-Ara is developing a free, open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones. Led by Motorola’s Advanced Technology and Projects group Project ARA want to do for hardware what the Android platform has done for software.
"Our goal is to drive a more thoughtful, expressive, and open relationship between users, developers, and their phones. To give you the power to decide what your phone does, how it looks, where and what it’s made of, how much it costs, and how long you’ll keep it."
The design for Project Ara consists of what we call an endoskeleton (endo) and modules. The endo is the structural frame that holds all the modules in place. A module can be anything, from a new application processor to a new display or keyboard, an extra battery, a pulse oximeter--or something not yet thought of!
The ARA team et with Dave Hakkens, the creator of Phonebloks.The community he's been building will be necessary for Motorola to turn Ara into a success story.
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-Definitely inspired by the Arco lamp but for sure interesting enough to be called a new interpretation , with an heavy concrete base and a chrome lamp shade . Beyond that i really enjoy the Inverted structure, red cable, sweet visual game with proportions and colors , really like this one. . more info more info
-Technological “progression” has reduced what was a magical experience to a throw-away feature included in phones, computers, and coffee-makers as an afterthought. Radio has lost its position of distinction and become just another input. The richness of the original experience including analog knobs and hand tuned reception is poorly captured in digital reception and pre-programmed favorites. The intuitive interface and discovery between destinations are sorely lacking.
Tuning a traditional radio is a rich interaction. By turning the dial, users hear little pieces of music, voices, rhythms, mood or even news… half a second, sometimes less, but the brain is fast enough to identify interesting content. Discovery is inevitable. Even repeating the same exact movement with the dial often gives the user a totally different experience. The fusion between user, content and interface elevates the radio above a mere audio source.
Tuning a Digital radio is a flat interaction. Digital radio stations are displayed by name; location on the FM band is lost. Digital buffering creates a delay between channel selection and audio feedback. Breaking the immediate relation between action and reaction provides another barrier to exploration. Is the transition from minimal, intuitive, and tangible to menus, icons, and bookmarks true progress? Must we trade high discovery for high definition?
ENGAGEMENT CREATES INTEREST: If the user can affect the experience, then the experience is engaging. Improvisation creates interest and meaning. Products should provide engagement on many levels: Touch, Sound, Sight, Memory, and Discovery. Our goal was to create an engaging interface that would allow users to navigate through content to a precise destination without sacrificing discovery of new content in the process. What if engagement and fun were the focus? What if we made an interface with a product in it, rather than a product with an interface on it?
As a result the radioball is an exploratory device that encourages discovery through rich spatial interaction.
Thinking back to the days of old analog radios, the magic of finding unexpected stations in the midst of fuzz was both enchanting and evocative. Compare that with today's digital-based interactions of screens and tact switches; they give us exactly what we want when we want it, but leave no room to stumble onto alternative choices.
The Radioball prototype was built in short time and is meant as a starting point for conversation about the need for richer, more spatial interactions. All 3D files, schematics, code, and documentation is licensed under Creative Commons 3.0 (Attribution, Share-alike, and Remix) and is free for you to download, try out, and improve upon. Enjoy!
-While in san francisco i stumble uppon a bright matte orange light that was petty technically awesome, took a quick picture and forgot about it , while in Chicago this week end i saw this lamp again in the museum "shop", so i did little bit of research and found out about " PAblo" a Venezuelan born industrial designer named Pablo Pardo , he has established its studio in San Francisco. he's A 1986 graduate from the University of Cincinnati's renowned industrial design program. Today PAblo is a brand and the latest design are the Brazo lamp ( designed by Pablo Pardohimself ) and the Link lamp ( designed by Peter Stathis) , they are just amazing of simplicity for the first one and just purely technically perfect and gorgeous in finishes for the second one. And you know what , after my little research i found out that they were actually affordable, i mean 380 $ is not cheap at all , but compare to the actual "designers lamp" market, it is not too bad. Go PAblo.
-I have no idea if the color will stay like that or if it's just some kind of primer paint, but i always loved matte black and this is the kind of product that make me say , YEAHHHH , this headphone is the result of the collaboration of : Tartelet Records, Mannhandle, B&K and Kilo Design ,anyway this headset will arrive on the market in september 09, stay tuned . more info
-Antrepo Design Industry is a multi-disciplinary Design culture Time Tuner,it's not a tuner, just old fashion alarm clock with mp3 player for your timetable. It comes with three color options, Pure Black, Clean White, Strong Metal. it works with 4 AA size rechargeable battery or direct DC link.nice more info
-Available November 28th The Power Slider for iPhone™ 3G is the first accessory of its kind to offer protection, expanded battery life and integrated sync and charge capabilities another good one from those guys. more info
-Insane story about the guy Jim Jannard via sleepinginmyhead and insane pictures via engadget of the new Scarlet/Epic camera from the guy that created the Oakley brand . This product as almost infinite ( no joke here) possibilities of personalization, thanks to tones of modules , hard rive , lenses,...the whole thing is just insane, and look so gorgeous.. thanks Dana for the tip REd company website
-amazing surface quality and awesome machined little players, this is a really futuristic but great looking fusball table, designed by GRO design and Tim modelmakers both from netherland. nice job guys. From the designers mouth {" Many new football stadiums built in recent years have a strong architectural and sculptural beauty, becoming city landmarks in their own right and enhancing the visual landscape of the local environment. We wanted the design of our football table to be equally spectacular and memorable, enriching the interior space where it will be placed." more info
-pretty funny name, that would be actually neat to create some kind of " nike air protection " for this ubber thin new laptop from Apple MacBook Air is 0.16" to 0.76", 3.3" widescreen display.Multi-touch trackpad, $1799 sweeeeet. more info
-Sony’s new portable TV concept, The material which is used on outside is unique fiber called ‘super-knit’ like a cute little egg with an integrated tail.. weird and nice. Thanks Sukwoo.;)
-A sleek and clean design , Supposed to be revealed tomorrow...we'll keep you posted with the technical features and what make this "all in one" unique...
-One for all, Thanks to this ceramic Phonofone you just plug earbud in it and then it amplify the sound naturally, no need to plug it , no electronic inside, nothing just sound .. just nice . more info
-Another step in the Videogame industry by Nintendo who innovates again by creating this plateform called “Wii Balance Board” with two sensors to catch your leg moves precisely . Interesting application wii fit offer over 40 balance, aerobics, yoga and general fitness activities. I just imagine what result you could achieve if you were using all controllers together on a snowboard game or else.. yeeees
-I like the front view, can you be more simple please, i don't understand the remote though...would love to see it in real to appreciate the material story . more info
-Ara is developing a free, open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones. Led by Motorola’s Advanced Technology and Projects group Project ARA want to do for hardware what the Android platform has done for software.
"Our goal is to drive a more thoughtful, expressive, and open relationship between users, developers, and their phones. To give you the power to decide what your phone does, how it looks, where and what it’s made of, how much it costs, and how long you’ll keep it."
The design for Project Ara consists of what we call an endoskeleton (endo) and modules. The endo is the structural frame that holds all the modules in place. A module can be anything, from a new application processor to a new display or keyboard, an extra battery, a pulse oximeter--or something not yet thought of!
The ARA team et with Dave Hakkens, the creator of Phonebloks.The community he's been building will be necessary for Motorola to turn Ara into a success story.
more info
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