Things are going to get a bit quiet around here for awhile.
25 June 09
design & business
From Social Media to Social Business Design
Imagine if a company like GM, was at the core “social”. Not just participating in “social media“—but through every part of their business ecosystem, were connected—plugged into a collective consciousness made up of ALL their constituents, from employees to consumers to dealers, to assembly line works etc. What if big organizations worked the way individuals now do. We’re actively using cloud services, mobile, networks and applications that offer real time dynamic signals vs. inefficient and static e-mail exchanges. In short, imagine if what makes “Web.2.0” revolutionary was applied to every facet of an organization transforming how we work, collaborate and communicate? We think this is possible. And we’re calling it “social business design”.
23 June 09
italy & politics
Lest you need proof of the craziness of Italian bureaucracy
The Italian earthed plug/socket standard, CEI 23-16/VII, includes two models rated at 10 A and 16 A that differ in contact diameter and spacing (see below for details). Both are symmetrical, allowing the live and neutral contacts to be inserted in either direction.
The double standard was initially adopted because in Italy, up to the second half of the twentieth century, the electric power used for lamps (Luce = lighting) and the one used for all other appliances (Forza = electromotive force; or Uso Promiscuo = general purpose) were sold at different fares, charged with different taxes, accounted with separated electricity meters, and sent on different wire lines that ended with different sockets.
design & culture
The Feast gathers the world’s greatest innovators from across industries and society to empower, inspire and engage each other in creating world-shaking change.
literature & technology
Wordnik wants to document the definition and etymology for all known words. All of them.
20 June 09
culture & politics
John Hodgman’s address at the Radio & TV Correspondents’ Dinner is poignant, insightful and funny.
19 June 09
design
Dripbook offers professional visual artists “the easiest, most stylish way to display, promote and distribute their portfolios online.”
sustainability & business
Big Room plans to start selling .eco domain names so companies can broadcast their sustainability credentials.
design & science
Check My Colours is a tool for checking foreground and background color combinations to determine if they provide sufficient contrast when viewed by someone with color deficits.
technology
Chris Messina weighs in on Opera Unite. He doesn’t like it much.
business & film
BANANAS!* is a searing Swedish documentary exposé of the banana industry and the Dole Food Company.
film & science
Whiz Kids is a very endearing documentary about three kids trying to win the Intel Science Talent Search (formerly the Westinghouse Science Talent Search). If you liked Spellbound, you should check this one out.