THE WAY WE USED TO BE

We have gotten used to seeing major tech players like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google on our phones, tablets, desktops and within apps. We swipe, scroll, and even read via eye scan. Does anyone really remember what these websites (if you can even call them that anymore) used to look like? Take a tour back in time and see how far we really have come in the last decade of web design.

(Source: jaymug.com)

Red Peak’s James Fox has been written up for his presentation “The Key to Brand Success in China” at the 2013 FUSE Conference earlier this month. The Next Big Design takes on James’ look at the future of branding in China- check it out below or view the blog posting here.

Entrepreneurs in Oakland, California are using abandoned spaces to aid fledgling companies and kickstart an urban revival. Launched by two entrepreneurs in an effort to revitalize Oakland’s struggling retail scene, Popuphood is offering free space to local designers, artists, and shopowners. So far the ‘small business incubator’ has attracted five new storefronts and hopes to continue the fight against urban decay. Check out a trailer for the upcoming Popuphood documentary here.

BEWARE THE BITCOIN?

Online currency system Bitcoin was launched January 3rd, 2009 by an unknown Japanese programmer to little fanfare. Calling himself Satoshi Nakamoto, the programmer disappeared from the web altogether in 2011. As the service has grown in popularity, experts have claimed the world-class work of the Bitcoin system was likely the invention of a team of people with a “deep understanding of programming language, economics, cryptography, and peer-to-peer networking” or possibly a solitary genius.

Consumer Tracking Leads to Smarter Shopping

 Innovative tracking technology has enabled a far more sophisticated shopping experience, with benefits for brands and consumers alike. Camera-equipped mannequins, traffic monitors, and 3D-motion and heat tracking all work together to optimize the in-store experience and provide consumer data and demographics for the retailer. Mobile phone signals can also help to track shoppers in a non-invasive manner, creating an in-store map of consumer behavior.

While you may never feel alone in the supermarket again, the latest and greatest in-store tech can ensure that your trip is quick and relatively painless.

(Source: psfk.com)

THE NEXT LEVEL EMOTICON

Researchers at Cambridge University have unveiled what they are calling the “new text message”- a virtual talking head that can take emoticons to a new level. The head, currently played by actress Zoe Lister, has the ability to express a wide range of emotion from happiness to sadness and so forth as well as change the tone of its voice to communicate the proper emotion.

The researchers at Toshiba’s Cambridge Lab are hoping that eventually the talking head can be personalized to each individual user- allowing for a seemingly live conversation between two friends. While the process to formulate a fully functional Zoe was complicated, the technology to extrapolate the face messaging framework onto mobile users may be coming more quickly than expected.

“This technology could be the start of a whole new generation of interfaces which make interacting with a computer much more like talking to another human being. It took us days to create Zoe, because we had to start from scratch and teach the system to understand language and expression. Now that it already understands those things, it shouldn’t be too hard to transfer the same blueprint to a different voice and face.”

– Professor Roberto Cipolla, from the University of Cambridge

(Source: itv.com)

  While packaging goes a long way in establishing a brand’s look and identity, it is also the least eco-friendly part of a product with the majority ending up in landfills around the country.

As part of his senior thesis, Pratt design student Aaron Mickelson has come up with a solution that makes product and packaging one and the same- effectively cutting down on unneeded materials while still providing a branding platform. Check out his work for Tide, Dove, and Twinnings here.

(Source: bit.ly)

Design student Alireza Yaghoubi has found a potential solution to the cramped economy compartment of airplanes.

As airlines look to cut costs and consolidate passengers, most travelers have simply made amends with the overly cozy seating, lack of overhead space, and limited entertainment options of the cheaper half of the plane. However Yaghoubi, a James Dyson Award entrant, has created a design which will allow for thinner, more ergonomic seating and an overall increase in personal space per passenger. click for Yaghoubi’s Dyson video.

(Source: core77.com)

Scientists at Duke University have created the first brain-to-brain interface, allowing two rats located thousands of miles apart to cooperate on a shared task.

The first of its kind, Dr. Miguel Nicolelis and his team engineered a system for the rats to communicate via electrodes implanted in their brains. Nicolelis hopes that the technology could aid future rehabilitation techniques for both physical and language restoration.

The New York Times explores why humans love beautiful things and the science behind great design.  RTKL Chief Sustainability Officer Lance Hosey takes on color theory, Jackson Pollack, and the allure of the golden rectangle. Click here for the full NYT article.

3D Doodles

Wobbleworks has taken to Kickstarter to raise funds for the world’s first 3D printing pen. The pledge page has already far surpassed it’s initial goal and promises the cheapest and easiest 3D printing available. The Boston-based firm has also collaborated with several Etsy wire artists to show the artistic merit of the handheld device. As 3D printing continues to expand and become more accessible, expect to see a burst of like-minded devices available for both home and office use. 

(Source: itsnicethat.com)

GIFs get the Instagram treatment

Gifstory, a new app slated for release in February 2013, is looking to bring GIFs to social media in a whole new way.  Gifstory will function much like photo-sharing service Instagram as it will allow users to create basic GIFs (up to four seconds of content) with filters to customize and the option to add text. 

While the GIF has been an internet mainstay for years, the Gifstory team feels it has room for growth as the medium is richer than photos but less cumbersome to upload than video. 

Check out the future home of all of your cat-clips here

(Source: fastcocreate.com)

Skip Apple TV and other expensive set-top boxes with PLAiR, a USB dongle that can stream any music video, photo album, or webisode from your phone to your TV in under 30 seconds. Currently in beta, PLAiR uses a magnetic system to adjust content to any television size and offers a multi-platform search engine to allow users choice between YouTube, CNN, Disney Channel, College Humor and more.

(Source: fastcodesign.com)

A new exercise model out of San Francisco is looking to take your neighborhood gym to the outdoors.  In partnership with the National Fitness Campaign, design firm NewDeal is attempting to eradicate all of your excuses for skipping the gym. 

NewDeal has created a local, outdoor, and completely free ‘fitness court’.  Using durable, weather-ready materials the team developed a stable of equipment that can be easily transported and used for multiple exercises.  NFC has also hired trainers to assist in the development process and the team ultimately created a seven-minute circuit training podcast to guide users through their outdoor workout. 

The first location has opened in the San Francisco area with further extensions planned in 2013.  Communities nationwide can request a free Fitness Court in their own backyard- corporate sponsors subsidize production and maitenance in return for free advertising space and PR.  This business model succeeded in the 70s under Mitch Menaged in over 4,000 cities and the NFC is hoping the new Fitness Courts will inspire a similar movement.

Check out a video walk-thru here to see the space in action

(Source: fastcodesign.com)