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Interesting looking site even if the title is totally boring. The next music 2.0?
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interesting affordable rapid prototyping project, the economic and usage arguments are not credible however…
Archive for December, 2006
links for 2006-12-18
December 18, 2006An Xtech proposal
December 17, 2006Man, I’m really reaching new levels of geekiness. So I submitted a presentation proposal for XTech in Paris next May, fingers crossed.
Title: Ceci n’est pas seulement une pipe: designing for semantic meaning in a connected world
Description: Using examples of applications to illustrate the semantic disturbance that takes place when then web hacks objects of everyday lives and when it makes them disappear.
Abstract: As we live more and more connected lives, spending countless hours in front of a screen, the web is also spewing out of its “tubes” into the real world. We can now access it not only using a series of technologies that pull us away from the screen: cell phones, RFID, Bluetooth, wifi but these technologies are now embedding themselves in everyday objects. Our use of these is therefore changing. The principles of natural mapping, mental models and affordances (D. Norman, 2002) that allow for certain behaviours to take place are evolving.
The physicality of opening an umbrella for example is directly linked to it’s mechanism and a need for protection from the rain but can now also mean turning on your iPod. What happens when people start opening their umbrellas on a sunny day?
This presentation aims to explore the reasons why semantics and mental models should be considered when designing everyday intelligence. Using case studies and examples of projects (Good Night Lamp, Stickychat), we will explore the way that people really use, (or don’t) the ubiquitous web. How, as users, we interpret, play or hack those semantic layers.
We will also discuss the reverse phenomenon, or when the meaning or function of objects is rendered useless because of their online evolution. Using the example of a music-sharing service (Stint) as well as observations around Second Life, we will try to dissect the mechanics, semantic disruptions and infrastructural challenges that that online evolution poses.
The year that was 2006
December 16, 2006As we’re approaching the end of this year and I’m trying to recap this rollercoaster of a year and went back to one of those corny questionnaires that a friend from Quebec sent me a few years ago and fill it out, it’s good for the karama people! Those who are brave enough can post theirs up in the comments if you dare!
1.What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Started freelancing
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
resolutions are so last century! My ADD prevents me from making any and keeping any as well.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Simon and Isabelle his wife had a baby, little Amy!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Diane Bélanger, my former boss, and a wonderful immigration lawyer in montreal, woman and mother.
5. What countries did you visit?
Hungary, Romania, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, UK, (woops, forgot Norway, France)
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Better health
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory?
20th of July
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating and finding work within a fortnight
9. What was your biggest failure?
Creating more bad karma with some people around me than i would have liked.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Kennedy space centre tour bag.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Al Gore for An Inconvenient truth
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Domus Academy’s closure of IDII.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Traveling
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Working with great people on exciting projects!
16. What song/album will always remind you of 2007?
Body and Soul by Death Cab Cutie
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
More tired, busier, more confident of the future.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sports
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Partying
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Going to the UK.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Matt
22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Yes
23. What was your favourite TV programme?
Scrubs
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No
26. What was the best book(s) you read?
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand but i haven’t finished it yet.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Iron & Wine
28. What did you want and get?
To be captain of my own boat.
29. What did you want and not get?
Prototype my thesis project
30. What were your favourite films of this year?
The Departed
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
It’s coming up, i’ll be spending it in London, turning 26.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less drama
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Whatever fits in a suitcase
34. What kept you sane?
My family
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Don’t know any anymore…
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Canadian elections
37. Who did you miss?
Caroline, Marc-André, Mylène
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Matt
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
All things come to those who wait
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
drink up baby down
Are you in or are you out?
Leave your things behind
‘Cause it’s all going off without you
Excuse me too busy you’re writing your tragedy
These mishaps
You bubble-wrap
When you’ve no idea what you’re like
links for 2006-12-15
December 15, 2006-
Interesting conference on the Ubiquitous web, should get my thesis in there somewhere…
links for 2006-12-14
December 14, 2006-
Interesting service offering from a partnership between Orange and Apple in France. Macbooks for rent for 60 euros a month.
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Ulla-Maaria ‘s new project named Social Objects, i like the title. Can’t wait to hear more after thinglink.org.
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Sounds interesting but i dont know if i have 500 quid to give to this endeavor. Grumble grumble.
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RIP (thats rapid iterative prototyping) at Philips in Second Life. Not sure they’ll find what they’re looking for but we’ll see.
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Nice product design, lovely outdoor recyclable cardboard chair
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Lovely canadian clothing company reusing old clothing to make new and better ones… need a sewing machine… they have a store in montreal…. why cant i teleport myself there!
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Interesting article on the ecological footprint of LL’s Second life avatars.
links for 2006-12-13
December 13, 2006-
Hate that damn series but love the Simpsons
there’s no way to not love this…
links for 2006-12-08
December 8, 2006-
Huge and almost Kubrick-like space for rent on the canals in Amsterdam. Great for anyone doing a shooting or a wedding after party…
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Beautiful swedish company that makes great book binding, notebooks, bags, etc. Found one of their stores in Paris… would gladly go back.
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If I didn’t live in Amsterdam and wanted to spend a romantic weekend, id stay here : )
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Absolutely lovely product design , great lighting based on sea-shells.
links for 2006-12-07
December 7, 2006-
A beatiful restaurant with view on the IJ river at the basement of the Opear house, great food , great architecture, perfect!