Dvorak Simplified Keyboard

The one we're using is the standard Qwerty Keyboard invented by C. Latham Sholes in the 1860s. In 1936, August Dvorak invented this kind of keyboard layout according to how we use the letters and how we type them. He is, after all, a psychologist (educational).



Here are some facts about the keyboard:

1. Letters should be typed by alternating between hands.
2. For maximum speed and efficiency, the most common letters and digraphs should be the easiest to type. This means that they should be on the home row, which is where the fingers rest, and under the strongest fingers.
3. The least common letters should be on the bottom row, which is the hardest row to reach.
4. The right hand should do more of the typing, because most people are right-handed.
5. Digraphs should not be typed with adjacent fingers.
6. Stroking should generally move from the edges of the board to the middle. An observation of this principle is that, for many people, when tapping fingers on a table, it is easier going from little finger to index than vice versa. This motion on a keyboard is called inboard stroke flow.

Though they weren't successful as the mainstream keyboard, it had found its way to newer platforms and ergonomic keyboards.

Source

I just find this fascinating. And then this comic shows up:



Maybe it IS interesting to learn a new keyboard.

I'm thinking of doing something like this:

Okay, minus the nice pumpkin looking thing on top. I'm thinking of buying choco cupcakes, then melting a batch of marshmallows.

We still have some leftover marshmallows from New Year's. It's a nice way to eat them 8D

Tweenbots

In New York, we are very occupied with getting from one place to another. I wondered: could a human-like object traverse sidewalks and streets along with us, and in so doing, create a narrative about our relationship to space and our willingness to interact with what we find in it? More importantly, how could our actions be seen within a larger context of human connection that emerges from the complexity of the city itself? To answer these questions, I built robots.

Kacie Kinzer build a 10-inch robot to walk around New York city in a social experiment about human interaction. I find this a very good concept, coupled with the fun and child-like factor in the form of a robot.

For more information (included the vid where the robot was walking around) click to on this link.



~~~~~~~~~

Me and a friend of mine were thinking if this was done here in the Philippines. Of course it would give different results:

1. The toy robot may get run over;

2. It must be done in parks like Luneta;

3. May be brought home by street kids;

4. What would happen if it was placed in Ayala.

Okay, so we may be pessimistic about Filipinos. Hmm...then again, this experiment is a NICE idea to be set up here. Watcha think?

Minimalistic realization

Now I know why I am not fond of minimalist interiors. Well, for me, it doesn't have that touch of individuality and whackiness I crave. Minimalism concentrates on the basics of design elements like shape, lines, colors, etc. which makes it ideal for efficiency, per se. I think people prefers this because of simplicity, and the fact that you don't have to clean much (like an extra vase or an Art Nouveau-ish chandelier).

Take a look of this and this to this perhaps.

A multi-tasking wall (paper) and a cool old furniture remake

Using Wallpaper as A Storage Solution : Pocket Wall

The Pocket Wall is an interesting idea proposed by Maja Ganszyniec and is probably one of the coolest ideas for storage, especially for a small apartment. If you’ve ever lived in a small place you tend to think about innovative ways to store all of your stuff, and you are looking especially for storage that won’t be too bulky or interfere with my decor choices. This idea is basically a wall covering that contains peg holes and pockets so that you can store items by hanging them or loading them into the slots.

This is interesting, especially if you have a whole wall and you don't know what to do with it. I don't know if this is available locally, but I think we can make a nice DIY equivalent (wall quilts anyone?)

Source

Tiuku Clock by Ari Kanerva



If you don't like the look and feel old things bring you, here is something that may just fill in that category: a modern remake of the grandfather clock.

Finnish designer Ari Kanerva has created the Tiuku clock as a contemporary minimalist version of a grandfather clock.

Source.

Of Rules and Lawmaking.

Rule number one, whenever trying to transport a potentially dangerous chemical (e.g. rugby), try to wrap it with plastic first before putting it into your bag. Otherwise, it will spill and destroy your P2k worth of Hongkong Shopping [someone did] a few months back.

True-to-life rule I must live by from now on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If I am a lawmaker, not a graphic designer like I am today, there is this one law I want to mull more over and pass to the senate.

Putting up trees in the backyard.

Article 1. If you have a big backyard, it is compulsary to put up at least one tree. If a backyard does not exists, at least 3 meters worth of potted plants, or three (3) potted tree plants.

a. If living in a condominium or apartment complex, it is the responsibility of the apartment owner to put up a tree or potted plants around the area. Utilize free space for this (e.g. rooftop for potted plants)

b. Building permits must now pass through DENR to give it's thumbs-up sign and forego the building project.

c. Living in the squatters area is NOT an excuse.

d. If the person has a house but he's not living in the city, that person is still bound to this law.

e. If the person has a house outside cities/metropolitan areas, and trees grow around the house, the nearest tree must be at least 5 to 6 meters.

f. Offices, private companies, government buildings, and the like, without single ownership are complied with these rules as well. The punishable party is the highest officer in charge for that building (e.g. CEO, President of the Philippines, Proprietor, etc.)

Article 2. Problem with trees.


a. When the tree is crossing over the fence and onto the neighbors, and if it's becoming detrimental to the other party, the only damage to the tree allowable is cut its branches. Permission from the tree owner must first be acquired. Then, a municipal permit must also be acquired and have an engineer look it up and see if it cutting can be avoided. If not, the length of the cut area is to be negotiated by the owner, the neighbor, and the engineer.

b. The longest length of a branch to be cut is up until where the branch started from. Cutting the whole trunk is NOT an option.

Article 3. Punishment.

a. Failure to comply with the one-tree or potted plants rule will be penalized with at least P100k fine, 2 years jailtime, or 5 years worth of community service (aka tree-planting sessions).

b. Failure to comply to Article 2 will be punishable with the same conditions as Article 3.a.




Well, there are still loopholes, and I'm guilty of lack of research when it comes to permits and stuff, but hey, the purpose here is to provide a greener and healthy places to live in, especially in the cities.

And I may sound harsh in some areas, sorry about that. That's my sadistic side smiling.

This is a witty light

Why? Because this lamp is designed like an eraser:





See?

Steffen Kehrle and Julia Landsield are the talented brains behind the Erasing Darkness lighting system. Designed for Moree, the light of the Erasing Darkness was apparently too bright, hence why the duo decided to literally block it somehow. The idea was brought to reality by covering the object that was replicating the look of a push-out eraser with a paper cover that not only adds to the chic factor it also adds a nice shade around. It comes with energy saving bulbs that deliver great light, as for the paper thing, you shouldn’t be too worried as the system is actually crafted from aluminum.

Source

Book cases made out of...books?

I have a question: If you're a book-lover, would you use the books as shelves? If not (combined with a shiver), you can probably make them out of blocks, paint them over. Or print out a sticker, then stick on the wooden block.

This would be the most practical way if you want to make book-shelf-themed sofas (look picture above). The frying pan is a nice touch though.

Note: I finally figured out how to put pictures, and links using the office computer. Yay~ I can now do regular posts (which is good because my backlog list is starting to piling up).

Source: Dornob.com