Ok not really, after all no idea is original any more. But hey it got your attention....!
http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/revolutionizing+touch+screen+technology/2715191/story.html
In this article, The U of C and six other Canadian universities are currently developing more multi-touch screens services for the public. It talks about how a multi-touch screen can help organize a meeting by arranging the information presented to all those involved in the meeting. Sounds like this could also be applied to anything from school class rooms as well, sort of like the micro-soft ad on youtube.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiqgmAYrd3c
Sunday, March 28, 2010
ipad
Of course, I can not leave the ipad out of my blog. Some love it and others hate it. Around OCAD, I've heard from my fellow students that they hate it and think it's crap. Maybe once they try it and experience it, they may change their minds. Myself, I have yet to try it of course but I feel that perhaps there's more to this technology then what is presented in the ipad it's self.
Basically, the ipad isn't anything we haven't seen before, in reality and in sci-fi. We have touch screens in daily services, such as bank machines and we have seen the movies where someone types information into a computerized tablet that their holding in their arms.
The thing about the ipad that people are asking about is, what can it do that my iphone and laptop can't do? It seems people aren't blown away by the ipad to the point of using it to replace or upgrade with what they have already. But maybe thats not the point of the ipad. The ipad gives the user a larger screen for other applications and uses. Its not as limiting as a iphone's screen, you could play video games on a ipad I'm sure and the screen is bigger, making it better suited for games. Also the screen's size makes it better suited for presentation purposes. While a laptop is a practical machine for a designer's work and can display it as well, so can the ipad. I wonder if it operates like the Microsoft surface table. What a way to impress the client.
While I strongly doubt I'll be getting the ipad, I would prefer a new, 17" screen MAC laptop, I feel it is something to take a good look at to see where this technology can go.
Below are the 2 links that inspired this entry...
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20001276-1.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html
Basically, the ipad isn't anything we haven't seen before, in reality and in sci-fi. We have touch screens in daily services, such as bank machines and we have seen the movies where someone types information into a computerized tablet that their holding in their arms.
The thing about the ipad that people are asking about is, what can it do that my iphone and laptop can't do? It seems people aren't blown away by the ipad to the point of using it to replace or upgrade with what they have already. But maybe thats not the point of the ipad. The ipad gives the user a larger screen for other applications and uses. Its not as limiting as a iphone's screen, you could play video games on a ipad I'm sure and the screen is bigger, making it better suited for games. Also the screen's size makes it better suited for presentation purposes. While a laptop is a practical machine for a designer's work and can display it as well, so can the ipad. I wonder if it operates like the Microsoft surface table. What a way to impress the client.
While I strongly doubt I'll be getting the ipad, I would prefer a new, 17" screen MAC laptop, I feel it is something to take a good look at to see where this technology can go.
Below are the 2 links that inspired this entry...
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20001276-1.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html
Monday, March 22, 2010
Multi-Touch Services in Toronto (Thesis Question)
With the growth of multi-cultural communities, communication break downs are prone to occur between parties of different cultures. In the ever increasing global village the demand to solve these problems of communication grow falls on technology. Examining existing technology, multi-touch screens will could one day assist people who are not familiar with the language of the place they are in. The interface of a multi-touch screen, with the use of universal and recognizable graphics, can allow the user to chose a language they are most familiar with. My thesis question is, will the integration of multi-touch screens in Toronto's public services be helpful in assisting citizens who are challenged with communication problems.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Design Education
So after reading the 'Designer's can't think', I got to thinking about the education here at OCAD....
Some teacher's lecture, others won't. The ones that won't put it that they don't spoon feed students. They explain that a student's education is their responsibility. Agreed, however then does that mean I don't need a teacher then? Does that mean I only need the motivation to open a book and read about design and how it works and how to apply it, find an expert in the field who might answer a few of my questions and then tackle a few projects of my own until I produce some positive results? Designers, good ones and bad ones have done it for sure. And basically, we all have to answer to the client and how they want the job done, so our ever so expensive graphical education we pay for at OCAD might be as nessasary as we believe it is. After all, if a client loves the job we've done and says not to change it, despite the fact that we didn't quite kern a couple of sentences here or there correctly, the client gets their way.
My point I'm trying to make is this; it designers being replaced by non-designers doing design work, then who's to say were going to have design classes in the future? If design takes second place to other university programs, such as advertising for example, then what happens to the design teachers? Of course they go off to run their businesses, write books, try their hand at art or carry on in some other, closely related profession. But then the teaching of design takes a heavy blow, since everyone can get their hands on all the CS4 programs and photoshop the heads of family members on body builder's body to their heart's desire.
If schools like OCAD, who offer design classes to those wanting to be designers, then shouldn't they teach? I mean, shouldn't they give us the knowledge we have asked for? Sorry, paid for. If I give a GD teacher, $500 or whatever for a class, and he tells me go to the library, should I have gave him that money? I mean, wouldn't that money be better off paying for all the books I'm going to borrow from the library?
Ok, yes we need that piece of paper from a college or university to say we are a designer. Yes, we need experts to say that these new young professionals that are entering the field are worthy of the title of designer. But are those being sent out into the field really ready? Do the newbies have enough in their heads to do the job. Of course that depends on the person, however, how many young designers can say they learn from their teachers or on their own?
Experience, they say, is one of the best teachers. So to get experience, we need motivation. So we come back to that word. No matter no good we are coming out of school, were going to make mistakes. But then what prepares us better? Experience or school? Or more exactly, which teacher's get us ready to take on the big nasty world?
Just to state something, I've had my share of the nasty world, I've cooked professionally for 20 years. I know what the working world is like. And like anyone, I would like to be as prepared as I can be come the time I enter the professional design world. So how can that happen when teacher's hold back what they know? I mean if they didn't, wouldn't we be better off? Wouldn't we have gotten our money's worth? Maybe they would get less e-mails full of questions. Or maybe they could keep less officer hours. Or perhaps they could spend their time better on students hope really need some extra help. Maybe they wouldn't be so weight down with all the responsibilities they have, then again, they could open up new responsibilities and duties for them. But at least they're students would be better off, maybe?
All that side, I mean everything I have brought up could be debated and a teacher could tell the insides and outsides of design education here at OCAD, (as some have and have criticized the methods at OCAD heavily) but the one thing I am not pleased about some teachers is misinformation. I don't need to have a teacher run me around in circles one week and then to have them change their mind the second. Oh what's that? Clients do that? Art directors too? Sure, but they're paying me to have a headache. I get to charge my clients when they decide they hate what I've done, so when my work sucks, it may not be so bad. Seriously, I don't need teachers to allow their classes to become some sort of soap opera or a Agatha Christie mystery on TV. I've come to class, sorry, I've paid for class to be educated. Truthfully, not everyone has the gift to teach. I personally like being inspired, it makes me work harder. Every good leader inspires, getting a better result out of their team. So why not a teacher? And if they can't inspire, at least give the class something to think about. After all, education is all about filling young minds with something to think about.
More then often, students plug away at something, until they get it right. And really, all that becomes is a crap shoot. Yes, I know a client wants to see many different versions of what could become the finally product, but as we learn, we start to produce less of material that might work to pieces of design that does work and its up to the client to chose his favorite.
What I'm saying is, if OCAD is going to charge me so much money, that I'm in debt for the next 10 years or more, then give me something solid. Nothing misleading, whether unintentional or not. Teacher's should know if what they bring to student's is really going to help. Give me something to take away. Make the education here something more then just a piece of paper saying I'm a graphic designer. Cause in the real world, all that piece of paper is saying is I know how to use the design applications on my computer better then the average person and that it costs more to use me.
Rant done.
Some teacher's lecture, others won't. The ones that won't put it that they don't spoon feed students. They explain that a student's education is their responsibility. Agreed, however then does that mean I don't need a teacher then? Does that mean I only need the motivation to open a book and read about design and how it works and how to apply it, find an expert in the field who might answer a few of my questions and then tackle a few projects of my own until I produce some positive results? Designers, good ones and bad ones have done it for sure. And basically, we all have to answer to the client and how they want the job done, so our ever so expensive graphical education we pay for at OCAD might be as nessasary as we believe it is. After all, if a client loves the job we've done and says not to change it, despite the fact that we didn't quite kern a couple of sentences here or there correctly, the client gets their way.
My point I'm trying to make is this; it designers being replaced by non-designers doing design work, then who's to say were going to have design classes in the future? If design takes second place to other university programs, such as advertising for example, then what happens to the design teachers? Of course they go off to run their businesses, write books, try their hand at art or carry on in some other, closely related profession. But then the teaching of design takes a heavy blow, since everyone can get their hands on all the CS4 programs and photoshop the heads of family members on body builder's body to their heart's desire.
If schools like OCAD, who offer design classes to those wanting to be designers, then shouldn't they teach? I mean, shouldn't they give us the knowledge we have asked for? Sorry, paid for. If I give a GD teacher, $500 or whatever for a class, and he tells me go to the library, should I have gave him that money? I mean, wouldn't that money be better off paying for all the books I'm going to borrow from the library?
Ok, yes we need that piece of paper from a college or university to say we are a designer. Yes, we need experts to say that these new young professionals that are entering the field are worthy of the title of designer. But are those being sent out into the field really ready? Do the newbies have enough in their heads to do the job. Of course that depends on the person, however, how many young designers can say they learn from their teachers or on their own?
Experience, they say, is one of the best teachers. So to get experience, we need motivation. So we come back to that word. No matter no good we are coming out of school, were going to make mistakes. But then what prepares us better? Experience or school? Or more exactly, which teacher's get us ready to take on the big nasty world?
Just to state something, I've had my share of the nasty world, I've cooked professionally for 20 years. I know what the working world is like. And like anyone, I would like to be as prepared as I can be come the time I enter the professional design world. So how can that happen when teacher's hold back what they know? I mean if they didn't, wouldn't we be better off? Wouldn't we have gotten our money's worth? Maybe they would get less e-mails full of questions. Or maybe they could keep less officer hours. Or perhaps they could spend their time better on students hope really need some extra help. Maybe they wouldn't be so weight down with all the responsibilities they have, then again, they could open up new responsibilities and duties for them. But at least they're students would be better off, maybe?
All that side, I mean everything I have brought up could be debated and a teacher could tell the insides and outsides of design education here at OCAD, (as some have and have criticized the methods at OCAD heavily) but the one thing I am not pleased about some teachers is misinformation. I don't need to have a teacher run me around in circles one week and then to have them change their mind the second. Oh what's that? Clients do that? Art directors too? Sure, but they're paying me to have a headache. I get to charge my clients when they decide they hate what I've done, so when my work sucks, it may not be so bad. Seriously, I don't need teachers to allow their classes to become some sort of soap opera or a Agatha Christie mystery on TV. I've come to class, sorry, I've paid for class to be educated. Truthfully, not everyone has the gift to teach. I personally like being inspired, it makes me work harder. Every good leader inspires, getting a better result out of their team. So why not a teacher? And if they can't inspire, at least give the class something to think about. After all, education is all about filling young minds with something to think about.
More then often, students plug away at something, until they get it right. And really, all that becomes is a crap shoot. Yes, I know a client wants to see many different versions of what could become the finally product, but as we learn, we start to produce less of material that might work to pieces of design that does work and its up to the client to chose his favorite.
What I'm saying is, if OCAD is going to charge me so much money, that I'm in debt for the next 10 years or more, then give me something solid. Nothing misleading, whether unintentional or not. Teacher's should know if what they bring to student's is really going to help. Give me something to take away. Make the education here something more then just a piece of paper saying I'm a graphic designer. Cause in the real world, all that piece of paper is saying is I know how to use the design applications on my computer better then the average person and that it costs more to use me.
Rant done.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Thesis approach
I've been thinking about my thesis idea being multi-touch screens used for service and ads in Toronto. While this idea could still be shot down, I think it might be an idea to use it to see what I'm missing in general. I've only thought about the potential that this technology and system could provide a multi-cultural city like Toronto and a city that has a large amount of large billboard ads. I haven't thought about how long this project can last, meaning the entire 8 months of study, or anything else I have missed.
Monday, March 1, 2010
A link from last year's RM semester....
http://design.sva.edu/site/series/show/4
Was looking for this and found it. Another school's thesis projects all on video!
Was looking for this and found it. Another school's thesis projects all on video!
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