Light treatment

When the winter begins, the thirst for light is immense. It doesn't really matter how you get it, but if This method works, I'm a happy camper.

Oulu based Valkee is studying and manufacturing bright light treatment device that deliveres the light more directly to the brain, saves eyes, allows user to move around while treatment and makes the treatment significantly shorter.

The main issue here is that it's really hard to believe this method is really working. You can evaluate the idea next time you turn your face towards the sun. -Is it your eyes or the tissue behind those, that enjoys the sun.

Is the first Encore already too much?

This is a sight which makes me shake my head every time I see it.
-I really don't want any 'encore' to happen to my work papers..

Send a postcard with your own photo from your mobile phone - Posti/Itella

Sending a postcard with your own photo from your mobile phone sounds like a great idea. -Heard about it from my friend and rushed into Posti (or Itella) site to download the Mobile Postcard (Mobiilipostikortti) application.
There's so many things wrong in the application that it's unbelievable that somewhere there is a Symbian coder, who is so unaware of basic principles.
You need to know about hidden and visible drives on your mobile to find your photos and know how to change seccurity settings to avoid  question about wheather application can access your data. -And finally, there's no preview the picture you are sending - at any point. -Not even thumbnails in the folder view. Which I managed to get visible only that one time I took the pictures below :/

-My god XP

 

 

 

Flight patterns by Charlie McCarthy

I'm back from holidays. And in these cases I usually refer that first week after holidays, you should not work/think too hard to avoid injuries ;)
For htat reason an enjoyable video from Vimeo by Charlie McCarthy =)

flight patterns from Charlie McCarthy on Vimeo.

New H1N1 influenza spread graph by WHO

Earlier I have been complaining about the spread graphs released by WHO.
WHO illustrates A(H1N1) spreading - 3.6.09
Influenza A(H1N1) spread rate graph - 9.5.09

WHO has now released a new 'interactive timeline of all cases' worth visiting.

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Realistic marketing

There's a healthy dose of realism in the marketing slogan of this regional newspaper: "Take a good fire starter with you."

WHO illustrates A(H1N1) spreading

WHO has taken new actions to improve the understanding of A(H1N1) influenza. They have created an interactive illustration about the spread.
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/history_map/InfluenzaAH1N1_maps.html



-I cannot help but thinkin why in earth they made it this difficult?! And what's wrong in a regular line-diagram like the one I made earlier.

Recycle your Ariel

I saw this on my parents garden last weekend (you remember Laihia and the stingyness). My father had recycled a washing liquid bottle as a feeding automate for birds. Don't know about style, but a delightful sight anyway ;D

Influenza A(H1N1) spread rate graph

Since this time next week I should be drinking my first strawberry margharita in Mexico I have been quite interested about the spreading of H1N1 (swine influenza).
Since I didn't find a graph about the issue, I made my own. -I'll be updating this at least for next week. After that there's no point since I might my right there on the spot..

The graph is based on the information on WHO Influenza A(H1N1) site.




Update 10.5.09
Since I have the data -thanks to WHO- here's a graph about the H1N1 cases in three main countries.

Guitar Hero goes cycling

There are times that even a open minded guy like me feels himself like old fart. There is a possibility that you've felt it already when you saw somebody playing Guitar Hero.You know the game, where a player is trying to press right buttons in right order based on music. -Despite of the fact that it's super popular it somehow reminds me of of late Spede Pasanen.
After seeing this video we can share the feeling of being old farts. Oh my what new-school keeps bringing to us; Bike Hero!

Unbelievable unboxing experience

Unboxing experience seems to be a mind blowing part of user experience to some. I know it is important, but this goes slightly beyond.. XD
This clip is that far from having phone content and that close of having good entertainment about some random commercial, that I will post this anyway.

Textile body on a car? BMW Gina

Check this interesting video about BMW concept car where qualities of textile has been used to create interesting features!

Oulu suburbs in english

Local newspaper in Oulu has "translated" names for the Oulu city suburbs into english. Not much for a english speaker, but for a local these are great. Here's some samples, the actual listning can be found on Kaleva web site:
"Alppila = Alpineshire
Etu-Lyötty = Frontbeatup
Heikinharju = Heikki´s Ridge
Heinäpää = Jointhead/Hayhead
Hiironen = Mousie
Hintta = Pooh, Homa
Hönttämäki = Stupidhill
Höyhtyä = Oh-hoh United
Intiö = Armysh"
-Last one being my favorite becouse I served there for a year ;D

Read and create mobilecodes

Increasing amount of mobile codes -matrix shaped barcodes- can be found around the cities. If you have a camera phone you can upload a code reader and even create your own barcode, like I did for this blog. Now after loading the application I think I'll go to window of Kiinteistömaailma to test it for different apartments ;) -Not that I have anything to complain. I just rented an apartment without seeing that first. -It really paid of. Perfect apartment in the heart of Oulu with a slice of (almost own) green grass =)

How to make a 3D paper snowflake

As mentioned, I'm not the most presents buying type of person. -But making those can be fun. And this really made my fingers itch..
How to make a 3D paper snowflake via Core77 and WikiHow.

Time management for creative people

Time management is something what you can always do better. Especially in case of creative people.
So in this case I'll proritize and only leave you the link -that is said to be a really good one- and just wait for you to comment was it any good..:
Time Management #1: Why You Need to be Organised to be Creative
You can also download it, thanks BODO.

Nordea surprised by packaging

Posted from N73 through Flickr

Today I received a thick envelope, just like the ones that grant you access to fortune and fame. -Only this time it was from my bank.
Some might remember my post about Nordea's good UI on ordering personalized card. This was the delivery, but the best was yet to come. -The double-slider package was a blast, after all those dull, thin letters ;D

How to lie with Design research

On a presentation I saw on wednesday, there was a slide where it was written, "Don't buy user research, if you are not willing to use the information on the product development"..

I found a clip of Dan Shaffers presentation How To Lie With Design Research on Mobile Observations. It had a kind of similar message. The key point was maybe 'Most companies are looking to have their ideas validated anyway. So why waste your budget on field research. -Just do it in the Google.'

I can't help wondering, does this tell more about clients or designers.

<5mins

Fiskars - keeping up the brand?

When a company starts to gain size, daughter companies and additional product categories, the problems in keeping the product portflio in tact start to form. This and pirate-copies about the products create a challenge for a consumer.

I found these. -Please somebody tell me that the restaurant made a quickfix and these are not in the market!

Loota - social networking with virtual content by physical means?!

My dear friend portugalilainen and rest of his group is at 1st Riga International Young Designers Biennale with their Nokia Only Planet consept, Loota.

In my opinion that was one of the greatest inventions for a social networking where a virtual and physical content and objects are being intertvined. I would like to see if they have come up with a design for that, but while waiting news you can watch a video about the consept:



See also an open blog Exploring creativity, by Portugalilainen.