HP Exec talks design, shows off new Touchsmart

HP Exec talks design, shows off new Touchsmart: "

This video can be tough to get through because it sounds like it was recorded in a bus depot, but it's interesting in that HP executive Randall Martin breaks down their design process. Unsurprisingly they've gone with the focus-group-based design approach rather than Apple's Henry-Ford-faster-horse methodology, but it's a step in the right direction, and I'm still tickled when I hear PC manufacturers say the words 'industrial design' with something like respect in their tone.

The object in question is HP's new Touchsmart desktop, which seeks to get around the arm fatigue problem by providing a variable-position surface. In the demo they finally get around to showing the physical object around 4:40:

via venture beat

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DISCUSSIONS: Debate on Design Plagiarism

DISCUSSIONS: Debate on Design Plagiarism: "

The latest product design debate to catch my attention over on the Core boards was started last year and has been reinvigorated as of this morning. It's entitled 'A Lovely Bit of Plagiarism,' started by user Holtag. First, check out this Alienware gaming PC:

Next, take a look at this power washer:

For shame!

Reading through the opinions shows that some readers are bothered; some aren't bothered at all; some come out in defense of the power washer's design; still others sound off with depressing tales that might be familiar to some of you, like ones about the 'clients who take a Nokia phone out of their pockets and say, make my stud finder...look like this.'

What do you think, is this a design crime or a sign o' the times?

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Nuance, New Delivery System Filling the Gap for Dental Assistants

Nuance, New Delivery System Filling the Gap for Dental Assistants: "

RKS Design teamed up with Discus Dental to launch a new product to aid dental assistants while repairing and filling teeth -- combining a universal composite material with a simple but effective delivery system. RKS' improvements on this system include tactile and audible feedback recording the amounts of material being dispensed. The syringe also has a screw mechanism and fully integrated measurement system accomplishing extrusion with about half the force needed for other composites. The syringe itself is designed to rest naturally and stand on its end for easy access for the technician. In addition to accessibility, the syringe has an attached flip-top to protect the composite material from polymerization in ambient light, bacterial and particle contamination.

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Nigel Marsh_10 minute lecture on Work life balance. Very good

http://www.ted.com/talks/nigel_marsh_how_to_make_work_life_balance_work.html?awesm=on.ted.com_worklife&utm_content=awesm-bookmarklet&utm_medium=on.ted.com-static&utm_source=twitter.com

Angry Birds in Lego

http://www.baekdal.com/design/angry-bird-in-lego/

martyn_evans: Is sustainable design a load of rubbish? Interesting and probably... http://t.co/COiU1I5 (via @MikePress & @guardian)

martyn_evans: Is sustainable design a load of rubbish? Interesting and probably... http://t.co/COiU1I5 (via @MikePress & @guardian): "martyn_evans: Is sustainable design a load of rubbish? Interesting and probably... http://t.co/COiU1I5 (via @MikePress & @guardian)"

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