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Innovative Designs and Devices
Posted by
CmdrTaco
on Mon Jan 07, 2008 09:38 AM
from the innovate-me-one-more-time dept.
from the innovate-me-one-more-time dept.
Patrick Griffin writes "When it comes to product design, the significance of aesthetics, the way its design looks and feels, determines the choice of the customer once the functionalities of multiple devices are more or less similar. If supported by sound user interface and a well-tested, clean implementation, innovative design solutions can drastically enhance the user experience. The article Innovative Designs and Devices presents innovative, futuristic gadgets, devices, designs and concepts which can become reality in 2008 or over the next few years." Some of the designs are real, others are stupid, and some are just dreams for the future. But some of this stuff is really cool.
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the Dual Music Player (Score:4, Insightful)
Also the Apple remote is neat and really pays into the popularity of the Wii-mote for interaction? So you think Sony would really place people into that mind set?
Re:the Dual Music Player (Score:5, Funny)
Imagine the scene: You're walking down the street, listening to your music and a hooded yob-youth is coming towards you. He stops you and demands your music player.
Normal response: Aw crap, he has a knife/gun and I've just got an MP3 player. I don't want to get killed over it so I'll hand it open.
New response: "What, this thing?" *swing spinning CD up in an arc and slice hoody's face before running while he recovers*
Now you get music and personal protection in one
.
Note: The above scenario is not recommended
Parent
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That is the one advantage/disadvantage for my described method - if you've got a CD you don't want then work the edge of the CD with a file or similar and it is even more dangerous - either as a sharp edge or as a serrated edge
:D
*cackles evilly*
It is normal for me to think of these things when seeing that, isn't it?
Also, I think it is more of a fashion device that is intended to be left on a table beside the listener, or held in the hand (caref
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I like the concept, but, umm without the cover to protect the spinning CD (or you from it) that just seems like a HUGE design flaw.
I'd guess it isn't designed for mobility, at least in the sense of listening-while-U-walk.
Could be convenient and not too risky in an airplane, on the other hand.
Also the Apple remote is neat and really pays into the popularity of the Wii-mote for interaction? So you think Sony would really place people into that mind set?
I don't think so... basic operations are very easy to do with normal remotes; there is a problem with stuffing too many buttons on them, but that's a wholly different issue. Apple's remote (not Sony's Apple, but Apple's Mac remote) is simplicity itself, while still remaining a recognizable remote.
I dislike the keyless keyboards, though. Then
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Just my $0.02
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It could certainly rip holes in your pockets.
The rest is optional.
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All that happened if you touched a spinning Cd was that it slowed down and stopped playing.
hmm. (Score:2)
To be fair the only part of TFA that got to me were the iRing (jokes abound for the silly name) and Sony apple remote controls. They are very cool. Expect contactless recharging to be the norm in a few years - now how can I retrofit that into my antique desk?
The concept of jigsaw mini screens seems cool (build your own supersize screen by combining unlimited numbers of smaller screen. Of course then the pricing regime follow the square law -
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Admittedly I'd want one that was a bit less gaudy, but I have friends who'd love that one in particular.
Anyone watch Top Gear? (Score:3, Insightful)
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just what I always wanted, Toast Messenger! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:just what I always wanted, Toast Messenger! (Score:4, Funny)
Aw, come on!
Just imagine sticking Toast-Its to all your co-workers' screens...
Parent
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Pick...
After Sc....
Thanks a lot,
You
Re:just what I always wanted, Toast Messenger! (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Only on Slashdot (Score:2)
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Optimus Maximus - Why?
Nonobject camera - Why?
Duofone - Nice idea, this is actually an innovation!
Toast Messenger - Why!
Dual Music Player - How do you hold it, and say hello to scratched CD's - bad design
Vaio Zoom - holographic - no it's not, it's LCD? Pretty but pointless?
Visual Desktop Charger - Nice idea, but will it charge everything? not unless there is a standard?
Bluetooth Laser Virtua
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IIRC, someone sold a grilled cheese sandwich with the image of the Virgin Mary on it for thousands of dollars. One could make a pretty good living with one of these and a few loaves of Wonder Bread.
Good Books on the Subject (Score:5, Informative)
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apple (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:apple (Score:5, Funny)
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lego computing.... (Score:4, Interesting)
A 14"*12" flat panel touch sensitive display with bluetooth, wifi, inductive power and some clips at the back for mounting.
Now what can this be used for?
1. x1 a tablet PC
2. z2 with a hinge - a laptop, program the lower one to have a keyboard and tracker pad
3. x2 24"*12" widescreen TV/Monitor
4. x3 computer, 1= keyb, rest = screen
5. x4 wraparound display for conferences
6. x8 home cinema or wall screen
7. x1 advertisement kiosk
8. x1 display module and brains for industrial kiosk or ATE
the possibilities are endless.
but what would it need to function?
1. one seriously configurable operating system. mesh computer between linked components, mini cluster?
2. versatile mounting clip so you could add at will - USB, floppy, SD, CF, 10baseT, hinge for laptop, support for screen, external power cable, TV tuner etc.
3. ubiquitous standard - that would be the killer, you need a recognised standard so everybodies components would work together instead of a diversive formats war
4. power saving, power sharing (power one on a cable, it shares to connected units), some clever self configuration.
5. cheap enough or versatile enough to make it all worthwhile.
and finally, and obligatory - open standards on HW and an SDK so anybody can port apps or write their own.
well, I can dream.
Beating bureaucracy (Score:2)
They've been rotting there since 1989...
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Why would I want to spend $X,000 making a touch screen work as a keyboard when I can buy a real keycaps-and-springs USB keyboard for $10?
oh my gawd (Score:2)
well, much of it anyway. I certainly could do without the toaster. I would love to try out that bluetooth laser keyboard.
Anyone notice that the top was down on the amphibious car? Hope they brought their wetsuits...
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Don't be, the shark to whose head your laser keyboard's attached will already have bitten them off.
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So why don't you try it out [thinkgeek.com] and report back to us on it?
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A foldable BT keyboard might work better - if they actually made one that isn't full-sized, taking up much space even when folded.
Ancient unrecognized example (Score:4, Insightful)
=============
There's one example of user interface elegance that has stuck with me for decades, and I use it to remind myself of what's possible, and avoiding making things more complicated than necessary:
I've had telephone answering machines before; they typically had many buttons on them (rewind, stop, play, fast forward, erase, record) and tapes for incoming and outgoing, etc.. Quite complex, for the simple task of playing and recording a message. It really felt like working two confusingly inter-related tape decks.
But then I bought one, which wasn't terribly expensive, that was clean and elegant looking, with *one* big visible button on the outside and one LED. On the side was a volume knob. And the amazing thing is that it was as functional as my prior more complicated machines.
When there was a message, the link blinked. Intuitive. You'd press the big button to hear the messages. Simple. To back up while playing a message, you simply held the big button down (not completely intuitive, but easy to learn/figure out or read in the manual). After playing the messages, the LED would blink quickly for a few seconds; you could then tap the big button to keep your messages, or do nothing to have it turf the messages. (Again, not necessarily intuitive, but trivial to learn/understand and use.) You could also record memos of your own by pressing and holding the button at any time. A lot of functionality built into one button, and not hard to use at all. Very clever.
You could stop it from answering by turning the volume knob all the way down until it clicks; fairly intuitive.
It had one microcassette; the answering message was recorded at the start, and it would record messages after that (fast forwarding as necessary for additional messages before recording). This microcassette was under an opague door (you wouldn't even know was there) on the top of the unit. Opening the door also revealed another smaller button. The single button inside paralleled the use of the outside button to a large degree, but for handling your answering message. Press and hold it to record your message (similar to the memo record of the outside big button). Tap it once to play/check your answering message, pressing/holding it to rewind during the message. Very elegant, yet quite functional.
The thing was a masterpiece of simplicity, elegance, understatement, functionality, and design.
Yes, answering machines are ancient technology now, but the thought that went into that "user interface" design continues to inspire me when I create web interfaces.
And another neat aspect to it: I'm sure the manufacturing cost of the unit was lower than others, due to fewer buttons, a single tape, and simpler design. (It likely had a bit more logic inside to handle the functionality, but overall it was likely cheaper to produce than other models.) Initial design can make such a difference to all aspects of a product's delivery.
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_That's_ what I've been looking for in an answering machine at home for a while now.
William
Totally disagree (Score:4, Insightful)
But I far prefer a rewind button, fast forward button, etc. and I find it hard to fathom how what you're describing is an improvement. Why spend time learning how to use a device that could work just like all the other media playback devices I use?
Parent
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Play (also acts as Fast forward and next)
Delete
Back (also acts as Fast backward and previous)
It's easy simple and there no non-obvious problems with the one button design
Re:Ancient unrecognized example (Score:4, Informative)
It's generally a lot easier to use 'one button per action' UI designs. They may not be as pretty, and they're certainly more expensive to produce, but they're generally considered easier to use.
Imagine having a bank web site with a single entry box and a single "Do something" button on it. To make a payment, you have to enter the details of the payee and click the button quickly, and then enter the amount to pay and click it for 2 seconds. To set up a regular payment you have to do the same but click it for 4 seconds. That's a 'nice, elegant' design as there's less messy controls involved, but imagine what a nightmare it would be to use.
It might be 'trivial' to learn how to use your single button answering machine, but imagine you have to use an answering machine at work with different effects to the same actions, and then your mother has one with yet different effects for the actions.... Or, come back to yours after 6 months of not using it, without access to the instructions and see how easy it is. Wouldn't it be easier to have different buttons for the different actions with instructive text/good icons on/by them?
Parent
Seashells (Score:4, Funny)
Eclipse Partitioning System (Score:2, Funny)
Enjoy the days when you had 20 cubicles on your office floor. Now you've got 100 Eclipses crammed into that same space.
Cordless charging (Score:4, Insightful)
The cordless charging devices are a good idea. If there's a standard. If there's one bowl or pad which recharges everything, we've made real progress. If we end up with one per device, they just waste space.
At least three small companies (SplashPower, WildCharge, and WiPower) are pushing that idea. Incompatibly. There's no one in a strong enough position to make them play together.
iRing (Score:2, Funny)
I don't know... (Score:4, Insightful)
ideation, innovation, implementation (Score:2)
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