Although getting in was easier than getting out of it! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Function. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Function. Show all posts
November 30, 2021
Threaded Blue Chair
August 9, 2021
Nice Log Sitting Area
June 21, 2021
WTF Is It?
Do these thingamajigs represent people standing tall and with arms raised high?
Are you supposed to hang things off of it like jewelry?
Can you place on it reminder notes or small pictures using push pins?
Then again maybe it's a toy for a child or even a pet?
In the end, all I can say is WFT is it?
Perhaps that's what the meaning of art is! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 4, 2021
Bike Rack: Form and Function
September 29, 2020
Lock Head Design
I'm surprised they don't make more locks like this with interesting doodads for the base of the lock.
Aside from all sort of faces, you could have places and things.
A lock that looks like Groucho Marx, a Turtle, the Eiffel Tower, or a Heart.
Why not (as long as it keeps things safe)? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 27, 2020
Wow, Not Bad For A Toy
Design is an art, whether for cars, homes, fashion, and more.
Those that get design right make things not only functional, but incredibly beautiful.
And when function and design come together in perfect harmony that is no toy! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 9, 2020
How Fish Come Up To Breathe
Dolphins needs to come up to the surface to get air to breathe.
But how do they do this when they sleep?
The answer is that only part of their brain sleeps at a time, so that they can continue to rise to the surface for air 24/7.
Part of their brain sleeps while the other part stays awake.
I think that this truly happens with people too.
If you have ever been overtired, your brain still needs to sleep.
At some point, you can literally feel part of your brain go to sleep even as the rest is awake to do what it needs to do (even at suboptimal functioning).
This is beyond fascinating how G-d created us to adapt and survive. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 11, 2019
OOOC...Order Out Of Chaos
That's why G-d created a natural order and rules of nature.
From the laws of physics to repeatable mathematical formulations, the universe may be infinitely large and complex, but it is not without standards of function.
According to the Law of Causality, the world is a pattern of action and reaction (or effect), where everything is a consequence of something prior.
Even in Chaos Theory, we find that in apparent randomness, there are underlying patterns.
Absent a miracle, the sun rises every morning and sets every evening.
Yet, nature and man can also bring catastrophe whereby the world seems like one big chaotic mess.
Whether from illness, natural disaster, or conflict, our world, can in a moment be turned on it's head.
Moreover, it's all predictably unpredictable.
And it's up to us to make Order Out Of Chaos (OOOC).
This is where many of us either sink or swim.
When the chips are down, and all the world seems to be imploding with dysfunction, this is where we need to find and make sense and order.
Bad things happen even to good people.
Good people need to find the faith and the strength, and with G-d's help, rise to the challenge.
Easier said than done, for sure.
In the chaos of things, time may stop and everything becomes a blur.
We may become like a deer in the headlights--frozen with panic and truly not knowing what to do.
But if we can just find which way is up.
Then we can redirect ourselves--rising from the depths of despair to the surface, where the sun is shining and we can gasp a breath again.
Even around our dysfunction is function to be had.
Solve a problem, do something constructive, and help others...it's all part of making order out of chaos. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 15, 2019
Success Anchored in Function AND Beauty
"It has always been a principal of our company that function and beauty are inseparable."
If you can make something useful and attractive--you have a real winner!
Companies like Porsche and Apple get it (many, many others are clueless).
Product development is both art and science and therein lay the foundations of their success or failure. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 12, 2019
Beautiful Teapot (Just For Looking)
Love all the shapes--the pyramid base, the curly spout, the circular handle, and the little round ball at the top.
Like most nice things, it's too beautiful to actually use.
(Almost like a million outfits in my closet that I never wear, because I don't want to mess them up...)
This is where design trumps functions--and I would rather look at this and enjoy it as art more than drinking another cup of tea! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 16, 2018
Miami Blue Porsche
September 26, 2017
Cyclops Looking Eye
If the eye represents seeing and knowing then aren't we better off with two or even a dozen eyes to see with?
See more, know more, do more.
How about eyes in the back of the head?
Or all around the head in a cool circle--like a majestic crown of sight all around you.
Seeing is miraculous.
The beauty of the world--people, nature, and the stars above.
Seeing is function.
Being able to navigate, get around, and do things with relative ease.
Seeing is safety.
Sensing path from obstacle and friend from foe.
It's frightening to think of not having vision--what a challenge!
One old lady is possibly legally blind, but still serves as a notary public--how does she do that?
Eyes themselves are beautiful--brown and blue and hazel, and soft and deep and mesmerizing.
Looking into someone's eyes, have you ever seen their soul.
Show me thy ways oh L-rd and let me learn and grow in the world you've created for us--seeing the material and spiritual world we're enveloped in.
I see the beauty, necessity, and lessons you have for me.
However many eyes, seeing is believing in it all. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 5, 2014
New And Hip
Well almost, anyway--this is a small-scale model of one.
About 300,000 people per year benefit from this procedure in the U.S.
Thank G-d for such medical advances.
I don't know what people did in earlier times having to live with the pain and loss of function and mobility before they had this available.
My father always told me that the doctors are G-d's messengers and they only know and can do what G-d tells and enables them to do.
In that sense, a good doctor is really an angel of G-d's mercy.
It's amazing and miraculous! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 30, 2012
Dyson Vs. Dirt Devil
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Dyson, a British company has built a vacuum cleaner (and fan and hand dryer) empire with 4,000 employees and $1.5 billion in sales.
For a number of years now I have used Dyson including their super powerful (and expensive) "Animal" bagless cleaner--this thing actually ate up one of my phone cords and tore it to shreds.
I've also had other Dysons and my experience has been that while they look really nice in their bright yellows and grays, and sort of sleek for a vacuum, but they tend to break down--especially the motor for the brushes that work on the floor that I find accumulates hair and dirt around the spinner until it stops working.
The other thing that I've found with the Dyson is they come with so many annoying attachments, many with no place to actually attach them all--I think it is overkill for most people's basic cleaning needs.
After going through a number of Dysons, I finally got fed up with paying so much and getting so little, and we decided to stop "investing" in short-lived Dyson vacuum cleaners.
Instead we said let's get a simple, cheapo, Dirt Devil for like 50 bucks and run it into the ground. If it stopped working we could replace it 6-10 times for the cost of a single Dyson!
We purchased the Dirt Devil, and my expectations were very low--I actually considered it an experiment in purchasing this low-tech machine, and just seeing what we would get.
Well, it's been about 3 months and I can't believe the amount of vacuum you can get for so little money with the Dirt Devil--it is bagless like the Dyson and without scientifically measuring the amount of dirt it picks up, I'd say it is almost equivalent in getting the dirty job done.
Additionally, the Dirt Devil--doesn't come with all the useless attachments--a case where more is less--and it weighs only around 8 pounds, which is 1/3 of what the Dyson weighed--so it is much easier to use around the home.
Similarly, when I look at the cool Dyson fans without blades, it seems almost magical how they actually work, but frankly who cares if it cost $300-$450 and doesn't work as well as a basic floor Vornado that sells for about $120.
My opinion is that Dyson is generally overpriced and underperforms--but at least you'll have the image of innovation and performance, even if not the reality at the price point.
Anyway, If I had a vacuum cleaner dream, it would be to one day get one of those "commercial" vacuum cleaners that you see being used in the huge buildings--almost non-stop use--and they may cost a little more, but they actually give you more as well. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Molly DG)
December 27, 2012
Brilliant Knife Set Design
I came across this brilliant knife set by French company, Deglon, called Meeting--I would assume it's called that because of how the knives meet up and fit together into a single stainless steel block.
I love the the simplicity and eloquence, and these won the European Cutlery Design Award.
There are four knives in this set for paring, utility, chef, and fillet.
Deglon also has a steak knife set--similar concept in that the knives fit together, but they stack rather than fit inside each other, so it is cute, but has less of a wow-factor.
My other concern with these knifes is their handle which doesn't have a cushioned or rubberized grib--so for lots of cooking and cutting, I am not sure how comfortable or slip-resistant these are to use.
Similarly, some of the knives may not be so quick and easy to pull them out and use, especially the ones that are tucked inside the others.
Perhaps, these are an example of form versus function--where this contemporary knife set look very beautiful, but how practical are they for everyday use?
At $750, I am pretty sure these are better than anything I use regularly, but I am definitely no chef! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal screenshot at Deglon.com)
October 26, 2012
The Integrated Hat
It comes as a nice straw hat with eye slots and a sunglass effect built in--just roll the front lid up and down to adjust the coverage.
Takes a little of its strong look from Batwoman and a lot from the runway models of Fashion Week.
I like it for its creativity and coy looks--not so much for it's functionality, I am sure.
So Apple may have a lock-up on integration when it comes hardware and software these days, but Kate Spade has it hats-off in the fashion arena.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 21, 2011
Shalom Rotundus
Rotundus, the rolling robot, was designed by the European Space Agency for exploration of distant planets like Mars and Mercury, but now it has found its way into many earthly avocations.
This Groundbot has "eyes" on either side of its roly-poly robotic body and has a unique internal pendulum for maneuvering around.
Currently, Rotundus is deployed for sentry duty at SAAB auto manufacturing plants.
However, as you can see in the video, it can also function comfortably in a home environment as a quasi baby-sitter for the kids.
Already, we see robots in Japan providing service to people from servers in restaurants to caretakers for the elderly.
I appreciated the interview with the CTO at Rotundus who shares his vision for robots that "provide not only security, but also pleasure to people."
Rotundus is a great example of how robots can come in virtually any way, shape or form.
The key is that robots leverage the best of automation and innovation to help ordinary people do things simpler, easier, and more convenient than ever before.
April 15, 2011
Fit For A King
So technology really does come to everything, eventually.
Check out Kohler's new high-tech toilet, the Numi.
Aside from all sorts of automatic functions from opening the toilet (from up to 8 feet away), to raising the seat for men based on foot sensors, to even flushing with varying power level based on how long you've been doing your business, the Numi really performs as the "toilet of the future" as CNET calls it.
Using a touch-tablet remote (that magnetically docks to a wall panel):
- It washes (through an extending bidet with LED lights)
- It dries (with an built in air dryer and deodorizer)
- It cleans (the bowl with 2 modes--1.28 or 0.6 gallons of water for the eco-conscious, and it also cleanses the bidet head with water or a bath of UV light)
- It warms (by controls for seat temperature and blows warm air at your feet), and
- It entertains (with FM radio and speakers as well as integrates with your iPod/iPhones).
For $6,400 you get yourself a true throne with form and function fit for a gadget king.
(Credit Picture of Remote to Scott Stein/CNET and Credit Picture of Numi Side to Kohler)
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