Sencha Touch is a framework  for the iPhone/iPad/iTouch and Android devices using HTML5, JavaScript and CSS3  that have the look and feel of native application, which of course can be modified, since it’s just CSS.  There’s a lot of examples to get you started. These all work in at least Chrome (probably Safari), so you can test them without owning an iPad et al. Most of the implemented HTML5 features work, Geolocation (GPS etc.), Offline-mode, video, audio, forms etc.. + plus you can use gestures for navigation.

This might be a good way to start making mobile apps.

Also it’s open-source.

Get it from here!

Don’t know HTML5? Then Dive in to HTML5

A lot of people are quick to point out that Arduino is missing a graphical environment, something a bit easier than writing lines of code and missing a semicolon here and there. Modkit aims to solve this issue to some extend by proposing an online editor where you can drag and drop blocks (inspired by Scratch, same developer), build your ideas and upload to an Arduino board. One of the great feature that was not present in the early version is the code editing. You can now go in Code View and edit the code, flip back to the graphical representation and voilà, it’s updated. There is a Kickstarter campaign for the project, so feel free to contribute if you want/can.

I’ve seen a few other tools and solutions around graphical programming environment for Arduino. Most of them are in alpha or beta phase, so expect to hear more on this topic in the coming months. We’ll give Modkit a spin this fall semester if you have a course with me!

Check their website and blog.

Check out the product page for all the nifty details.

Some golden nuggets from the movie :

Man: “What do you mean? We (robots) cant dream!”

Woman: “Of course you can, you just make it up!”

—–

Man: “…This dream was easily the best dream in the history of all dreams”.

Check out some more screen-shots here.

It uses a Wiimote hack!! Yaay!

Link here

“The Breakup Letter” is a design research tool that Smart Design uses to explore the emotional connection between people and their products, services, and experiences. In Chicago, participants of the workshop were asked to choose a product, service, or experience, and to write and recite a “breakup letter” on camera.

Link

TEI (Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction) is a really great conference. For 2011, they are starting a Design Challenge competition only for students. The venue is Funchal, Madeira in Portugal, not bad! Here is the full call for participation:

Always wanted to fly, zap your enemies with lightning, or own an invisibility cloak? Now’s your chance to apply your design and engineering skills to achieve your dreams. TEI 2011, the fifth international conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction, is delighted to announce its first student design challenge, which will focus on superhero costumes and accessories. More information is available below and on the design challenge website: http://www.tei-conf.org/11/participation_/design-challenge/

Looking forward to seeing you (and your superhero alter ego) at TEI 2011!

IMPORTANT DATES
October 31st: Entry deadline (a simple email with details about your team, nothing actually due)
December 10th: TEI early registration deadline (confirm challenge participation by registering)
Dec. 10th-Jan. 22nd: Project development
January 23-26th: TEI conference: design presentation

PRESENTATION, JUDGING and AWARDS
Projects will be presented at a special runway event held during TEI 2011. Each team will have 5-10 minutes to dazzle the crowd with a demonstration of their costume in action. This presentation will be modeled on a fashion runway show, so teams should arrange to have someone wear and demonstrate the costume in person.

We will award cash prizes of $1000 each in three categories:

• Inventiveness
• Quality of execution
• Presentation and style

All TEI attendees will vote to elect the winners in each category.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

See all the details on the TEI 2011 website

1) If you don’t have previous work experience before you came to the school, take a year off and do those internships. You cannot get a job unless you have at least a year of experience, preferably more. All the interviews I’ve had, have failed because of this. Internships are easy to get, when you are still in school, after that, no chance whatsoever. Try to get at least 2 companies to your CV, preferbaly more.

2)And your final thesis, make sure you have a sponsor for it.  Don’t do overly futuristic stuff, or if you do make sure it ties down to the basics of IxD. The companies are interested if you have the capability to do the stuff, before they are in your ideas.

3)As soon as you graduate, the places you go for interviews will start asking if you can do wireframes, patterns and flowcharts. If you don’t know what those are, don’t worry. They are the simplest thing ever and you probably can do better.

4) Learn to code. HTML, Javascript, PHP and all that jazz is very good to know, and I guarantee it will help you in getting a job. Flash is pretty much dead, the reasons for that are pretty much all over the web and is related to the runtime itself, still, it’s up to you if you want to learn it as a lot of companies still use it. I wouldn’t.

5) Physical computing is great, it’s fun, it’s the future and you should learn to do it, but, the truth is.. nobody is interested in the future, unless they have a lot of money and/or genuine interest to do it.  Almost every company I have interviewed at say that it’s interesting and they want to do that, but lack of funding or interest towards hardware interaction is a hard sell for marketing people. Things might change soon, though, as NFC phones are becoming mainstream next year, at least most of the Nokias. More about that later.

6) Get enthusiastic. There is nothing worse than a designer not believing in design. Use this blog or make your own (another good thing to learn, hack WordPress) to report your findings to the world. If you love yourself too much, you can also use Twitter to do it ;) Talk about future technologies with everyone, go to conferences and get really drunk with the people there, talk about interactions while you are drunk, it’s great fun.

7) Learn to design mobile stuff. Before it was web, now it’s mobile apps. Don’t limit yourself to iPhones, as good as they are, they are meant for rich people.

8) Don’t worry about operating systems or design guidelines and things called “Scrum” or “Agile”, you really can live without those. They may help you in getting job, however. But, the job you are gonna get is closer to development than design work. Your choice.

9) Do a really nice portfolio, that has a mixture of mobile, web, ethnographics, psychology, the future, physical computing, (maybe flowcharts), paper prototypes, “design thinking” (I know, a clichee), collaborative working and more! 

10) Do those internships! I can’t emphasize enough how important job experience is.

Good luck, and don’t drink those 3,5′s, they won’t get you drunk, but you will get a terrible hangover.

I just saw this and thought we’d enjoy them together. Pretty hilarious!

via Laughing Squid.

http://www.psfk.com/future-of-health

PSFK’s Future of Health Report details 15 trends that will impact health and wellness around the world. Simple advances such as off-the-grid energy and the introduction of gaming into healthcare service offerings sit alongside more future-forward developments such as bio-medical printing. It is our hope that this report will inspire your thinking and lead to services, applications and technologies that will allow for more available, quality healthcare.

In the first half of the Future of Health Report, PSFK provides an analysis of the trends impacting healthcare around the world. We explore this future from the perspective of organizations, patients, healthcare providers and communities. We also highlight how technology and access to information play a vital role in the ways that people understand, manage and receive care. The trends identified within this document and the examples used to bring them to life are inspired by innovation from around the globe.

In the second half of the report, PSFK features concepts generated by the world’s leading advertising and design agencies in reaction to trends found within the Future of Health report. The parameters for the solutions were set by UNICEF, and were imagined with emerging countries in mind. Specifically, UNICEF identified the key challenges faced by community health workers around the world.

Check their 209 slides presentation or download the 70 MB document.

Check also Beyond the touchscreen: Projecting the future short article from the New Scientist.