Final project idea
I want to come up with a tool that makes users aware of their emotional eating disorders. This tool will make them aware of it and could put them in a social network for support purposes. See attached pdf. final project idea
My design process
Here is a break down on my design process when coming up with projects. designprocess1.pdf
Object mini-project
The history of the umbrella
Used umbrella to signify wealth and rank by color
Made of whale bone, wood, oil paper
The word umbrella comes from the Latin word umbra, which means shadow
The purpose of an umbrella
Keeps us dry
Blocks us from the sun
Idea: To take an object and make it become an emotional piece within an environment. Since I have moved to NYC I am finding the things that used to be functional to me are not so functional. Living in a city where you have to walk everywhere you go you have to keep in consideration the weather. I find that it always rains at the worst possible time when I am leaving for school. I have a heavy bag that holds my books, computer, charger, phone, ipod, etc. It is very hard to maneuver when you have to hold your umbrella in one hand that it doesn’t leave much to carry with the other hand.
Now that technology has advanced I am proposing a new idea for the umbrella and how to make it more functional and enjoyable. Most people in the city own a ipod and don’t travel without it. I use mine a lot because it inspires me and gives me ideas when I am on the subway or walking on the streets. There are some things that can become inconvient when using it in the rain. I don’t have the free hands to switch a song or I just don’t want it to get wet. I would like for the ipod to have a transmitter and receiver and the umbrella to also have a transmitter and receiver. The ipod would stay in your bag or pocket protected at all times while the umbrella would act as the channel changer depending on the pressure of the rain. If the rain were a soft drizzle than a certain song list would be played, if the rain were hard than it would play a different song list.
As soon as the umbrella opens it transmitted through the ipod. The ear plugs are attached to the umbrella pole.
http://www.gizmag.com/go/3967/
http://www.asianjoke.com/pix/invention_latest_umbrella.htm
http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS01/312050001/1090/RSS1109
http://www.spectropolis.info/umbrella.php
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryfaqs/f/moodring.htm
Readings week 2
Here are my comments to the readings from week two.
Things that make us smart
There are many key points to chapter three of Don Normans, Things that make us smart. Having external aids can improve memory, thought and reasoning with the human mind. Cognitive artifacts are external aids that enhance the cognitive abilities of what makes us smart. In order to understand these cognitive artifacts, there needs to be an understanding with representation. This understanding has two fundamental factors, one being the represented world and two being the representing world. The representing world is essentially a set of symbols, which stand for something, that represents something in order to be represented in the world today. The representational format will depend on the task of the user and the user of an information display will have to find relevant information and compute the preferred conclusion. I think the overall idea is that we retain information differently depending on the way it is represented. Is it easier to use graphs rather than tables to represent information? Everyone is different I’m not so sure this is all valid.
History from Things
I really enjoyed this reading and agree with most of what was mentioned. Unfortunately, we do live in a world where material items dictate the type of people that we are. Most people want the best of everything because it makes them feel like they are more superior or powerful than others. I mean why do people buy cars that cost more than most peoples salaries in a year? They do it because in some weird way it makes them feel more important or maybe these items act as a filler to make up for some kind of void. I think this essays touches a lot of areas that people will deny, but are certainly guilty of in the act. I think that people need to focus more on relationships and values rather than wanted the best of everything. I know people like that and they try so hard to impress people with material things that it is so hard to see past that.
Hertzian Tales
I think that Anthony Dunne questions the way that old electronics and ideologies were thought out with thinking, design and writing. He brings up this idea of repackaging old ideas and gives deeper thought to them and why ideas are repackaged. He gives several examples of many attempts from past designers on how they took an existing item and added new elements to it. In Dunne’s opinion few designers have been successful with making an electronic object aesthetically pleasing. This reading didn’t help much with this weeks mini project and I was disappointed with the examples that Dunne used since they seemed irrelevant to today.
Domains
majorstudio.ppt After my first semester at Parsons I am even more confused about what I want to do with my career. I have been exposed to so many new ideas that I never thought about before coming here. My main focus has been graphic design, but I becoming more interesting with other areas of study. I have been able to use my graphic skills with motion graphics and really have enjoyed making my art have movement. In addition to motion graphics I see myself developing a passion with interactive design. I am fascinated with public space and how people interact in social settings.
