An Oral History Of Apple Design: 1992–2013 | Co.Design


Most efforts to explain design at Apple end up reducing a complex 37-year history to bromides about simplicity, quality, and perfection–as if those were ambitions unique to Apple alone. So Fast Company set out to remedy that deficiency through an oral history of Apple’s design, a decoding of the signature as told by the people who helped create it. A longer version of the story that includes material not published elsewhere is available in the Byliner original ebook, Design Crazy.

Read the full article: An Oral History Of Apple Design: 1992–2013 | Co.Design | business + design.

The rise of wearable technology [Infographic] | Guardian Professional


The rise of wearable technology – infographic | Media Network | Guardian Professional

The rise of wearable technology – infographic | Media Network | Guardian Professional

10 Ingenious Inventions for People With Disabilities | Mashable


10 Ingenious Inventions for People With Disabilities | Mashable

Inventions discussed:

  1. Kenguru Electric Car
  2. SMART Belt
  3. Braille Smartphone
  4. Lucy 4 Keyboard
  5. Eyeborg
  6. DynaVox EyeMax
  7. Braille EDGE 40 Display
  8. iBot Stair-Climbing Wheelchair
  9. iRobot Home Robots
  10. DEKA Bionic Arm

This Is Why There Aren’t Enough Women In Tech | ValleyWAG


This Is Why There Aren’t Enough Women In Tech | ValleyWAG
The discussion in the above post includes anecdotal stories of female computer science students and women in technology.

Taking computer science classes as a female post-secondary student, I recall the overwhelming ratio of males to females in classes. There were 5 girls to 45 guys on the first day of Intro to Java, with 2 of the girls dropping the class within a few weeks. When I decided to do a directed study in my final term of my undergrad I had two professors who signed on to guide me. Once of them was a computer science professor and he was never available to help me or provide guidance. That experience was demoralizing and there was a real fear I would not attain a pass for the course and graduate on time. From my experiences since then, I do think it is much harder for women to be hired and advance in technology related careers than men. The issue of culture fit being discussed here begins in university classes. There needs to be more inclusivity and acceptance of women in STEM fields.

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PEW: Americans usage of location based services | Stephen’s Lighthouse


Pew has a new report out today on Americans usage of location based services.  Libraries have branches because location is important and this technology is underused in our sector for analysis and service.

The full story: PEW: Americans usage of location based services | Stephen’s Lighthouse.

Ron McCallum: How technology allowed me to read | TED.com


Months after he was born, in 1948, Ron McCallum became blind. In this charming, moving talk, he shows how he is able to read — and celebrates the progression of clever tools and adaptive computer technologies that make it possible. With their help, and that of generous volunteers, he’s become a lawyer, an academic, and, most of all, a voracious reader. Welcome to the blind reading revolution.

via Ron McCallum: How technology allowed me to read | Video on TED.com.

3-Sweep: Extracting Editable Objects from a Single Photo | YouTube


▶ 3-Sweep: Extracting Editable Objects from a Single Photo, SIGGRAPH ASIA 2013 | YouTube.

You may also like: This Impossible Software Can Make 3D Models From a Single Photograph | Gizmodo

Tech Titans And Online Education Orgs Team Up With The Open Education Alliance | TechCrunch


Google, AT&T and a host of online education organizations are forming an alliance to develop standards for career readiness. Spearheaded by Massively Open Online Course (MOOC) provider, Udacity, the Open Education Alliance will explore standards for how to prepare and evaluate graduates. The still-forming group of technology companies will help online education providers develop courses, tests, and certifications meant to supplement the use of a college degree in the hiring process.

See the full story: Tech Titans And Online Education Orgs Team Up With The Open Education Alliance | TechCrunch.

Run-n-Read keeps e-book text steady while you’re on the treadmill | Engadget


Weartrons may help those athletic readers maintain their focus with its upcoming Run-n-Read peripheral. The clip-on device detects its wearer’s movements and compensates for them on a host Android or iOS device, keeping e-book text steady in the midst of a treadmill run. Owners can also tap the Run-n-Read to turn pages, and the gadget doubles as a pedometer in between reading sessions.

via Run-n-Read keeps e-book text steady while you’re on the treadmill | Engadget

See the Weartrons Run-n-Read crowdfunding campaign.

Why Big Tech Companies Are Going After Smart Watches | Mashable


After two years of seeing smaller companies dabble with smart watches, the big tech companies have decided it’s time to enter the market.

Samsung and Qualcomm both unveiled their first connected watches this week, Sony recently updated its SmartWatch product and Google and Apple are both rumored to be prepping their own releases in the next year or so.

The smartphone war is heating up, but what exactly are these companies fighting for?

See the full story: Why Big Tech Companies Are Going After Smart Watches | Mashable.