A somewhat desperate solution to iPad’s current limitation on printing. Never assume your users will give up trying to achieve tasks that are vital to a daily workflow. This is Dan’s favourite blog post of the year.
Props via @engadget
ChalkBot in Action
Very nice. Overview of how it all works.
As you may or may not know it is customary for fans to chalk/paint messages on the road before the riders go by to show their support/disdain/abuse whatever. TV cameras usually pick up the messages in their coverage as well.
Now Nike are offering you the chance, wherever you are in the world, to create a message of hope or support online & on mobile and then have it actually painted on the road in France by a chalkbot!
They will also send you and image of it with the relevant googlemaps reference so you can find your message en route and can work out when the riders will be going past…
Thanks to the props IPGLabs via G Jones
Howies Films
Nice one Howies.
Surfers Against Sewage began in Cornwall back in 1990 campaigning against sewage pollution on the beaches of St Agnes, Chapel Porth and Porthtowan. From these humble beginnings, SAS has grown into a nationwide force fighting for clean and safe recreational waters across the UK.
Bach Brain
Oliver Sacks answers questions about why music affects the brain, how it can treat some neurological disorders, and more. It’s all on tonight PBS’s Nova show. [Savvy propagating of video to seed viewership via twitter/blogs].
I will be happier
Putting yourself in the shoes of your users is the only way to get immersed in the problems/pleasures. In celebration of user-centered-design a poster.
Odds Are You Live in a City
The American Life Project has just finishing examining social networking tools. New twitter research is suggesting that in this early adaption phase, it’s the people living in cities that are doing all the talking (compared to rural). No surprises, but what’s interesting is that whilst Myspace and Facebook has a much lower demographic (sweet spot of 24 years old), twitter skews all the up and beyond the 35+ market too.
“The use of Twitter is highly intertwined with the use of other social media; both blogging and social network use increase the likelihood than an individual also uses Twitter. Twitter users and status updaters are also a mobile bunch; as a group they are much more likely to be using wireless technologies — laptops, handhelds and cell phones — for internet access, or cell phones for text messaging.”
First came across the story on NYTimes, who didnt add much to the data or conversation.
