by Denny Fraser on September 1, 2010
Recently, a married couple that I maintain a friendship had a fight via text messages. Keep in mind that these friends were within eye sight of each other. When it came to deciding who was right and who was wrong, they proudly presented their smart phones to each other to establish their case. I may be a lawyer, but even I would find this evidence inadmissible and throw these two out of court to duke it out in the sandbox.
I have lived in densely populated cities where I became accustomed to people arguing in public places. Still, having a debate over text seems strikingly bad form. Not to mention all the abbreviations you have to decode.
It got me thinking about all the myriad of ways we now must learn to communicate. How do you know when it is proper to call, send an email or wait until you can collect yourself to have a personal discussion? And when do you Twitter a message to the offending party or Facebook it? Forget about sending letters. Who has time for stamps?
The Samurai perfected the art of the duel. Whatever you do, don’t blink.
by Denny Fraser on August 30, 2010
French writer Antoine de Saint-Exuper said, “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
Designers are often praised for the ability to create. Starting from a blank screen, we sculpt works of art — often from scratch.
The art of taking objects away from a design can be hard to master.
Once a design feels complete, start removing all of those objects that don’t fulfill a functional need. This can be a painful process, but the results can be stunning.
A good designer is a good editor. Reductionism.
“Je n’ai fait celle-ci plus longue parceque je n’ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte.” Blaise Pascal
Now if I can apply the same principle to my closet.
by Denny Fraser on August 29, 2010
I can’t help but love the old style flip clocks. Hearing the time change is retro and modern at the same time. Now there are timekeeping mechanisms all around – on our computers and phones, in our cars, at the train and tube station. Why wear a watch or carry one in our pocket, no matter how romantic.
Watches and clocks have become decorative, accessories or a symbol of status.
And to compound this, we now have to track time zones and have clocks displaying the time in New York, London, Tokyo and Sydney. It makes it impossible to schedule meetings unless you are a mathematician.
My mother, always the Girl Scout, gave me a clock that requires winding. She did this because she grew up in a time where if the electricity went out all the clocks reset themselves. I don’t have the heart to tell her that the constant ticking keeps me awake.
I recently lived in a proper Manor House with an old bell tower that rang every hour. I was told this was to remind the working residents when to do their chores. In Manhattan, the bells of Grace Church would ring outside my window – but with melodies – and it was lovely. Now I hear Big Ben. It reminds me to look up.
by Denny Fraser on August 28, 2010
I have traveled for many years. There is an unspoken language that you develop with fellow passengers – whether to be sociable and talk or stay to yourself. Generally, I put up a wall with reading material and happily take the time to be with my thoughts. There have been instances though that people have started engaging with me despite my best efforts. Generally, I was glad they did.
Think of all the people you pass by each day, even as you do your daily commute. They could be a potential friend or business contact or to just give direction about where to go and what to do at your destination.
I recall a woman on a flight into New York. I did not speak to her for a full 2 hours. When they announced we were to make an emergency landing she became my best friend. It turned out her son was a pilot and conveyed to me the seriousness. I later regretted not getting to know her under less strenuous circumstances.
Sites like TripIt and Dopplr give us a simple way to share our itineraries and trips with friends. Similar to FourSquare, but different, Bumped.in hopes to throw in a bit of social media serendipity between strangers.
by Denny Fraser on August 27, 2010
Twinkies or brussels sprouts? Like food, technology is not all good or all bad. To the purists that refuse to text, email or carry a mobile – say that to the victim families from 911 that received messages from their loved ones that they will forever cherish.
Now though it seems impossible to meet up without calling every 5 minutes before you arrive giving your exact location. No longer do we carry maps, it’s GPS.
Personal technology is empowering. What we may have lost is focus, the ability to filter out extraneous information or pay attention to what and who is right in front of us.
Scientists believe that the brain only processes one stream of information at a time. It is impossible to truly multitask. When we are reading email and participating on a conference call, we are merely switching rapidly between tasks.
Somehow native Americans got by with smoke signals and pioneers with the Pony Express. Overnight delivery is definitely progress. Or is it?
A leader in this area is Matt Richtel, a Pullitzer Prize winner for “Driven to Distraction,” a series on the troubling collision of 20th and 21st century technologies.
