Forethink Design

Displaying Gellato

2008-03-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

I love ice cream. More specifically I love italian style gelato. Gustimo is a gelato store where I can get best gelato in Korea. Not only tastes great, style of gellato displaying is fascionating.

Couple of hours a go, I bought a small cup of gellato. It was just 30 min before closing store. I could observe all 4 guys were doing something on gellato (Photo on top). They arrange gellato with scoop. Push it to front end and put some original ingredient on it. Otherwise usual ice cream bulk drum is consumed from top.

As you can see, there is big difference in displaying. Gellato on right picture looks fresh, clean and beautiful texture by design intention. Ice cream on left picture looks like a colored cement.

Looks good and tastes great. I can't stop loving it.

Color of Gas

2008-03-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

Inflation of gas price is incredible. So nowadays I'm using self-service gas station where I can save 10 cents for every gallon. Self-service at gas station is not popular yet in Korea. As you know, if gasoline car eats diesel, it will kill your engine. (If you have no idea about that.. Pls. remember it). In case of my car needs gasoline which is coded as yellow.

In Korea, all gasoline nozzle is colored in yellow and diesel is green (One pump can be used for both type of gas). Even though I had not been used gas pump while I'm driving, it is easy to recognize. But there is still a chance for an error. Sometimes new gas service man makes confusion with car type. Because most of all SUV in Korea has diesel engine usually but all imported SUV is gasoline engine usually.

But it seems different in every country. Often red is used for premium quality branded gasoline. In many cases, pump machine has a color of the company brand. Ex. Esso gas station use white for Regular, blue for Extra and Red for Supreme. Those buttons have numbers which indicates Octane number(Usually 85).

Problem is drivers who had enjoyed service man's fueling without going out of car makes trouble some time. Confusion of gas type and amount of gas (Gallon versus Litter). Especially Koreans and Japanese have trouble for this.

Anyway, I think having a specific color for a gas type is good idea. Can we make one for Ethanol and Bio-diesel as well?

Reference:
http://www.donga.com/fbin/output?f=total&n=200803070288&top20=1 (Korean)

Vinos de Cavas Submarinas

2008-03-01T23:45:00.000-08:00

I'm a wine lover. I love have chatting with my friends and drinking good wine. "Cavas Submarinas" seem just a good Chilean wine. But I noticed the name has something special.

Good wine need time and place to be matured. Dungeon or underground has been great place for preserving wine for years.

But in case of "Cavas Submarinas", they dump wine boxes into sea and scuba-diver will harvest it later. Of course, dumped location should be a secret because it is open water. I guess the dump place is quiet underwater and temperature will be consistent forever. No electricity or guard is needed of course. Just like finding a treasure of sunken ship, it will be great fun.

In terms of tasting, it is a Pinot noir, fruity and med body. I would like to recommend it for your dinner.

In perspective of business model, it can be interesting. Space is limited at dry land. Keeping temp and guarding is not an easy job at all. Preserving wine needs long time. It might be able to return tasty profit.

Luke Arm

2008-02-26T05:42:00.000-08:00

Karmen is king of nerds. Pentagon sponsored his project to make innovative prosthetic arm for people who lost a arm or arms. Please play the video from link.

It is really beautiful machine.
It just looks like a Jedi arm for Luke Skywalker who lost his arm from battle with Vader.

Karmen shows us how team work of ingenuity can improve human life.
It reminds me that improving life should be top priority for design.

Link:

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/video?id=221

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Kamen

http://www.dekaresearch.com/

Wheel chair doesn't fit into trunk

2008-02-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

Wheel chair was too big for trunk. But this car 'Sephia' from KIA (Hyundai motors) is not that small car. Wheelbase of this model is around 2500mm.

Do we need to make more folding & compact wheel chair? or to let car designers think about wheel chair size rather than size of Golf bag or Ski?

Apparently, the driver of car and the driver of wheel chair had a hard time with it.

Touch Rules!

2008-02-06T02:33:00.000-08:00

Is it time for touch interface? I would say yes for my job security. I think I can make a carreer plan based on touch interface for another 5 years at least.

Look at this. It is studio of CNN situation room for 2008 US presidential election. Yesterday was Super Tuesday. Every new visualization technique have been introduced at election time. This time CNN show off big size touch panel. It is not that big. All corners are touchable and display amazing quality of photo, map and graphs. It seems familiar. Probably one from Jeff Han's multi touch technology. Yes, it is big iPhone.

CNN's election board is fantastic. You can manipulate all complex election information with just some touches. Camera man just need to zoom in/out while two guys are talking about it and simulate it on screen.

Graph can be simulated by scenario and you can understand why and how a region is bonded with election information.

I believe all school and conference room of companies need that soon.

Reference
http://cs.nyu.edu/~jhan/ftirtouch/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_vUGMLyZbY

Removing Sticker

2008-01-27T07:56:00.000-08:00

I just got a brand new PC from my company. It is HP Compaq8510W.
I don't know why but HP still uses Compaq for notePC brand name.

On palm rest, there are 3 sticker labels. NVDIA, INTEL and HP...
OK, I understand marketing guys want to show off their brand.
But please stop it. At least, please make it easy to remove.

I used my hair dryer and nail. First and second was easy. But NVIDIA's label was really sticky.

Do you think it help brand recognition? Actually it might cause small problem with palmrest usability. These stickers are supposed to be removed after opening the box.

Actually, some...many people just let it go and never remove it until the PC die or return.
Even some of my friend wants to keep it and think it is decorative.

But I'm pretty sure that stickers are never rendered in original design.
Otherwise I saw new Apple Macbook Air at same day. Probably that's why I'm complaining about it.

Usability Ethic

2007-12-16T00:58:00.000-08:00

Yes, I believe we need ethic. Ethic for usability is a core value. But with same knowlege about usability, you can do horrible anti-usability or less-horrible but still dirty job for your big boss.

It is tempting when you know what people do in a typical way, you can predict and may utilize it for making more money. But if you exploit and don't share benefit with user as usability expert, you are in hell of usability.

Some stupid design is actually designed for more making money. Actually it is stupid because it is short sighted for short term revenue. You can make a report how much money you could make a money from better design or you can make a report how much money you made from stupid annoying design.

Why I'm sure about it? Why I'm sure usability-abuse will be ultimate failure for your business?
Because user is smart enough.

You have to have love for user. That's 1st principle.

Example.
At front page of Yahoo.com, if you click an interesting news article, you will go that article directly. But if you do same in Naver.com or yahoo.co.kr(Korean version), it will be different. It display all other article in a category of the article. You have to find that article again and click again. Yes it is designed architecture and stupid design.

http://www.yahoo.com
http://www.yahoo.co.kr
http://www.naver.com

Paradoxically, they can't fix it. Because it seems fixing is loosing revenue. No one can promote such idea. But in long term view, I would like to insist it will be big loss. Yes, you are loosing user's love. How can you survive in future without their love?

What is easy interface?

2007-07-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

I changed this video link to new 1 year old baby. S/he can control image browsing on iPhone.
Interestingly can control speed for it.

This is 2 years old baby Anna and she is playing with iPhone. It's quite awesome because she can't speak well yet nor read English but can do iPhone. Probably she can control TV set and DVD for watching Nemo.

S/he is one of 5 percentile which cropped population by UI designer who usually focus on major population who can buy that product. What is easy? Yes, if 2 year old baby can do that it is definitely easy.

Otherwise how about elderly citizen? Dean Kamen (Inventor of Segway) told us about his experience with 81 years old lady who did test run Segway. "I can't drive any more but need to go glocery store.","I can drive this (Segway)".

What is needed for making easy interface?

Good simple logic, Continuity...

But how can it make Anna smile when she find music player?

As once Spock said "Logic is only start of wisdom".

Gate keeper robot

2007-07-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

Robot get a new job. This is traffic guide robot at front of Kyungbu highway Seoul gate. He has white handsome face, blue uniform of police officer and red lighting wands.

So drivers are supposed to be more careful when driving into tollgate. It is installed with new wireless paying system.

But a scarecrow is only good for stupid sparrows. Smart sparrow will ignore it soon.
It is certainly another annoying new invention. How much time is needed to be familiar with the robot for drivers?

Line up for Dimsum

2007-06-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

For today's dinner, I decided to go a department store. Usually B1 floor is food court and fresh food market in Korea (Japan as well). You can choose a packaged food from a variety of small shops by shopping around together.

Every time I hit the floor. I could see long line up at front of a Chinese food store where sell Shanghainese big Dimsum. It is really popular 20~30 people are waiting. It is quite unusual.
OK, why not? I decide to stand in end of line ....and waited for 30min for my turn.

Observation:
1. Long line attracts people. Many customers asked what it is and how it is. It attracts people who never tasted it before including myself.
2. After long line up, customer want to have more. For example, I just want to try one but bought 4. One lady in front of me tried to buy dozen but refused. I have to hate her...
3. Actually there are 2 kind of Dimsum. Because spicy Dimsum is more popular, you may get standard Dimsum easily. But it seems no one know about it. And I have to buy spicy Dimsum one more... just for a case.
4. That small store has only one steamer which can make 100 piece at a time. So needs exceeds capacity.

Comment:
1. If there is one more Dimsum steamer, it will help to increase revenue of the Dimsum shop or not?
2. Sometime bad experience is needed as long as it worth. Yes, the Dimsum was great.

Sony GPS CS1

2007-06-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sony GPS CS1 is a simple location tracking module. It helps to match a photo with place where the photo is taken at.

I can browse tracks where I travelled on Google Earth or Cyworld map service as well.

It's fun! You can make a content for a real SPIME. But besides of accuracy problem, there are some problem with this.

It can provide information about a place.. But it can't provide heading direction (Direction of point view). And if it is possible altitude information will be useful as well.

And still GPS information such as "N37,32,54/E126,54,56.8" is not familiar with me. It should be "Near Hapjeung rotary heading west".

Mr. Pizza

2007-06-21T07:45:00.001-07:00

This is Mr. Pizza truck (Pizza restaurant brand). Driver's photo ID, name and company call number is printed on back of the truck.

It is company policy to promote good public image as good driving manner. If you have any problem with this truck, you can call the company and complain about it.

Anyway, the driver guy is not smiling in picture so I wonder he was a volunteer or not.

And if you can read his name, you are too close to this truck...

Site Maintenance

2007-06-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

Cyworld.com is one of my favorite site and I never sleep without clicking in it. One day, I found it is under service maintenance work. I think it is probably regular maintenance or major system upgrade.

Anyway, I could guess the maintenance manager has quite good humor sense. Please check A. It provide current time(KST), remaining time, web cam which shows an IT guy(wearing coat in June) and excuse of maintenance (Blur blur ~~).

Bottom part is more fun. C is suggesting you to run a free anti-virus program.

D is showing a tip for getting a well sleep. You may follow demonstration by Cyworld avatar or click to see a video.

At E, you may select a game for killing time. You may buy it for your mini blog later.

I think it could be very negative but changed to positive experience now.

SUBTITLE

2007-06-18T06:12:00.000-07:00

Yea~ I'm back.

I'm big fan of sub title. Thanks to volunteers who translate into Korean, I could have enjoyed my favorite Japanese shows ( London hearts, Halo Moni etc.) and American show (Numerous...including all Startrek episods) without any language barrier. But it is just separate movement by some one who want to practice language skill or just want to share something fun with friends.

Recently one of my favorite podcast Rocketboom introduced an interesting website who realize another dream of Wikinomics. DotSub is wiki style video & subtitle website. Volunteer who comes from every country can add their own language version for a video title. Really cool and enlighting. Because it might break lengend of Babel.

Interested? Are you bilingual? Here is my tip for making good subtitle. I learn it from here and there. Why don't we make your own subtitle? Break the wall and make bridge between cultures.

1. Original transcript is important. It should be accurate as possible with right timing. Don't skip and try to translate directly.

2. Contain contextual information such as sound effect.

3. Art of subtitle is all about synching. Text should be shown at right time and holding for enough time for reading and be disappeared if there is no sound. Just like a Karaoke.

4. Make short translation as possible. You may use your local slang and expression if possible.

5. Provide additional information to help to understand people who don't have cultural clue. Use ( ) for explaining.

6. Keep consistent tone and expression style.

The First Grab

2007-01-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I went to 'One year old' birthday party for daughter of my friends. The climax of the party was baby girl's first grab. It is traditional event called "Dol-Ja-Bi". At front of her, father and mother present their wish list items such as book, a bunch of cotton thread, pencil (Traditional) and stethoscope, PC mouse (recently popular items). Baby will try to grab one of interested item. It might be related with her potential future. For example, cotton thread stands for long live traditionally and mouse is skill for digital age. Finally, she grabbed toy stethoscope at first and book for next. We hope she could be a doctor someday.
Interestingly I found a guest baby boy who is 9 month old can’t grab anything yet. So I believe this event in the party is to present her ability to learn as human baby!

Otherwise I found an interesting video by Alan Kay in 1987. In the video lecture, he showed a 22 month girl who can use Macintosh computer. She can insert booting disc, boot computer, opens Mac paint, draws some circles and clear up/start new file… Apparently mouse was too big for her baby hand but certainly she controls it freely.

Almost every kid in the world seems have ability to learn how to control PC and TV by nature. But what is really needed for babies who will live in digital era? How we can teach them in new way? This is an overlapped area for user experience designer and pedagogist together.

By the way, good news! Prof. Seymour Papert is recovering from accident in Vietnam. I wish he becomes strong again soon.

Schindler's elevator

2006-11-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

Left is a control panel of an elevator I found in my company's Beijing office (I guess it is a Schindler's elevator). Right is usual one at my home.

In case of left, you have to input your floor number where you want to go and it will display elevator index which is probably a result from optimized calculation. It is very smart idea for a building which has multiple elevators and especially it can optimize path for people who want to travel to multiple floor together by selecting path-through route. Of course, it seems needs little more intelligence of passenger.

In case of right, it is general design but when I was young I wondered I have to press down or up arrow for going up from base floor when it was at upper floor. I wondered I have to manipulate the elevator come to me at first? Do I need to press down arrow to let it descend? It was just an alternative idea for elevator system before building a model of it in my mind yet.

Both designs want you to input where you want to go. It is asking you and not waiting for your operation. At first, I needed some time to understand Schindler's destination control system. I wonder whether the problem is difficult system or just unfamiliar new for me.

Anyway, it was great experience for me because it remind me of what was my first question for interface design problem.

PREFERENCE
Wikipedia: Elevator
Elevator maker: Schindler

Bus 5001-1

2006-11-19T05:38:00.000-08:00

My town has a brand new bus which has new passenger charge system. Because I have nothing to do while seating at bus and have a brand new mobile phone, I decide to observe what is environment around bus drivers.

1. Bus arrangement table on big sun cover over driver's head
2. Surveillance camera: It is watching boarding passengers and ticket machine. Sometimes it can record unpleasant episode between driver and angry passenger.
3. Ticket monitor: Driver has to change mode if passenger want to pay multiple charge or change passenger mode for teenager or kid.
4. Exchange buttons: By pressing button, it will give changes to passenger who pays in cash.
5. RF Card reader: For transportation card passengers, it provides voice feedback. Same module is installed at rear gate. If you want to continue travel to other bus or train, you have to check it out.
6. Handbrake and announcement amp console.
7. Green tea bottle on towel: It seems there is no cup holder.

What a future. Isn't it? But driver still need beverage and storage for personal belongings at any future.

Mobile Flirting (Part2)

2006-11-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

One day I spend my time with my new MacBook at Starbucks. Actually there is another people who use Macbook at the Starbucks located in Jungja-dong, Bundang, Korea.

I just tried to search Bluetooth device nearby and found a girl's name who is seating behind me probably. I could know her name and her digital address. If I want to send a note, it is possible.

You know, you can't do that through your mobile network. It can make a connection with any one in the world but it is useless to send a message to a girl overthere.

A young saudi man actually use this Bluetooth flirting method to be connected with a girl. In kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there is cultural barrier between boys and girls. Even a religious police can arrest a guy who violate the rule of local culture. (I hope it is a joke) But it is about a human nature. A young man is designed to fall in love with a glance from a girl.

Isn't it romantic or pathetic? Of course, you can just walk to the girl and ask to go out together.
If you can...

By the way, I bought a new mobile phone which has Bluetooth feature and set the device name with 'my name+my phone number". Any girl can send a flirting message will be welcomed.

Reference

Forethink Design: Mobile Flirting (Part 1)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/05/AR2006080500930.html

Watch for Exam

2006-11-06T04:36:00.000-08:00

A week later, the national university entrance examination will be held in Korea (Just like a SAT for US students) Nowadays any mobile phone, calculator and smart watch which can be used for cheating is not allowed in the exam.

This watch is specially designed for examiners. It shows current time and remaining time of exam at same time. You can figure out how much time is left and how to control your pace for solving questions.

Now educational ministration doesn't approve this device for exam but it seems quite smart enough for examiners. Price is around 20USD(19500KRW).

P.S (Add at 17 Nov.) This count down clock is really needed. First exam is language (90min), second is math (100min), third is Foreign language (Of course it is English, 70 min), fourth is social/science/job research (126 min) and last is 2ndary language/Chinese (40min). No same time for a exam unit. Total 426min exam for a day. Hew~

Reference
http://www.nirwana.co.kr/shop/goodalign/good_detail.php?goodcd=1157950318
2007 Korea national univ. entrance examiner's admission ticket

Car Windows Tinting

2006-10-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

Car window tinting (Sunting in Korean-English) is quite popular among drivers in the world. While I'm going to Beijing airport today, I observe Beijing cars don't cover all front windows with tinting film. They cut out tinting sheet to see rear mirror (Both side) more clearly. Interestingly those area is same with old A pillar position. Nowadays a sedan has A and B color but there were 4 separated windows. It is counted as A,B,C,D.

In US, regulation regarding tinting on car window is different by states. Ex. In Connecticut, 35% or more of light should pass through. In Korea, you can see who is inside from 10 meter away.

The purposes of regulation on it are about safety reason to see out side from driver's viewpoint and to see inside to watch out what some wrong thing might happen in the car by police.

Anyway, it may be safer but doesn't looks good.

Reference
Sunting regulation in Korean
Wikipedia: Window Tinting
US Tinting Law

Where is Center of a Place?

2006-10-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

It is really fun to travel around exotic place like a Wangfujing, Beijing, China. I visited the night market and look around. Actually most fascionating thing is people for me than skewered scorpions. At a corner plaza of Wangfujing, I can see a Chinese opera show on second roof.
Naturally people stop, watch and take a picture of costumed singers.

It makes a center place of Wangfujing.

Reference
Wikimapia: Wangfujing

Personal Identification Device: Ink Seal

2006-10-08T04:43:00.000-07:00

Quick ink seal making service at Tokyo

Ink seal (Do-jang in Korean, YingZhang in Chinese and Inkan in Japanese) is a personal identification and approval tool which is used as a Signature. It is one of common tradition among east Asian countries.

In Korea, you need to register your seal in government office for an important official document. For example, you need to make a contract with registered seal for purchasing a house. The official seal should be designed unique and made by skillful & licensed craft man. Art of Dojang is one of beautiful craft art in Korea. You can choose a variety of material such as jade and calligraphy style.

Otherwise, there is more casual ink seal for every day business such as approval. It might save some time than hand written signature conveniently. Photo above is a display of quick seal making service at front of a stationary shop in Tokyo. It has 5000 kind of ready made name seal and covers 80% of a variety of Japanese name.

In Korea, computerized seal engraving machine (Mini laser CAM) is popular nowadays and replacing craftsmen. This machine is smilar with key maker. Personally I don't understand why we need an ink seal made by a machine.

REFERENCE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_(device)
http://www.handseal.co.kr/
Interview with a seal craft man
Computerized Seal maker

Serious Bicycle Riding at Tokyo

2006-10-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

Tokyo is great place for riding a bicycle. But it seems Tokyo citizens are more serious about it than Beijing people.

Social system for bicycle is great in Japan. All bicycles should be registered so if you track down your lost bicycle or police can track you from your bicycle. Yellow number tag is attached on every bicycle.

In China, bicycle is still main stream in driveway along with car and bus but bicycle is welcomed to go along with pedestrian footpath in Tokyo. Many footpath has painted lane for bicycle (You can see dotted line for bicycle parking at photo above) Even there is a big parking lot for registered bicycle.

Otherwise, riding bicycle in Seoul is not easy as much as Japan or China. Riding bicycle is regarded as more leisure sports than regular commuting transportation.

What if a future personal commuting transportation is invented (ex. Segway)? Social / Traffic control policy can be ready for it? I observed speed is a matter. Small electric one manned car for elder citizen is welcomed at footpath in Japan and Korea. As long as it is slow, it will be OK.

So we will have slow (walking speed), mid (car speed) and high (train speed) way in our future city?

Report a video to news station

2006-09-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

Weeks a go, I uploaded a video to YTN (A 24 hour TV news station in Korea). It is about a dangerous broken crap from car accident at nearby highway toll gate. Actually once I had a collision accident from behind car at same location.

YTN has a blog in Cyworld.com (famous social network site in Korea) to gather report from citizens. They'll present some Acorns( Cyworld's cyber money) for honorarium to citizen reporters.

My story and video was on aired at their morning news show. It is really fun.
And I found it is now cleaned.

Why don't you do some small good deed by yourself?

REFERENCE
http://www.cyworld.com/ytnjebo

Gift Card

2006-09-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

It is a gift coupon some one gave me for my volunteer (Not actually) works.
It can be used as a money coupon for watching movie by itself or you can scratch and reveal code for internet shopping. You can exchange it to cyber money in www.cultureland.co.kr

Gift card is a kind of mysterious modern invention as much as Option trade. Apparently gift giver can get some benefit. He/she don't need to spend time for choosing a gift. It doesn't look dirty as much as cash. Most of all, you can get receipt. I don't know why but Finance guys like this idea.

Anyway, any benefit for a gift receiver? Yes, of course you can change it to money back! But it is not easy and cause cost. Though cost is small, it seems big.

In my case, I love iTune gift card. I can ask my friend to buy a $25 iTune music card and charge it on my iTune (US mode). I can reward with Dotori (Acorn; Cyworld.com's cyber money) or Korean money later. It makes it possible to buy any latest or old music/video content from US.
Theoretically, I may buy a song from other foreign iTunes (21 countries) such as Japan. It is really great for me.

If you are really smart enough, you may run an international service business from your country. For example, do translate service (English to your local language or vice versa) and get iTune music card code for honorarium. You can sell the code to any one who loves latest US music or video content. Your tax office will have no idea what is happening out there.

A New Hope

2006-09-07T06:52:00.000-07:00

Every Saturday/Sunday a flea market named "Hope Market" will open at a play ground nearby Hongik univ. Mapo, Seoul, Korea. An artist can register and have a small space to sell a designer stuff.

This temporary artist flea market make this space hot and gather people from every where.
And this market place inspire many young artist who want to make something.

Believe or not, you may find most beautiful mobile charm in the world and some stupid stuffs as well.

Space, People and Artist can make something really beautiful experience together with little help from good weather.

Reference
God's viewpoint, Google Map/Wikimapia
Blogger report
Hopemarket homepage

Loved by Asses

2006-09-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

This place is the main gate square of Hongik university, Seoul, Korea. One of hottest urban areas in Seoul, Korea. The square is a popular landmark for waiting a friend and gathering a group. Because the space is reserved for car parking where is allowed for only reserved, there are barricade fences .

Actually this barricade is a bench for waiting people. Six guys can seat on and have a chit-chat while waiting other friends since 1990 at least (It could be older). As you can see, black and yellow paint is worn off from top. You can image how much it is loved by people's asses as a de facto street furniture.

Though it is supposed to be a barricade to expel people & car, it has been actually good street bench. Of course, not comfortable but enough for waiting 10 min and sending SMS.

Why don't we make a barricade/bench for public space? It seems it has contradictory two functions but could be same in a shape.

REFERENCE
See satelite view from Wikimapia

Ad on the sky

2006-08-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

The author of this photo is David Shankbone. 13 August 2006.

Did you enjoy "Design your roof"? . It was watching from God's viewpoint.

But look at this photo. It is the opposite way of advertising.
5 plane make a formation in the sky and make a white fog.
In a dot matrix printer fashion, those planes make text characters in the sky.

Though traditional sky acrobatic could makes a symbol or couple of character but it can makes 6~30 text characters. Those characters are at 7000~17000 ft above and can be seen from 30 miles away from any direction.

It's really fascinating fading form of art!

Design guide line:
1. Choose 6~12 characters. Because text will be fading soon. You need to select text carefully
2. Choose a good weather day. They might not refund your money because of bad weather.
If I could, making text at 10 minutes before sun set after raining and cleanning with rainbow will be fantastic.
3. May be color version available soon. But don't expect Blue.

REFERENCE
Wikipedia: Skywriting
Sky-Writing.com
Video on Youtube by eah303

Mobile Flirting (Part 1)

2006-08-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Scene from the movie "Sweet and savage lovers" (2006)

Nowadays, Getting her(his) mobile number is the start of new relationship.
In this movie, the guy just asks her go out for watching movie. She accepted and propose to exchange mobile numbers.

Instead of saying her number or giving a note, she gives her mobile to him and let him input his number and she makes a call to his mobile phone. Now they have connection. (Don't forget to ask name!)
It is typical ritual of modern ritual for mating of Homomobilikus.

Do you have any good tip for it?

Following is a tip from a guy.
Scenario A: Single guy named Tom find a perfect girl Nancy. What is next move?

Ask her to lend her mobile. You have to tell you have some emergency issue but have no mobile phone now. (The beautiful girl must be nice as well)
Make a call to yourself (Don't forget to set your mobile in silent mode) and disguise a conversation. You have to expose your profile little bit such as name, job or whatever your hidden advantage.
Say thank you and good bye.
Some time later, you have to call her and say "Thank you". Of course, you have to propose now.
Don't forget to confess about all your performance later but not that soon.

Does it seem cheesy? All romance is cheesy indeed. Of course, you have to revise this idea for your own tactical situation.

Stupid Mob

2006-08-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

A strange and stupid thing often happen at a summer night. Last 14 Aug, It was really hot, humid night. Two teenagers have a fight at Kang nam station. (Most crowded area in Korea).

Their argument was started from a bulletin board of DCInside.com where is famous for source of weird internet trend in Korea. It is started from criticizing the other guy's on fashion sense in bad words. For this stupid flash mob event, a guy makes a poster and gathered gallery take photos and distributed instantly. It attracts big media's attention as well. All major TV and news medias report about it and explain what is "Hyun-Pi"(Game player killing in real world).

How can this a foolish kid fight be a big news? The movie "Fight Club" spoiled these kids or the internet community site?
Interestingly, the bulleting board where they met was about "Fashion" and a smart guy makes a T shirt printed with the fight scene.

Reference
http://lezhin.egloos.com/2630599
SBS news

Spaces in future

2006-08-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

Spaces. By Apple. OS X Leopard sneakpreview.

Apple OS X Spaces is a tool to change desktop space. Actually Windows Vista also has something like that as well. But it is all about using multi spaces for an user. It is just like having multiple separated workspace at your cubicle and turn your chair to use type writer, writing a letter and drawing schematic on board.

Comparing with ZUI (Zooming UI) such as Looking Glass and Microsoft's Task gallery, I have to name it as PUI (Panning UI).

SO WHAT?
Actually, what I'm expecting to see is rather than 'Controlling Multiple Computer for an User" or 'Multi Computer for Multi User at Same Spaces'.

Imagine controlling multiple computers with Spaces in a monitor by a person. A space can be from another PC which is sharing with others or occupied for a time. I could be a great tool to control several computers by a person. Otherwise multiple people share multiple spaces together simultaneously too.

Nowadays, many home has multiple computers that connected eachother through home LAN.
Just like a QUAKE, father and son might be able to share a Space. A geekie artist might be able to run 3D rendering on a server farm which he rented from a service company and draw illustration on Mac at his desk. All his need to do is switching Spaces.

BY THE WAY,

it may be not secret. People are more and more addicted to multi windows and hopping those screens around for every minute without special reason. I'm big fan of multitasking but worrying about lack of attetiveness more than 5 minutes.

It can be biggest chanllenge for late 21'st century UI designers. How to make an user to concentrate on it for enough time?

Design Your Roof

2006-08-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

This is roof of Morton Salt company (http://www.mortonsalt.com/) located at Chicago. I often visit Chicago and drive through 94 Kennedy expy to go my HQ. I saw a billboard with a famous logo of Morton Salt. But I never saw or will see that company name on roof.

But as you can see, you can find Morton company easily from Google map browsing. Similarly some Target stores (http://www.target.com/gp/homepage.html/601-1447065-1372122) painted their roof with famous logo as well. See the link.

Yes, it is new opportunity for advertisement! Actually there is not many things to read in Google maps.
Here is some design guide line for roof advertisement.

For advertiser:
1. Orientation: Align your company logo/name correctly. North is top and make alignment to South.
2. Size: A character should be larger than a car size. Approx. 1800mm wide. I would recommend 20M wide. It will be OK with 16~17 zoom level of Google maps.
3. Keep message simple as possible: General rule for everywhere.
4. Color: I would recommend red if you have not any preference. Black, white, green and blue is too much on satellite maps.

For Google maps mash-uper
1. Make link to cyber space address.
2. You may embed a rich advertisement billboard digitally. You may provide this service.

For Alien:
1. Please don't park your ship on Target store nor bomb on it.

REFERENCE:
Google Sightseeing
Newspaper on parking lot
MIT Advertisement lab blog
Search Engine Round Table Blog

Smart Air Travel

2006-08-13T05:16:00.000-07:00

My favorite trouble free trouser for air travel. No rivet and no buckle. Giordano.

I loved air travel. But the design of air travel system is not evolving since 70ies and even it is getting worse in terms of user experience.

TSA (Transportation Security Administration) of USA announced new security procedure. No liquid or gel like product is allowed any more. As long as Laptop PC and iPods is still allowed, it's OK for me. But I just wonder it is an effective way. 911 terrorist used a simple knife you can buy in any stationery store.

OK, anyway, as an experienced business traveler. I can share my tips for you.

1. Wear Jersey pants (training wear,츄리닝) rather than riveted jean with metal buckle.
2. Don't bring any sharp tools including wine opener. It's really sad for wine lover like me. So I have to buy T shaped opener every time and dump in hotel room. (But Eyeglass Repair Tools is allowed for carrying on)
3. Charge your iPod/mobile/ any electronics battery always. Often security guard asks you turn it on for checking if it is mockup bomb or not.

*** Special warning for designers: Ask a privacy checkpoint in when you have a design mock up. Actually it will be safer from other people's eye & touch as well.

4. It's really sad story for macho man but please don't raise mustache without any special reason.

5. Don't buy any venture company stock that develops liquid fuel battery for a while.

*** Special tip for a Ninja: you can bring 'Throwing Stars" if you put it in checked-in luggage. Not a joke.

And... Following is my extreme scenario for future air travel in safe.

1. Shower gate: You have to have shower after check in. And you change to an uniform and slipper provided by airlines. It may be not that bad. Once I had bad experience with a smelly guy who is seating next to me for 2 hours. I just hope to have a chance for an arrival shower again.

2. Temporary tracking wrist belt: Stop calling my name in poor pronunciation any more in airport lounge. I can sacrifice my privacy for it. Why don't they just give a pager for tracking and calling a passenger? And if a checked in luggage and owner is not boarding together in the plane, you can find any trouble easily.

REFERENCE
TSA Travel Assistant
Prohibited items (TSA)
BBC article

Focus Group Interview

2006-08-03T23:33:00.000-07:00

I participated FGI ( Focus Group Interview ) as an observer yesterday. FGI is popular method to get feedback about new product & service. Usually client (my colleagues and me) are seating behind huge half mirror. Moderator runs Q&A conversation process with several interviewees.

Actually, I hate to be seated behind the mirror. Observation room is usually packed, hot and smelly (Yes, we are eating at seat). I prefer to be moderator myself or be an assistant in same room. That's more interactive research with people and I can see all the detail of what they are doing.

In some cases, we use IM (Instant messenger) to communicate with moderator. It is convenient to ask something instantly but may be a burden on smooth flow of conversation.

Anyway, it is really precious time to hear people's voice directly.

Origin of Korean's Geekness

2006-07-31T15:32:00.000-07:00

Why Koreans are so crazy about electric contraptions such as mobile TV + phone? This 41 years old cartoon may explain what is source of their geekness. My hero cartoonist Mr. Jungmoon Lee created this vision for a kid magazine "Sae-So-Nyun"(For New Boy) in 1965. It shows an imaginary life style in AC2000. Going school camp at Moon by rocket is not realized yet (still need multi million dollars) but you can see a guy who hold mobile television plus mobile phone and saying "Hello!". Did he predicted well or made a way to this?

1. Solar powered home (Not popular yet)
2. Radio newspaper (Realized. That's Internet!)
3. Computer can do everything (Never)
4. School camp at Moon (Not yet)
5. Electric car (Realized but still need some time)
6. No pollution (Not realized)
7. Robot janitor (Realized but still expansive)
8. Moving road (Interior version available)
9. Home medication (No)
10. Study at home with TV (You can but still need to go school)
11. Recipe on kitchen TV (Realized but my mother never use that)
12. Mobile TV phone (Perfectly realized!)

Public Collect Call Phone

2006-07-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

This look like a mundane home phone but it is dedicated collect call public phone installed at a convenient store. Anyone can make a call without a penny. Even you don't need to know collect call prefix as well (ex.00700 in Korea).

It is shame that public phone is disappearing from street. Years a go (Before pager era), whenever I try to call my girl friend, I have to go phone booth from my home just for privacy. I still remember how my heart was beating when I make a call to her home and wished that she can pick up the phone instead of her father. But that's just old story now.

Nowadays, it's really hard to find a coin public phone. I believe phone card public phone is not public at all. In many countries, international calls is only available with some special public phone.

Back to the collect call story, problem for this business is 'privacy'. Many people don't accept call from stranger or unknown CID (Caller's number). The other side may don't want to pay for your call of course. If you can input your name or short message such as "frmAlfUrgent!"as Caller ID for placing a collect call might be helpful to make a call to a mobile phone.

Supplement: Added at 15 Aug.
A few days a go, I tried this service by myself. As soon as I pick the handset up, I can hear some DTMF sounds (Probably prefix number for collect call service) and make a call to my phone. Caller ID seems just normal home phone number. The receiver would have no idea it is a collect call or not in any way.
It doesn't make sense at all for me at least.

REFERENCE
SKTelink

Worn-out

2006-07-25T22:24:00.000-07:00

This is a digital door lock for a gate of apartment house. It has 18 floor and 36 families share this gate lock daily. As you can see, you can assume which keys are frequently used nor never used. You may guess the code combination consists of "3,4,5,7,#".

In real world, usage of a product and environment can be different as time goes. We can't live happy ever after. Paint and gilt color will be worn-out by hand touch.

That may be big difference between old craft man and modern industrial designers. It seems ID guys and product makers don't think enough about the life span of their product. They often just focus on freshness in catalog photo or on shelves only.

How can we keep it fresh as possible? Or how can we make it possible to be antique with history?

Bushman's Toilet

2006-07-23T00:04:00.000-07:00

It is a toilet gear for traveller at Zanzibar, Kenya, Africa. It was installed when a safari camp is settled down at wild desert.

If Nature call you, bring this shovel and walk out for a while as much as you find a place for private business. (Middle of desert or bush)
Shovel up sand and make a hole.
Refresh yourself.
Arrange the hole and shovel up sand over a hole.
Back to camp and stick it at as it were

Of course, you may use a bottle of water instead of a toliet roll.

It may be really rare experience for people. Human needs a private closed place for long time to do that. I can guess your smart ancestor would also try to find a quiet place as possbile to avoid interuption by a wild beast.
The behavior, finding a place to excrete may be origin of individual privacy.
People have to choose a place between privacy concern and security concern.

I hope to use that shovel. It looks fun anyway.

Special thanks: I found this photo from Meilan's blog. Meilan allow to use this photo for my blogging. Thank you very much.

REFERENCE
Meilan's Blog
Wikipedia: Toilet
Toilet of the World
WC International blog

Etiquette on Road

2006-07-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

In this video, blinking emergency lamp (Blinking both side of turning lamp for 2~3 times) means "Thanks" in Korea. It is not warning.

Generally the emergency signal light means "I have trouble" but depend on situation and pre-context of road status, it can be translated into a variety of meanings.

1. "My car is in trouble" : IF car is parked on road shoulder and bonnet hood is opened, it demonstrate car is in trouble and waiting for a help. It is really important to avoid a clash with other cars in dark night. If the car is just parked on road shoulder, it may means "Sorry, I just parked here for temporary". Natural may call him/her.

2. "I'm in hurry": Blinking emergency lamp and go faster and takes every space between cars to go forward. You might run like an ambulance. If your wife start to delivery new baby, you can use this trick. But you can't be exempted from speed ticket.

3. "Excuse me": break in the lane of right(or left) turning from the other lane.
Driver may be a stranger in town or just want to save some time. It means also "I'm sorry but I'm in hurry"

4. "Thanks" : Short 2~3 times of blinking. You can show your gratitude to people who behind you.

5. "I'm in parade" : Sometimes car Hobbyist club members make a parade in the road. Their cars are blinking together and make a formation in the middle of road. Generally it is illegal in Korea but if it is official parade, it can be special exception.

6. "Speed down!" : In highway, if you have to slow down rapidly, this signal may emphasis "Slow down" with break-light. It may be useful to avoid collision from behind. It is useful when the road is in a dense fog.

SO WHAT?
Communication between cars has some variety but is based on old technology and regional & cultural tradition.
For example, short high-beam headlight changing is offensive gesture for car that runs in front of you but it may be showing gratitude in some countries.

Can we develop more sophisticated way of signal using digital technology?
In future, cars on same road may be able to talk each other and share road information and driver's intention. For instance, if your car send emergency signal through radio, all cars which run behind you including cars can't see you from distance can be slow down together as well.

REFERENCE
Half bakery
Yahoo Korea Driver Tip
Donga-ilbo article about safe drive
How signal lamps works

Outstanding Cracker

2006-07-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was shopping at supermarket. While I'm enjoying a variety of snack corner, I just realize there is an outstanding snack package that catches my eyes among all color/flavor snacks on shelves.

"Charm Cracker" is simple saltine cracker. Because the package design is simple white color with simple small graphic, it is outstanding from noise of promotional messages.

It reminds me of iPod's minimalism. Actually the Charm cracker has its own cult. It is great for making a canapé for party. Eating with cheese or jam is good as well. It is also popular among parents who concern about kid's health try to feed it instead of too much salt/sugar combination snacks.

SO WHAT?
To be outstanding, simple is best among glittering noises.
It is another good example of "Keep it Simple, Stupid!"

Reference
Charm Cracker by ORION
Zunk's Blog: Charm cracker is cute

24 hour open sale person contact

2006-07-13T04:10:00.000-07:00

This is a promotion poster saying "If you are interested in this space, please call me" at a empty shopping mall. You can see two person's office number and mobile number to contact with for asking about rent the space.

In many region, mobile number is regarded as personal privacy information. So it can't make sense to write down mobile number on poster. These two guys may receive some subsidy from the company but they could have a call from customer at 11pm. Actually It means they open business for 24hours.

If you are good sales person, it will be better to contact your client through your mobile. Especially, many sales person such as private banking manager want to keep their customer file personally. If you move to another company, you can bring your customer together.

SO WHAT?
For business sake, your mobile phone may need to reveal in public such as poster or web page. Having multiple number (mobile subscription) or multiple phone may help you. Otherwise how you can handle those two world with a mobile phone is a still question.

One Button

2006-07-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

Futurist always has said about "Pressing just a button to make your life better" but it is seldom true.

I love this gadget. It think it is one of best gear I can recommend to ask your sponsor to purchase for field research.
NEXTO CF OTG is a mobile HDD backup storage for digital camera, camcorder.
It supports CF card reading, USB host and battery. Back-up is really fast(Hitachi 2GB need 6 min to transfer). I really hate to lost a chance to take a good scene because of memory full. I don't need to worry about camera/camcorder memory any more! (But there is still big problem with battery. Let's talk about it later)

But it is not the reason why it captures my eyes. It has only one button for operation.
The key "Copy" is surrounded with two color LED lamp and B/W LCD screen.

If you start to back up from CF card, step 1: Insert card and step 2: press copy button.
Actually it can recognize two kind of input. Short and long press. If you turn it off after copying, press the button for seconds. Even it can browse directories and managing files beautifully with just one key.

SO WHAT?
I really wonder how the developer could focus on core features. Probably she/he was not free from marketing and internal-geeks who want to have more. We need to ask ourselves sometimes when we make something. Why making simple is so difficult for every designers? Can we stop worrying about every possible fault scenarios? Can we be free from temptation to add more features?

REFERENCE
NEXTO OTG
Another USB backup HDD box from USGEEKS

iPod Privacy

2006-07-10T09:25:00.000-07:00

San Marco Poice arrested a man named Ron James Guzman and charged him for aggravated
Sexual Assault of Child and possession of child pornography on his video iPod. This crime can be sentenced to 40 years in prison. Personally I support a death sentence for this kind of crime.

Otherwise I just wonder how the investigation finds his illegal iPod content. Actually it seems many people concern about their content in video iPod may cause privacy problem.

In case of MP3 player, usually there is nothing to hide or to make serious trouble for privacy. Unless you pumped the volume up to crazy level, next man can't overhear what you are listening to.

But visual content is different. Of course watching porn at public space is sexual harassment. Especially mobile users in crowded commuting train concern about next guy who may be interested in your video iPod or mobile phone message. Frankly I have to confess my professional curiosity make me observe other travelers SMS sometimes in bus or train. Sorry!. So that's why privacy film to protect you from scratch and curiosity at same time is getting popular among commuters for privacy sake.

What if you lost your iPod or leave it on desk for a while, other people might intrude your privacy easily. 5th generation video iPod has lock feature as you can see in the picture above. It looks great but it is really annoying to use.

SO WHAT?
We need little more privacy in mobile video player such as video iPod than MP3 player.
Don't make me wrong but I understand a 30ies man watching "The Melancholy of Suzumiya Harumi" in metro subway train might looks strange enought to be misunderstood.
Anyway, if a police man wants to see your iPod, you need to show it to convince others that you are not a Hentai (a pervert in Japanese).

Browsing Corridors

2006-07-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

This is a bookstore at Kangnam, Seoul. Kyobo bookstore is just like a big Barns & Noble. I started my physical intelligence browsing here yesterday. In terms of purpose, it is quite similar experience with Internet browsing. But there is still something special. I have favorite genre and corner for bestseller just like a bookmark but I can see also much new & old stuff I can't imagine before by chance. While browsing corridors, judging a book by cover or title may be unfair but actually it helps to attract my intention. I can pickup and look through it for seconds. It is more rich experience which can not be replaced with internet bookstore yet. Another reason why I love bookstore is that I can observe people how to shop a thing more closely than other place.

I could observe some interesting things from there.

Pick some interesting books but left out in other place before checkout. It may be trouble to shop manager.
Pick a book from bottom of stacks. It may be cleaner.
Usually book shoppers don't use any container or cart. Carrying books by hands before checkout. Of course, it is hard to see a big cart at bookstore (At least in Korea) Some times it weights really heavy for me (It could be a reason for observation 1)
Experienced book adviser is really handy. People often have only vague keyword or slightly wrong author name to find a book.
I saw an advertisement before bookstore by online-book store. “Browse books in Kyobo but buy book in discounted price at ####.COM from home” But how can I avoid impulse buying? And people enjoy reading new book on the way back to home at train or bus.

Photo Free Zone

2006-07-05T05:07:00.000-07:00

Usually commercial place in shopping mall doesn't like user experience researcher like me with camera. If you try to take an interesting thing in there, ear-plugged security guy will suddenly pop up and will stop your recording. An user experience researcher is dangerous as much as a terrorist or industrial spy.

But a home interior item shop, Kosney at COEX where is most popular and biggest shopping mall in Seoul welcome any photographer. Of course, "Photo Free Zone" is a marketing strategy to attract young people.

Kosney merchandizing manager said. "We believe Kosney shop can be an entertainment space for playing and enjoying with our beautiful product." in interview with Sbiznews.com

Taking a photo with digital camera is popular game and playing for Korean youth. For them, Kosney shop with beautiful stuffs is great place for playing and shopping together. And many photos will be posted on blogs and it will spreads to others as an user generated content.

Yes, shopping, taking a photo and playing are all same kind of behavior for entertainment. Why do you spend your money for making promotion pamphlet? It seems a stupid way of wasting resource for them.

Reference
A young lady, Sue pose at Kosney
Another girl at Kosney
Daum article about Kosney

Anti Design

2006-07-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

This blue block on side of car is anti-bump urethane sponge coming with brand new Hyundai car.

It is to protect cars on side and keep the car clean as possible before delivery. These are supposed to be removed when a car is delivered. But in many cases, customers love this urethane block and keep it for a while. Even though it make new car ugly, drivers believe it help to keep new car clean.

From designer viewpoint, that urethane block hurts beauty of car design. It is anti-design. You can find similar case every where in gadgets. Almost every note PC user keep Intel Centrino and Microsoft windows XP ready sticker on palm rest. Many walkman users keep feature sticker (ex. 32hour long Li ion battery) on it. I'm sure any designer wants to have such an unnecessary sticker when draw rendering and making a mockup model. All stickers come for marketing reason. Many iPod user sbuy iPod because of sleek design. But really many iPod users put their iPod into protector which make iPod thick and ugly as soon as out of box.

SO WHAT?
Anyway, people love it and keep it as possible. I observe and name it as "Honey moon" phase. Until having heart breaking first scratch, people want to enjoy mint condition of the product.
Why don't industrial designers make a beautiful add-on protector if people really want to protect good design? For example, first layer of product should be sleek, slim, minimal and cool. The second layer can cover all vulnerable surface with more a variety of materials. I believe designer should have final touch for a product. Don't let marketers ruin your design anymore.

Reference
If Microsoft makes iPod

Superman and Phone booth

2006-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Superman returns but he may be in trouble to find a quiet place to change his super suit. Because phone booth is disappearing from street.

Once it is common cityscape you can find every modern city in the world but landline phone companies realize phone booth is not their revenue venue any more and decide to retreat from street.

Anyway Superman still need a place to change his cloth and I also need a quiet place to make a call with my mobile phone from noisy street. We share same concern for privacy.

Otherwise vandalism may be great danger to phone booth. Often it is filled with waste and dirty advertisement. Box type phone booth with door is often not a pleasant place.

Can it be saved and survive as a public instant private space just like a public toilet?

Michael Salemi who invented new in-door phone booth think he can find a new market opportunity. In US, there is over 700,000 restaurant and 40,000 night clubs. Phone booth is great place to keep privacy for their guest. Salemi’s Cell Zone cost $2400~$3500.

SO WHAT?
I believe people still need a phone booth though telcos doesn’t need it anymore.
Mobile phone service company may be new sponsor. Indoor phone booth is more safe and clean than outdoor phone booth which is hard to manage.

Mean and tools may be changed as time goes but people’s basic need is not changing easily. Every body including Superman need a temporary privacy in public space for some times. It is just time to evolve.

Reference
USA Today article: The Phone Booth Returns

Version Control

2006-06-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

A long long times ago, Application UI design is still in chaos and not united by MS Windows yet. There was good variety of UI design existed. Some are really unique but lost in history. Photo is a screen of 3D studio 4 that is the ancestor of 3D Max and has been most popular 3D authoring tool. When 3DS was introduced back in 1991, I was fascinated with its elegant UI design and advanced features. One of my favorite is "+" button on saving screen. It is simple idea to add version number when you save your project file to disc. For example, while you work on "ABCD0001", you can save it as "ABCD0002" by just pressing "+" button.

It was simple but still keeps me out of trouble because I manage my working files in that way. Whenever I can give an advice to new young computer user, I often say "Save whenever you stop your mouse!” If you lost your file some guy kicked out the power plug, all responsibilities is yours because you doesn't save your file. Frankly I still don't believe any hard disk, CD or memory card. Neither auto-saving. It can be lost forever at anytime. Credibility of a SW has been not improved since Windows 3.1 introduced.

To talk about naming a file more, I think most stupid file name that I ever saw is "resume.doc". Probably hiring manager may receive tons of resume. You can improve your chance by giving more identification on it. Add your name or Job title like this "UIdesign_Resume_Alfbae2006june01.doc" = Document title + Document purpose +creator name+date+version.

SO WHAT?
As I said I can't believe any local save for 100%. I want to have a backup on Internet storage that is operated by a reliable server can last long for 100 years. Why don't we make a doomsday vault at Greenland to save all humankind knowledge back up copy? We could retrieve Sumerian language that was written in 4600 years a go because they carved on stone located in desert.

Reference
Brewster Kahle's modest mission: News.com

Make it meaningful

2006-06-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

Nameless thing is meaningless. Every body can create content but all content can't survive without name. It will perish in backup disc sooner or later. Nowadays name is given by user as 'Tag' for digital content. Tag is one of basic concept for future Internet. But problem is laziness that may be biggest threat for all mankind. I'm not an exception. I'll never give proper file name for all images from my digital camera. It is really annoying. Yes, if it is annoying to do, it can be a seed of invention.

RIYA.com is not perfect for that yet but it shows quite interesting level of tagging technology. When photos are uploaded, faces of respective photos are analyzed and user can start to give a detail for it. By given data, it can try to identify rest of faces automatically. Side or rotated angle can't be identified.

What is for? For example, you may browse photo by tagged name. Select a person and get all photos that the person appears in.

Ok, it is still far from voice computer installed in USS Enterprise yet. But it is still good start.

By the way, I expect a digital camera which can identify faces. It may create a photo with proper names, location, direction and time/date. If it can be integrated with mobile, it can find electronic address of people in photo and send photos to them.

Otherwise, please try to memo on back or give a proper file name. Never use "Photo001.jpg".

One more, what is good tag? I think it should be able to explain context behind the appearance of a content and should connect other related content as a story.

Reference
http://www.riya.com/

Star Rating

2006-06-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

On my iTunes, there are 2 songs which have five stars. Absolutely It is best song for my life. How about you? It seems you can see 5, 10 or whatever rating system on hotels, music and movie etc. It is clear about top rating but others seem too often ambiguous for me.

Some people think 3 is mid point but others regard 2 as acceptable. If you love to watch Leonard Martin's movie critic, movie with 1 or 2 stars means it is rubbish or only few may love it.

Back to my iTune, some time I found really funny song in my collection. For example, I bought a Korean idol star's album. I loved their new song "Road" but first intro track was sound of fan's yelling and cheering noise in concert. I really hate that so I decide to give CD to my young colleague. But again I found some annoying sound in my iPod. My iPod has that intro noise sound and I can't delete it. As you know, you can't delete a song in iPod (Typical PC minded users some time want it). So I have to remember which song should be kicked out of my iPod.

Here is one tip for you. Please mark that song with one star. Later you can easily find out which song should be purged. Because I'm a generous man, I usually give 3~5 stars to a song. Actually only 36 songs are rated by myself from 1400 songs in my iPod. Even if it has two stars, it is very good. But a song with one star that's a bad.

Following is my star rating system. 6 grades (Don' forget to count Zero)
* * * * * : Great songs. I use it as a Redbull for my soul.
* * * * : Good songs. Yes, I think you might love it too.
* * * & * * ; I can't tell you what is difference between these 3 & 2 stars. But I'm sure it is noteworthy.
*: A hate mark. I'll purge it when I have time with iTune.
Not Rated: I might give some stars in future.

Why don't we have a minus star? A skull icon may be used for it.

By the way, I found more interesting about iTunes"Play Count". It is only counted when a song plays and finished. It is accumulated value as user listen to. As you might guess, it is similar with my star rated list.

What if I can trust some one who might share my interest and can recommend a good new or undiscovered song for me? Can I use my star rating system to find a mate who can share same musical interest from Internet?

Otherwise more collaborative rating system as a Mashup can happen? If you are lonely traveler in strange city, ZAGAT's trusted ratings and review may help you to find a good meal. It is sophisticated 30 point scale on food, decoration, service and cost. Of course it is not perfect but it is commonsense level of wisdom for you. One more tip, if you don't have Zagat guide, just try to find a crowded restaurant.

SOWHAT?
1. We need to think about negative rating.
2. Matchmaking system based on comparing iTune playlist. It may help you to find a soul mate.
3. How can a rating system be a reliable and helpful? Too often it may be spoiled with advertising promotion.

Reference
DJUNA's movie critics
Wikipedia "Rating"

Future of Spreadsheet

2006-06-10T18:30:00.000-07:00

Google Spreadsheet is just another rubbish web application only limited works can be done comparing with rich client applications in perspective of Microsoft (Zdnet podcast interview with MS's LeBond). But it reminds me of an old revolution of VisiCalc . Picture above still shows how VisiCalc's original design of spreadsheet is still neat and elegant for today(1981 IBM PC edition). It was really easy. Without it, you need to learn Fortran or Basic to do some calculation. Any ordinary business man can use it right away after 30 minute introduction.

MS Excel is just a rubbish copy product for doing every thing. In 1985 first Excel was released for Mac and Windows version win the battle with Lotus 1-2-3 finally. But it is error prone. Hard to keep track of change and follow streaming of in & out. Even it is not friendly with other MS applications such as Word and Outlook.Pasted or exported chart is often uncontrollable and ugly.

Interestingly, MS Excel is a popular office documenting tool rather than a calculator nowadays. Especially my HR and finance team guys use Excel for every thing. For example, when I request new PC lease, I need to download a XLS format and keep my personal information on it. Print out & sign on it and send it to mailbox. Actually it doesn't do any calculation. It is one of big reason why business people love Excel. Most business people don't have training any programming languate such as C/JAVA or HTML. They learn Excel. In case of Word and Outlook, you don't need special training for this. After training course or self training, every man can create smart document which can automate and normalize input. Output is ugly but enough for office.(Sorry, Jensen but you need to focus on output rather than the Ribbon.)

Can Google spreadsheet be a new hope? It is promising for sharing chart with others. And it's FREE!! but it is just a rubbish test service yet. (Please see introduction by ZDnet)

SO WHAT?
Actually, I'll love if future of spreadsheet can do following things.
For Google or any other guys want to invade in MS office empire, I believe it is very vulnerable point.

1. Copy a value from an internet site and paste on sheet and it will be updated lively/manually. Imagine a stock price widget is living in a cell.
2. Aggregate data from a variety of other sheet and internet document which are reported from your team member. It will be updated by member's publishing.
3. Keep history of changing. Like a Wiki, you can go back to whenever and can create historical comparison chart.
4. Simulate by test input. Like a Blog, draft saving is allowed. It will be separated until publishing.
5. Visual spreadsheet. It has been researched based on visual programming tool such as Prograph. But it is almost forgotten technology now. You can build financial model and understand formula more easily. Because Spreadsheet is easy but error prone. It will be useful to save your chart from audit. Please click for more
6. Visual layout. Like a MS Access. Report designer may help people to control the document output. Of course it should support XML output as well.
7. Export to Blog. HTML table is sucks. I need to paste a part of spreadsheet on my Blog. And it should be alive with controls.

And one small thing...

8. Sort by color. I love to use background/font color of cell to identify rows usually. I'll really appreciate if spreadsheet can see color as attribute.

World Idol Contest

2006-06-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

Youtube is really hottest internet video sharing site globally.

If you are not familiar with Youtube, please visit www.youtube.com at your spare time. Because it is based on interesting Flash player technology for streaming & playing video, it play well without any warning or password windows through your company firewall.

Most of contents are uploaded by users.(That's Mashup! That's UCC:User Created Content) You can find many popular video clips without appropriate copyright and size limit but there are many unique and interesting amateur films. Most interesting phenomena about Youtube is that it is beloved by many young as well. It is popular among people who lives out side of US. In Japan, over 2 million Japanese internet users visited there at March 2006. It is 5.2% market penetration.(US is 5.4%). Even though there is no regional service yet, it attracts more and more people globally.

Some says it is good model to explain "Long tail". It may be not big major block buster at all, enough mass to be noticed. It might not be able to kill TV but share some yummy portion of pie along with DVB-/H,DMB or IPTV. It is also attractive for Bloggers. You can easily link video to your blog by copy&paste HTML code generated from Youtube.

Sustainable & profitable business model is still unclear question in there business plan. But thanks to VC like Sequoia Capital who recently invest on Youtube, we may enjoy it free for a while. Youtube might find a heaven in advertisement as Google did. If they decide to insert a preroll or banner in video clip, it is hard to avoid. Report from Online Publishers Association said "Video Ads: The Shorter The Better, But Many Viewers Accept Long Ads". Around 39% answered 30 sec or more longer Ads is acceptable.

Otherwise, thanks to Youtube boom, many talented amateur comedian in the world , documentary film artist and digital camera/camcorder owners who want share their baby first walking with grandparents can have big benefit and find an useful way of promoting talent and sharing media. Nowadays sharing some images is not a big deal so you don't need help from FLICKR always but sharing a minute of video is totally different level of problem in term of bandwidth.

SO WHAT?
Many interesting youtube clips are made by PC camera cost less than $30 not by $1500 Sony camcorders. But I believe mobile phone can be a best tool for it. Problem is how an user can upload a video to video distribution channel such as Youtube without hassle. Mobile carrier may provide an incentive or discounted packet cost for uploader and share profit from downloaders. On opposite side, latest mobile phone is actually good video player already but you need to be a millionaire to enjoy video downloading freely from your network. Synching with PC is still and only reasonable way. Last mile between mobile phone and internet seems still bigger than in PC space.

Anyway, I think it could be good candidate for 3G killer apps instead of face to face video conference call. Why don't we have some hope.

Here is some funny clips I found from Youtube.All clips are really silly and amateur but it is good to see happy people for me without understanding their language at all.

LINKS

Philippines Lip Sync Guys
14 years old Asian boy living in US
Two Korean Girls in Karaoke Booth
24years old drunken Jabarca
Dr.Reck in Japan
A guy with sunglass
A gangster wannabe German boy

Visualize Product Life Cycle

2006-06-06T08:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, It looks not that charming but really impressive for me.
PLC : Product Life Cycle is one of 101 class item and most useful economic theory in marketing for me. I think I can understand by a new method by Google's new LAB project "Google Trend".
Google Trends analyzes a portion of Google web searches to compute how many searches have been done for the terms users enter relative to the total number of searches done on Google over time. The graph is matched with major news issues. You can sort it by cities/regions and languages as well.

For example, if you input "RAZR", you may see the rumor about RAZR was appearing at Q4 of 2004. And then you can see hot buzz when it is finally introduced at market. Around 2005 christmas season, the graph reached at peak point. I think it is interesting the graph has still good strength. I assume it might thanks to RAZR limited edition and other variable versions such as Gold Dolce & Gabana. Now it seems RAZR will be next Startac which has been produced for exceptionally long time. By June 2006, 50 million units of RAZR were sold globally.

SO WHAT?
Google trend will be loved by all marketers and researchers. If this volume shows fame of a keyword, we may regard it as social/cultural interest value by end users. By matching news and event schedule, we may understand how those event affect it. In future, some smart marketers may learn how to keep people's searching keyword for extending product life.

LINKS
Keep eyes on "RAZR" through Google Trends
Learn more about PLC: Product Life Cycle

Only Kid Can Hear

2006-06-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

I hate to say but we are growing older. As we grow older, physical ability such as eyesight is getting worse. Hearing ability is so as well. Human's audible spectrum is known as 20hz~20Khz but actually old person can't hear high frequency sound such as 17KHZ.

A British inventor, 39 years old Mr. Howard Stapleton invented "Kid Repellent" called Mosquito which generates high pitch tone to repell yound mischievous kid from a retail shop. It is just like a sound of Mosquito or "Headache sound". He said "It's very difficult to shoplift, when you have your fingers in your ears." It seems he share a same viewpoint of education with a Victorian man.

But another brilliant people utilize it and makes a mobile phone ringtone for kid. In class, student use it without teacher's attention.

SOWHAT?
Test it by yourself. Most of over 30ies couldn't hear 17Khz tone including myself. It may be not great for normal ringtone but may be useful for receiving message alert or morning call alarm which can wake your lazy son up in the morning.
This is an interesting story about a technology can be used for an experience and the oppisite way around at same time. Being good or evil is depending on creator's mind.

Try it by yourself and compare with older or younger friends. At 17Khz, some 27years old my colleague can hear the buzz but most of over 30 years old people in my office couldn't hear that. Please don't try this in public space. You should prepare a headset. You don't need to worry about that much. Even you can't hear that it doesn't mean you are missing a tune of music at all.

LINKS
Article about the kid repellent
International Herald Tribune Article
Metro's article about kid ringtone