Daily Bits – Page 18

Your Favorite Logo – The Honest Version

July 21, 2023 by noemi

Logos have been used forever to make brands stick. There is no denying that the use of logos work, hence the high premium placed on brilliant logo designers. Now, something we may not think about a lot is the fact that while some logos are brilliant and help make the brand name stick, these logos may not actually be an accurate reflection of what the brand stands for.

Then again, logos are made to show companies in the best light possible, so stark reality may not be the first priority. Am I confusing you? How about we take a look at honest portrayals of some of the most popular logos that we see on a daily basis today? These logos were designed by the guys at Designers Couch ((Designers Couch)). Let the images speak for themselves!

Facebook = Procrastination

I only have one question: how many hours do you spend on Facebook everyday? I will not even dare to answer that for myself!

PlayStation = Procrastination

Facebook may be more accessible than the Sony PlayStation, but anyone who has this gaming console will know just how fast time can fly by when playing a game. It’s as honest as logos can get!

Nintendo = Nothing to Do

It’s still funny, but I am not sure “nothing to do” encompasses the concept of Nintendo. Then again, if I think about how people will get together on a boring night and end up playing Wii…could be wrong, though. What do you think?

McDonald’s = McDiabetes

It can also be McOverweight, McUnhealthy, or McDisgusting. Now you know why I am not a logo designer by profession.

Camel = Cancer

Long known fact. We can substitute Camel for any other cigarette brand, but it would not look as good, would it? Plus, it hasn’t stopped people from smoking for hundreds of years. Will this honest logo make any difference? For my sake, I hope so.

Absolut = Vomit

Funnily honest logo, but I feel that I have to clarify. Absolut only equates to Vomit if you drink a bottle on your own, straight, in a short period of time. I would be more agreeable to a similar idea if it were Jose Cuervo = something. It’s too horrible to think about.

So are these logos honest enough for you?

The Alphabet in Retro Video Games

July 21, 2023 by noemi

There is something to be said about babies, children, and alphabets. While not everyone wants a kid of their own, many can’t help but want to buy their nephews and nieces all sorts of things. (At least I know I do.) And when it comes to teaching kids to learn the alphabet, the traditional “A is for apple. B is for boy…” does not appeal much anymore. Why stick with those tried and tested relations when you can use other words that follow themes that your children will learn more from?

Remember the Star Wars alphabet book I wrote about some months ago? It’s all very good for those who have The Force in them. Now what if you’re a child of retro video games? Think Tetris. Asteroids. Ahh…now do you see where I am going?

I’ve got no alphabet book for you this time, but I have a perfect image for you to print out: the alphabet of retro video games. ((Source: Ufunk))

Not only will your kids learn their ABCs, but they will also benefit from the educational experience that only video games can bring. Enough said.

Are You a Saboteur?

July 21, 2023 by noemi

Saboteur. Doesn’t that word have a nice ring to it? For someone living a “normal” life, the word saboteur brings with it a sense of danger and excitement. While it may not be the most politically (or morally) correct word, saboteur does evoke curiosity.

So what does this word have to do with you and me?

According to a study conducted by online back up company Mozy, the best way to get a new computer in the workplace may be to make sure that your current computer does not work properly. In other words, sabotage your current computer! The study’s results also include company-issued mobile phones.

Now don’t get it wrong – Mozy is not suggesting that workers turn saboteurs. They were merely relaying the answers of 3,000 office workers that they surveyed. These office workers are from the UK, France, and Germany. Some other interesting findings:

People working in the UK have the worst situation – they have equipment that is, on the average, more than five years old. In other words, they have the most outdated computers and phones.
The French are the most destructive. They have the highest number of responses which reflect the sentiment that deliberately breaking equipment is the best way to get an upgrade.
The Germans have the newest equipment – averaging 2.5 years. In general, they also trust their employers to give them an upgrade when necessary. Talk about German efficiency!

They also found out that people with better computers at home tend to be more frustrated with their work computers. You think???

Saboteur may sound thrilling, but I think that that may not be the best way to impress your boss, don’t you think? Oh, and it will not work for home-based people like me who buy our own computers. Definitely not. So, exciting or not, this one is not going to be a saboteur any time soon. How about you?

Via Backup Review
Image via Examiner

Thought-Controlled Mobile Phone

July 21, 2023 by noemi

We have always known that our brains are some of the most powerful things on this earth. The problem has always been how to harness all that power. This topic has been the foundation of many a science fiction book or movie, but it looks like the future is finally coming true.

Some researchers based in the University of California in San Diego have made some pretty interesting developments in this regard. The team led by Tzyy-Ping Jung has created a brain-computer interface which actually works! The idea is simple: you think of a phone number, the computer will understand the sequence of numbers, and then it will dial the number for you. How neat is that?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist – or a super smart researcher like Jung – to understand the implications of this technology. Think hands-free dialing. Think about physically challenged people being able to use their mobile phones by merely thinking about the commands. It might take a bit of thinking to understand how it works, though.

Simply put, the brain emits waves of specific frequencies when the person thinks about a specific number. There has to be training before the system can work, however. This is necessary to achieve the proper feedback.

Pretty cool, but I am thinking way ahead. What if you have memory issues and you have difficulty remembering phone numbers? What if you are scatterbrained and you have a hard time focusing your thoughts? 😉

Seriously, though, this is a huge step. While the technology may not be available commercially, we can hope to see more applications in this lifetime.

Via Technology Review

Robotics Merit Badge for the Boy Scouts of America

July 21, 2023 by noemi

Let it not be said that the Boy Scouts of America do not keep up with the times. Countless boys belonging to various generations have long been working hard to earn merit badges. These badges are testaments to the skills and talents that Boy Scouts have acquired over the years. Traditionally, the merit badges were all about sports and wilderness survival, among many others.

This week, however, the Texas-based organization is upping the level by adding a new merit badge: the Robotics Merit Badge. One goal in creating this merit badge is to promote science and technology and engineering and maths (STEM). In doing so, the BSA is adjusting to the new developments in technology and is making itself more relevant to the youngsters of today.

How do the Boy Scouts of today earn this new merit badge? Just think about creating your own electronics kits and joining competitions. These kits can range from the simplest of devices to some of the more complicated robots. Here are more examples of how one can earn the merit badge. ((Source: PR for Robotics Merit Badge))

Explain and discuss hazards and safety prevention
Explain how robots are used today
Discuss three of the five major fields of robotics (human-robot interface, mobility, manipulation, programming, sensors)
Design, build, program, and test their robot
Demonstrate the robot, and share the engineering notebook for that robot
Attend a robotics competition or do research on robotics competitions

If the mere mention of the Boy Scouts make you think of only camping, making fires without matches, and tying knots, think again. This organization is rather important in molding young boys and it is great that technology is not being ignored!

Kindergarten Students Get iPads

July 20, 2023 by noemi

Apple head honcho Steve Jobs called (calls?) it magical. Countless people seem to agree. Some say what’s magical is that people pay hundreds of dollars for such a device. Price notwithstanding, the iPad has proven to be a very versatile device, and sales figures support the fact that people find it useful.

Now, even the education sector is lending the iPad its support. In Auburn, Maine, kindergarten students will soon be treated to their own iPads – to be used for educational purposes. The Auburn school department is blazing a new trail by making iPads available to each of the kindergarten students enrolled in the district. Just last week, a $200,000 budget was approved. The money is to be used to purchase 285 iPads that will be issued to teachers and students.

While the district seems to be the first to make such a move, the use of iPads for education is not that novel. In the past year, we have heard of countless stories of people getting the iPad for their children. The device has even been picked out for special education, with the iPad’s features being highlighted as very helpful in developing fine motor skills. With the iPad taking interactivity to a new level, children will also have a better learning experience. The goal of the project is to boost literacy rates up to 90 percent within two years. See the iPad’s use in education in action in the video below.

I can see how some people might say that this move can be excessive. Personally, I think that if the money is available, there is no reason not to make the iPad accessible to children. As long as they are indeed used mainly for educational purposes, then the kids can only benefit from this. What do you think?