Monthly Archives: October 2013

A Curve in the Road

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Do you remember your first cell phone? It was probably way back in high school, it didn’t have many more features beyond a keypad, and you fondly referred to it as a “rock”. Before smartphones became the norm, cell phones came in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from small unobtrusive flip-phones to the more unique variants. However, with the advent of touchscreens, the minimalist black rectangle became the norm for every new phone, and while some iterations have attempted to stand out with different case colors, the shape of the phone has taken a backseat to the internal components, the faster processor, the better camera, etc.

However, Samsung might have just changed the game. The South Korean mobile giant has slowly been gaining on Apple in the high-end smartphone market, and their new offering might just put them over the top. On October 10th, the Galaxy Round, the world’s first curved-screen smartphone will become available in Korea. The device has a slightly rounded 5.7-inch, 1080p Super AMOLED screen, curved to fit comfortably in your hand.

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This in and of itself is not the game changer, but rather a stepping stone to the next generation of flexible screen mobile devices. Samsung has released a concept video showing the possibilities for flexible screen devices, including combination smartphone/tablets with folding screens, and something that can only be described as a roll-out tablet. Check it out below:

What Sparks Our Fire: The application of revolutionary technologies to the devices we use every day.

Do you think Samsung’s use of this technology will make them the top contender in the smartphone game?

Simplify Your Nest

In this brave new world of modern technology, nothing is out of reach with a smartphone and a halfway decent internet connection. Forget to lock your car? There’s an app for that. Need to know where your kids are? There’s an app for that. Want to destroy flimsy structures protecting green pigs, using only the power of applied force physics and irate flying creatures? There is absolutely an app for that. So the question remains, why do the two most irritating fixtures in our houses, thermostats and smoke detectors, look like holdovers from the 80’s and are about as intuitive as computers from that era?

Fortunately, those beige plastic eyesores will no longer be a must for every house. Nest is a company that is creating a generation of smoke detectors and thermostats for the modern computer age. Not only do they look clean and modern, they are intuitive to use and easy to integrate. The thermostat learns your habits and schedule, and adjusts itself accordingly. It can also be managed from your smartphone when you’re away from the house, and will show if your energy expenditure is environmentally friendly.

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The Nest Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector keeps you safe without all the annoyances of regular smoke alarms. The color of the detector changes to warn of potential problems and you can silence alarms by waving your hand if everything is under control. Rather than just beeping, it speaks with a human voice and can sync with the Nest Thermostat to turn off the furnace if there is a Carbon Monoxide leak. All in all, it is an incredible improvement over the fixtures we are used to.

What Sparks Our Fire: The integration of these house necessities into the interface that we use every day, in a visually appealing way.

Will you integrate this new tech into your home?

Through The Looking Glass

For the most part, the consensus on the new Google Glass technology is a, “cool concept, looks funny”. For those who don’t know, Google Glass is a new breed of  technology that allows the user, through voice and button commands, to control a heads-up display, or HUD. The idea is the user has the ability to access and interface with the internet at any time, in any place, without the added necessity of picking up a phone or a laptop. While interesting, the practical applications of this technology have not been fully explored.

However, Philips Healthcare has put together a proof of concept video, which demonstrates the medical possibilities for this new technology. Before and during surgery, the medical professional checks the patients’ vital signs and and pertinent information, all hands-free. This product is not yet available, rather an informational video meant to “explore the potential of connecting Philips IntelliVue patient monitoring solutions with Google Glass technology.” This concept could possibly lead to integration of Google Glass into everyday life.

What Sparks Our Fire: The future of integrating cutting edge technology into important professional fields such as medicine.

Would you trust a doctor using Google Glass to monitor your vital signs?

Marc-eting 101: The Perfect Fit

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When asked, “How do you find a great designer for your website?” Marc Sampogna, Founder of Canopy, had this to say…

When it comes to finding a great “designer” for your website, it’s crucial for you to understand the varying definitions of the term first. There are front-end and back-end designers. You need to find a person or team that can understand and marry the two. It starts with a deep understanding of the space you’re in and your end user. The ability to grasp the emotional and functional experience you’re trying to deliver is critical for them to understand. It starts with making sure they understand branding, and the strategic position your company/business is trying to own. That then can be translated through the design and user interface. Once you’ve checked the above off your list of criteria, then it comes down to budget and timing. If you want to think big for your business, you have to make an investment here. You don’t want to develop something on the cheap, and then have to start from scratch a year later (trust me, you will). I believe firmly, that in the digital space and for websites in particular, you get what you pay for. Having a digital division for years in my agency, we’ve learned that clients that want to cut on budget, typically on the online experience, which is very inefficient. I’d look to hire a smaller firm that will appreciate the nature of your business, and look at the work as something that aligns well with their particular niche of industries they work within. This may come in the form of a team of two people or twenty. Nevertheless, they need to understand your goals, be passionate about what you’re trying to accomplish, and absolutely understand the notion that digital and web is about delivering on an experience where behavior meets emotion, and usability meets design

Good luck!!

Where does music take you?

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By now, iOS7 for Apple products has been released, and lots of people are talking about the benefits or detriments of the system and what it can do for you. The new system has lots of changes and improvements, but one of the most interesting is iTunes Radio. Radio is integrated directly into the music app on your iPhone or iPad, and is connected directly to the iTunes store, so you can download whatever song you’re listening to at that exact moment. It features more than 250 curated radio stations, and you can create your own as well. This new feature is married into your system, and might be a strong contender in the smartphone radio race.

What sparked our fire: Seamless integration of an established music purchasing and playing program with a radio app format.

Will this new form of iTunes supplant established radio apps like Pandora?