Posts from — May 2008

Ok not really, but the video’s worth a laugh…

Like many other young and foolishly ambitious working professionals out there, I am constantly on the lookout for new ways to squeeze more productivity out of my day. Despite the fact that I already spend 9 hours in front of a computer per day at the office, plus another 3 or 4 at home, I have been waiting anxiously for a revolutionary new product that would allow me to send just a few more emails per day, without sacrificing my biological necessities like food, and occasional sleep. Well luckily for me, it appears that my wait has finally come to an end. Japan’s Thanko is now offering the water resistant plastic laptop sleeves, which allow you to finish that important PowerPoint presentation while you shower! Best of all, its conveniently priced at ¥1980 (appx. US$20), so theres no need for you to spend hours trying to modify one of those Ziploc freezer bags!

All joking aside, I can see how one of these might come in handy while traveling, but why not just use a laptop case?

TechnaBob via OhGizmo

Ok so yesterday I said that I wouldn’t trade my Herman Miller Aeron chair for anything, but if the Smartchair ever gets made I might change my mind.  The chair comes with a dozen embedded sensors, an adjustable seating pad, a headrest that adjusts to your movement, and touch screen control for manual adjustments…perfect for those of us who have been dreaming of decorating our cubicle like a spaceship.

Uberreview

                                
So I just discovered that the chair I have been sitting in at my desk for the past 8 months, a Herman Miller Aeron chair, won “Design of the Decade” by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and Business Week magazine. Apparently it promotes healthier posture and enhanced lower-back comfort through an ergonomic solution named PostureFit, and a Pellicle suspension system that distributes weight and conforms to each person’s shape.

There are a few things that come to mind given this recent discovery:

1. Considering how absurdly expensive these are, I am both shocked, and pleasantly impressed by the fact that my employer supplied our entire office with these.
2. Considering how absurdly expensive these are, the awards it has won, and the fact that it is promoted as an ergonomic chair that promotes ‘healthier posture’, I am wondering why I constantly leave work with a back-ache.
3. Why, after 8 months, has my chair yet to conform to my shape?

To be fair, I will admit that the chair is extremely comfortable, and I probably wouldn’t trade it. Does anybody else use one of these? What’s your experience?

Apple recently filed a patent for a device-covering solar film that could be used to charge an iPod or iPhone via exposure to sunlight. The patent also includes the use of photovoltaic cells stacked underneath the devices LCD touch screens to maximise surface area exposed to the sun, a technology similar to one recently patented by Motorola. While it might seem like a good idea at a glance, and not to mention applausable from an eco-friendly perspective, I can’t help but wonder how practical the feature would be for the average user at this time since the thin solar cell film required for the initiative is currently not efficient enough to provide a proper charge without leaving your device in the sun all day, which is just a tad bit too far away from the safety of my pocket for my own comfort…plus don’t they usually say to keep electronics out of the sun? Then again I’m all for finding new sources of energy, and solar powered devices are all the rage these days, so lets hope that Apple manages to turn this into something viable.

Engadget via DVICE