The basics of communication presented in this 1953 introduction to "the era of communication" (aka the information age) are still true in 2003. Transmission, noise, redundancy, distortion… misunderstanding. Charles and Ray Eames were husband and wife, not brothers. They were not initially architects. Ray was a visual artist. This is a classic Eames film and a great introduction to their creativity that spanned many industries.
Archive for February, 2009
Complex information put to music
15
Feb
Since your first day of kindergarten when you sang your “ABC’s” educators have used music to teach the otherwise boring lists, numbers, patterns and history of our world and universe. I don’t know if it is actually easier to memorize when put to music or simply more rewarding so you try harder – after all, it is very impressive to name all 192 odd countries in the world in 60 seconds to the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance (see number 5).
#1 The periodic table
I would love to be able to memorize this song, but even I’m not that big of a geek.
#2 The Pi Song
This could have been horrible if it was not sung so well. This is another song I have little interest in actually learning but its always fun to know PI to at least 10 places…just incase.
#3 The Universe Song – Monty Python
I really love this song and sing it all time to remember how big the universe really is. This version is sang by Clint Black (I am from Texas you know, plus the original lacks such quality visuals).
#4 The Universe…Again
A catchy tune and inspiring version, but since it lacks the numeric information of the Monty Python version it will always live in its shadow.
#5 The Nations of the World
This is one of my favorites. I have the first 2 sections memorized, but I loose it when he gets to Africa. Unfortunately, like most of these songs the information is increasingly out of date.
#6 I am the very model of a modern major-general
While not necessarily conveying a lot of scientific or practical information (that’s kind of the point of the joke), this famous scene for the play the “Pirates of Penzance” does have a lot of historical perspective on what he nerds of the 19th century where talking about. From a time when things like “beings animalcules” (microscopic organisms) were first discovered. The late great science fiction author Isaac Asimov wrote an essay about this song where he identified the meaning behind every strange and forgotten word. If you’re into retro steam punk, you’ll enjoy this vocabulary lesson.
The rest is here: Major General’s Song
#7 Parts of the Brain
#8 All the words in the English Language
A parody of this type of song sang by the animated team that gave so much to this genre.
#9 The 50 US states and their capitols
I’m pretty sure kids use this song in school today to learn the states.
#10 US Presidents from Washington to Clinton
#11 We didn’t start the fire
Billy Joel rattles through the incredents of live in the 20th century.
#12 Natural Decay
#13 How a bill becomes law – school house
A public service announcment that interrupted every cartoon marathon of my 1980′s youth.
#14 Sink the Bismarck
Learn some WW2 history.
#15 The Battle of New Orleans
Get pumped up about the War of 1812 – USA v Britan part 2, the sequel to the revolution.
Kindle + MacbookAir = What I really want for Christmas
12
Feb
Kindle is Amazon’s eBook reader. It uses epaper. The difference between it and a normal device is that the words stay on the screen even when the device is “off”. So it only uses power to “change” the page.
It does this with millions of tiny balls, black on one side, white on the other. These rotate independently. The screen is more readable, like a newspaper, uses real light to show the screen, and use a lot less battery.
I think the ultimate devise would be to put a page of epaper on the lid of a thin laptop – like the Macbookair. I mocked it up in Photoshop below. Close the lid – read a book. Open it, use the laptop. Perfect.
