G-Speak

G-Speak is an interface that allows users to use their hands (instead of a mouse or touchpad) to use their computer. The link right now shows just technical, governmental uses for the software and hardware, but it is very feasible that t will be available to the public in due time. The system shown is huge...I wonder how that would translate to PC's.

http://www.oblong.com/

Frustration-free packaging

Another great example of the power of simplicity: offer stuff in easy to open, highly recyclable packages. Ask most people what they think about blister packages and you will get an ear full. I know, because I have asked. So far, every single person I have asked feels the same: they hate blister packages. I have heard lots of stories about how frustrating they are and I have heard many stories about rather severe cuts that have been produced by the sharp edges that seem to inevitably appear when someone tries to open a blister package. I have suffered these cuts myself. Enter Amazon's wonderful idea to simplify packaging. No more pain and suffering, no more frustration, fully recyclable...nice, very nice!

This morning, as I was trolling around for info on yesterday's amazing political elections, I found myself pleasantly lost in the New York Time's interactive map. There is tons and tons of info available, but it is all organized in a wonderfully simple and quite beautiful way. From the nice font to the very peaceful blues and reds, to the fantastic, and highly fluid, pop-ups, the map is both treasure-trove and wonderland. This is an excellent example of design and how Pink's 5 principle's -- story, symphony, empathy, play, & meaning -- can be used to create a fantastic fount of information. The map tells the story of yesterday's voting, integrating the both the big picture (the national level) and all the little pictures (the precinct level), using multiple modes of communication (pictures, numbers, words), all organized to provide the user with the info s/he might want in an simple, clean, easy-to-navigate package. It encourages the user to explore and helps him/her make sense out of the final tally. With a quick glance, I just noticed (11:43 am EST) that my home state -- Indiana -- was officially declared as a win for the President-elect: the color turned from light blue to dark blue. A quick look gives me the details: Obama 49.9%, McCain 49.0%.

This post is similar to my post about the watches: I really like Field Notes products, but I'm not entirely sure why. Evidently a lot of other people do too because they are selling very well. I'm also surprised that innovation can come to the notepad industry: for years you could get functional, but boring pads. Ah HA! There is a clue: for me, these are not boring, so why? There is a retro feel to them: something like the 1940s retro. I like the simplicity (!) and the natural or more rugged feel. The font is cool. The whole thing reminds me of camping -- FIELD notes -- duh matt. Anyway, it's an example of symphony -- everything works together -- and high concept, high touch -- the thing evokes positive thoughts and emotions. They just look like the would be awesome to use. OK, I'm going to get some!

Awareness Test

My roommate found this on YouTube...it only takes a minute and really makes you think.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4

Grades & Success?

OK, this is not so much about innovation, but it is about life. Do good grades predict success? The answer is pretty loud and pretty clear: NO! They don't predict much, except future grades. Interesting that we spend so much time on them here at ND, huh? There is a ton of research on this subject (check out the "About" portion of our website for some links to this research). This is an entertaining blog on the subject.

Newest and best eco building

The California Academy of Sciences just opened this new building which may be the greenest building in the world. I like the looks of the thing, but the way this building works is even more amazing. The level of both innovation and design that went into it puts it way on top of my WOW list. There are tons of reviews of the building [here's one]. For example, the roof is a field or lawn with over 1.7 million native plants that insulate the building, capture rainwater, and provide a 2.5-acre habitat for butter flies, hummingbirds, and other critters. Inside, you can see the outside from almost any location and shredded blue jeans insulate the walls. And there are 60,000 photovoltaic cells along the roof's edge to provide electric power. Even tearing down the old building was an exercise in greenery: The 12,000 tons of old steel & concrete were recycled.