In the previous post, I mentioned technology for technology sake, does the world really need a robotic penguin...of course it does and why? Because nothing is cooler than robotic penguins. I just can't wait until robotic animals that have gone extinct or real ones like in Jurassic Park, what could go wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5JHMpLIqO4
Monday, April 27, 2009
Prototyping The Future
One of the more exciting elements of design is the invention and or prototyping of innovative technology. In class we watched a video of how prototyping was being used to predict the future of interactive computer technology. This process can be, and is, applied to many other products and industries as an essential tool for modeling the companies new products. This process can be critical in determining what direction the company will head in. One of the world leaders in creating cutting edge technology is Festo. According to their website, Festo is a worldwide leading supplier of pneumatic and electrical automation technology. In laymen terms they design some really sweet robots. While the creation of these prototypes are essential for modeling what the future of a specific technology will look like, at what point is a company creating technology for technology sakes. By this I mean that while the creation of an interactive wall is awesome is it really necesary or usefull. Finding ways to succesfully utilize, market, and finally sell new technology can be just as time consuming as creating them. In many cases something created for one purpose, but actually used for something different. Just look at the internet. The internet was origanally created as a means for communication in the army, it now dominates our lives. In other circumstances a technology must combined with another technology in order to be productive. In the case of the interactive wall it might be able to be combined with a imagining technology like the one in Rachel's post in order to be used for advertising, mall directions, etc. Check out this video of the wall and think about what ways this technology could be effectively utilized.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVz2LIxrdKc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVz2LIxrdKc
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
What is it...?
One critical element of design is combining the functionality of a product with an artistic element. Users must be able to both use the product, but they also want it to look good. This idea creates a space in which designers can utilize their imagination and creativity to create some interesting products. Sometimes designers may get so artistic that you don't know what the product actually is. What would you use this object for?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
How to make a beat
I found this video on Youtube. Now to be a star you don't even have to make your own beat, just hop on you tube and they will show you how to recreate almost any song out there. Now while the chances of you making it big off a beat that somebody else used is extremely slim this video shows how easy it has become to make beats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP9vgrrJObI
Has technology increased or decreased our ability to be creative?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP9vgrrJObI
Has technology increased or decreased our ability to be creative?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
With the creation of music recording and production programs such as Protools, Q Base, Garage Band, Fruity Loops, and Reason making and recording music has become easier than ever . This new technology has especially effected the hip hop world because of the nature of rap recording. Rap songs are much simpler to record than other forms of music because of the general lack of live instrumentation.
A predominant amount of rap songs are recorded over a pre-made instrumentals. The instrumentals are often created with the same program that the artist is recorded with, which makes it even easier to create a full song. Sometimes a multi track is used, meaning each instrument in the beat has its own separate track, allowing the sound engineer to tweak each instrument individually. While multi tracks are the preferred audio file often times artists will simply record over high quality single track audio files of the instrumental. While single track audio files give you less control over the beat you are still able to produce a good sounding song. Other than a recording program and a track, all an artist needs is a computer and a microphone to create a hit single. But can an artist really make it to the top with such a limited materials?
One doesn't have to look very hard to find an example of how easy it is to blow up. Using a make shift home studio and a beat he made on Fruity Loops Soulja Boy created the song "Crank That Soujla Boy." Distributing his music using Myspace, Youtube, and other social networking sites he quickly gained national recognition and rose to the top of the charts . With world wide success in combination with a Grammy nomination for best song, Soulja Boy has proven how technology has further simplified the recording process and made it easy for anyone to rise to stardom, but to what effect.
Even before Soujla Boy made it big there were tons of artists saturating the music industry. Although the new technology has made it easier for artists to create music, now everyone with a computer thinks they are a rapper. Rap music has become polluted with people who are making music to make a quick buck or because its the "in" thing to do. One only has to look through Myspace music page to see thousands of cooky cutter artists. This makes it harder for the real passionate artists to be heard and creates a space in which rap artists are looked at a dime a dozen. Music downloading technology has made it almost impossible to make money off your songs. Gone are the days when the best rapper in the city rose to the top by selling CD's out of the back of their trunk. While there are many talented artists making quality music technology has had a dramatic effect on the music industry.
A predominant amount of rap songs are recorded over a pre-made instrumentals. The instrumentals are often created with the same program that the artist is recorded with, which makes it even easier to create a full song. Sometimes a multi track is used, meaning each instrument in the beat has its own separate track, allowing the sound engineer to tweak each instrument individually. While multi tracks are the preferred audio file often times artists will simply record over high quality single track audio files of the instrumental. While single track audio files give you less control over the beat you are still able to produce a good sounding song. Other than a recording program and a track, all an artist needs is a computer and a microphone to create a hit single. But can an artist really make it to the top with such a limited materials?
One doesn't have to look very hard to find an example of how easy it is to blow up. Using a make shift home studio and a beat he made on Fruity Loops Soulja Boy created the song "Crank That Soujla Boy." Distributing his music using Myspace, Youtube, and other social networking sites he quickly gained national recognition and rose to the top of the charts . With world wide success in combination with a Grammy nomination for best song, Soulja Boy has proven how technology has further simplified the recording process and made it easy for anyone to rise to stardom, but to what effect.
Even before Soujla Boy made it big there were tons of artists saturating the music industry. Although the new technology has made it easier for artists to create music, now everyone with a computer thinks they are a rapper. Rap music has become polluted with people who are making music to make a quick buck or because its the "in" thing to do. One only has to look through Myspace music page to see thousands of cooky cutter artists. This makes it harder for the real passionate artists to be heard and creates a space in which rap artists are looked at a dime a dozen. Music downloading technology has made it almost impossible to make money off your songs. Gone are the days when the best rapper in the city rose to the top by selling CD's out of the back of their trunk. While there are many talented artists making quality music technology has had a dramatic effect on the music industry.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)