May 2013
23 posts
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Information Software and the Graphical Interface -...
The ubiquity of frustrating, unhelpful software interfaces has motivated decades of research into “Human-Computer Interaction.” In this paper, Bret Victor suggests that the long-standing focus on “interaction” may be misguided. For a majority subset of software, called “information software,” He argues that interactivity is actually a curse for users and a crutch for designers, and users’ goals...
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“Products can introduce more complexity over time, but as far as launching and...”
– Kevin Systrom, Instagram [30 second rule for app success]
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What Peter Thiel taught us about startups
1. Globalization is not (all there is to) progress.
2. It is better to be right than to be contrarian.
3. Secrets exist.
4. Capitalism and competition are antonyms, not synonyms.
5. People lie.
6. Much of life is a power law.
7. A bad plan is better than no plan. A good plan is even better.
8. Foundations matter. Beginnings are special.
9. Founders are different.
10. Find a frontier...
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The Design+Startup reading-list, for this week
The Biggest Problem in Design [by Julie Zhuo, Product design director @ Facebook]
Good Design is Honest [Omar El Amri, Computer Scientist]
Wasted Talent - Arranging deck chairs on the Mars rover. [Matt]
Do Tomorrow What You Decide Today [ Anders Thoresson]
What kind of a designer are you? [ Tuhin Kumar, Product Designer @Facebook ]
How, When and Where Will The First Truly Great Digital...
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What Startups Are Like -- curated by Mark Birch
Here is a collection of uplifting and heartwarming words of encouragement from the most sage voices in the tech startup world as you begin your own entrepreneurial journey.
Throwing yourself off a cliff and assembling an airplane on the way down. - Reif Hoffman
Being an entrepreneur is like eating glass and staring into the abyss of death. - Elon Musk
Running a start-up is like eating glass....
Missing the train is only painful if you run after it. Likewise, not matching the idea of success others expect from you is only painful if that is what you are seeking. – Read on Path.
Responsibility to yourself means
Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you…it means that you do not treat your body as a commodity with which to purchase superficial intimacy or economic security; for our bodies to be treated as objects, our minds are in mortal danger.
It means insisting that those to whom you give your friendship and love are able to respect...
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Reading Antifragile: Things That Gain from...
Almost all people answer that the opposite of “fragile” is “robust,” “resilient,” “solid,” or something of the sort.
But the resilient, robust (and company) are items that neither break nor improve, so you would not need to write anything on them— have you ever seen a package with “robust” in thick green letters stamped on it? Logically, the exact opposite of a “fragile” parcel would be a...
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The Fable of the Dragon-Tyrant
Once upon a time, the planet was tyrannized by a giant dragon. The dragon stood taller than the largest cathedral, and it was covered with thick black scales. Its red eyes glowed with hate, and from its terrible jaws flowed an incessant stream of evil-smelling yellowish-green slime. It demanded from humankind a blood-curdling tribute: to satisfy its enormous appetite, ten thousand men and...
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We are gods.
Why has the growth in wealth and complexity been sudden and explosive rather than smooth?
Just what kind of an algorithm is evolution? What does it do?
Evolution creates designs, or more appropriately, discovers designs, through a process of trial and error.
One needs “design without a designer” to explain biological evolution, but why do we need ‘that process’ to...
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“Design has tended to be solution driven, but the problems are becoming more...”
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““Can we ____?” is an engineering problem.
“Should we ____?” is a...”
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We are not a startup
At fusedcow, we are not a startup - we are a movement. A movement to help people create inspiring homes for themselves and their families. We achieve that with the help of technology, some really innovative computing which helps the end-user make his dreams comes true.
Human Centered Design:
The technology ecosystem ignored the end-user in this industry. Architects are failing to create/show...
“….when it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are...”
– When i die, my tomb-stone will say ‘Free WiFi’.
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“Accomplishments have expiry dates.”
April 2013
27 posts
“Seek to disrupt yourself… before it’s too late.”
– The Word Disruption — Social Media and Business.
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“Leaders are not what many people think–people with huge crowds following them....”
– And this made me think. People ask me who inspires me. This question often stumps me because I have been inspired in my work by stuff that people make. […]
…the people who make these things are my leaders. Most of the time I don’t know their names. Sometimes I’m lucky and do.
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“Design has to solve something (problem) or else it is either art or fad! People...”
– The reasons were many. The excuses were endless. But it is rather clear: most people don’t want to pay for design. It is not like they do not have the budgets. Design is not perceived by many, as a service worth paying for.
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“Designing a product is keeping five thousand things in your brain and fitting...”
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“Usage is like oxygen for ideas.”
– Ma.tt
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“There’s one more thing that obviates the need for traction: social proof....”
– Babak Nivi
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“A market that is perceived as crowded can actually be quite empty. No one is...”
– Elad Blog: Who Cares If It’s Been Tried Before?
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“A spider conducts operations that resemble those of a weaver, and a bee puts to...”
– Karl Marx
Capital, Volume I, On the Sanctity of Work
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How To Build An Online Community: The Ultimate...
The Online Community Basics
A Primer About Successful Online Communities
The 11 Fundamental Laws of Online Communities
Building An Online Community: How You Start With 0 Members
How Do You Build An Online Community?
7 Contrary Truths About Online Communities
Don’t Start A Community For Any Of These Reasons
Basics Community Building Principles
What Is An Online Community?
Different Types...
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Truth is mutable by design.
— Shyam Somanadh (@codelust)
March 31, 2013
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“There’s only two kinds of players — those who hold on to their nerves and go on...”
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What is the future of architecture?
So what will the architecture of the future look like? Well, technological advances will inevitably affect the way architecture looks, but technological progress does not have a direct relationship with societal progress, and it’s societal change which most deeply impacts architectural form. There will be an eventual shift away from relentless steel and glass (basically Victorian technology)...
“Architecture students are like virgins /
with an itch they cannot scratch /...”
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Alex Godin Writes a Blog: Stop Hustling, Start... →
You can close more business in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you. - Dale Carnegie
Members of the startup community misinterpret the hardworking “hustle” ethos that’s become a part of startup culture and become…
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“So the next time you read about an overnight success, or a billion-dollar exit,...”
– David Tisch: Building an Uninspired Team - The Accelerators - WSJ
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on @fusedcow, #IQBootcamp and one more thing
fusedcow:
In other interesting news, I’ve teamed up with the fusedcow team. fusedcow is trying to solve a massive problem in a massive industry - the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC) worldwide - almost a trillion dollar one and contributing a significant percentage to any nation’s GDP.
The AEC industry is one of the largest, oldest and still keeping it...
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“Pissed off for greatness.”
–
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Rant on startup journalists and startup event...
Context: Last two weeks were eventful; I’m doing something which i avoided since i failed last: attending startup events and talking to ‘oh my god, startup journalists’ - this is an unstructured and angry comment on some of you I’ve met in the last 15 days. You know who you are.
Nobody can spoon feed you on how to start (and run) start-ups. I think some of the people...
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“Great design tells a story. It moves a product from one category to another,...”
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59 books to understand the term 'design' -...
Ten Faces of Innovation, Tom Kelly
Business Model Generation, Alex Osterwalder (forthcoming)
Mental Models, Indy Young
Art of Innovation, Tom Kelly The Art of Innovation - Tom Kelly
Laws of Simplicity, John Maeda
Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz
Design Methods, John Chris Jones
15 Things Ray & Charles Teach Us, Keith Yamashita
Design Management, Borja de Mozota
Small Change,...
