“Take Turns” Sign

March 9, 2010 by Eric Shaver · Leave a Comment
Filed under: transportation 

A novel idea for a combination STOP / YIELD sign.  But, two questions come to mind: (1) will it actually work and (2) what are the unintended consequences for its implementation?

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interactions magazine and Design Thinking

March 8, 2010 by Eric Shaver · Leave a Comment
Filed under: design thinking 

The March + April 2010 issue of interactions magazine, a publication of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), includes an introduction and three articles on design thinking:

“interactions: Exploring Aspects of Design Thinking” by Richard Anderson and Jon Kolko

“Evolution of the Mind: A Case for Design Literacy” by Chris Pacione

“Design Thinking in Stereo: Brown and Martin” by Paula Thornton

“Designing Interactions at Work: Applying Design to Discussions, Meetings and Relationships” by Roger Martin and Jennifer Riel

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To STOP … Or Not?

March 6, 2010 by Eric Shaver · Leave a Comment
Filed under: built environment, transportation 

Does this business really want drivers to STOP for pedestrians?  If so, then why haven’t they replaced this sign?

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UGLee Pen Preliminary Review

March 4, 2010 by Eric Shaver · Leave a Comment
Filed under: design, ergonomics 

Given that I’ve been using the UGLee Pen on a daily basis for the past couple weeks, now is the perfect time for a preliminary review.  The pen was designed by James Lee, M.D. (full disclosure: Dr. Lee provided 3 pens free of charge for the review).  Also, in case you’re wondering, the “UG” in UGLee stands for “ultimate grip.”  Below are my preliminary impressions:

  • Design accommodates left-handed writers.  It also fits right-handed writers – at least with similar sized hands.
  • Barrel length, including notch, appropriately fits larger hands.  I still have to investigate its fit with smaller handed writers.
  • Grip requires less tension between thumb and index finger to write.  This was noticed after the first use and became more apparent over time.  
  • Ink allows for smooth, smudge-free writing.  Important for all writers, but even more so for a left-handed writer like myself.
  • “UGLee” is an apt name.  While not the most stylish pen on the market, if forced to choose, I’ll take “function” over “form” any day.

I’ll be providing a more comprehensive review in the near future that will compare the UGLee Pen with several other ergonomic pens.  I’ll also provide a summary of the general findings from the literature on pen ergonomics.

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Visualization, Pattern Recognition, and TED

March 3, 2010 by Eric Shaver · Leave a Comment
Filed under: design, innovation 

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