Utilising ICT to Get the Most from Design

Since the inception of the modern computer, the design world has sought to find a balance between digital and analogue processes. While there's no perfect formula to striking a balance between the two, it's fair to say that the prominence of digital design continues to grow with the releases of more powerful software.

Simply put, it's no longer possible to get the most from design in today's world without utilising ICT to some extent. Here, we take a look at a handful of things you can do to ensure you're getting the most from your design when it comes to digital practices.

Create and use shareable files

One of the most significant benefits to using ICT for design is the ease with which projects can be shared. With this in mind, it becomes clear why it's essential to be creating and using shareable files.

In the design world, CAD software is commonplace, and this most often demands working with DWG files. Making use of Draftsight software can allow you to create and manage these files, allowing you to stay in professional contact with just about everyone else in your industry.

Openness is key to ICT and this begins with the software you choose to use on a daily basis in your design room.

Use high resolution

Computing power is now advanced and affordable enough to allow designers to work in very high resolution for most of the time. While this will require investment in computing power and high resolution monitors, it is something to which there is no alternative.

Aesthetics are a key part of design and you need your hardware to allow you to get as close as possible to reality.

Businesses must train

ICT should be empowering, not enfeebling. The only thing which stands in the way of empowerment is proper training. Businesses who employ people as designers should take responsibility for keeping their workers up to date with the latest technologies and practices.

Sub-par training is too often responsible for companies not getting the most from their design software.

Recognise and exercise the benefits

ICT is taking an increasing role in the design world for good reason. Designers need to recognise what the benefits are and find a way to incorporate them into the work they do. The ability to experiment, for example, without using resources can transform the way a design process evolves.

What is The Reason Behind Flipkart Launching Wearable Support for Their Smartphone App?

Pebble was the first company to venture into the wearable devices and they were later on joined by companies like Martian, Garmin, Moto 360 and other different companies among others ventured as well. One of the most expected releases that took place in the month of September 2014 was the launch of the Apple Watch. Although, this was not the first time the developers have seen a smart watch, but it really got the app developer’s spirit pumping. With this release the customers are anticipating more apps to be added to the wearable devices.

Flipkart joins the team:
 
With every company trying to be the first in the market, Flipkart seems to have captured the attention by launching a smart phone app for the android wearable device. This app will allow the android wearable device users to access their product wish lists from the Flipkart website and apart from this feature the latest app comes with the advantage that the user will be able to get push notifications from the Flipkart on their wearable device.

The user will be able to take the advantage of this feature only after they have activated the push notifications on their wearable gear. Flipkart is currently working on adding further updates to this app wherein the users will be able to track their order details, pricing details as well as the notifications about the new offers.

So what are the features that the users will get in this new app?
 
i. The user will get a newer, faster app and also a brand new interface
ii. The customers will get 100% protection and they will get a contented shopping experience.
iii. The customers will get options for the mode of payment like Credit card, Debit card, COD, Net banking and EMIs.
iv. The users will be able to choose from a variety of products through voice, bar code and even using text.
v. The user will have the option to view the products in full screen mode, list mode and even grid mode.
vi. Multiple filter options and sort out the products of your choice.
vii. Users will be able to receive personalized notifications about products.
viii. The users will also be sent out suggestions about new products based on their shopping experience.
ix. Users will be able to view the image and get all the details of the products.
Flipkart has got the benefit to be considered as the first company to be into retailing of the products from brands like Martian, Motorola and Garmin and the latest app will be compatible with all the products of these companies.

The things the user needs to have to get access to the new app:
 
i. The users will be required to connect their devices with the app
ii. The user’s wish list from the website will be automatically loaded on this app
iii. The Flipkart application will have to be updated from the app store

NASA Releases Over 60 Space Audio Recordings on Soundcloud

After many decennaries, NASA has been able to put up a SoundCloud account, which will allow them to stream out the audio clips they have collected and which includes celestial sounds like the ones from the launching of the rockets, the dialogue of the astronaut with that of alien lightning and also the interstellar plasma.

Now, NASA has released nearly 60 space recording for people to hear anywhere online. These released recordings contain sounds that came from the launching of the shuttle, Saturn’s rings, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and some of the most famous quotes from the astronauts.

So what’s special about these recordings?

At the moment, there are 63 recordings in offering, but the emphasis was on the fact they uploaded the very first audio consisting on Neil Armstrong’s voice. If the reports from 'mother nature network' have to be believed, the first video which was posted by NASA contained the most famous word “A Giant Leap”, said by Neil Armstrong when he first put his foot on the surface of the moon and touched it.

Earth-song:

The Chorus, which is also known as “Earth-song” is known to be one of the most popular NASA feeds. Earth-song is essentially the noise which is made by the electromagnetic phenomenon, which is actually caused by the plasma waves in the radiation belts of Earth.

These plasma waves become visible at least 12,874 km (8,000 miles) on top of the surface. These Earth-song recordings were recorded by NASA in 2012 with the help of the EMFISIS probe.

Saturn Radio:

Saturn Radio is one of the other recordings uploaded by NASA. Saturn is known to be the hub of dramatic sounds and aurora which are similar to that of the southern light and the northern sounds which roams around the Earth’s pole, and this happens when the upper atmosphere is hit by the solar wind.

The Northern and the Southern lights look similar to that of the strong radio emissions from the planet and this was detected the very first time in 2002 by the Cassini spacecraft.

The Sounds of Interstellar:

The Sounds of Interstellar is another audio clip which basically represents the data that was collected outside the Heliosphere by NASA's Voyager 1in 2012 and 2013.

Lift Off:

These sounds were from the very first manned-mission, Apollo 11. This mission conducted on the moon was called as Lift off. These clips consist of the sounds of lift off as well as the appreciation in the space center.

On the similar lines, even ISRO (India's space research Organization) reached out to millions of the people from the social media by giving out the step by step information about all their historic Mars Orbit Insertion which were successful in the month of September.

The ISRO got lots of appreciation for their initiative from the users of the social media. Constant tweets between NASA and ISRO became the trending news in the media and very much appreciated.

Mozilla Developing a Browser for Web Designers

If reports have to be believed then Mozilla is expected to unveil their new browser on the 10th of November however failed to provide any further details.

The main attraction is the fact that this new browser is that it is a browser developed for developers and developed by developers. All the developers have to do is to sign up to receive an email regarding the update once the browser is available in the market.

The Mozilla is a non-profit organization founded in the year 2003 and the company who is dedicated towards maintenance of the open-source and free software which are mainly used for accessing the internet.

What’s new about the browser?

This new browser is said to be based on Firefox and expected to have all the debugging capabilities apart from the special tools like Firefox Tools Adapter and WebIDE for getting the coding rights in the browser.

The advantage of WebIDE is the fact that it allows new apps to be created by the developers, for the web, as they have to use a blueprint and not depend on anything to be started from scratch. The next advantage that will be received by the developers is fact that the tool will enable them to create, edit and test their applications and that too inside the browser.

The adapter of the Firefox has an add-on feature which enables it to be able to connect to other browsers as well. According to Mozilla, the desktop environment can be used by the developers to work on smaller screen devices simultaneously.

Build by developers for the developers!!

According to the blog posted by Mozilla, this new browser which was developed by the developers and for the developers has its own advantage.

This browser will allow the developers to debug the entire web and in turn making you get the ultimate experience of the web. The blog highlights the fact that the browser has some powerful integrating system which will allow the integration of the Firefox Tools Adapter and other new tools like that off WebIDE.

According to the blog the developers have more exciting things to wait for which includes additions of more to the current package. Mozilla came up with an exciting idea of releasing a teaser video of what the developers has in-stored for everyone through this browser.

Market giants like Mozilla and Google have basically released browsers which are targeting the developers and some of the examples of Firefox Aurora channels and the nightly Chromium.

Although, these releases were primarily meant as the early versions and part of the consumer releases, but they came with the aim of keeping the web developers in the loop and also to be prepared for the upcoming features and standard.

According to Mozilla, this new browser will be aiming to spotlight on interfaces and the browser-tools to experience faster web advancement. The main thought of Mozilla is to develop something unique, but at the same time familiar browser.

Youtube Considering Premium Service

YouTube is the most widely used video hosting and streaming website online and it is been frequently used by the billions of users worldwide. YouTube understands its market share as well as its popularity and it is actively examining the potential for exclusive subscription services. YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki revealed that YouTube is planning to move beyond the ad-supported revenue model.

Traditional Mode of Generating Revenue

YouTube is owned by the tech giant Google, which has been exploring ways to go beyond the traditional mode of earning revenue. YouTube is currently ad supported which has helped it to reach out to the billion users in the last few years. But it senses the momentum changing in the attitude of the people who do not want to see the ads in the videos. YouTube has used the age-old ad-based revenue system to increase its revenue but it is now seriously considering releasing its own ad-free subscriptions to its users.

YouTube Seems To Be Influenced By Other Websites

Other video streaming and hosting websites like Hulu Plus have used the similar service in the past to increase its revenue by offering subscription for online video streaming. Even the music websites like Spotify and Pandora have introduced the premium ad-free packages to give a boost to its revenue.

Views against the Introduction of Premium Subscription Service

It has been seen that as the YouTube grow in popularity from just few millions of the users to over 1 billion active monthly users, there has been spurt in the number of ads popping within the video streaming as well. These cropping of ads before and in between of videos had been extremely annoying and frustrating for the users. Now YouTube move to introduce the premium service, which is in effect, is like asking the viewers to pay for the content, which was supposed to be free of charge at the inception of the YouTube. Wojcicki has stressed that the consideration is still in the nuptial stages and subscription would be based on choice rather than being mandatory.

YouTube Pilot Scheme

The idea of charging its users with a subscription scheme for accessing YouTube content is not completely new. Rather it is being proposed due to the success of its pilot scheme, which ran in May 2013 with 53 of its most popular channels. The channels include the National Geographic Kids, UFC and Sesame Street wherein access to shows were charged via a monthly subscription of as low as 99 cents.

YouTube Remains Silent Regarding the Introduction of the Premium Service

Wojcicki has only confirmed the premium service development but she has refused to confirm or deny whether it would be launched before the end of the year or not. YouTube has even reached out to some content producers for its subscription offering but the details have not be determined. Another interesting development has come into view that the YouTube is eagerly working on a music streaming service. This service would also be modelled on the paid subscription basis.