This visual below by the folks at HighTable.com gives an excellent understanding of 3D printing technology. Though you’d like to see it.
Tag Archives: commercial
Mac Users Pay More?
If you’re a Mac user you know some of the connotations that go along with Macs. Yes, they’re expensive. Yes, many wealthy schools and people have Macs. Yes, Apple is a large company that has made quite a bit of money on their flashy (aka beautiful) products and unique marketing scheme. But, is that really cause for making people pay more online?
Yes, you heard me correctly.
Being a Mac user I can’t say that I’ve come across this problem. Mostly because the site found to have done this kind of marketing was Orbiz, which is a site I don’t particularly use, because I’ve not needed to book hotels before. But several articles from US News, CNN, and CNet have given information about this type of business practice, one that I find personally to be unethical. The CEO of Orbitz comments on the matter (From CNNs report):
“CEO Barney Harford told CNN that Orbitz recommendation results are part of an attempt to pair customers with the hotel they’d probably pick. In this case, Orbitz will offer recommendations based on what other PC or other Mac users selected as their final hotel, on the assumption that spending habits are the same, he said.
“What we have found is … that Mac users are 40% more likely to book four- or five-star hotels than PC users,” Harford said. “That lines up with (the fact that) Mac users are typically more willing to spend more money on higher-end computers.”
Now when one reads this 40% is a pretty high number. But, what if you consider that 40% of students are the purchasers of Mac computers? According to SeattlePi reports, Microsoft hasn’t been very attractive to this new generation. Though the information is almost 2 years old the trend is apparent on college campuses, coffee shops, and cyber cafes across the nation. Students are a fairly large sum of mac users, and I ask why should they pay more? Aren’t loans enough to pay off?
Of course this is all here-say as well, there is still a lot of information that isn’t accounted for. There is still that 60% of Mac users to take into account. There is still the fact that some people receive Macs as gifts like I did with mine (I’d like to know what % that is). But, regardless of that information, it causes a kind of socioeconomic profiling that I simply cannot reconcile, even if it’s for the sake of marketing. It’s almost as bad as The Nations report on how women pay more for everyday items (even medical insurance) than men do. It’s simply unreasonable. If The United States is a nation that stands for equality, then why are we being reduced to stereotypes based off something as small as the kind of computers we use? Why do human lives and choices have dollar signs all over them at all? All I know from this information is I won’t be using Orbitz anytime soon…or later in my life.
BioLite: a Light in Dark Times
Since Hurricane Sandy relief efforts simply cannot roll in fast enough, but thankfully there are some local groups that have been more than helpful in maintaining balance in little ways…literally little ways. Recently I saw a report on the news (I think it was CNN or something like that) on an up and coming company known as Biolite who has been doing its part to use this revolutionary stove to help better mankind.
This little stove is probably one of the coolest little devices I’ve ever seen. As a person who enjoys being outdoors often, I can see how much such a simple device can have such a big impact on emergency situations. This little stove not only uses a small amount of wooden materials and twigs to power the perfect kettle sized stove for cooking, but it also has an electrical outlet on one side for plugging in small appliances…which is electrically powered by the burning of the fire in the stove.
Biolite played an active roll in help relieve some of the minor electrical problems during Hurricane Sandy, and has donated and sold many small stoves to persons in need . Their efforts not only helped us here at home, but in third world nations across the world (for more info about their world impact click here).
I find it encouraging that there are companies using their technological advancements for the betterment of humanity. More over, it’s good to see technological advances that can provide lasting change in nations where basic things we use in the USA can be taken for granted. Something as simple as a single electrical outlet on a practical stove, can cut the time it takes not only to boil water to clean it in nations where water contamination is prevalent, but also give access to things that those in need never had before. This stove can save lives by properly cooking food and reducing health risks in Africa, as well as provide power to a sewing machine to help a young woman make clothing to sell. Or provide heat in the cold as well as to charge a cellphone or radio in a desperate town in Costal New York.
Summer Wars: Impact of Dependency
First off, apologies for not posting much. Summer is crazy between work and well…work. Oh, the joys of being the intern.
Second, if you love computer ethics, never really thought about your imprint on a technological scale, and/or love anime…you may want to see this film. One of the most thought provoking films I’ve seen concerning the possible impacts that large internet powers (like Google and Facebook) can actually have on society that is totally dependent on them. Especially when things go terribly wrong.
**Warning: Watching this film may give you warm fuzzy feelings you may not feel comfortable with. Not recommended for children due to strong language and mild adult humor.**
Hope you’re all having an awesome summer. Peace!
Design Inspiration: iPad Style
The iPad has become more and more popular in the design field. Its versatility, portability and variety of services, help designers keep track of their schedules, stay in touch with clients, and help keep inspiration at their fingertips. But, what does one do when looking for iPad covers? Look for the best and sweetest designs of course.
These are some of my favorite iPad covers.
Pinterest Users Beware
Found this article about Pinterest recently, that you may want to look at if you’re a Pinterest user. Click here.
There has been much controversy lately about Google taking liberties in their privacy statements and altering their ability to access information. However, many people don’t know how Google really works and in what ways they access your information and what that information is used for. In this particular case, the content of your writing or blog posts is the subject of search information. Here is a simplified version of how Google tracks down, processes, and saves information.
Design Inspiration: My Top 30-ish Wine Labels I’ve Come Across
A reader of mine requested some wine inspired design. I have no problem with that request. The thing I love about wine labels (or packaging in general) is that it’s a super simple design. Not technically, but functionally. You could just throw wine in a bottle and put “wine” in black and white on the bottle in the most boring typeface possible (not to say that wouldn’t be cool in a minimalist way). It’s like a tiny piece of art that just anyone can buy and own, even if it’s for a short time. It’s functional, it’s cool, and after your drink’s gone you still have a friggin’ sweet bottle.
So here is a collection of some of wine labels you probably won’t see in a grocery store, and some you might.
