design – Ammon Shepherd

Many Mechanical Machines

ammon — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:09:22 +0000

Back again with another roundup of websites promoting some history. This weeks focus is on the computers and other machines.

Technologizer has come through in the past year or so with some really fun looks at technology of the past. Here are three:

15 Classic PC Design Mistakes

Weird Laptop Designs

132 Years of the videophone

It’s amazing how ugly and non-functional computers were in the early stages. They don’t seem to be anything like cars. Old cars, some of them anyways, become classics. They were made to look good. Somehow, I guess, computer manufacturers didn’t think computers would need any style. Sure they were made for businesses, but beige…. for everything? One of Apple’s biggest successes has been to transform the look of personal computers. No matter what you think about Apple as a company and Steve Jobs as a person, at least their stuff has some style (which has it’s own interesting history in that many styles come from old Braun products by Dieter Rams).

Old Computer Database

Small Gallery of Old Computers

Speaking of old computers… The Obsolete Technology Website has a plethora of information, a veritable archive, of old technology. It’s good to see someone is keeping the history of our tech junk. Newscientist also steps in with a small gallery of ancient (read older than 30 years) technology.

Macintosh Startup Chimes

Finally, a trip down memory lane with all of the old Macintosh start up sounds at Geekology.

Weekly Tips, Tricks, Gadgets, and Goodies #1

ammon — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:14:25 +0000

I think I’ll try and start a weekly tips, tricks, gadgets and goodies post. It will cover the neat-o things in the tech world that I come across during the week that don’t have a whole lot to do with history, but are fun nay-the-less.

Tip #1: Custom Leopard stacks and drawer images
Tutorial for customizing your stacks icons.

make a new folder, name it “0000” for sorting by name, or “touch -mt 2020010101 foldername” for sorting by date added.
copy the image from Get Info, paste int onto the Get Info for the new folder.

Add your own image to your drawer using the steps shown here at usingmac.com.

And you get something like above.

Goody #1: Geotag your photos
Check out the Geotag application which is helpful for spatially locating your great photographs when your camera has no GPS built in.

A mouse without buttons…

ammon — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:34:51 +0000

Here’s a whole site dedicated to the study and research of how we interact with the computer via the mouse and clicking. “The Click” says this site, is unnecessary. The whole site is designed to be used without clicking the mouse button but once! I liked it! Check out dontclick.it and see if you can … Continue reading

The design of everyday things

ammon — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 01:38:44 +0000

I’m facinated with why things are designed the way they are. I recently found a blog about the history of the electromechanical button. In class tonight I was introduced to a series of books about the design of everyday things. I’ll have to check them out at a latter date.