Hasta La Ideas

We are finally realizing what the web has been promising us for so long: Human interfaces. Well, let’s not get carried away. What we are really seeing are the signs that software products are finally beginning to understand us as humans, not simply as the other end of a technical process.

This, of course, isn’t the byproduct of a happy coincidence but rather the advancement of human-centered design in software product development. Facebook’s new Timeline with its re-imagination of the profile is one such example. By rethinking what was essentially a standard system-generated set of chronological and biographical lists as an interactive chronology of your life, they’ve changed the nature of this product to focus on the content rather than interface. Regardless of your personal opinions on Facebook’s philosophy and intentions here, it is an excellent example of product design with emotion and human connection at its core—distilled into a tightly crafted (algorithmic) user experience, where the content is the UI.

This launch marks the first time I’ve seen Facebook, a company who has proclaimed to be about people since its inception, actually produce a product that speaks to us humanly. The story they tell through their promotional video has resonance beyond being a simple utility, it’s about an individual’s life. Sure, its a life refracted through the lens of Facebook—but philosophies aside, it takes a step forward toward form-free interface design.

Shortly after the launch a remix surfaced combining the product with Don Draper’s famous ficticious “it’s not called the wheel, its called the carousel” pitch—and the results were spot on. While nothing the Timeline is promising is patently new—the application to a software program is vastly more novel than anything we’ve seen before.

Just as Draper’s fictitious pitch illustrates, businesses have been at this for years. Positioning their products to us through empathy and intimate human connection. While often cheapened or cast-off as consumerist and shallow, these brands and products give us stories and enable us to find meaning and fulfilment in the things we use. If the way in which we’ve mourned Steve Jobs passing is any indication, these things mean more than any of us would like to admit.

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Our video on one of Spain’s premiere design giants

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Producing indoor and outdoor products since the 1980s, iconic Spanish furniture brand Santa & Cole is one of the lesser-known but more innovative design firms in existence. The forward-thinking company continues to expand into a full-service operation, opening a nursery to supply architects and designers with the trees to go along with their projects. We visited Santa & Cole to learn about their process, scope out the new nursery and get the scoop on their cutting-edge streetlamp technology.

Maximilian Büsser’s advanced-tech wristwatch inspired by the intricate craftsmanship of early-19th-century pocket watches

Maximilian Büsser always keeps the watch world and his fans guessing about his next creation and its inspiration. (Previous models took whimsical cues from his childhood robot toys, jet fighters and Star Wars.) Speculation on his next numbered creation, assumed to be the fifth in his series of Horological Machines, reached iPhone levels in the watch world. But what was actually going on in Büsser’s mind was much more of a throwback than his usual radical watch reinventions.

An appreciation for the craftsmanship of 19th-century “statement” pocket watches led him to wonder what he would have created were he born 100 years ago, near the peak of watchmaking’s era of technical innovation. This question was the root of his desire to add a second product line, and yesterday he announced the first in that line, the Legacy Machine No. 1.

Büsser acts as visionary and creative director, enlisting the help of some of horology’s most innovative and respected craftspeople. It’s the head-scratching kind of scene you’d love to watch taking place as Büsser describes his vision and the need for as-yet unimagined movements and mechanics. His all-star crew for the Legacy Machine No. 1 includes Jean-François Mojon and his team at Chronode, who designed the movement from scratch. Kari Voutilainen, a highly regarded watchmaker and artisan, created the watch’s aesthetics and the many handcrafted finishes. The movement of the Legacy Machine No. 1 includes both of their names—a rare occurrence.

Most probably aren’t aware that nearly all of the complications that exist, and their engineering, were designed a long time ago. (A complication is anything other than the time—the date, chronograph, time zones, alarms, moon phases, etc.) Unique to the Legacy Machine No. 1 are a few twists. The most obvious is the three-dimensional movement, which brings the balance wheel, often hidden in the middle of the movement, to the top, literally; it hangs suspended from a bridge over the dials themselves. It’s like putting a car’s engine in the driver’s seat.

Like its source of inspiration, the 14-millimeter balance wheel resembles those of larger pocket watches—which have a larger wheel that runs more slowly than those in wristwatches. Another first are the two totally independent time zones. Other time zone complications allow you to change only the hour (and a few the half hour), but no others allow you to have two completely different times set and controlled by a single regulator. While this may be more of a technical than practical feat, it’s noteworthy nonetheless. Lastly, the power reserve complication is vertical—a world first and something that normally is represented by a hand or a wheel instead looks like a ski jump.

The LM1’s advanced technology, unconventional aesthetic and masterful engineering make this a must-have for serious collectors, and a wish list item for those of us without the $92,000 to acquire one. Visit MB&F for purchasing information and details.

Also on CH: The MB&F Horological Machine No. 2 and the MB&F Horological Machine No. 3

Today Adobe announced their forthcoming Adobe Creative Cloud, their subscription service enabling sharing, viewing and syncing CS files. More exciting was their simultaneous announcement of Adobe Touch Apps, a collection of six tablet-based apps that look to be the next level of creative content generation. Check it out:

The Touch Apps will go for $9.99 each, but exact release dates have yet to be announced. Click here to see more video demos of the Touch Apps in action.

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Lelo launches three new wireless vibrators with motion-activated remotes

In what seems like an inevitable turn of events in the world of sex toy technology, couture intimates designer Lelo has released the adult toy world’s response to the Nintendo Wii. Lyla, Oden and Tiani make up the company’s new line of remotely controlled wireless vibrators. Designed for couples looking to take a more active role in their partner’s nightly play, the vibrators are accompanied by a disc-shaped control that enables you to adjust the speed and rythmn with the flick of a wrist. The control also conveniently vibrates to let the user know what his or her partner is feeling.

Waterproof, rechargeable and with a range of 39 feet, Lelo’s SenseMotion-enabled toys are highly versatile. For women, Lyla is a traditional egg massager, equipped with six different patterns at multiple speeds. Tiana has a folding design for interior and exterior stimulation. Men get Oden, an adjustable ring specially designed for use during intercourse.

All of Lelo’s products are made from high-quality silicone and represent the best that the world of adult sex toys has to offer. Couples not only benefit from the fun of mutual play but also have the added advantage of Lelo’s sleek minimalist design. If you’re shy about your nighttime activities, this is one item you can leave out on the dresser without embarrassment. Lelo products are available online through Babeland or the Lelo Store.