The other day we got to hear all about my feelings vis-á-vis elementary school washrooms courtesy of the Genesis Toilet Cubicle. Who knew another trip down memory lane was in the offing just a mere 24 hours later? But the Altra Forma interactive block collection authored by Agati has got me contemplating that formative classroom infrastructure I experienced way back when.
With my memory understandably dimmed by the intervening 30 years or so, I can’t say with supreme accuracy what the interior of my childhood classrooms looked like, though I can say it wasn’t anything like the sensorial and tactile delight proffered by Agati’s Altra Forma. I seem to remember non-descript wooden desks in neat rows and a roll-able tumbling mat—but, more than likely, that was in P.E.
Agati seems to have taken the notion implied by the above (namely, that children respond to movement and color) and developed it as a central aspect of early learning. The Altra Forma collection of interactive blocks is comprised of individual pieces that do double duty as the building blocks of impromptu furnishings.
Designed by architect Lonn Frye, these differently shaped units each have an individual character, yet, very like a set of oversized padded legos, they fit together in interesting and creative ways. Shapes like “Toadstool” (a basic cylindrical ottoman), “Half Round,” “Saddle and Scoop,” and “Triangle” can be made to interact. Whether that involves simply playing around or building an actual (if temporary) enclosure is up to the zeitgeist of the group, or the particular child.
The individual modules in Altra Forma are all brightly colored, lightweight, and easy to handle. So whether the children in question are just aiming to lounge about or desiring to devise the intricate architecture of a pass-through tunnel or fort, they’ll find something among the manifold forms of Altra Forma to help shape their dreams and aspirations.
The movies, game consoles, and smartphones have already gone 3-D crazy. Soon we may routinely print out things in 3-D tangible form. But thus far there’s one aspect of consumer tech that’s remained largely 2-D, no matter how excited sci-fi movies special effects guys get about ‘em: PC desktops. That’s about to change.
Both Microsoft and Apple are busy working on banishing your flat, boring old array of 2-D icons and windows with faux dropped-shadows and replacing them with a 3-D interface. It’s about time.
On the eve of releasing a publicly downloadable early build of Windows 8, which leverages the decidedly two-dimensional look and feel of its touch-based Windows Phone 7, Microsoft teased the world with a couple of visionary ideas from its research labs.
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There is nothing that can add a touch of the tropics to the backyard, porch patio or pool than the coarse textured foliage offered by bananas and the Japanese fiber banana is one that almost anyone can grow. I just recently returned from a speaking engagement at Callaway Gardens and had the opportunity to see a wonderful presentation shot most in northeastern locations like New Hampshire, Connecticut and New York.
Though many of these wonderful homes feature cottage gardens and were at houses dating back to the early 1800′s I could not help but notice the use of bananas either in the landscape or in containers.
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Tucked away in Melbourne, Australia the German-born designer, Volker Haug, has been innately drawn to lighting like a moth to the veritable flame since his youthful years. With no better way to be introduced to his eccentric, natural, form-driven designs that illuminate the interior walls, ceilings and table surfaces than through a glossy set or two of antlers, Ive been growing more fond of the Two Arm Antler lamp and Four Arm Antler lamp every second.
In the second round of antler lighting designing, Matilda decided to bring the creations of 30 different product designers and makers from Australia to the London Design Festival 2011.
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Stay calm and carry on, people: It’s way to soon to say that NFC should stand for Now Fatally Corrupted. Yes, Google’s breakthrough NFC payments app Wallet is being mentioned all over the news thanks to a flaw–it’s vulnerable to a hack that gives nefarious types access to your secure PIN number. But don’t believe any doomsayers or fearmongering that you may encounter on this matter; it’s not as evil as it seems and, believe it or now, it’s actually a sign that the future of wireless mobile payments is probably more secure than your current credit card.
As reported over at the blog of security firm Zvelo, Google’s Wallet app has a wicked flaw right at its core.
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