Día: 10 mayo, 2012

Wordless Web | coolhunting.com


Ji Lee’s simple plug-in removes text from any site to let images stand alone
coolhunting.com
wordless_web.jpg

The endless stream of information available on the web can easily get clogged with an overload of messaging. To simplify your daily surfing sessions, former Google Creative Lab Creative Director Ji Lee—with the coding help of Cory Forsyth—has come up with the Wordless Web, a simple browser plug-in that takes any website and gets rid of the text, leaving only pictures. As longtime supporters of Lee’s “special projects“, we were keen to see a substantial array of websites‘ content reduced to a context-free assortment of images with one simple click.

 

By presenting the Internet as a palette of pictures only, the website reader becomes a viewer. “No text means no context,” says Lee. “You’re free to enjoy the images in their purest form, without names, labels, definitions, or purpose. It makes the pictures we see across the web more mysterious and open to interpretation of our own imaginations.” Leer más “Wordless Web | coolhunting.com”

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100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design


The most influential concepts in the history of the industry

by  | coolhunting.com

100Ideas_4b.jpg 100Ideas_4a.jpg

In the new chronologically ordered book “100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design“, Steven Heller and Véronique Vienne explore the most important moments in an industry they themselves helped to define. Part of publisher Laurence King‘s popular “100 Ideas” series, the combination of symbols, techniques, archetypes, tropes and trends represents some of the major creative explosions that continue to inspire an array of visual mediums today. The scope is broad but intelligently refined, connecting all aspects of graphic design, from the age-old technique of text ornamentation to the relatively nascent appearance of pixelated images and digital type.

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Heller, winner of the prestigious AIGA medal and former New York Times art director for 33 years, continues to write the “Visuals” column for the paper’s Book Review, as well as The Daily Hellerfor Imprint magazine. Vienne also comes from an art direction background and has published a number of books on the subject of graphic design. They draw enlightening and occasionally surprising connections, their observations identifying hidden meanings that inform images, such as the sun ray-inspired Mickey Mouse graphic created for his 80th birthday, which is actually a riff on Maoist propaganda posters. Leer más “100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design”

Don’t Turn Off The Internet We Have A Revolution | Jeffbullas.com


Written by Lisa Galarneau | jeffbullas.com

One reader commented that in my recent post about our social [media] revolution in the Cloud, I didn’t mention Egypt, Libya, etc. etc. or any of the other populaces who are using their knowledge of new media as a powerful weapon in democracy.Dont Turn Off The Internet We Have A Revolution

It seems a long time ago now, but I was once a linguist in the U.S. Army.  Russian.  The Cold War.  One of my potential jobs would be ‘psychological operations’ and also involved Airborne training, so I could more readily distribute fliers and pamphlets.  Propaganda is a popular device, and something to be wary of, yet we find ourselves awash in it continuously: from governments to corporations to teachers and parents who decide (often based on so-called expert opinion) what is right and good for everyone.  Or at least, in line with their own agendas for you.  I also lived in Chile under Pinochet in the late 1980s… one state-run tv channel and only an old-fashioned two-way radio patched through to landline phones for communication back home.  Information is life-blood to me, as a node in the network, so much so that I literally feel like a limb is cut off when I am denied access for too long.

Information as a Mechanism for Social Transformation

There is a long history of using information as a mechanism for social transformation.  Margaret Sanger, who founded Planned Parenthood, fought epic battles with the American postal service for the crime of distributing information pamphlets helping women understand birth control options, particularly the new-fangled French diaphragms (she later married a mega millionaire and hired a scientist to make her the magic ‘pill’ that we now take so for granted).  World War II was a major information war, before we had memes to understand it at all.  Telegraph, radio and telephone services had been flourishing for some time.  The Nazis targeted intellectuals of many persuasions, sometimes singling them out based on the eye-glasses they wore to assist with their myopia (itself an adaptation that is selected for in families that read a lot).  The Japanese had their own radio station blasting the South Pacific (Tokyo Rose) with their distorted claims and barely disguised imperialist agenda.  Voice of America responded with its own conversations, and continues to be a major force in communicating democratic possibilities (at least our variety), even now. The Soviet Union fell because of Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms.  Glasnost (open-ness) and perestroika(transformation) edicts were issued as a way to pull the Soviet Union our from behind the iron curtain that kept it economically and culturally stultified for so long.  The burden of knowledge and ramifications of transparency were too much for the early 20th century has-beens (the ‘Communist’ revolution in Russia occurred in 1917). Leer más “Don’t Turn Off The Internet We Have A Revolution | Jeffbullas.com”

Why We Can’t See What’s Right in Front of Us


Tony McCaffrey

TONY MCCAFFREY

http://blogs.hbr.org/

Tony McCaffrey developed the Obscure Features Hypothesis for innovation as his dissertation in cognitive psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is currently funded by the National Science Foundation’s Center for e-Design to implement his innovation-enhancing techniques in software. Beta testing will begin in summer 2012.

The most famous cognitive obstacle to innovation is functional fixedness — an idea first articulated in the 1930s by Karl Duncker — in which people tend to fixate on the common use of an object. For example, the people on the Titanic overlooked the possibility that the iceberg could have been their lifeboat. Newspapers from the time estimated the size of the iceberg to be between 50-100 feet high and 200-400 feet long. Titanic was navigable for awhile and could have pulled aside the iceberg. Many people could have climbed aboard it to find flat places to stay out of the water for the four hours before help arrived. Fixated on the fact that icebergs sink ships, people overlooked the size and shape of the iceberg (plus the fact that it would not sink).

More mundane examples: in a pinch, people have trouble seeing that a plastic lawn chair could be used as a paddle (turn it over, grab two legs, and start rowing) or that a candle wick could be used to tie things together (scrape the wax away to free the string).

The problem is we tend to just see an object’s use, not the object itself. When we see a common object, the motor cortex of our brain activates in anticipation of using the object in the common way. Part of the meaning of an object is getting ready to use it. If a type of feature is not important for its common use, then we are not cognizant of it. The result: our brain’s incredible inertia to move toward the common. Efficient for everyday life, this automatic neural response is the enemy of innovation. Leer más “Why We Can’t See What’s Right in Front of Us”

Briggs & Stratton unveils its new QR code-based operator manuals


QR Code Manualqrcodepress.com

Industry first missing guidebook solution based on mobile technology for ease of finding engine information.

Briggs & Stratton has just launched a new solution involving serialized QR code labels that will provide a first-ever opportunity for individuals to obtain the information in their misplaced operator’s manuals for everything from lawnmowers to snow blowers.

Their hope is to use mobile technology to end the frustration of the missing documents… Leer más “Briggs & Stratton unveils its new QR code-based operator manuals”

4 Tools to Enhance Brand Engagement on Facebook


 | http://mashable.com

Over the past few years, Facebook marketing has moved from the domain of early adopters to a mainstream focus for nearly all businesses. During that time, a large number of social media marketing tools have emerged to help companies reach and engage with fans, run promotions and contests, and even integrate Facebook Ad programs with the rest of their social marketing.

But while most marketers are currently using the myriad applications that allow them to run their ongoing programs, they may not be as familiar with tools they can use to enhance their day-to-day activities and make their programs more effective.

Here are four services that offer specific functionality to boost the impact of your Facebook marketing every day.

1. EdgeRank Checker

Several billion pieces of content and “Stories” are shared on Facebook every day, so it would be completely overwhelming if the news feed showed all of the possible stories from your friends and the brands you like. For this reason, Facebook created an algorithm — known in the industry as “EdgeRank” — to predict how interesting each story will be to each user and decide which stories will appear in a news feed.

While this may benefit the typical Facebook user, it creates a challenge for brands. If your posts aren’t performing well, fewer people will see them. In fact, according to data from EdgeRank Checker andAllFacebook, the average Facebook brand post reaches only about 17% of its fans due to this filtering mechanism.

“Understanding and leveraging EdgeRank is quickly becoming the new social ‘organic SEO,’” says Chad Wittman, founder of EdgeRank Checker. “Brands that are able to leverage EdgeRank to their advantage, without heavily relying on paid media, will be able to maximize efficiently their Facebook ROI.”

EdgeRank Checker has developed an algorithm that measures the average effect of EdgeRank on a brand’s content. With an understanding of how EdgeRank is impacting its content, a brand is then able to begin the process of improving this average effect.

EdgeRank Checker’s free tool allows you to see your “EdgeRank Score” and your best and worst average days of the week, while the “pro” plan (which starts at $15 per month) gives you more in-depth analysis and recommendations to boost your rank.

2. PageLever

Leer más “4 Tools to Enhance Brand Engagement on Facebook”

101 aplicaciones que debes probar antes de morir


http://onsoftware.softonic.com
Por Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti

Hay millones de programas allá afuera. Tan solo para Windows se calculaque hay más de cuatro millones de programas conocidos. A los que hay que añadir centenares de miles de apps para Mac, móviles, tabletas…

Las aplicaciones que impresionan son pocas. Las que dejan un surco indeleble en la memoria, menos todavía. Hablamos de apps que, bien por su originalidad, bien por su calidad, brillan con luz propia.

Vamos a presentarte una selección de 101 aplicaciones que todos deberían probar al menos una vez en la vida, tanto para Escritorio (Windows, Mac, Linux) como para teléfonos móviles y navegadores web. ¿Estás listo para descubrir nuevos mundos?

Aquí están las 101 aplicaciones, mezcladas sin seguir ningún orden porque todas merecen estar aquí. No es un Top 100 de programas (para eso ya están los listados), sino una selección de aplicaciones que a nuestro parecer son únicas en su género y merecen un mayor reconocimiento.

1. Pinterest: imágenes en lugar de palabras. Un enfoque distinto para las redes sociales.

2. Evi: un asistente personal que reconoce tus preguntas y contesta con una voz sintética.

3. Make Me Old: te muestra cómo serás dentro de 50 años. El móvil como espejo mágico.

4. Google Earth: viajar a todo el mundo sin moverse. Esta es la maravilla que consigue Earth.

5. Google Goggles: apuntas la cámara de tu móvil y Goggles reconoce lo que se ve. ¡Impresionante!

6. Shazam: ¿cómo se llama esa canción? Pones el móvil y al rato tienes la respuesta.

7. Path: cuenta tu vida en el diario más revolucionario jamás inventado para móviles.

8. Quora: tú preguntas, la comunidad contesta. Resultado: una mole de conocimientos asombrosa.

9. BOINC: aporta tu granito de arena en proyectos científicos con… un salvapantallas.

10. ArtRage: con esta aplicación, tú también puedes ser pintor (con el ratón o una tableta).

11. mIRC: si nunca has entrado en un #canal de IRC, no sabes qué significa chatear.

12. Solar System Scope: el sistema solar como nunca lo habías visto. En tu navegador.

13. Electric Sheep: salvapantallas aleatorios y psicodélicos directamente desde Internet.

14. ScummVM: ¿revivir las aventuras gráficas de antaño en cualquier móvil o PC? Oh, sí.

15. Gaikai: ¿Jugar los mejores videojuegos a distancia, con retraso inapreciable? ¿Dónde se firma?

16. Google Sky Map: el mejor mapa estelar cabe en la palma de un mano; está en tu móvil.

17. Fing: la herramienta definitiva para saber qué hay conectado en tu red local.

18. WindowBlinds: porque tu Escritorio se merece un aspecto mejor. ¡Personalízalo!

19. Zattoo: a día de hoy, una de las mejores televisiones virtuales a través de Internet.

20. ChemSketch: siéntete un químico por un día moviendo bellas moléculas en 3D.

21. jKiwi: un simulador de maquillaje. Ya no hace falta probar delante del espejo.

22. Notepad++: el Bloc de notas definitivo. Una vez lo pruebes no querrás volver al Notepad.

23. Virtual DJ: te gusten o no las discotecas, este programa da ganas de ponerse a mezclar.

24. Wikango: con este detector de radares, se acabaron las multas inesperadas (y los accidentes).

25. Cloud: quizá la manera más sencilla y elegante de compartir un archivo en un Mac.

26. Vienna: el lector de noticias para Mac que hará que no quieras probar ningún otro.

27. Audacity: el editor de sonido de código abierto más famoso. Imprescindible.

28. Google Traductor: traduce texto entre decenas de idiomas. Casi de ciencia-ficción.

29. SkyFire: ¿el mejor navegador alternativo para móvil? Muchos opinamos que sí.

30. Pixelmator: la mejor alternativa a Photoshop para Mac. Sencillamente brillante.

31. DiskDigger: el recuperador de archivos borrados más eficaz. No se deja nada.

32. Justin.TV: un PC conectado a Internet, una webcam… y tu emisora de TV ya está lista.

33. Q10: un editor de textos anti-distracciones diseñado con inteligencia y esmero.

34. SnagIt: es el capturador de pantalla más completo y fiable. ¡Click!

35. VirtualBox: al menos una vez en la vida hay que ejecutar un PC… dentro de otro.

36. Wine: ¿quién dijo que en Linux no se puede abrir Office? Con Wine se puede…

37. After Dark: los salvapantallas más originales y divertidos siguen vivos.

38. Qustodian: una forma poco convencional de ganar dinero viendo anuncios.

39. GOM Media Player: un reproductor de vídeo al que no le falta de nada.

40. Calibre: quien tiene un eBook, tiene Calibre. Es el iTunes del libro electrónico.

41. Wubi: ejecutar Linux como si fuera un programa más de Windows, toda una experiencia.

42. Viber: con esta aplicación, llamadas y SMS ya no tienen motivos para existir.

43. Panda Cloud: un antivirus distinto, que destaca por su sencillez y ligereza.

44. Mindomo: en cuanto creas tu primer mapa conceptual, ya no puedes dejarlo.

45. eMule: puede que esté de capa caída, pero sigue siendo un clásico del P2P.

46. AIDA64: todas las características de tu PC en una ventana. Pero toda, toda, ¿eh?

47. TeamViewer: acceder al Escritorio del PC de casa desde otro PC es divertido.

48. Fences: esta aplicación ha conseguido acabar con el caos de los iconos. No es poco.

49. Camtasia Studio: ¿para qué largas explicaciones? Graba un vídeo de tu Escritorio y envíalo.

50. Rdio: hay muchos servicios para escuchar música. Rdio es original y muy prometedor. Leer más “101 aplicaciones que debes probar antes de morir”