ArchculTure

The Mac moves in...

2007-12-18T22:02:00.000-08:00

Why are Macbooks, ipods and iphones gaining so much momentum these days? It wasn't too long ago when Apple product consumers were limited to the art crowd. At some point it spilled over to the main stream consumer. It's interesting to watch the progression of a trend or fab. I think their ad campaign is cheese though... specifically their whole PC vs. MAC guys on the white backdrop, cool dude with a not-so cool dude... come on, we're all geeks. Getting into a geek class system is insane and quite pretentious. And not to mention, we're comparing apples (pun intended) and oranges. Apple is a hardware/software package, Micro$oft typically is not. I have to admit, however, that I think this Apple surge will be a long standing mode of operation for technology consumers. This surge is based on good solid design principles with the help of popular culture, and when those two get together, they stick around for a long time. Take the mountain bike crowd for a comparable example...

Extending design with multi-touch technology

2007-09-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

From the early days of Wacom tablets and drafting digitizers to the introduction of technologies like the Wii controler and the iPhone interface, the human's interaction with computing platforms is changing. The anticipation of the success of multi-touch technologies like that which is being developed by Perceptive Pixel and Microsoft is enough to kill me. Multi-touch technology, or surface computing, will enable designers and artisans to use computer technology to visualize and create on a computer as they would with physical medium such as wood or clay. In to order to fully understand the possibilities of multi-touch technologies like this, you'll need some experience working with popular design software like Adobe Photoshop, Maya and 3D Studio. Traditionally, these programs have depended largely on the usage of the keyboard and mouse as the primary working tool. After some time touch pen tablets were integrated into design software which ultimately increased the human touch factor. However, it did take some time for these devices to become useful. Don't take my word for it visit this site. Bill Buxton gives a pretty good history of the developments over the years. He also mentions some of the research that was done by the folks at Alias. The engineers and artists at Perceptive Pixel have pushed this usefulness into the next human-computing generation. You really have to see this to believe it. I'm guessing 4-5 years before it's marketable and affordable, unless Apple can beat everyone to it...

Microsoft is claiming consumer ready surface computing product release by the end of this year!!

Organic approach

2007-09-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer that, philosophically, art is organic. Whether it ends up in the form of sculpture, buildings or circuitry is a matter of consequence. The media is a means to and end. I spent a brief, intense, two years working with Micheal Mcinturf and a few other architects who explored this notion, layered heavily in technology, in our built environment. During that tenure I was able to participate in works that eventually led to publication in trade mags like the Architectural Record. In particular, the works were the Korean Presbyterian Church of New York, Cincinnati Country Day School, and a two page spread on the primitive hut modeled and rendered by yours truly. Unfortunately, I feel these design explorations were too advanced for their time. However, I think that the concept behind their creation is extremely important. I'll save all the surrounding design theory for some other time. I believe life and art will find itself in true concert someday in the future. Until then we have the iphone... :)

For more on where this comes from follow this up with:

On Growth and Form, D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson
Animate Form, Greg Lynn

Or anything produced by Santiago Calatrava