The Digital World has finally arrived in Modernity

iOS7

Windows 8

Word 2013

random example of a website from the 90s

and another one – just gotta love the tiles

Hail modernity!

It has taken quite some time, but digital applications, websites, and operating systems have finally arrived in modernity – designwise, that is.

After the aweful effects-escapades of the 90s and the more professional, but still overloaded 2000s, Microsoft has cleaned up its archaeological OS and ordered it into (admittedly too bright) evenly coloured tiles, and Apple has followed suit by transferring the clean cut style of their material products to the interface of their mobile devices. With Windows 8 and iOS7, whatever your opinion on the new operating systems, the respective firms have tried to get rid of the unnecessary clutter and return to simple geometric forms and plain-coloured backgrounds (even though Microsoft seems to have thrown out the baby with the bathwater when removing the Start-button). What is more, webspace providers offer easy-to-use tools for creating websites and free themes for well-ordered, simple, and clean layouts. The same is true for Microsoft’s office software, although many of the themes provided are still slightly overloaded with effects and colours.

The difference is all the more striking if we recall those great web designs from the early age of internet in the 1990s. Remember the flashing titles in rainbow colours? Or the extremely crude background tiles? The WordArt and ClipArt functions in Microsoft Word? (The latter still exist, though.) But see for yourselves.

Integrating Vasi’s views with Nolli’s map of Rome

Complete map

City Centre, sheet 5

A while ago I discovered this beautiful combination of 18th century views by Vasi with the famous 1748 map by Nolli. The fields of view of Vasi’s Vedute have been marked on Nolli’s map. These are linked to a depiction of the view itself including clickable buildings on which additional information is provided. In the top right corner, the field of view is shown again  with the clickable buildings marked in blue. Check it out yourself!

The interactive map does only work, however, because Nolli’s map was drawn so accurately. Today, it can quite neatly be georeferenced; projected over a map of modern Rome. Combined with Vasi’s enormous nunber of views, the interactive map provides a rich insight into 18th century Rome, however idealised the views may be.

The interactive map was created as part of a project of the University of Oregon. They also launched a website which combines the Nolli map with the index he created along with the map, providing information on 1320 buildings and locations in Rome.

The complete Nolli map can be downloaded in high resolution on WikiMedia.

Visualization of the Research Network of the Max Planck Institute

Screenshot of Max Planck research network visualization

A beautiful visualization of their research network by using data of SciVerse Scopus and a multi-touch screen.

Visit their website for more information.

Static movement

 

A wonderful demonstration of the possibilities of contemporary electronics. The project does not excel in realism; the idea does have a certain appeal, however.

How Stereo LPs work

Certainly the ‘fact of the day’: Listening to a newly bought LP this afternoon, I suddenly noticed the absence of Earl Bostic’s great saxophone sound. Only the accompanying instruments could be heard. But of course, only one speaker was connected to the stereo. Wait, stereo on an LP which is read using only one needle?
Check out this illuminating video from 1958. Apparently, there are two techniques: either the two tracks are written each on one side of the groove (as shown in the video), or the information is split horizontically and vertically. Also check out the following website.