a robot, a machine? Although we will live for ever, are we actually willing to sacrifice our human life in our body and the way we used to see life in order to live longer, however in a machine? Will we at all have soul and mind?..
I then went to YouTube to see what other people felt about the movie and how they interpreted it:
* What is consciousness? We know that this is something to do with the brain. Neurones receive, relay and interpret information about the outside world and so we can live our daily lives. But amid this circuitry, where is the feeling of you? How do we sense sensations?
*From the movie's perspective, becoming conscious only takes us some reprogramming, giving that the necessary processing power is there. Yet if it was only that simple... Could a robot, given consciousness (whatever it is) start choosing for itself?
based on [2]
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[1] http://www.mywatchlinks.com/apps/blog/entries/show/43712986-8-box-office-failures-of-2015
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGF4HgsRWas
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Key:
-important
-thoughts and questions I ask myself
-hyperlinks
CHAPIE- Who am I in this body?
"Ex Machina" movie
[1]
Today I watched the film "Ex-Machina", where a young programmer Caleb is selected to participate in his boss Nathan's ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breath-taking humanoid A.I, called Ava. I have decided to watch this film because of me wanting to explore how closely we are related to the technology nowadays, what are the hopes and fears of the future and why do we so much want to be associated with a "smart age". Here are the notes I made while watching a film:
- 27:25 - Ava asked Caleb if he wants to be her friend, he said yes, and she said that their conversation is one sided as he studies her responses, he learns all about her and she doesn't learn anything about him, " That is not a foundation on which a friendship is based" she said <------- I was trying to imagine, whether AI can or can not become an actual friend to a human being or is it that we will never be equal? Is it possible to have an artificial intelligence, a robot in other words, not only doing the tasks you want it to do, but also being our friend and feeling happy with the way we interact?
- 30:00- Ava switched off the power to tell Caleb that Nathan is not the one he can trust <------ can we trust what the robot tells us, what AI says about other people if it has an opinion on them at all? Do we have to consider that AI may be doing something for its own benefits?
- 36:35- Nathan shows Caleb where Ava have been created; he explains that those who create AI should try to aim to focus on how people are thinking and not what are they thinking about; they should think about the impulse, the chaotic thought processes which happen in human mind to replicate humans behaviour in AI <------ what is the primary purpose of us creating AI? which tasks do we want robots to perform and hence which way their computational "brain" should work?
- 43:30- Ava wore a dress to cover all robotic parts and wanted to go on a date with Caleb<------AI falling in love? Is it possible that robots can substitute normal humans and replicate our behaviour and feelings?
- 49:45- Nathan: "The challenge {for AI creators} is for AI not to act automatically <------ however, are we not afraid of computers being clever than us and so tricking us if they are NOT automated and programmed to perform particular tasks?
- 1:25:20- Nathan's actual test was to see whether Ava can make Caleb fall in love with her in order for her to be able to escape and she did; She used sexuality, self-awareness, imagination, manipulation and empathy - she proved she is the true AI. <- in the end, Ava proved she is smarter than human beings who created her and who engaged with her - she killed Nathan and left Caleb to die, whereas she herself escaped into a "humans" world by covering all her robotic parts with skin <------ can AI and robots survive in our normal world without the technical support from those who created them? How long can a robot live before being noticed? What will be the sucrifices humanity will need to make in order to implement AI into our normal daily lives?
After watching a movie, I went to YouTube and searched for the comments of other people:
[2]
from the video: "Ava has the strongest desire- Freedom- and faces the biggest obstacles. She is actively doing battle with the main opponent, Nathan, as she manipulates Caleb to help her escape. And in the end, it's Ava who achieves her goals {and not Nathan who was going to conduct an experiment}". How much people can not realise that the artificial intelligence they have themselves created, is tricking them? What can it take for us to be tricked by the robots we make and then die because of them as they become smarter?
[2]
I loved the quote: "Don't always connect all the dots. Give the audience a role in filling in what's happening. That is, give them all the dots they need but don't connect all the dots for them". I was thinking, if our necessities and problems we want to solve are the dots and the robots, technological future and AI are the connecting lines, what will happen if we will just leave the dots unconnected? or even what humanity will be able to do in order to connect the dots and hence use for example AI to solve their problems by even doing much harm to themselves?...
"Ex Machina is a film that is designed to entertain while telling us a smart, thought-provoking narrative; It treats the audience like intelligent human beings, encouraging us to participate in the story instead of turnng our brains off". Do we actually have to be smart and technologically-advanced in order to understand the films about the future (or the present happening which we do not know about?)? Do we all need to be advanced to use the technology we have on the market?
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[1]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ko9mWdqW-M
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Key:
-important
-hyperlinks
-thoughts and questions I ask myself after the research
Old New Exhibition
[1]
Yves Béhar's Fuseproject studio has designed an "emotionally intelligent robotic companion", which is intended to help the ageing population connect with technology and continue learning in later life.
The ElliQ robot, designed in collaboration with a team at Intuition Robotics, was developed to address the problem of loneliness and lack of social activity among ageing adults.
When developing the robot, which San Francisco-based Fuseproject refers to as a "companion", the teams questioned how technology can appear less complex and intimidating to this specific population.
They also considered the ways artificial intelligence could help this demographic a maintain a healthy level of cognitive activity.
"The team at Fuseproject worked with Intuition Robotics to define an entirely new category of robot and interactions, both physically and interactively," said Béhar, who has designed a number of internet-connected products that range from a smart thermostat to robotic furniture that reconfigures tiny apartments.
"Unlike our current perceptions of robots as humanoids, our design approach is more akin to a beautiful tabletop object, with a screen and companion structure – a unique form factor designed specifically to foster comfort and familiarity and askew the typical robot vernacular."
Through research, the team devised a list of features most needed by this age group.
"Using natural language processing, with computer vision and emotion detection capabilities calibrated specifically for the needs of older adults, ElliQ interacts with the naturalness of a companion, but with a unique aesthetic form that defines its own category of being," said Béhar...
[1]
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Key:
___hyperlinks
Product Design items related to aliens, new technologies etc
Alessi Citrus Squeezer by Philippe Starck [1]
[2]
A creation of the late Alexander McQueen, and very much in the style of the rather physically challenging footwear designs he was known for, this one-off pair of heels inspired by the creature from the Alien film franchise were made for a runway show only. Sadly, they are not available to purchase.
[3]
Certain jewellery conveys a sense of power (ie you put on a special beaded bracelet on when you're nervous). This design is not something I want to consider for the future, however, I always aim to relate the themes I am interested in with the research of alike product designs
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[2]https://worleygig.com/2010/10/03/yes-it-exists-hr-giger-alien-inspired-high-heels
Robot research
http://www.dongburobot.com/jsp/cms/view.jsp?code=100797
Artificially intelligence (a.i) is a concept very hard to ignore, and takes form in many different ways. The technology is bundled in smartphones to complex servers connected all around the globe. AKA wants to bring a friendly face to the a.i community with MUSIO, a personal robot for the home. The company focuses on machine learning and natural language processing that integrates big data to more effectively deliver communication tools, such as speaking, writing facial expressions and gestures. The MUSIO uses internet connectivity to help with interactions, basic tasks, as well as redefine itself as an educational tool to help children learn.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1371216747/vortex-robotic-toy-re-invented?ref=popular
http://asphyxie.tumblr.com/post/142531155811
http://www.blisskolbautomata.com/progress-of-the-mechanical-duck
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?threadid=1117826
https://diyprojects.com/how-to-make-a-robot/
ABB and others have introduced robots designed to assemble small parts and detect whether products are being put together properly
A new generation of robots is on the way smarter, more mobile, more collaborative and more adaptable. They promise to bring major changes to the factory floor, as well as potentially to the global competitive landscape.
Robots deployed in manufacturing today tend to be large, dangerous to anyone who strays too close to their whirling arms, and limited to one task, like welding, painting or hoisting heavy parts.
The latest models entering factories and being developed in labs are a different breed. They can work alongside humans without endangering them and help assemble all sorts of objects, as large as aircraft engines and as small and delicate as smartphones. Soon, some should be easy enough to program and deploy that they no longer will need expert overseers.
That will change not only the way an increasing number of products are made. It could also mean an upheaval in the competition between companies and nations. As robots become less costly and more accessible, they should help smaller manufacturers go toe to toe with giants. By reducing labor costs, they also may allow the U.S. and other high-wage countries to get back into some of the processes that have been ceded to China, Mexico and other countries with vast armies of lower-paid workers.
Some of the latest robots are designed specifically for the tricky job of assembling consumer-electronics items, now mostly done by hand in Asia. At least one company promises its robots eventually will be sewing garments in the U.S., taking over one of the ultimate sweatshop tasks.
Robots are going to change the economic calculus for manufacturing, says Hal Sirkin, a Chicago-based senior partner of Boston Consulting Group. -People will spend less time chasing low-cost labor.
Restrictions:
One problem is that today?s collaborative robots frequently have to slow down or stop whenever people veer into their paths, disrupting production.
Another hurdle is creating robots that can come closer to matching people's fine motor skills in manipulating materials and small parts. For all the advances in recent years, robots have trouble dealing with soft or floppy things, such as cloth or bundles of electrical wire.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-the-new-generation-of-robots-for-manufacturing-1433300884
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IS IT AT ALL POSSIBLE FOR ME TO CREATE A SMALL ROBOT? TO HELP TO PERFORM SOME MINOR TASKS?
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For further reference and research:
http://brainpowerboy.com/homeschool-unit-study-videos-how-to-make-your-own-robot/
http://lava360.com/35-realistic-android-cyborg-girls-photo-manipulations/2/ !!!!!!!!!!! robot girls
DIY how to make a easy robotic car
Design Museum
I am still considering doing something related to apps, programming, engineering, science and technology.. maybe i can encourage others???
Design Museum, "New Old" exhibition
V&A museum
Choice of the user group
Decision on the final User
* Despite the fact, that it is the elderly people in particular, who perhaps struggle the most with the latest technology (purely because the 3D printing, VR, AR, AI, 3D modelling computational tools, robots, intelligent robots etc appeared when they were too old to learn the developing technologies?..), I believe they will not be my target audience. Even though the ageing population is less advanced when it comes to technology, I still believe the majority of them got used to the latest apps and programs, gadgets they need to use in order to keep up with the rest of the world and communicate with their relatives. Perhaps one of the examples could be my own grandmother, who, when the first iPad came out, invested all her savings in buying it to prove she is as modern as the rest of my family, people at least twice as young as her, and in fact she is a very advanced user now, keeps up with all of the updates and keeps investing in buying Apple products to be on top of all the latest technologies.
* On the other hand, children are now more technologically advanced than ever before- the direct example from my own biography is my siblings, now 3 and 5, who have started to use iPads and iPhones since they were 1,5 and 2 respectively (the older one affected and taught the younger one). Parents mainly want their children to develop skills and start using various gadgets, learn how to code etc, from the earliest age possible and so that is why the toys which have an engineering (and not only design) input in them, which are educating not only in terms of developing interpersonal skills, but make children stand out because of teaching them how to, for example, build their own computer... those are the toys parents invest their money in. Also, the older the child gets, the more opportunities he faces for him to learn and become very advanced young adults... I do not think that in this project I want to work with children, maybe at some stage and just for this to be a part of my research, yet I think that children should not be my focus group.
* What I however feel is worth exploring for me in this project is the way young adults, in other ways, us, students, who have not necessarily had the opportunity to start developing their technical knowledge and learn all about computing, programming languages, 3D computational tools, 3D printing, drones, robots etc right from the beginning. I feel that there are too many people around me, in my class and college, on streets, people of the same age as I am, who do not feel particularly confident when asked to use some computer programs, asked to model something in 3D... The majority of companies are now looking for employees with as many skills related to the use of computer, as possible and so now it is absolutely inevitable that at one stage or another we will need to learn (often through struggle) how to use those apps and computational tools so that we are all up-to-date with the latest requirements for our profession.
Yet, where to begin? Many of us, especially those, who are either not taught at school or a college how to work in one or the other program on a computer, or in fact still find the amount of teaching to be insufficient -most of those people begin watching thousands of videos on the internet, which are promising to teach them the basics of using a certain app or how to improve the skills they already have... People waste days just trying to fix something in particular, learn and practice what a job requires/what is needed for their project in university, and as we all know, we tend to get so carried away that we forget about other tasks we need to focus on. Despite us perhaps broadening our knowledge on something which deals with programming and computers, yet the main problem still stays the same - how to manage your time and try to study what you have to, as well as dedicate some of your spare minutes throughout the day, that will all add up and help you to develop skills and learn something you are not taught, say in university?
Personally, I found this issue and a huge gap in my knowledge and education which I am somehow trying to fill myself - I had previously used Photoshop, but again, not on an Advanced level; I have not used any other tools most commonly used in the Product Design industry to which I have decided to stick to in my life - neither I used MAYA or SketchUp, nor CAD and Autodesk AutoCAD etc - and now I totally regret about not making myself to learn them well before I have decided to become a designer as even now I feel some sort of pressure that people in and outside university, and especially the employers, are definitely looking for the confident use of these programs.
In fact, in this project I will argue that there are many people similar to me, will prove this by primary research (here: conducting questionnaires) and will try to resolve the problem of how to try and teach someone something you don't know anything about yourself (which is the case with me and computational programs). In my project I will try to develop some sort of a tool which will be helpful for students who want to manage their time efficiently, will want to succeed in their studies by dedicating time to do their work for university, yet will also help them familiarise themselves with the latest technologies (of which they are not familiar with, not confident to use etc) and programs needed for their future development and career. I believe that this “tool” should also be technologically- advanced, aesthetically pleasing and inspiring for the students to explore the world of new technologies.
Look back on 2016's London Design Biennale
Ways of reusing old books
Fantastic Ideas How To Decorate Your Home With Books
Maybe you have collected lots of books for years of effort, you are proud of that but the annoyances for books storage are also followed. But are books only used for reading? If you think so, you are out. Books can also be used to decorate your home. So you needn’t to struggle to find space in your home for books storage. Look at the following ways about books decoration ideas we gathered for you that maybe let you shine at the moment. Agree with us? Come and enjoy!
37 Fantastic Ideas How To Decorate Your Home With Books
Maybe you have collected lots of books for years of effort, you are proud of that but the annoyances for books storage are also followed. But are books only used for reading? If you think so, you are out. Books can also be used to decorate your home. So you needn’t to struggle to find space in your home for books storage. Look at the following ways about books decoration ideas we gathered for you that maybe let you shine at the moment. Agree with us? Come and enjoy!
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Source: easyhomestead.blogspot.com
Source: theberry.com
Source: amandaonwriting.tumblr.com
Source: projectwedding.com
Source: sannaochsania.blogspot.fr
Source: amandaonwriting.tumblr.com
Source: bookriot.com
http://www.woohome.com/interiors/37-fantastic-ideas-how-to-decorate-your-home-with-books
Also:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/242842604887228532/
Shal i try to give books second purpose???????
19 Clever Products For Book-Lovers That You Never Knew Existed, Secondary Research
19 Clever Products For Book-Lovers That You Never Knew Existed
1. "The End" Bookends
To organize your shelves properly, you're going to need a good bookend — and this is by far the cleverest one I've ever seen. With this hilarious bookend on display, you'll forever be reminded of the best bit of a book: the part just before the end.
The End Bookends, $17.99, Fred & Friends on Amazon
2. A Bookmark That Keeps Your Exact Place
Just think of all the time we waste on trying to find the exact sentence we last read on the page. Traditional bookmarks just won't cut it anymore; if you want to be a really efficient reader, you need this perfect place-saver.
Finger Print Bookmark, $5.99, Fred & Friends on Amazon
3. A Bookmark That Does All The Work
Now matter how cute your bookmark is, it's not much use if you fall asleep and forget to mark your place. (Speaking from experience, like, every single night.) This super-simple bookmark will follow you along the way, so you don't have to worry about losing your place when the book falls from your hand at 2 a.m.
Bookmark, $5.50, Albatros
4. The Book Lover's Journal
All that reading can be hard to keep track of — but when your friends ask for a book recommendation, you don't want to be left struggling to remember your last 5* read. With the Book Lover's Journal, you can keep a record of every book you've read, and exactly what you thought of it.
The Book Lover's Journal, $12.26, Amazon
5. Thumb Ring Page Holder
It feels like sacrilege to say even one bad thing about books — but my one criticism would be that you have to hold them with both hands. What if I want a free hand to hold my glass of wine?! That's why this thumb ring is so smart: with just one hand, you can hold your book open with total ease.
Thumb Thing Book Page Holder, $8.99, Thumb Thing on Amazon
6. Transparent Book Weight
But let's take this even further. Holding a book one-handed is great — but holding it with no hands is even better. This transparent book weight will hold your book open for you, leaving you totally hands-free to pop open a bottle and tuck in to a snack.
Book Shield, $24.99, Libretto on Amazon
7. KleverCase Kindle Cover
E-readers are so convenient, but they're just not as pretty as books. But this adorable company based in the U.K. creates custom Kindle cases out of your favorite book cover, so you can show off your sophisticated reading tastes while secretly reading Fifty Shades for the fifteenth time.
Kindle Covers, $31.86, KleverCase on Etsy
8. A Poster You Can Read
Why waste wall space on plain old pictures with no words? Instead, you can cover every surface of your house with beautiful books with these ingenious posters that contain entire novels on them.
Posters, from $19, Litographs
9. Clip-on Reading Light
For a late night reading sesh without waking up your other half, you need a mini reading light — and they don't come more adorable than this desk-lamp shaped one from Mustard and Co.
Mustard Tiny Tim Reading Lamp, $8, Mustard and Co. on Amazon
10. A Lamp Disguised As A Book
For a super-stylish alternative, how amazing is this fold-away lamp that you can disguise as a book? You can hang it from the wall, or keep it propped up on your bedside table, and it will tuck neatly away into the shape of a hardcover book whenever you don't need the extra light.
Lumio Lamp, $190, Hello Lumio
11. Automatic Bedside Reading Light
As far as reading lights go, I've saved the best until last. This incredible gadget functions as a shelf to keep your books on, a bookmark to prop open your place, and a light which automatically turns on when you pick up your book — and turns back off again when you set your book down for the night. You basically have no choice but to buy it.
Book Lamp, $140, LiliLite
12. Library Embosser
Fed up of losing your books only to find them on your sister's bookshelf months later? Mark your territory with this super-classy library embosser which will make it clear exactly who is the rightful owner.
Library Embosser, $26, Horchow
13. Personal Library Kit
I always get a shudder of fear whenever someone comes round to browse my bookshelves, as I just know they're going to ask those dreaded words: "Can I borrow this?" When somebody borrows one of your books, chances are it's gone forever — unless you have this neat little library kit, that is.
Personal Library Kit, $10.68, Knock Knock on Amazon
14. Book Pillow
There's nothing cosier than snuggling down with a book in bed, but when your eyes are drooping shut with tiredness, it's hard to read more than one page before you're asleep with your face messing up the pages. This adorable book pillow solves all that: read your favorite page of Alice in Wonderland every night, and then fall asleep onto this super-comfy cushion.
Olde Book Pillow Classics, from $14.99, Thinkgeek
15. A Book That Becomes A Chair
In your tiny city apartment, there's not much room for extra furniture. But this chair will blow you away: after you've finished sitting on it, just fold it up and tuck it away on your bookshelf. Yep, this is a book that unfolds into a chair — and it's absolutely magical.
Bookniture, $149, Generate
16. Bathtub Caddy
Get ready for the most luxurious bath of your life: this bathtub caddy has room for your book, a bar of soap, and a much-needed glass of wine to enjoy while you soak in the bubbles.
Bathtub caddy, from $32.10, Umbra on Amazon
17. Prism Glasses
This is genius: read in bed without even having to lift your head or raise your arms, by wearing these futuristic prism glasses. I'm never going to read in bed the normal way again.
Prism Glasses, $10.25, Amazon
18. Instant Dictionary
Ever since I got my Kindle and discovered the joys of the in-built dictionary, whenever I read a physical book I now find myself jabbing at the page with my finger when I come across a word I don't understand. Spoiler: it doesn't work. Now, I've got some bad news: this unbelievable gadget that can scan words from the page and look them up for you in the dictionary is currently unavailable — but perhaps if we all write a collective letter to the inventors, they'll bring it back quickly?
Point and Click Dictionary, $279.95, Hammacher Schlemmer
19. Pillow Chair For Reading In Bed
This is what I've been waiting for all my life. This luxurious chair has pockets for your books, a holder for your tea, and it looks wonderfully comfortable as well. The only downside: if I had this, I don't think I'd ever get out of bed.
NAP Bed Rest, $99.99, Brookstone
Images: Lumio
Paper Choice
RICE PAPER
We’ve all heard the warning: don’t feed rice to birds or don’t throw rice at weddings because birds will eat it. Fact is, rice cooked or uncooked won’t hurt wild birds at all. The rumor is that uncooked rice hits the bird’s tummy and then swells causing its stomach to explode. It’s simply not true. It’s not hot enough in a bird’s stomach to actually “cook” the rice. So, the rice doesn’t swell and cause any sort of an explosion.
According to Snopes.com, the rumor was perpetuated in a 1996 Ann Landers column. But, no need to worry. Birds eat rice during migration all the time, and they do just fine. While the rumor that eating rice kills birds isn’t true, fact is it’s been so popular that the rumor has pretty much killed the tradition of throwing rice at weddings. It may be for the best. Rice probably isn’t the easiest thing for churches to have to clean. Many people have switched from throwing rice to throwing white millet at weddings. It’s environmentally friendly for the birds, and it’s soft on the happy couple.
http://coleswildbird.com/2012/12/11/fact-or-fiction-never-feed-rice-to-birds Rice Paper
(in addition : http://www.swaylocks.com/forums/rice-paper-printing)
Instructions:
Traditional Paper Making Process
Making Paper From Plants
How to Make Paper from Corn
How Papyrus Is Made
How to print photos on a kitchen (paper) towel
How to Turn Homemade Paper into Personal Notebooks
Pulp & Deckle: Making Recycled Handmade Paper
Print on Tissue Paper
How to Print an Edible Image from your PhotoCake® Online Application
My Pinterest account, Unit 7 research, screenshots backwards
Zaha Hadid Design
Zaha Hadid Design Gallery Visit
Zaha Hadid Design Gallery, "Meta-Utopia..." exhibition; primary research
Zaha Hadid Design Gallery, "Meta-Utopia..." exhibition; primary research
"Meta-Utopia between process and poetry" is an exhibition bringing together a group of emerging designers and architects caught in a continuous, immanent tension between efforts towards the pragmatic mastery of cutting edge technological processes and the pursuit of poetic anticipations of the strangely beautiful life-worlds that might be opening up if these or similar innovations can be generalized. "Meta-Utopia" mobilizes new cutting edge design work coming from a different group of architects, designers and researchers at the fading end of "the digital age". This group of people brought together for the exhibition takes pragmatic control over their horizon. With Promethean enthusiasm, they shape their own tools, operations and machines to help them achieve an architecture of unforeseen possibility, both pragmatic and poetic. Their utopias are latent, implied rather than manifest, remaining improbable and uncertain. What becomes manifest at the exhibition are not utopian blueprints or manifestos but abstract prototypes that point beyond themselves and open up a definite universe of possibilities to be explored further. Together, these works and practices constitute what is perhaps best described as a "meta-utopia" - an atopic place for ideas and processes that serves as a laboratory and launching pad for as yet abstract proto-utopias that are - not unlike artworks- thrown in front of sympathetic audiences in search for feedback synergies.
The emerging body of work is in a continuous tension between the utopic and the pragmatic. It is exactly this tension that constitutes the meta-utopia: to realise the improbable, one has to stop dreaming; to achieve utopia, one has to realise it is a utopian dream, and yet risk it. This is a productive contradiction, a continuous looping back and forth between the unachievable and the tangible. The search for the ultimate design potentially turns into proto-engineering, forcing excursions into technological territories and beyond design. The most adventurous, the most ambitious, are forced to become the most pragmatic - venturing into robotics, new materials and code. The most pragmatic, not willing to abandon the design territory, become the most utopic.
Yet, the carefully developed robotic tools and dreams of ultimate efficiency have as an ironic consequence that they are severely deficient, unsuitable and as yet unstable to compete with current practices or standards: the chairs in this exhibition are, for example, unsuitable for sitting.
Meta-utopia launches and queries technological, aesthetic and anthropological innovations. Fabrication technology experimentation becomes here an engine of both spatio-form invention as well as socio-programmatic invention.
3D printed Topology Optimised Chair, Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher with ZHA CODE
In order to make this chair, the designers attempted to integrate the topology optimization into an early design pipe line and highlighted the difficulties thereof. This prototype focuses on the use of such specific assumptions related to such geometries to improve the accuracy of the statical approximation.
Puddle Chair- 3D printed sofa by Patrick Schumacher for ZHD
Combining parametric design tools with the latest technology in free-form robotic 3D printing, this prototype sofa was the result of collaboration between ZHD and Ai Build. This unique piece is a proof of the potential and possibilities of innovative 3D printing technologies when parented with parametric design means. The sofa's lightweight space frame is optimized for material robustness and structural integrity, and its intricate design is layered as with an artificial cloth to transform it into a comfortable seating surface. The surface's ripples are an integral part of the design- they were created through surface mutations, while a multi-material custom technique was used to enhance their geometrical clarity. The ripples take inspiration from the natural world, resembling the ripples created in liquids. When the user sits, they provide a unique feeling of comfort by gently massaging the body, triggering relaxation and enhancing a sensation of wellbeing.
_____________________________
Key:
- important
- thoughts
"Smart Toys" event
"Smart Toys" Focus group organised by SAM Labs
A pile of educational gadgets/toys currently available on the market; primary research
While at the event, one of the things we discussed was the "smart" toys available on the market - ie, not the ordinary Barbies and teddy bears etc we are all used to, but the gadgets which had some sort of computational input/programming tasks/robotic features input in them. As we can see, toys we looked at were:
- Sphero, £90 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/5ia/Sphero-2-0-Robotic-Ball-Gaming-System-Smartphone/B00F35P69C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1487872322&sr=8-4&keywords=sphero)
- DIY Gamer Kit, £50 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Technology-Will-Save-Us-without/dp/B01CQ9SLEO/ref=sr_1_3?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1487872402&sr=1-3&keywords=diy+gamer+kit)
- Gizmos and Gadgets, £170 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/littleBits-Gizmos-and-Gadgets-Kit/dp/B0147YATSW/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1487872446&sr=1-1&keywords=gizmos+and+gadgets)
- Kano, £115 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/KANO-Kano-Computer-Kit/dp/B01NCL2D3A/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1487872488&sr=1-1&keywords=Kano)
- 14 in 1 Educational Solar Robot, £11 on Amazon(https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/qlu/14-in-1-Educational-Solar-Robot-Kit/B00CRF5KKG/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1487872532&sr=1-1&keywords=14+in+1+educational+solar+robot+kit)
All of us looked at the present toys and discussed the benefits and the drawback of each, we then had to decide which one we personally would buy for ourselves as well as for our kids and why. There were 6 of us in the group and all of us agreed, we would prefer the Kano Kit because of the endless possibilities it gives you while playing. the advantages of Kano over others were as follows:
- Kano is a computer anyone can make. With simple steps and a storybook, it is possible for you (and even for your child, as it is designed for children) to build your own computer and bring it to life. For ages 6-106.
- With playful projects and challenges, you'll learn to code art, music, apps, games and more. <------ very important skills nowadays, especially to be gained by the younger generation in the early age.
- Kano Kit includes everything you need: Raspberry Pi 3, case, speaker, wireless keyboard, memory, HDMI and power cables, coding challenges, and stickers!
- It is possible for the Kano to be connected to any HDMI screen, or by the Kano Screen Kit.
- Award-winning product (Family Choice Award, Webby Award, Red Dot Award, Cannes Gold Lions). [1]
Kano Kit; secondary research image [1]
Our second best was the Solar Robot, and again, we primarily chose it because of the endless designs you or your child can build it - all the necessary parts seem to be in place, but the way you make your own robot depends on you. We knew the advantages of this robot:
- you can build up to 14 different in styles robots.
- it moves on lands and water
- it is powered entirely by the sun
- it is educational and fun
- it is a perfect gift or present for your Nephew/Brother/Boyfriend/Husband/Children/Teenagers <------ it does not require any special knowledge in programming, robotics etc so can be suitable for any beginner
The only disadvantage of it that we have found was, however:
- the numerous tiny parts which actually enable you to make the robot <------ one hoovering could leave you without half of the robot and so to have that many small parts on which you rely while playing..is not very convenient or practical.
Solar Robot kit; secondary research image [2]
In fact, none of us knew the price of any of the toys, until we all made our choice, however even when we were told about the price, none of us hesitated and agreed that the Kano is worth it's money because it is a technology, easier than just a pure Raspberry Pi you can buy and start using which comes without any leaflets and guidance; whereas the Robot costs so less that for this money you can buy so many of them, that you do not have to worry at all about loosing some parts etc.
My conclusions:
1) If I am going to decide on making my final product for children, I will ned to bear in mind that the actual buyer is parents and so how is it that I am planning to convince them that my product is worth buying? In this case, remember that small parts are a big NO and will act against the decision to buy my product - none wants to spend money on something which is hard to replace, easy to lose, easy to break.
2) The age should also be taken into consideration- what are the parts of the products made of and are they harmful/harmless to children of this specific age group? What are the health and safety risks? How is it possible that the product I design avoids the risks?
3) Majority of parents want their children to be very technologically-advanced from a very young age; moreover, they are aiming to pay money for something which will be used for many years, is durable, interesting, can be adapted for many tasks/can be used in many ways and for different occasions, multifunctional, educational, aesthetic and inexpensive.
___________________________
___________________________
Key:
-important
-thoughts, conclusions, questions I ask myself about
-hyperlinks
"The Matrix" movie
[1]
While watching this film, I was making annotations:
- 26:48 Morpheus: "Do you believe in fate?" Neo: "No, because I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life" <------ Can we actually let someone or something decide what should or shouldn't happen to us next? Can we rule this "fate" and change our "destiny"? Can and should we fight for what we think is right and important?;
- 28:00 Morpheus: "Matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to hide the truth, that you are a slave, born in the prison for your mind. No one can be told what the matrix is, you have to see it yourself";
- 32:30 Neo woke up in real world where he is a part of the machine, where humans are used as batteries for the aliens; <------yet previously he lived in the world created to look if it is exactly like our world and so do we need another reality? Do we need something which will be hiding the truth and comforting us with a pleasurable lie? Do we want to live in a "real" reality, or the world we imagine ourselves? ;
- 40:50 Morpheus shows what was the world Neo considered as real- it was Matrix in fact, the dream he lived in. Now however, in reality it is all destroyed and aliens use humans as batteries and humans are no longer born but grown ;
- 43:30 "Matrix - is a computer generated dream built to keep us under control in order to change a human being into a battery" ;
Again, I absoltely loved the film, yet I felt like I needed some clarification on the symbolism and a greater message behind the movie and so here I found it:
* The Matrix is everywhere around us, it's our real world we live in, a prison greatly protected; but Hope (Trinity) lives in each of us, hiding and fighting for that we once open our eyes because we were born into this world already created and thanks to our children's Naivety (Dozer), our Brain(Tank) perceives the truth as it is given to us. And by the time we are so empty and dependent on the system, that we don't want to see the ruin around us and admit the truth that we live at the lowest point of the moral decline, so we wake up every day to work fully committed to this system, but sometimes we have enough and first time our own Mind(Morpheus) tells us that something is wrong, but there is no way to get out of this planet, no one we can speak to, so we have to adapt to this system whether we want to or not. After bad events in out life, something knocks on our head and our Mind calls again, our Mistrust(Switch) is supporting our Indecision(Apoc): "go or not?", but Hope somehow convinces us and we no longer trust the system which many times hurt us, and our Mind finally fully becomes a part of us. Now we have to decide, forget all and become a part of the system, or whether we really want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Finally, we become truly ourselves and see the world around us, how everyone is dreaming the false dreams blinded, alone and only for themselves- once you realize it, you feel very bad. At last, we begin to fully use our Brain and start arguing in our own consciousness with our own Mind whether we really are on a right track.. it is hard, but we like it, and our Temptation(Mouse) drives us to overcome ourselves so we have to bend ourselves and start searching the answers for questions by our own, but Internet(Oracle) is full of danger, and thanks to our Temptation(Dozer) and Ignorance(Cypher) we don't resist and do the same mistake twice, our Brain realizes that and our Temptation is dying together with our Naivety and Mistrust. Our Mind is again under pressure of the system, but our Brain doesn't want to be ignorant anymore starting to be decisive, and we want to know why is all helping to us? We believe in ourselves, that we are able to find out why our Mind has to be still under control and manipulation. Our will for freedom can be so strong, that not even Law(Smith), smell of money or system itself can't stop us. If we really want to save ourselves and free our Mind, the system is still chasing us, we know that there is no exit out of this planet, so together with our Hope, our Brain and our Mind, we simply can't give up or stand against the system itself - there are too many lies, too many arguments.. why do we have to be slaves? Why can't we just free ourselves? The system is too strong and we still can't find out how to win, but Hope believes and so we don't give up, in fact, we win the battle...
based on the video: the Matrix explained, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebPcOU4LV8o
________________________________
[1] http://matrix.wikia.com/wiki/Matrix
_________________________
Key:
- important
- thoughts and questions I ask myself
- hyperlink
"Toy Design" book
"Toy Design" book
As I am still undecided about who will be the user in my project- children, students or elderly people - I have decided to explore a bit more about lives of all of them, and specifically how the technology is present in their life, in their particular age.
- The need to play is a basic human desire. During play, not only children but also adults train various skills and social behaviour.
- Play is defined by the fact that for the most part it serves no specific purpose, the only aim being the game itself.
- Since the turn of the millennium, the electronic trend has spread to the Internet (Webkinz), while "conventional" toys experience a demand for environmentally friendly products. Today, designer toys are gaining in popularity since they offer select quality that stands out in over-crowded toy shelves.
I absolutely love the simplicity and minimalism of this toy, yet how it hides the mechanism which plays the music seems fascinating and absolutely miracle-like (especially from children's perspective). I can imagine children asking their parents how the mechanism is designed, whether they can replicate and make something similar etc.. Also, another benefit of it, is it's spherical form- a child can be rolling this toy all over his desk and floor and yet the toy will remain undamaged. I truly like the way this toy stands out from the other alike toys which play a tune with the key used for winding up the musical mechanism.
- Most physical activity games only require few (ball games) or no additional equipment (catch), but when this equipment is large and needs to be placed in the home (push-powered vehicle, rocking horse) esthetics become as important as functionality.
I like the way this toy simply teaches a child the units that make up the digital age - very simple, clear, and again a minimalistic version of Russian Matryoshkas which in fact will introduce a child to the world of technology.
- Something like 3-dimensional building blocks can be used not only for construction when playing, but can also help children to develop their mathematics skills as well as knowledge of proportions, balance, etc.
- Electronics and Mechanics can be the means to an end in toys, or an integral part of the game concept.These products, whose most distinguished characteristics is the intense use of physical methods and findings, is older than expected... In antiquity, there were already talking sculptures and wing-flapping birds. In his Illiad, Homer stated that Hephaestus, the god of handicrafts, had self-propelling vehicles and artificial servants. In ancient China works of art were found, that employed simple mechanical means to carry out complex movements. Such automatons were created primarily for entertainment and were succeeded in modern times by cabinets of curiosity.
- Science and industry only became interested in robots again, once robots gained in importance in literature and movies. Today, mechatronics along with computers and game consoles, have long since entered the world of toys, while electronics, mechanics and information technology intensively affect other toy categories as well.
Robosapien was the first affordable intelligent entertainment humanoid with a remote control based on the science of applied biomorphic robotics. Personally, I love the way WowWee company makes robots and humanoid toys affordable and yet very stylish, with the minimum use of colours other than black and white. I believe children also need to be taught style from their early age.
- Today, the portable game console is also a media player and a camera, it is equipped with a Wi-Fi connection and the two cameras are incorporated into the game.
_________________________
Key:
___-important
___ -thoughts and questions I ask myself
Mozartkugel toy. The "Toy Design" book research
V&A Museum of Chilldhood
Meccano kit <--- is this something we should go back to?
DIY?
Composing things ourselves?
Simple and clear mechanisms?
Engineering versus pure Mechanics?
_____________________________________
Key
___ - questions I ask myself
"Robots" exhibition
I loved seeing the inside of the robots - it absolutely fascinates me, how something like a connection of several wires can make a "box" with fake eyes to perform various movements!
The mechanisms and how the engineering became so powerful just amazes me - science have become somethign which rules the world and fuels people's imagination.
I wonder:
-> do we still remember how the things work? do we know for what we are paying money if we buy something?
->is seeing beyound and through something necessary? Can I create sommething technologically-advanced, which will be however very much transparent in the way that it encourages people to learn more and study how things work?
__________________________________________________
Key:
__-important
__-questions I ask myself
Robots, part 2
Created by researchers Mohanarajah Gajamohan and Raffaello D'Andrea at the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control, Cubli is a diminutive six-inch cube, stuffed with three coordinated reaction wheels that, through a combination of fluid spins and abrupt stops, can shift the weight and momentum of the block at will. Through these clever mechanics, backed by several sensors and extremely intelligent balancing algorithms, Cubli can jump, balance, and perform a controlled fall.
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3024331/this-is-the-prima-ballerina-of-robots
Why do we need clever machines?
Entertainment?
To show off?
____________________________________
Key:
___- importnat
___-my thoughts
The Geometry of music, elain chew
Design Biennale 2016, exhibition in CSM
Programming
Amazing 3D printed objects
Exposed VS Covered
https://www.behance.net/gallery/20889485/Ottobock-Prosthetic-Cover-Designed-by-KISKA
The Cortex cast prototype by designer Jake Evill heals fractured bones. The form of the cast varies with each case: 3-D scans are taken of the injury and used to determine the geometry and the distribution of the cast?s voronoi cells. The cells are denser in areas where the fracture is worse, requiring more support #codruo #codurodesign #3dprinting
https://www.fastcodesign.com/1673016/9-ways-3-d-printing-makes-the-world-better
Coming from India, I?m pretty much used to the level of air pollution there is here. I?ve however seen people struggle with breathing problems, given how much particulate matter there is in our air. It doesn?t surprise me anymore, to see probably one in a hundred people using a face mask to breathe clean air. The Smart Mask is designed to be a more advanced design solution, compared to the conventional cloth mask. For starters, it comes with a filter module that can be attached, detached, cleaned, and replaced. This filter module even comes with electronics that can monitor air quality, sending data to your phone on command. The mask itself has a clean minimal aesthetic (mirroring the cleanliness of the air that passes through it). The filter is held in a transparent casing that shows the face behind it, almost making it look like the person isn?t wearing a large, visually dense mask. A provision for an eye protector is made on the top too. Just snap the protector onto the mask to prevent dust from entering the eyes! What a well-rounded solution!
Designer: Li Chang
http://www.yankodesign.com/2016/07/12/look-smart-breathe-smart/
http://shapeshifting.tumblr.com/image/73761678384
https://www.behance.net/gallery/20059327/Lichen-exosqueleton-watch
I QUESTION MYSELF-
1) do we know, are we familiar with how things work, or do we buy just a box, not knowing what mechanisms are inside?
2) should I design something transparent and see-through, something which will encourage people to look trough and beyond nd deepper both figuratively and literally?
Where Engineering meets Design
My laundry space in our washing machine.
Because it has the individual laundry space, the planned laundry is possible.
But through the share system, you can be respected the life pattern in the community life.
Also personal laundry can also be used all along.
Likewise, living in share house should not only secure individual's privacy but also live as one family that communitate each other friendly.
Automatic access system is maintained by opening and closing system using a slide structure.
Research from before
Ideas explored before:
https://interesnoznat.com/interesno/15-veshhej-kotorye-pomnyat-te-kto-zhil-do-epoxi-interneta.html
https://www.dezeen.com/?s=MIT+media+lab++transform+tablr
https://www.dezeen.com/2014/04/16/mit-media-lab-transform-table-technology-milan-2014/
http://minimaforms.com/#item=memory-cloud-detroit-2
http://imgur.com/gallery/JKre34Z
http://www.technique.co.jp/items.html?target=label&range=all&q=Bal
https://roli.com/products/seaboard-rise
https://pudding.cool/2017/03/music-history/
https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/attach/158/158881_Tufte%20-%20EnvisioningInformation.pdf
Music Technology
"Wheel" by Miniot
- "Playing records is fun; Making beautiful things is fun.. these two rolled into one introducing: "Wheel" "
- Clean and pure record- player, simple and easy to use
- Does not have buttons, just a stick with which you can plan and pause, skip the track and increase/decrease the volume; everything (in terms of technology) is built into the plate (the actual support/stand for the vinyl)
- "Music is analogue, so is wheel"
- More about project :
" It’s only a wheel. Simple, pure and easy to use. Just place a record on Wheel and it will play the bottom. All functions are controlled by the center stick. Why Wheel? I've always admired the technical marvel of gramophone records. And for years, I wondered why the ritual of record playing wasn’t more elegant. The cd made this even worse, and streaming music definitely anesthetized the experience. Thank God the record got a second chance. With Wheel, we aim to honour vinyl and bring Emile Berliner’s creation full circle.Wheel loves records; All technology is built into Wheel's platter, below the record. You have an unobstructed view of your precious record, and the delicate stylus is well protected.Everything happens behind the scenes. Because it’s a closed shape, all technology is safely hidden from dust and accidents. Wheel is very easy to use. Wheel is the most compact true turntable you’ve ever heard of. The construction of Wheel allows it to be used horizontally or vertically. You can put it flat on a table, place it upright on a stand, or hang it on the wall. Wheel’s linear tonearm is built around the beautiful AudioTechnica AT95E cartridge. With our tonearm, the AT95E offers a warm, rich sound, and outstanding clarity and detail. For a perfect match, the entire arm is micro machined out of a single piece of laminated mahogany. By using a single type of cartridge, we can fine-tune each tonearm for damping, resonance and weight distribution to make Wheel sounds its best. The stylus is user replaceable.
Wheel is easy to use: In the center there’s a stick that controls all functions. On/off, play/pause, volume, even next or previous track. Turning the stick controls the volume of the headphone port. The stick uses real switches, so you feel a solid click with every action. All fragile moving parts are built in. No more scratching your records or destroying the stylus.
Communication Music is analogue- So is Wheel. The undistorted signal of the AT95E cartridge is sent straight to the RCA connectors. Without conversion or loss of signal. A switch lets you choose between phono or pre-amp line signal. The built-in high quality headphone amp serves the 3,5 mm jack. This way Wheel connects to all amplifiers and every type of active speakers.WirelessWheel is an
Wireless: Wheel is an analogue record player. It doesn’t run on batteries, and to unleash its full potential, it has to be wired to a good amplifier, speakers or headphones. However, it’s perfectly possible to connect a wireless transmitter to one of Wheel’s outputs (it still needs a power cord). This way you can use your Sonos or other wireless speakers. We’re in the process of selecting wireless devices that work best with Wheel. We’ll publish the results on this page as soon as possible. Records and dust Wheel plays the bottom of your records dust free in a closed space. The record itself is the dust protector. Each Wheel comes with a transparent LP with great music from the best Dutch musicians we know of. You can play this record, enjoy the music and see what happens inside Wheel. You can also use it as a dust protector, on top of your own record.
What is Wheel? In essence, Wheel is a high-quality record player turned upside down. The heavy aluminium platter is driven by an electronically stabilized belt drive at a dead-on 33,3 rpm. The outer ring of the platter supports and secures the record, while eliminating resonance. A vibration isolated block inside of the cavity of the platter contains the linear tonearm, belt drive, amplifiers and electronics. Newly developed bearing systems for both the platter and the tonearm guarantee an imperceptible noise level and a clean and crisp output. Made in Holland Wheel is capable of recreating music made long ago. Music is timeless, and so should Wheel..." - Peter Kolkman, Miniot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUJMlCi0MhI
"LOVE"Turntable
- No weight on the grooves
- The record is safe
- Two record bases included
- Compatible with all Bluetooth devices, Sonos (through WIFi) etc
-
LOVE, branded as the world’s first intelligent turntable
- LOVE looks to merge traditional sound with its revolutionary technology. Using its linear tracking sensor, LOVE can scan any record to determine its size and number of tracks, and with nothing more than a tap, users can turn the turntable on and off, or skip to the next track. As for sound quality, the LOVE streams analog sound via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to audio devices including speakers, headphones, hi-fi components, and home theater systems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybx4-ZlOdx4
- LOVE maintains the intimacy and quality of vinyl records but adds modern day smart features, while keeping the crackles & pops
- Yves Behar - "How do we stand out? We are honouring what already exists. We are not trying to replace it, we are trying to be a new experience"
- Easy to use and is controlled by the smartphone
- Ch Pinhas, Founder, CEO LOVE TURNTABLE: "The needle is what convinced people for over 150 years is something which makes a soulful sound, that is unique, and can not be replaced by something digital
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjMOrKsa3gg
MAG-LEV Audio: World's first levitating turntable (official)
"Wheel" by Miniot
"LOVE"- The World's First Intelligent Turntable
"LOVE"- The World's First Intelligent Turntable, video2
MAG-LEV Audio
13 reasons e-books are better than the physical copies, Secondary research.
1. E-books let you pack light when you're traveling.
Pretty obvious. If you're going on a trip where you're going to go through more than one book, an e-reader will save you a lot of luggage space. Especially if you're 90% done with a book and about to go on a long flight and don?t have room for two books in your carry-on.
2. You can read embarrassing books in public!
Finally, feel free to read 50 Shades of Grey without the judging eye of others!
But trashy romance novels aside, do you really ever want people to see what you?re reading in public? Books give strangers a reason to try to talk to you. Do you want to talk to strangers? Very likely not!
Some people use books as a way to flirt with strangers. I have a friend who met his wife that way, which is lovely! But not everyone wants some rando trying to chat them up when the'?re just trying to read quietly in a café or on their way home. Some people just want to enjoy their book in peace and aren?t looking to be picked up.
3. Caring about impressing people with your book collection is vain and stupid.
If you're collecting books to impress other people, you need to check yourself.
Free yourself from the prison of your own ego, man.
4. What's the big deal with liking to touch paper?
I've had friends tell me, ?I love the feel of paper too much, I could never use a Kindle.? I guess it?s nice or something? It?s not like I hate paper or anything, I just don?t see the big deal.
I suppose there?s something nice about the physical sensation of turning a nice thick page, but I?d put that as like 1% of the total experience of reading a book. The other 99% is, you know, the actual words and content.
If the paper and covers were actually the most important thing, then we?d have the New York Review of Paper, and the reviews would be like, ?Excellent paper, had a little sheen to it. Nice font. Cool color spine that will look good on your shelf. Oh yeah, the story was crap, but GREAT paperfeel. It?s a must read. A+++?
5. Instant gratification.
One supreme delight is that if you read an interesting book review or get a recommendation from a friend, you can download and start that book literally that next minute. No waiting for a package delivery or your next trip to the book store.
And with some book series, the need to read the next one IMMEDIATELY is just the same as binge-watching a show on Netflix. With an e-book, you can download and start the next one just as soon as you finish the first. Lazy? Yes. But tell that to someone in the throes of book two of The Hunger Games. You need that shit right now like a hit of crack.
6. Years of hoarding books can end up taking up a lot of space.
I?m not saying throw out all your books today and live a paper-free life. Books are great, and yes, bookshelves do look nice in a home. But years and years of reading is going to start taking up a lot of square footage in your place ? space that you could be using for shoes or clothes or a framed photo of your childhood dog or board games or a set of extra wineglasses for when your friends come over. Unless you live in a palatial estate with tons of room for extra bookshelves, in which case: nice nice.
7. E-readers are sooo much better for a commute on public transit.
Reading paper books while standing on a train or subway sucks. Have you ever tried to read a thick hardcover book with one hand while standing for 40 minutes? It?s awful. First of all, it hurts your hand. Secondly, your arm gets tired.
And worst of all, when it?s time to turn a page, you have to release your grip on the pole ? if the train or bus jerks at that moment, you go flying.
8. Heavy hardcover books are really unappealing if you carry them around and commute with them.
I would avoid reading hardcover books because they are too heavy to lug around in my purse all day and too unwieldy for the subway. There were times where I?d see a review of a new book that interested me, but I?d resign to wait for the paperback purely because of the tactile properties of the book.
That sucks. I ended up not getting to read things I wanted to because they were going to be physically uncomfortable to carry around and read on the subway.
9. Carrying a heavy book in your bag is killer on your shoulder.
Starz
It?s fine if you?re just taking it on your commute to work, but what if you?re planning on going out after, or just grocery shopping or doing errands? You?re stuck lugging around the equivalent of your pet rock collection on your arm all evening.
10. Carrying a big book around means you have to use a bigger bag or purse.
You know those cute small cross-body bags that are in style now? Or those notepad-sized flat clutches?
No dice with a big honkin? hardcover in there. And literally what could be worse than having your fashion sense cramped just because you want to read a book???? LITERALLY NOTHING!
And for men, you can slip a small paperback or e-reader in a large pocket, but if you?re deep into a giant hardcover, you?re going to need to carry a bag just for that book.
11. Backlit e-readers won't annoy your partner when you read in bed.
With a backlit e-reader, you don?t need to annoy your partner by keeping the light on longer than he or she wants. No more ?are you ready to turn out the light?? if you?re not ready. Keep reading to your heart?s delight while the other person snoozes away.
There! I?ve solved all your relationship problems!
12. Amazon has tons of free weird e-books that are old enough to be out of copyright.
Want a cookbook from 1900 on how to dehydrate meat? $0.00!!! There are tons and tons of other weird freebies available on Amazon. They?re free, so you can check them out, read a few pages, and quit if it?s too weird or bad.
Pro tip: Go into a book category, then search ?Price: Low to High? to get all the free ones.
13. Speaking of FREE, you rent library e-books without leaving your house.
Most libraries, offer e-books. You check them out on the library?s site using your library account, then download them through Amazon.
Free books from the library, instantly, without having to put on pants! Who doesn?t like that? NO PANTS, PEOPLE, NO PANTS!
My research after reading this article : COMMENTS OF THE READERS OF THE ARTICLE:
12 Things only people who adore print books will understand, Secondary research
13 Things Only People Who Adore Print Books Will Understand
Posted on August 10, 2016 by Elisabeth Delp
We love reading print books: the roughness of the paper, the weight of it in our hands, the sound the pages make as we turn them? even the way they show their history with highlighted passages, dog-eared pages, and scribbled notes left by previous readers. Print books are both the message and medium, and for some bookworms, print books will never be a thing of the past. Even with the advent of ereaders, there are so many reasons print books will always have a special place in our hearts. Check them out below!
1. Print books require little maintenance <------ true, but when the book is in a bad state, or had gone on a bit of a journey ith you, faced the rainy weather - no maintenance can help it
2. You'll never have to worry about the battery.
4. Print books come in all shapes and sizes; each one feels different in our hands.
5. Some things you can't manufacture.
6. Ereaders may be the preferred travel companions, but there is still something to be said for bringing a print book on an airplane?
7. And there are more than a few reasons you'd rather have print books on a deserted island.
8. Plus, print books have some, uh, extracurricular skills. <------this is a disgraceful behaviour when you use the book to play with
9. Print books aren?t as vindictive as ebooks.
yes Kindle is dangerous because of the electronic comonents it consists of (yet who on Eart would burn Kindle?...)
on the other hand, this clearly shows how Kindle version costs much less
10
Print books never die.
ok, but actually it is so much easier to find the book you need , make bookmarks (instead of highlighting directly into the book)
11. As the wise broom points out, both ebooks and print books have a place in our world!
12. But? you can't have that enormous secret underground library if you don?t keep collecting print books.
https://media.bookbub.com/blog/2016/08/10/reasons-we-love-print-books/?popupdelay=0
FURTHER RESEARCH: from comments of the readers of the article:
Any ebook can be a large print edition. SUPER IMPORTANT!
If you read lots of nonfiction you have a ready resource (internet connected reader) to find out more info view pics of etc.
If you are an extensive note taker you can write notes in your ebooks that are easily searched as well as find highlighted passages with ease.
Your library is available across multiple devices so you can catch up on some reading when you are in a quiet place or held up somewhere.
Using multiple sources for research is a breeze flipping back and forth between sources requires a few button pushes.
My 3-5 books a week habit - in addition to research for Sunday sermons is less than an inch thick rather than the precarious stack next to the bed and cluttering my study desk.
Bookniture
Arubixs Portal Flexible Smartphone that's also waterproof, shatterproof, wearable and Glows.
Smartphones in 2030 - Wearable Tech Phone
Glovdi - The Wearable Smartphone in the form of a Glove
Sustainable materials
New materials company Ananas Anam is using pineapple waste to create a new material that provides an animal-friendly alternative to leather.
The material uses fine cellulose fibres extracted from pineapple leaves – which are considered an agricultural by-product that is often burned or left to rot. An estimated 40,000 tonnes of this pineapple waste is generated globally each year.
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DesignMarch 2016: product design student Ari Jónsson has combined red algae powder with water to create a biodegradable bottle.
Jónsson – who studies at the Iceland Academy of the Arts – exhibited the project during this year's Reykjavik design festival DesignMarch from 10 to 13 March 2016.
After reading about the amount of waste plastic produced every day, the designer felt an "urgent" need to develop a replacement material.
"I read that 50 per cent of plastic is used once and then thrown away so I feel there is an urgent need to find ways to replace some of the unreal amount of plastic we make, use and throw away each day," Jónsson told Dezeen. "Why are we using materials that take hundreds of years to break down in nature to drink from once and then throw away?
He began studying the strengths and weaknesses of different materials to determine what could be suitable for use as a water bottle. Eventually he came across a powdered form of agar, a substance made from algae.
When agar powder is added to water, it forms a jelly-like material.
After experimenting to find the right proportions, Jónsson slowly heated the substance before pouring it into a bottle-shaped mould that had been kept in the freezer.
He then rotated the mould while submerged in a bucket of ice-cold water, until the liquid inside has taken the shape of the bottle.
It was then placed in a refrigerator for a few minutes before the agar bottle was extracted from the mould.
As long as the bottle is full of water, it will keep its shape, but as soon as it is empty – it will begin to decompose.
"If it fails, or if the bottom is too thin or it has a hole in it, I can just reheat it and pour it into the mould again," said Jónsson.
As the bottle is made from 100 per cent natural materials, the water stored inside it is safe to drink – although Jónsson noted that after a while it may extract a small amount of taste from the bottle.
He even suggested that if the user likes the taste, they should bite the bottle itself when you have finished drinking.
Designers are increasingly experimenting with seaweed and other forms of algae. Seaweed has recently been used as architectural cladding and to create lampshades, while algae provided a base material to form a yarn for weaving rugs and a dye for colouring textiles. Algae has even been implemented as an energy source to power buildings.
Jónsson's algae bottles were presented at the Drifting Cycles student exhibition, which was held during DesignMarch 2016 inside a remote lighthouse.
Other projects on show at the three-day event included a range of homeware using a concept borrowed from the pen-and-paper game Picture Consequences, and a stacking dining set comprising items that all use feldspar in their production.
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Designer Hussein Chalayan's Paris Fashion Week show featured a catwalk shower that dissolved a pair of soluble outfits, revealing delicate garments underneath.
As water poured down through the gaps, the clothes began to disintegrate and fall away as if made from tissue
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Suzanne Lee of BioCouture makes clothes that are "grown using bacteria" . "There's a whole spectrum of organisms that can grow material," says Lee, who founded BioCouture to explore how organisms like bacteria, yeast, fungi and algae could be harnessed to produce fabrics.
Lee showed the Wearable Futures audience a range of jackets and shoes made from bio-materials produced by bacteria in a vat of liquid to produce bacterial cellulose - a material that has similar properties to leather.
"The recipe that I've been exploring to grow a piece of clothing is using a symbiotic mix of yeast and bacteria," she said. "It's a fermentation method that grows you bacterial cellulose. It's kind of like a vegetable leather if you like."
She adds: "What attracts me to it is that it's compostable. It's not just biodegradable, it's compostable. So you could throw it away like you would your vegetable peelings."
https://www.dezeen.com/2014/02/12/movie-biocouture-microbes-clothing-wearable-futures/
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Wonderland is a collaborative project by Professor Helen Storey MBE (Helen Storey Foundation and Centre of Sustainable Fashion, London College of Fashion) and Professor Tony Ryan OBE (PVC Science, University of Sheffield) begun in 2005 which examines plastic packaging and explores new approaches to it's use and disposal. First shown in 2008, 'Disappearing Dresses' and 'Bottles That Become Flowers' showcased the ideas which Helen and Tony explored within the project. Led by the slogan 'Plastic is Precious', the works were exhibited in Sheffield, London and Belfast. These exhibitions, the accompanying educational site and the story behind the project can be explored here.
Wonderland shines light on the wider and much greater issues of sustainability and ethical living. A work perhaps vulnerable to cynicism, it demands and suggests intelligent change through brave collaboration and experiment.
http://www.wonderland-sheffield.co.uk/
http://www.helenstoreyfoundation.org/wonderland/1.htm
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It is a live project given by Barbican Centre, London which is about the exhibition ''Bauhaus Art as Life''. The extra button is a memanto mori of Bauhaus which is temporary but nowadays the spirit still invoked as an inspiration in Art and Design. The button will dissolve by wearing it, because it made of water soluble plastic which will melt in water slowly. At the end there will be only the steel wire left on the wearer’s clothes.
http://www.meetbellamung.com/i-was-there
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PLANTIC™ HP is a high performance sheet grade suitable for thermoforming applications (eg. for packing foods and goods with water activity of 35% to 70%).
PLANTIC™ HP is 100% biodegradable sheet and can be used in a number of packaging applications. PLANTIC™ HP provides outstanding gas barrier properties and is the high performance environmental material which is used in other PLANTIC™ materials.
Features:
- The raw material source is renewable and sustainable
- It is cerified biobased
- Ingredients are not genetically modified
- It is certified Home Compostable to European Standards
- It is certified Biodegradable to European Standards
- It is certified for disposal in waste water to European Standards
- It is suitable for food contact applications
- It is inherently anti-static and oil resistant
- It is sealable, printable and laser etchabl
http://www.plantic.com.au/product/plantic-hp
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Surgical Sutures are normally classified into two types, absorbable and non-absorbable. They can also be classified based on their construction, either mono-filament or multi-filament, coating provided, absorption profile and also whether they are made from natural or synthetic materials. Sutures can also be classified according to their usage e.g. cardiovascular sutures, ophthalmic sutures, general sutures, orthopaedic sutures etc.
Absorbable and Non-absorbable sutures
Sutures can be divided into two types – those which are absorbable and will break down harmlessly in the body over time without intervention, and those which are non-absorbable and must be manually removed if they are not left indefinitely. The type of suture used varies on the operation, with the major criteria being the demands of the location and environment and depends on the discretion and professional experience of the Surgeons.
Sutures to be placed internally would require re-opening if they were to be removed. Sutures which lie on the exterior of the body can be removed within minutes, and without re-opening the wound. As a result, absorbable sutures are often used internally; non-absorbable externally.
Sutures to be placed in a stressful environment, for example the heart (constant pressure and movement) or the bladder (adverse chemical presence) may require specialized or stronger materials to perform their role; usually such sutures are either specially treated, or made of special materials, and are often non-absorbable to reduce the risk of degradation.
http://www.dolphinsutures.com:8080/types-of-sutures
Book types
French paper artist Diane de Bournazel
http://www.diyhomeproject.net/french-paper-artist-diane-de-bournazel
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Stéphanie Devaux Textus for the Maurecourt exhibition
http://stephaniedevaux-textus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/maurecourt.html
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http://www.nodetenerse.com/index.php?/cuadernos/2016-blanco-roto/
http://www.nodetenerse.com/index.php?/cuadernos/2016-waltz-for-a-shipwreck/
http://www.nodetenerse.com/index.php?/cuadernos/2016-fieles-estelas-perdidas/
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Book art:
simple intrigue
from Keri Muller
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PAPER TALES, a series of one-of-a-kind, hand-made art pieces created in our Brooklyn studio exclusively for Bergdorf’s 7th Floor Home Department. The limited edition was inspired by paper pieces that we have created for events (some are featured in THE ART OF THE PARTY!), and consists of intricate worlds created from vintage and antique books.
http://www.davidstarksketchbook.com/my_weblog/2013/05/paper-tales.html
Okay first of all you don't want laserjet, you want inkjet. Laserjet will fade, inkjet will not if you have decent inks. I
First, you want to get a pack of Super B size transparency films. These are going to be your mounting medium. Then, you buy your rice paper - I find the Fiberglass Hawaii paper to be the best as it is a little thicker and more cloth-like and therefore takes the ink better than your standard caligraphy-paper style rice paper.
Place the transparency over the rice paper and trim the rice paper to about 2-3" larger than the Super B sheet on all sides. Then, start by folding over the two sides and taping them down to the transparency sheet with scotch tape (you want to do this as if you're wrapping a present, same technique) You need to be sure to crease them nicely and tape them neatly and snug to the sheet. You want your rice paper to conform perfectly - too loose and it will get caught in the rollers, too tight and it will bow the transparency and most likely cause a jam.
Then, repeat with the top and bottom, being sure to fold in the corners as well (just like a present). Once the paper has been taped down, tape it down again. You want to cover and bond any seams, so that there is nowhere on the sheet that has any kind of gap or opening.
Then, you load you paper in (ONE SHEET AT A TIME!!) and print!
I would always reccomend printing from illustrator or indesign as they use vector-format imaging which gives you much higher quality and eliminates pixelation. For even better results, I recommend a program called Acurip (you can buy it at softwareforscreenprinters.com) which essentially optimizes the output for burning screens. This is helpful because when burning screens you must have zero light bleed on your design. Accurip closes the gaps created by printer heads and even lets you control the droplet size and weight of the ink output so you can lay the ink down heavier and darker in a single pass.
Once printed, treat your artwork with a fixative (I remmcomend two treatments) to prevent ink bleeding and you'll be good to go!