New Media B

From 1986 2001: A Space Odyssey

From the 1970s TV show Battlestar Galactica

From 1960s The Time Machine

From 2004 I, Robot

First New Media class of the semester.

Objective: to make a community website.

Based on a post found on Kurzweilai.net was the inspiration for the theme which my website will be centered around. One of my previous post from the New Media A class touched on the same subject but lets see what becomes of it. First choose the theme:

Using Fiction as a Bases to Create the Future

What I will be researching fictional stories, books or movies, that have created their own futures. Tomorrowland!

From 1970s/80s Star Wars

From the 1960s TV show Star Trek

Some of the websites I used to research:

http://www.magicdragon.com/UltimateSF/tv-chron.html#TV-1980s

http://www.imdb.com/

Books

I personally love books. It's rare that I step into Barnes and Nobles and leave with nothing in hand. And, I don't like that people are trying to get rid of book stores... What shall I do without my books. The IPad has a new application to an IBook store, I do love the easy access but I would miss my book. The think is as much as I love having books I rarely ever go to a library, infinate numbers of books on the shelves and I'm just not appealed.

Are libraries really a waste of tax payers dollars? Seth Godin thinks so. But, we must keep in mind that not everyone has access to the internet, not yet anyway, so as of right now I'm glad for libraries. Yes I rarely use them but that doesn't mean other people don't NEED them. It reminds me of Matilda, the movie by Danny DeVito. A library played a very important role in her life. Or the library scene in Se7en. That played a large part in finding the murder.

My Friend Timmy

Oh Timmy, how I love thee. Tim Burton is a genius/lunatic. I personally adore his work, messed up as it is. The man is amazing! I really have to get myself to the MOMA as they are currently holding an exhibition on his work. But you know Tim Burton wasn't always Tim Burton. Plus his work is really... different... So, it's not really surprising that most of his ideas have been shot down.

Seth Godin wrote a bit on this idea of an Artist. An artist is really a dreamer in a sense. You must dream big and of course you may make it sure, but most often than not you will fail. You will fail a lot. We can say the same has happened for all great artist. Tim Burton as an example works on approximately one project per year and only a handful of his projects really get anywhere. Just something to keep in mind.

Apple

Alright, I love my MacBook as much as the next person; and of course my IPhone is an extension of myself, but can apple rule the world? Currently Apple makes only electronics but what if apple could make anything it wanted to? Say an apple car?

Nussbaum recently attended the annual MacWorld Expo and stopped to think, what will apple tackle next? Will the company continue to outdue itself in hardware, new media products or will it take on another role? I've always wondered when Apple will venture into other products well, what exactly would that look like? Matt Vella of Business week asks a group of intelligent people persisly that, and look what someone came up with. I show you, the apple car.

Apple always provides us with sleek designs so of course it would have to be small. Think mini cooper or smart car. As well as looking good it has to be intellegent. I'm sure the computer would also be Mac approved. Well this car might not show up anytime soon, but it's a nice dream.

Freedom

What happened to the American dream? They thing with the United States is really that it can't keep promises. I'm not saying that because I believe the government to be corrupt or anything like that. It's just that the United States was built on the fact that people believed they could do what they wanted here, they had the right to choose their life style, the right to elect the next government official, the right to act as they pleased... But really you can't allow everyone to do what the want; that would be anarchy.

The Supreme Court gave back to corporations the freedom to do as they pleased with their money. The Supreme Court voted to allow companies and unions to back political candidates with their earnings. Good for them, if I had the money I'd want to be able to do that. But Nussbaum disagrees. His view of this vote is that it will destroy innovation stating that if big companies are able to vote someone into office that will support them instead of the local businesses. Well maybe that is true... but I believe that the small business would do the same if it had the chance. To me the court is giving big business some of their rights back. That's all I know. Only time will tell how that right will affect entrepreneurship.

Laser Me

Now that I've begun looking for my own place I find myself looking more and more through the apartment therapy pages to find something that is as unique as I am. lol kidding! But really, an article about Ponoko quickly caught my eye.

What it is, is a laser cutting store which can make you whatever you want. I've got some late Christmas presents that need buying and this is looking pretty good!

Another great thing about the site is that you can send in your design and also request the kind of material they use. So for me... That I'm planning on making some snowglobes... I need something waterproof!

Light Up My Life

Swiss Miss recently wrote a little tid bit about light boxes, something I've never seen before; but, found fun. What it is, is just a frame hosting some lights inside and with a picture, or fabric, or something on the outside.

What I find neat about these light boxes is that they are wonderful mood lighting. When I'm in the mood to get up in the middle of the night and pee I, for sure, don't want to turn on my room lights.

I'm sure these would look wonderful anywhere. I'm especially drawn to the one depicting the couple in the bedroom because I once watched this show where a main characters wall, behind his bed, had a giant photo of his girlfriend sleeping. It was eye catching that's for sure.

I wonder how my boyfriend would feel about a giant photo of us right above where we sleep... I might just have to ask now.

Ant

Poetry, so we all know that poetry is depicted in different ways by everyone. One artist used his depiction from a poem by Robert Desnos to form a giant ant. But this giant ant is representative of a train taking the Jewish people, and other nazi victims to the concentration camps. Xavier Roux brings his interpretation of Desnos' poem to life and makes something that could touch us all.

Imagine

What if the world was a dream? I've had some interesting dreams in my time and some, like the one I had last night, I thought maybe could become something. Like I could write a movie about my dream or something.

I guess in a way people do do that a lot. When we are kids we dream of the future and what it might look like, what are somethings it might contain, etc... And some kids actually end up designing what they had thought up in their youth.

Like the post by Hicksdesign. She writes about her dream. In her dream she encountered the musicians from Radiohead doing a puppet show. How... Interesting... Actually it could work! Weezer did it.

The band Weezer actually incorporated the muppets into one of their music videos. This was a double plus for me because I love the muppets, and the song was quite catchy! Well done!

Shoot Me Now

So I never really realized this and I don't know if it's just something that I've grown accustom to or what but Jay A Fernandez is talking about how theater people can't get past the gun. Do a lot of posters feature guns in them now a days? And how did I not notice this? I guess it's a lot more "in your face" when you live by Hollywood.

Fernandez's conscience isn't the thing which irritates him, it's the lack of creativeness in Media. Can't someone think of something else than a gun to draw in movie goers? There is so much that a film can say to an audience, but the only thing that someone can come up with to sell tickets to a movie is some guy holding a gun?

I think this is gonna be one of those things that now that someone else has brought it to my attention, is just gonna annoy me! I can see it now, "what movie do you wanna go to, the one with John Travolta and his gun or Liam Neeson and his gun?"

Guyana

I'm always fascinated with adventure. I love going to new place, experiencing new things, learning from other people. I'm one of those types of people that if someone asks me to go on a random adventure I'll go simple because I like seeing new things. Eleven designers went off to Guyana to learn how their designs were made into realities using sustainable materials. What they found was something completely different.

Have you ever wondered about those woven laundry baskets? Someone made that. These eleven designers learned how much it takes to create those baskets. In Guyana they learned that these baskets came from somewhere. Someone worked for hours, days, weeks, maybe even months for something you can find for like five bucks. It's an art really, weaving, it takes talent.

The post was a series of qoutes from each of the designers, what they most remember from their time in Guyana. How those workers affected their lives. It's amazing.

Hello Las Vegas!

Vegas is well known for its bright lights, stage shows, the beautiful hotels and lets not forget the slots. But what else does this wondrous city have to offer? Well here is held the Consumer Electronic Show, where technology takes the stage and tries once again to out due last years models. BBC went to check out the show. But before that, Rory Cellan-Jones went to the golden state, sunny California, home of silicon valley.

As he took a look at the headquarters of Facebook and Google, checking out the new gadgets from Google and speaking about the growth of online social networking, he saw something that struck me as interesting. Both the Facebook and Google headquarters are more laid back than multimillion dollar corporations usually are. Places to skateboard, and ping pong tables allow the engineers space to relax. The workers are just full grown kids, and every kid needs his toys.

After doing the rounds at Facebook and Google Rory Cellan-Jones found himself in the city of lights itching to see what the future holds. Promises of 3D home theater systems, and tablet computers urging him on. I wonder what this upcoming year holds for us awaiting consumers.

EPW

I decided to write about this just because I'm so obsessed with it. Three words, Epic Pet Wars. It's an app I have on my IPhone and I can't get enough! It's really simple to play you make a pet you train it, you find people to battle, and slowly you go up in the ranks. So, I looked to see if EPW was in any blog site and sure enough, I found one! Skooljester writes A brief review on the game and it's design. Why is this game so darned appealing!

The game is basic really; it reminds my of an old Pokemon card. Your pets stats are displayed at the top, you can battle and once your HP is done, your in a coma. But the things that make EPW so different are that you can choice who you battle not randomly but you are given a list of people and what they are equipped with. You need strategy. You can also use your money to buy spells and items that better your pets battle skills. And you can buy investments of platinum, silver, gold, to gain more money to buy better armor and weapons. It's an easy enough game, but the fact that you have to think about what's the best armor for you, and the fact that you need to grow a posse in able to defeat certain bosses, and that you actually need to keep your pet happy in order for it to fight at it's max potential makes this game fun. And now I'm gonna go check on my pet. :)

Take It, It's Free

In this competitive market even young children know that it's time for change. Seth Godin writes an interesting post about the power of good marketing. He has created a quite interesting hypothetical situation. Two little girls, and two different lemonade stands. I'm sure many of us as children had ventured into the business world by putting up booths in the road. Mine was a quaint little home made bracelets and necklaces booth; co-owned with my best friend at the time Lisa. People drove buy and occasionally we would get costumers who would pick out something and buy. Simple strategy, good location, good prices, two little girls.

But what if you weren't forced to pay anything. The concept of an "every thing's free" shop. You could go in there pick out what you liked and left without leaving a cent. But that would just be rude really, after all someone did take the time to open the shop and of course you don't want it to go out of business. So, you leave what you can. That's exactly what a little girl did, but with her lemonade stand. Simple, a tip jar, freshly squeezed lemonade, and a nice smile. Payment? It's up to you. It's like the MET in New York, you don't have to pay anything if you don't want to; but a donation is always appreciated. And I don't know about you but I would feel mad bad if I didn't give anything. Actually I'd probably apologize if I couldn't donate the full amount and just gave like a dollar...

Oh Ipod, Please Find Me A Suitable Mate

Are you into Internet dating? How about poding? Well you might have a chance with Nussbaum if you are! Video Ipod dating is the new revolution! lol not really though. But seriously where will apple stop! You can now receive a dating service videos right on your Ipod. What's on your play list? "wink, wink" Pod me!

Sadly they are redesigning Poddater. Just when we started getting to know each other.

Let It Snow.

As winter is now upon us I find it sad that my dream of living near the slopes has not come true. This is quickly becoming my second year without hitting the ski slopes and I am saddened. My snowboard lays unused in my families home garage. I miss it more now that I have run across these wonderfully inventive snow gear by POC.

The small company in Sweden designs a new line of snow gear to protect our toughest skiers on the slopes. Nussbaum claims that with the technological advancements of today even this small Swedish company has joined the big leagues as their new line "skin" is scientifically designed to protect extreme professional skiers. But I think even beginners need some protection. And POC be used by all levels of skiers. My old helmet was actually broken by a little accident I had... But anyways... Did I mention how good I would look in that helmet!

Europa, Te Extrano

Talking about travelling... Ok so I really wasn't, but I have an itch. I haven't gone anywhere in ages! Which for me was in August. But that is soo long ago!

I grew up moving. Not really moving to different countries but moving from house to house, and school to school. I've figured I've moved once every two years of my life, so I'm use to new surroundings often. Sometimes I just get that itch to keep moving. When I was a little girl my whole family migrated up to Miami; then later to California. When my family started becoming financially stable my parents sent me off to live in Switzerland and from there, I went everywhere. And I miss travelling so. It's very much a part of me. I do remember the first time I went abroad to Europe and how things fascinated me like they did Hipstomp. I remember seeing that same raised toilet with the two buttons and loving it! Oh I miss you so!

But honestly I think I've travelled so much that things just don't surprise me how they use to. Things like this toilet are quite normal to me. I know that design is different wherever you go. My brother was at a wushu academy in northern China for some time last year and I of course went to visit him. Any chance to travel. Once I touched the ground my brother informed me that the toilets weren't normal... Alright, considering I've peed in a hole before, literally, I just laughed at him. Told him what did he expect, it was rural China. lol

I'm not gonna lie, whenever I go to a new place a find myself taking photos of things that I find out of the ordinary, such as this toilet. Actually the first time I encountered a self cleaning toilet I found myself going to the bathroom again to record it. I do find things interesting, but I definitely don't perceive them with the same excitement as hipstomp. I'm glad to know thought that others appreciate the little differences between design throughout the world like I do.

I Can Speak Everything

What of the future? I think that at some point in their life everyone has wondered about the future. I do at least. Maybe not my future in particular but things that affect me; things that might change in the future. Of course what I study in school affects what knowledge I can use in my future so I think, what courses will benefit me the most in life?

When I first got accepted to Suffolk University in Boston. They offered me a full ride, and so I decided to accept. During the orientation process we got taken to a series of lectures given by different departments. The department of advisory spoke about individual careers and what courses, in general, would benefit students going into that field. They spoke about one in particular which was intriguing to me. They informed us that the best language to take at the time, if one wanted to join the business world, was Arabic. Due to the current conditions a lot of companies were looking for people who spoke Arabic to act as liaisons between the US and the Middle East. But that is now. What about further into the future.

I always thought, and I still do, that in the end there would only be two superpowers in the world, the US and China. So I would have ventured to learn Chinese; but, it's not my forte. Maybe later in life. Anyway the whole point is about evolution of human beings. All the languages we have now derived from another, mostly Latin. But what will happen to all the languages we have in the future.

An article on Pantopicon is just about that. How does one map the future of a language? Throughout history language changes because of varies factors. The most common is immigration of a civilization. Where two languages meet to form another. Also the difference in social class can dictate the way a person speaks. Different groups of people have different slangs that are common to them. So as the world progresses the languages we use keep changing.

A Dutch poet Ramsey Nasr has written a poem translated "I Have a Dream" which takes place in 2059. He writes as what he believes the language of the future will be. Can't really understand it but there are words that are in english. And just the way he speaks, you will notice that it's very different from how people speak now.

Video

I just thought that his rendition of what language will be like almost fifty years from now was quite interesting.

And Again With The Ambigrams!

Honestly I love ambigrams. But anyway this post isn't about ambigrams... It's about this thing I found that is similar to ambigrams. I was looking through Authentic Boredom and as I scrolled through the entries I found this post on glyphing. I honestly had no idea what the hell glyphing meant so I clicked it and found this neat video post:

Glyphing from Cameron Moll on Vimeo.

So what exactly is glyphing? I looked it up in the dictionary and surprisingly it wasn't there. So plan B, wikipedia. Glyphing aparently is the act of changing a letters characteristics in a way in which it changes the meaning of the letter itself. I think it just looks cool. But if you wanna create your own language, start with some glyphs.

That's Just Awesome.

Ok so I'm often intrigued by ambigrams. I often find myself just randomly trying to match up word so that it just looks awesome. I think it's amazing how some of these designs come out! I think what actually got me started on ambigrams was The DeVinci Code. Can't say much about the book, I think it was hyped up a lot but the ambigrams were amazing. I didn't even notice they were words until I got a ways into the book. But ever since then I've just wished I could do those things! Recently I found this really cool website devoted to some guys ambigrams.

What is really interesting about his designs are that not only does he incorporate the word, but he also uses images relating to the meaning of the word.

Seriously, I wish I could do that. This is something I might actually do all day... During school, my notebooks were: Math problems on one side, my attepts at ambigrams on the other.

What Do I Want On My Plate?

I went to an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum featuring just a series of plates done by Judy Chicago and a bunch of her colleges; The Dinner Party. What it is is a series of 39 plate settings each designed specifically for a great woman in history. But each is in its own way shaped like a vagina. Of course it's done by a bunch of feminist artists.

Plates are so over looked now a days. The days where you kept your best china for guests are gone. Now plates are plates; used for eating not to be aesthetically pleasing. Sadly this means that ceramic companies are losing money. So what do you do? You revamp!

I found an article on the New York Times talking about a company based in Britain that has started changing its style. Instead of the usual patterns found on ceramics the company has changed their ways and began using some outrages designs!"Anatomica" created by Lisa Turner uses old school anatomy drawings as inspiration for her new line; While Monica Tsang from Hong Kong wants bugs on her plates. Either way it's an innovative new way to get younger consumers interested in an old art.

Simply, Coffee Shops

A friend of mine recently introduced me to this locally owned coffee shop down Hempstead Turnpike. This shop was really amazing, I felt right at home. It's one of those places that you just sit and you wanna stay there for ages! The effects of good decor. The shop has all antique furniture, the lighting is a dim yellow, there are still Christmas decorations on the windows and bright lights decorate the outside. This picture reminds me of that shop. Just another neighborhood coffee shop. Or so I thought... That picture is taken inside a Starbucks.

Yep. According to the New York Times, Starbucks is changing it's look. Ever since stock began to drop in 2007 Starbucks has been looking for new ways to draw in customers. I as a frequent Starbucks goer have seen these changes and helped by paying my five dollars for a grande coffee frap and a snack of course. But Starbucks is no longer just coffee anymore. Did you know Starbucks makes chocolate? and ice cream and sandwiches... I've bought them all. But sadly Starbucks stock was still on the decline. Now the company realized that being a logo might not be the best thing. So Starbucks has begun their new strategy. The company designers in Seattle have changed some of there Starbucks locations to mirror their surrounding area. Such as the photo shown here. Can't wait to see what they are planning for New York! Or maybe I'll stop by Seattle next time I go back home. Either way, I can't wait!!!

Ohh... Thats Were All The Rejects Go

So I was looking through the Core 77 web page and found a wonderful picture of this:

Yes that is a salt and pepper shaker holder! Well anyway this and a good amount of fairly odd stuff intrigued me. Apparently this guy Gustav E Pazaurek had opened a gallery featuring all of Designs... mistakes... Now you can find this fine array of odd looking trinkets at Berlin's Museum of Things! They are hosting some of his collection for display. And as Core77 puts it "to recognize good taste, one must eliminate bad taste." As a plus people can bring in their own items, receive free admission and add it to the collection! Free admission and more space at home!

You know what this reminds me of? This reminds me of those invention commercials. "If you have an idea for something, we can help you design it!" yep, that's were this things come from. I'm fairly positive mine would end up with Pazaurek.

Can I see the future now?

The Institute For The Future has invented an online game that may just show you a glimpse into the future. Superstruct came out back in 2008 to try and help prepare solutions for future problems that might occur. The game gives you a set of scenarios where you must decide which solution you will choose. That solution carries you to another problem with other solutions, and so on and so forth. Huh, isn't that interesting; I can actually help mankinds future by sitting at home and playing a video game. Awesome.

Customs Check

So I was looking at this article by Bruce Nussbaum that was in a way about etiquette. He was saying how he was thrown out of a brainstorming session because he hadn't known the proper etiquette of the event. Instead of contributing to the idea and trying to make it better he was shutting the idea down by finding ways in which it wouldn't work, which in a brainstorming session is unacceptable. He also mentions how the new generation has become accustom to technological platforms in which they can interact with other individuals and that we now see that as a polite visit. It's normal, but does it really make up for not calling? Not visiting? Not really... But as time changes customs change and one must change the way they act to correspond with all situations. Now one must also keep up with what other cultures see as correct etiquette.

I remember the LIRR ads for some airline company that gave you quick business tips for varies destinations. That's something that appeals to the new generation. Now it's better for people to know a little about all cultures and all customs for business purposes. You surely dont wanna piss of a potential client base do you!

Thank You!

Or shall I say Merci, in french... or in France for that matter! A new shop in Paris has me checking my frequent flyer miles. The concept was thought up by two designers, Marie-France and Bernard Cohen former owners of Bonpoint, a line of children's clothing, who just wanted to do something new. Well I'm thinking they got it right.

The shop mixes fashion and design. David Colman says that it makes a shopper want to shop. it holds an array of different items from high fashion to more affordable trends this shop has something for everyone. The shop is set up in a way that it makes you want to wonder about, it does not intimidate you as boutique so often do. "This wasn't a pristine design shop that could pass for a gallery, where you feel as if you have to live up to the housewares you buy." It gives you that feeling that you do in fact belong in there!

Oh! did I mention all the profits go to charity? 100% of the profit gets sent to help women and children in Madagascar. Hopefully that's not making up for some illegal child laboring... :p kidding!

I Love Giant Boxes

I do, it's true. Sadly this past semester I had to give my giant box away... Anyhoo. A new marketing campaign, big box guerilla marketing, and I like it! A Dutch creative agency, Ubachswisbrun JWT actually took lifesized boxes, printed pictures of mini coopers on them, and then left them on the street... Personally if I had seen one it would have found its way to my house.

The agency took its idea from a Paris City Transit Authority ad that ran back in 2004 claiming that one new bus would be on the streets everyday.

I just hope the driver can see...

Please, Someone Save Us...

I can not end up doing just another job!!! And I can not pull of an IV in my arm! Dear God help us all! Seth Godin sure made my future a little cloudy. Why does everything someone does and loves to do end up, at some point in life, as just another unwanted task for another person to do! Evolution of every medium, the cycle that every profession must eventually take:

Technicians who invented it, run it

Technicians with taste, leverage it

Artists take over from the technicians

MBAs take over from the artists

Bureaucrats drive the medium to banality

So design is eventually gonna become some mundane task?!? Hey, atleast it probably wont happen in my life time.

A Better Tomorrow?

Luc Schuiten a Belgian architect, illustrator, author, has a plan for our future! He sees a greener tomorrow ahead. Now that everyone is freaking out about the big whole somewhere above Australia killing us all some people are looking for solutions. This innovative designer has created a whole new metropolis where he believes that we can coexist with mother nature. The Musee du Cinquantenaire in Brussels is showcasing an overview of his work in the book "Vegetable City"; but is it too much? Can you see the future growing?