Disney Colors

I am what they call addicted to Disney. So I thought it would be interesting to take a look at how Disney is exploring the color world. I like how they titled the different colors - for example Orange Blast Buzz.

http://disney.go.com/disneyhome/disneypaints.html

An interesting look at design and usability

I just posted about the site CSS Zen Garden to a blog for 512, but I wanted to share it here, too. The site offers an html site and invites designers to submit their own CSS designs as a way to demonstrate the capabilities of CSS and inspire designers using it. As you flip through the designs, you start to notice how the aesthetics enhance the experience and affect usability, because the content remains the same.

Things that make you go Wow

Here are some examples of digital art that really did make me go Wow! How about you?

Kadinsky at the Guggenheim

An exhibit of Kandinsky's work opened this month at the Guggenheim in New York. Of course, none of us will probably be able to see it because we're too busy with classes, but maybe during the winter break. Time magazine had an interesting piece about Kandinsky recently. It's not too long, and much easier to read than, say, a chapter of Benkler.

A day in New York

Two weeks ago, I went to New York in order to receive a cargo shipment coming from Canada. I woke up early in the morning. I took my shower and I was set to go. I set up my GPS to get the required directions to LaGuardia airport. Well, the GPS asked me if I want to avoid toll roads, and I didn’t know the meaning of it.Therefore, I chose "yes" to the phrase "avoid toll roads".

I turned my car on and I drove to New York. After two hours of driving, which was very strange, because I went to NY before and it took me one hour and fifteen minutes only to get there, I was very close to reach my destination and began to experience the "worst three hours in my life" part. Apparently, the GPS kept avoiding toll roads and drove me through downtown of New York. Suddenly, in the middle of downtown, the GPS was going creasy and was telling me to go in a cycles in the middle of the downtown. New York downtown was really full of people and traffic and it was the first time for me to drive in a crowded city, such as NY.

I was really terrified and I couldn't get out from there. After three hours of driving in NY downtown without any hope to get out of it, the police caught me crossing traffic light. I got 150$ fine. I was terrified and I asked the police officer of how to get out of this area and he told that going to LaGuardia airport is too hard to describe and I have to get a taxi and follow him. I did exactly what the police officer told me and I got to the airport. I told myself, never come to New York by a car and never choose "avoid toll roads" again.

Photoshop Warning??

Retouched photos in French magazines may soon come with a warning. According to the Daily Telegraph, some politicians are calling for this new law requiring "retouched photograph aimed at changing a person's physical appearance" to have a visible notice of retouching.

They say that the "photos can lead people to believe in a reality that does not actually exist, and have a detrimental effect on adolescents."

The politicians proposing this law want it to cover newspapers and magazines, as well as "billboard photos and those on product packaging, as well as photos used in political campaigns or artistic photos."

Will be interesting to see what happens.

Perspality

Reality is what we perceive...or is what we perceive, reality?

This week's readings definitely gave me new, enlightened perspective (no pun intended) on illusion and how the human brain interprets visual information. I was amazed at how easily we can be tricked into seeing things that don't really exist just by altering a few parameters or juxtaposing different colors and shapes. Two of my favorite illusions from this site are the rotating face masks and reverspective. I also found this short video a bit of fun as well. Enjoy!