Dimple

Dimple is a very basic and unique idea in that it adds functionality to the modern world with older technology everyone knows.

Dimples are peel-and-stick buttons for your smartphone. They are NFC enabled so they need no batteries and actually communicate wirelessly with your smartphone. Their purpose is to add mechanical buttons to touch devices.

On a basic level the Dimples are pretty. They don't make a smartphone look gross, unless you plaster them all over it. They are also very simple. They're just 1 or 2 buttons that you assign to particular apps or windows. They're elegant in that respect

But their function is what makes them worthwhile. Dimples can be programmed to open apps, take a picture, or do any number of other things. This is great because in a world that is focused on limiting taps and effort it still takes a click of a home button and then the selecting of the app to take a picture. A Dimple could reduce that to one press. Dimples actually function as a physical shortcut button.

The folks that make Dimples realize that in the touch screen world, the device is a throwback. But that is kind of nice. While the use of a finger on a touchscreen may be more natural to learn, but the experience is offset by having a piece of glass between you and the "button/icon" you are pressing. Its like the difference in experience between an e-reader and book. Dimples help to make the digital world physically interactive, it adds texture and physical feedback to device use while at the same time reducing the effort of getting to certain apps.

Dimples also add a bit of customizability to a smartphone. Now people can tailor the hardware of their device a little, which has never been possible. This concept of physical add-ons that improve the device can be expanded in many different directions other than Dimples.

Overall, Dimples are a great idea that improves our modern glassy world by letting us add our own buttons where we want them.

Rechner Calculator App

Rechner is a a beautiful calculator app. But not only is it a calculator, it also really sets a precedent of how touch screen devices should operate.

Rechner is a predominantly gesture based app. Meaning that in order to add or subtract, instead of having another button to tap, Rechner uses a swipe. This type of interface, is incredibly clean and fluid.

But, Rechner is not perfect. It isn't completely intuitive so there is a small learning curve. And, more complex operations actually require the extra motions of swiping and then tapping.

This app is a great example of replacing buttons with gestures and creating something that is elegant for simple things. But one should be careful, in design, to ensure they are balancing aesthetics and function and always have a clear goal of what they wish to accomplish. Rechner is a great casual calculator for adding something offhand and that is what it was intended to do.

SR-71 BlackBird

The SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest manned airplane in the world, and it is retired.

A project of Lockheed's Skunk Works, in the 1960's, the SR-71 was designed to be used as a reconnaissance aircraft. It had to be able to fly over enemy territory and not be detected or shot down. The Blackbird did this better than any other plane since, that is declassified.

The Blackbird set altitude and speed records that still stand. Made to go Mach 3 at an altitude of over 80,000 feet the planes was untouchable by any aerial vehicle of its time. It even outran Russian missiles.

The Blackbird used technologies that are, even today, not widely implemented or even completely developed. Its two engines were a combination of ramjet and turbojet. This allowed it to take off like a normal airplane but then remain efficient at high Mach speeds, almost like a rocket.

Its shell was made entirely of titanium, which was obtained from Russia by the CIA. The shell was unique for a number of reasons. One, it was incredibly difficult to manufacture parts from titanium at the time. And, it was designed to expand with the heat that built up in it from air friction. SR-71's were know to be leaking fuel at takeoff but would stop once everything warmed up and closed the gaps. It was literally a plane that needed to be in the air.

Another very unique aspect of the Blackbird are the chines that run along its nose to the wings. This wasn't original. It was added after several prototypes. Chines were really multi-functional. They reduced the radar cross section, they improved lift, and they improved mobility. But not all of those benefits were know until the chines were added to the plane.

The SR-71 also had stealth technology implemented which was still highly experimental. Things such as radar absorbing materials and appropriate geometries. But it was realized that that wasn't even sufficient to keep the Blackbird hidden, making its speed absolutely necessary.

The SR-71 is a testament to being able to accomplish something that should be impossible. The techniques and technology that the Skunk Works used to create it were decades ahead of their time. But the SR-71 is also an example of very careful and imaginative problem solving. The engineers, like Kelly Johnson,  who created it, weighed risk and reward perfectly and were able to create a superplane that has not been matched in performance, and some technology, since. (at least as far as the public knows)

Legos

What toy has theme parks and a movie based on it? Legos! The plastic blocks that people have used to create sculptures ranging in complexity from a kids Lego house, to an exact replica of a Star Wars X-Wing.

Originally designed in 1939 and first manufactured in 1949, Lego Automatic Binding Bricks were one of the first plastic toy sets to ever be accepted on a large scale

Legos have now become one of the toys that just about everyone has played with in their life. The colorful blocks' ability to reform into almost anything you can think of has made them a staple for young kids and adults to let the imagination flow.

In a world where customization had become the norm its amazing to think that Legos were really one of the first products to ever allow for completely personal customization. The ability to put dragon wings on a car had and has a draw that each of us can recognize. They are really like the app store of toys.

Another way to look at the design of Legos, that separates them from the other building sets, like Erector or Tinker Toys, it that Legos were almost 3-D printing before 3-D printing. You are able to make solid structures and sculptures of just about anything using just the simple blocks. And, while it does take some skill to create complex things, it is no more difficult than learning to use a CAD program.

Lego's also have a unique characteristic from a business perspective. With just a few simple components the Lego Kit designers were able to continually create new kits for those that don't enjoy the creating new things. The blocks basically created a foundation that the company has been able to build off of (word play) since the toys were created. The company never has to create completely new components, though they do, they just have to have new instruction books printed with a set of the blocks.

But with all of those advantages the true secret sauce of the toys is their ability to adapt with the user. An adult can get just as much joy and challenge from a set of the bricks as a preschooler can. The bricks can create as simple or as complex of creations as you want. Legos are a toy that is timeless, because their inherent modularity lets them morph and grow with the user as no other toy or kit has been able to do.

The Subwing

The Subwing is a concept that is a little different, but still pretty neat. It's a bit like water boarding, under the water.

What happens is the Subwing is tied to the back of a boat and the user grabs on. Then, as the boat moves forward the user can tilt the two paddles of the Subwing, just like the ailerons of an airplane, to pull themselves underwater. From there they can perform all kinds of acrobatics or just enjoy the view.

The Subwing has the potential to create a new kind of water sport. It is something that is easier to learn and do than water-skiing. And it offers an underwater experience that few people can ever enjoy.

The design of the Subwing is very sleek. With just a single joint, it is very simple and reliable, mechanically. It is made to be buoyant enough to act as a flotation device if it disconnects or the boat stops. But what is important to note is the way that the Subwing offers immediate, physical responses,  to what the user does. In this way the Subwing can become an extension of the user's body. The smallest push of your hand can send you spinning or rushing down or up. Many machines have a disconnect between what the user inputs and what the machine does. The Subwing does not have that disconnect which just adds to the experience and the connection to the machine.

The Subwing is relatively inexpensive, with the cheapest model costing $295. It is certainly worth it, to be able to "Fly under the water."

The Zippo Lighter

The Zippo lighter is an icon. But how did it become that? Simply because it has so many characteristics that separate it from the normal lighter. A perfect combination of form and function. Whether you smoke or not, the Zippo is a design to respect.

Let's start with the experience. When you use a Zippo you hold the smooth, metal rectangle in you hand. It shines and feels rugged and sturdy. When you flip the cap you get the signature "Clink" sound that is unique to Zippo lighters. Then when you light it, the flame comes from the silvered chimney and can't be blown out by the wind. You light your cigarette and then, "Clink" it's closed and you slip the sleek box back into your pocket.

The Zippo is a sensory experience. The look and the feel make it seem valuable to the user and the "Clink" sound makes it have a personality apart from the average lighter. In fact, it was that "Clink" that helped to build the brand of the Zippo back when it was created in 1933. A Zippo was a piece of fashion that drew attention to itself.

But the Zippo is also incredibly practical. Because of its means of creating a flame and protecting it, (i.e. a wick and the special chimney) it is the best option available. The function is as good as the form.

The Zippo is one of those few designs that is so complete that it is difficult to find fault with any of it. It is a piece of style as well as an effective tool. If Apple where to make a lighter they would make the Zippo.

Gigs 2 Go

Microchips have the unique ability to grow in power while at the same time decreasing in cost. For years futurists have discussed the idea of disposable computers. Gigs 2 Go is the first attempt at creating that reality.

Gigs 2 Go is a disposable flash drive with a recyclable cardboard shell. They come in packs of four that are about the size of a business card. Each flash drive can be torn from the pack, used a couple of times and then disposed of.

The concept is great. We all work to keep from losing our precious flash drives. That is because they can be expensive and we often keep huge amounts of relatively valuable data on them. But what if they changed from being a one time purchase to just a temporary project file. The loss of a Gig  2 Go may affect a project, but not your life. The concept also has credence in that, since cloud storage is becoming a norm, few people need a dedicated flash drive.

As far as the design goes, durability may be put into question but since they are designed to be disposable, limited use, naturally, is inherent to the concept.  The look of Gigs 2 Go is not amazing but compared to some other cardboard-based products it's not bad.

It's great to see us moving into the realm of disposable computing, while at the same time keeping it sustainable. Gigs 2 Go is a very clever step in that direction.