Innovation, possibilities, designers and all the details that are involved in the creation of objects have become iconic and indispensable nowadays. But what do we mean by the genius of design?



A great design makes a product useful, and it has to communicate visually with its owner. It can reflect the zeitgeist, taking it's cues from economics, capitalism, industrialization, new materials, technology, environmentalism, etc. In this sense, design chronicles our innovations, 'writing' history with visual language.



Before the industrial revolution the expression of each product was unique because it was made by hand, one by one, But automation of production gave us more products for less money, though some of the old handcrafted methods are still in use today.



The discovery of of new material and metals opened new ways of construction and, with them, mass production, manufacturing and processing. This is a key feature of the beginning of industrialization.
But design is not just about saving money; it also allows us a closer relationship with our devices.



Japanese design, for example, would have us see beauty in the function of the product, creating harmony between its design and purpose, through the use of almost poetic visual cues. We've asked our design to be both visually appealing and functionally sound--and at a price we can afford--and our wish has been granted.

Look at a typical department store. It is so filled with the blessings of this genius that the upcoming generations will not be imagine a world without the smartphone, the microwave, the personal computer, and many other things that were newfangled for their predecessors (but indispensible for them).

Light box functionality added to blog

I was messing around with some Javascript this morning, and I found a way to expand images, projecting them onto a transparent window above the original window. Click on the uploaded image above to see what I mean.

It was a difficult week for coming up with lesson plans, but I wanted to do at least something that would enhance the blog, since I had spent a lot of the week focusing on front end development, learning more that I could apply to my own sites.

This week we will forge ahead with the exercises in the Clear Speech book, by Judy Gilbert. As far as I know, my other learner has reserved a copy of this, but I will try to bring my scanner with me today. That way, I might be able to send you PDF files of the more important exercises--c

Pebbles

Original image: Everest Chiropractic

Everybody loves long weekends. Some lie on the couch, while others do the chores that have been piling up. My own weekend was a bit different this time.

After taking care of my own chores, I had time to do some walking. My feet led me to I the back of a building, close to the train tracks, where the foliage was starting to lose color, bringing those oranges and reds that sometimes make our minds wander.

The sun, breaking through the trees, shining on the train rails, created a perfect travel poster-like view. Then, I heard the noise of the heavy wheels approaching, hypnotically repeating, one after another, making my mind wander and my eyes close.

gee-gling-gee-gling-gee-gling-gee-gling-gee-gling...

After a long breath, I could feel how the breeze was lifting me. Slowly, I open my eyes, and I could see myself as a 7 year-old, playing on the train tracks, throwing pebbles onto the train tracks, making sounds and imitating a gun shot. My grandfather would be laughing, talking with his friends, all of whom were wearing suits and hats, holding their jackets on one arm. How long ago was it that I felt this way: worry-free, enjoying every moment, happy just to be grabbing as many pebbles as I could fit into my hand?

The whistle of the train awoke me from my trance and, in a few seconds, I went back in time, feeling, hearing and noticing that particular smell of metal, wood and oil. It reminds me how simple life can be and how life is not just about rushing. Sometimes we just need to sit awhile and enjoy the simple moments also.

New Learning Tool: The Kazoo

I will talk about this later in class, but this is a very effective way to improve stress and intonation in English. I may be able to bring some kazoos from the store so that we may practice this technique.

Judy Gilbert is an internationally respected authority on teaching English pronunciation, and I will try to find you some of her written resources the next time you come to class.

Judy, borrowing a quote from Shakespeare, argues that "each language has its music, and it matters".

And now my tongue's use to me no more
Than an unstringed viol or harp,
Or like a cunning instrument case up,
Or, being open, put into his hands
That knows no touch to tune the harmony

(Richard II, Acr 1, Scene 3)

Shakespeare is writing about someone who has been exiled to a foreign land. Our goal in this class will be to tune that harmony that is mentioned above.

Elocution and Pronunciation
in
Marlon Brando's Superman Speech

For next week, read through the script below, paying attention to Jennifer Lebedev's advice on pronunciation in the Youtube videos we watched in class.

Try recording your speech with the mp3 software we downloaded earlier. Blogger should allow you to insert a sound file into a post in the blog; otherwise, post the link to your public folder on Dropbox.


Lois Lane: Any more at home like you?

Clark Kent: Uh, not really, no.

Lex Luthor: This is Lex Luthor. Only one thing alive with less than four legs can hear this frequency, Superman, and that's you.

Lex Luthor: It's kryptonite, Superman. Little souvenir from the old home town. I spared no expense to make you feel right at home.

Lex Luthor: [swimming in the pool, listening to news broadcasts about Superman] Miss Teschmacher! Turn it off.

Miss Teschmacher: [lying by the sunlamps] Lex, what's the story on this guy? Do you think it's the genuine article?

Lex Luthor: If he is, he's not from this world.
Miss Teschmacher: Why?

Lex Luthor: Because, if any human being were going to perpetrate such a fantastic hoax, it would have been me! Otis! My robe!

Otis: Right away, Mr. Luthor!

Lex Luthor: It all fits somehow, his coming here to Metropolis. And at this particular time. There's a kind of cruel justice about it. I mean, to commit the crime of the century, a man naturally wants to face the challenge of the century.

Otis: Listen, Mr. Luthor, maybe this guy that flies is just sort of passing through, you know?

Lex Luthor: [Lex gets out of the pool, and stops at the top step. Otis starts helping Lex on with the robe as the bottom of it proceeds to get soaked] Passing through? Not on your life. Which I would gladly sacrifice, by the way, for the opportunity of destroying everything that he represents. And, Otis, by the way, next time put my robe on *after* I'm out of the pool.

Otis: Oooohhhh!

Miss Teschmacher: [after learning that there is a missile heading toward Hackensack] Lex, my mother lives in Hackensack.
[Luthor checks his watch and shakes his head]

Lex Luthor: [in Luthor's underground hideout] Miss Teschmacher, how many girls do you know who have a Park Avenue address like this one?

Miss Teschmacher: [sarcastically] Park Avenue address? Two hundred feet *below*?

Source: IMDB.com