thinking out loud

Finally figured out how to reset and log in to my blog.. did end up creating a different one but ah well.

Anyhoo, the brief requires us to think of a concept or product for the future, but nothing too trekkie. No transportation or anything too wizardy. It should be realistic and perhaps use current technology or tech that will be widely available in the foreseeable future. It feels like we have to invent something as well as design it which is what is tripping me up at the moment. MY ideas have wither been pretty generic or pretty far fetched.

my more generic ideas consists of something like an interactive newspaper, which is doable but i'm not sure how interested i am in it or if it is more convenient than the current papers and magazines. The benefits of an interactive newspaper would be the ability to update itself, perhaps for the headlines (local and national) and weather, and also give a weather report more specific to the area you are in. Train times and bus times could also be a feature. Thats the easy part to get certain features on it, if i take this idea a hell of a lot more research needs to be done and also need to consider the look of the product and how it will benefit consumers etc.

Another pretty generic idea is something that connects all household and personal technology together into one remote or even a feature on your mobile. My thinking is that when your out you can set your sky+ box to record stuff, check what food you need to stock up on or even check you've turned off the gas/straighteners/etc. I think this would be useful but as it is an idea that is completely off the top of my head i have no idea whether it exists or is plausible or if its something that just isn't needed. The upside of this idea is that I could have a lot of fun with it and it has seemingly endless possibilities. There is already something that can control multiple devices but is not portable but i haven't researched this a great deal.

I had wanted to develop something along the lines of a baby cry monitor, but this has been done by someone on this course last year and is a bit of a rip off of a simpsons ep. so this puts me off the idea a little. I'll probably still do some research and stick it in my sketchbook just for those sought after extra marks but I'm not overly enthusiastic about this idea. Also there's some similar technology and products out already.

The rest of my brainstorming session created more far-fetched ideas and stuff that either isn't plausible or wont be available to everyone who doesn't have a million pounds.

My sister came up with a good idea of a 3D TV where the stuff you watch is like holograms which i like but would probably be more of an unrealistic concept and hard to justify the point of it. Already in existence are those crappy little 3d movies that you need those glasses to watch, but its still something to think about.

I'm probably going to be researching all these ideas until i settle on something that i feel confident designing and presenting.

oh yeah, i also saw this great video from last year i think, really like the style of this