design

There is no love lost between Apple and myself. The limitations imposed on the way Apple products work - especially their software - is one of the greatest blights on digital creativity today.

However, I can see how they are skilled at marketing and design intended to appeal to people who like neat, pretty, packaged things and are willing (and able) to plop down a 300% markup on a computer in order to get bouncing glossy icons and a glowing logo on their computers.

One thing, however, that Apple has somehow never, ever been able to create correctly, is a mouse. Even the most die-hard Apple fans I know draw the line at buying / using an Apple mouse, instead going for one of the more usable offerings from Microsoft or Logitech. For some reason, the fascist, rigid design principles that apply to their laptop, keyboard and software engineering divisions do not seem to carry over to their "Mouse Group" or whatever it's called. I am happy to report that their illustrious history of creating what are likely the most craptastic pointing devices ever to sport a USB plug (or Bluetooth chip) remains intact.

((english / french invitation cards)):

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On Saturday, November 29th, please join us for an informal discussion panel bringing together Scientists, Technologists and Designers to weigh in about the current and future influence of each of these disciplines on one another. The Mother-Child Health International Research Network, The World Association of Young Scientists and the Canadian Centre for Architecture invite you to a public conversation on collaboration between these three critically important – and increasingly interdependent - fields of knowledge.

This session will be structured around a series of questions posed to our guest panelists, followed by a discussion and open exchange with the audience.

• Saturday November 29th, 2008, from 2:30pm until 4:00pm

• Canadian Centre for Architecture: 1920 rue Baile, Montréal, Québec – Shaughnessy House.
• Refreshments will be provided.
• Contact Us for more information.

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As noted, an all white web page uses about 74 watts to display, while an all black page uses only 59 watts.

- The energy lowdown on black vs. white webpages.

While the debate rages on about whether how much more energy-efficient it is for web pages to be served on a black background instead of a white one (eg, "Black Google would save 3000 megawatts"), there is still little doubt that some energy savings would occur across the board.