One of the awarded concepts for the Microsoft / IDSA PC design competition is the Slice concept. The concept is different in the way that it does not use a file hierarchy but a flat, linear file system. Instead of having to look for folders that are a few levels deep this concepts relies on slices. Each slice represents a category of files, like music, videos or my documents.
Secondly this system can be used throughout the house while existing computers have limited possibilities. Yes there are media centers that control radio, video and television but not with the same capabilities as this concept.
How does it work?
The bowl is the central processing unit, while the spheres contain all the information. Since this is a family concept each family members has one sphere. To use the files also on remote places the concept also has small processing units that can be attached to third party devices. When the sphere, or slices are connected to the smaller unit communication between the smaller unit and central processing unit can take place. This can turn the television into a media center or fully functioning computer. [Continue reading...]
An interesting sketch of Alan Partridge about interaction design of his car. The car makes an alarm noise but he can’t find the reason. An interesting discussion between the by driver and Alan shows how they have different conceptual models of the car.
Alan believes it has to be something important because the alarm is quite alarmist. It can’t be that the car is saying you are low on windscreen washer fluid. That is not an alarm like this, this is a panic message. I would not say ‘oh my god, you are low on windscreen washer fluid’. The car needs to say, excuse me, I don’t want to distract you from driving, but the level of window washer fluid is a little low and they do that with a little light.
Then his by driver makes the suggestion it might be the clock which isn’t set right. Alan responds by saying you are not getting an alarm because the clock isn’t right. [Continue reading...]
With the introduction of Microsoft surface and the Iphone many people wonder if the new windows platform (Windows 7) will support a multi touch screen as well. It seems it will [Continue reading...]
Have you ever collected images in nicely stacked piles of categories for inspiration? When you start designing and are looking for inspiration you are browsing through your images but you always can’t find that particular image you are searching for. Ianus Keller of the TU Delft developed ‘the Cabinet’ for his PHD to solve this problem. [Continue reading...]
Everyone has the experience of not fully understanding a product? A parking meter, television or mobile phone. It happens to everyone, but why don’t we fully understand products at first glance? One possible explanation is the different ‘mental’ models of designers and users. [Continue reading...]
In earlier posts we wrote about the usability of one particular parking meter in the Netherlands and proposed two interface alternatives. After discussing both concepts one interface has been further developed. [Continue reading...]
The interaction design company Whitevoid from Germany has developed what they call ‘flakes’. With many of these flakes they can visualize whole walls to create effects. [Continue reading...]
Designer Mattias Andersson has designed two media cubes that control a radio, television and media player function on a flat screen. Easy to use? No, but it is fun!
[Continue reading...]
A movie shows the evolution of mobile phones from 1985 till today. The different phone models transform into each other chronologically. It is interesting to see how little the design has changed over time, especially the way of how we interact with these phones. [Continue reading...]
A while ago we wrote about the poor usability of parking meters. We now would like to share two alternatives for operating a parking meter. [Continue reading...]
