Aptera enjoys unparalleled efficiency, using just under 100Wh per mile for everyday driving. And they can go more than 40 miles a day on solar power — five times farther than other EVs with the same-sized solar system.
Category Archives: Technology
Infographics: “The New Normal” Post Covid-19
The new normal?
It is impossible to ignore the ongoing impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on our lives. This month our infographic shows how some aspects of daily life have changed as a result. The widespread closure of schools, for example, is thought to have affected up to 1.38 billion learners as of late March. Meanwhile, the sudden shift to remote working is one such change expected to have long-lasting effects. Following the pandemic, 68% of Germans have stated they would like to work remotely more often.
Our designer Raphael Hammer has created an isometric-style illustration, with each topic area allocated its own quarter of the infographic. Each topic is then afforded its own principle colour and corresponding design details. The almost monochrome effect of the illustrations allows them to perfectly complement the data presented. Especially effective, are the subtle movements which bring the entire graphic to life.
Technologies: New Plant-Based Plastics & Waste Plastic Into Hydrogen
Plastic has become a malevolent symbol of our wasteful society. It’s also one of the most successful materials ever invented: it’s cheap, durable, flexible, waterproof, versatile, lightweight, protective and hygienic.
During the coronavirus pandemic, plastic visors, goggles, gloves and aprons have been fundamental for protecting healthcare workers from the virus. But what about the effects on the environment of throwing away huge numbers of single-use medical protection equipment? How are we to balance our need for plastic with protecting the environment?
Delayed as a result of the pandemic, the film is being released now because it considers how society might ‘reset the clock’ when it comes to living better with a vital material.
We hear how Cambridge University’s Cambridge Creative Circular Plastics Centre (CirPlas) aims to eliminate plastic waste by combining blue-sky thinking with practical measures – from turning waste plastic into hydrogen fuel, to manufacturing more sustainable materials, to driving innovations in plastic recycling in a circular economy.
“As a chemist I look at plastic and I see an extremely useful material that is rich in chemicals and energy – a material that shouldn’t end up in landfills and pollute the environment,” says Professor Erwin Reisner, who leads CirPlas, funded by UK Research and Innovation.
“Plastic is an example of how we must find ways to use resources without irreversibly changing the planet for future generations.”
Explore more: CirPlas: https://www.energy.cam.ac.uk/Plastic_…
Future Transportation: “BMW Motorrad Electric Motorcycle” (Iago Valiño)
From a Yanko Design article (June 3, 2020):
This electric motorcycle is designed for long-distance journeys keeping in mind any tough conditions that can come up on the way. The aesthetic has been inspired by the iconic Ural motorcycles with the designer adding his own modern twist on the post-WWII BMW customs…it swaps the traditional passenger cart for a sidecar which will be equipped with tools and essential gear. The extra storage space also includes straps to hold down the cargo or tools you are carrying and with a flat base, there is room for extra batteries too.
We love seeing designers get creative with electric bikes! Each one is unique with its features and our current favorite is this conceptual electric BMW Motorrad blended with El Solitario MC elements that is nothing like we’ve seen before in the e-bike world. It is bringing retro sidecars back with a cool new makeover!
Artificial Intelligence: “The Future From An Alternate Perspective”
The story follows our main character Luis as he tries to clearly explain the complexities and nuances of ‘language’, and the challenges of teaching AI to thoroughly understand it.
A massive project, an incredibly talented team, and a little bit of luck to get to the finish line. So thankful to my fellow artists and friends who helped pull this off.
Client: Microsoft
Agency: Trifilm
Creative Director: Mia Vyzis
Producer: Corey Lovett
Animation Director: Reece Parker
Art Director: Reece Parker
Illustration: Tom Goyon, Millie Woodcock, Reece Parker
Character Animation Lead: Khylin Woodrow
Cel: Khylin Woodrow, TJ Peters, Mathijs Luijten, Adam Henderson, Reece Parker, Salvador Padilla, Nata Metlukh
2D Animation: Matt Jameson, TJ Peters, Mathijs Luijten, Manuel Neto, Reece Parker
3D modeling/Animation: Billy Chitkin, Nocky Dinh
Editing/composite: Bruce Stead, Matt Jameson, Mathijs Luitjen, Manuel Neto, Tj Peters
Sound design: Ambrose Yu
Infographics: “Digital Health Technologies Improving Patient Care”
Health & Design: The New “Touchless Products” To Limit Spread Of Germs
The importance of touchless bathroom and kitchen products during the coronavirus pandemic is highlighted in this video interview with Patrick Speck from Grohe, as part of the brands takeover of Virtual Design Festival Today.
Speck is the the vice president of design consumer experience for the EMENA region of Japanese water technology brand Lixil, which is the parent company of bathroom and kitchen brand Grohe. Speck told Dezeen that following the coronavirus pandemic, the brand has seen an increased demand for products that limit the spread of germs and diseases.
“With the increased demand for hygiene we’re having right now, we know that to minimise the risk of spreading germs and also cross contamination, we need to reduce contact with any surface as much as we can,” Speck explained in the video. According to Speck, the solution could be touchless products such as faucets and toilets that rely on sensor technology.
Read more on Dezeen: http://www.dezeen.com/vdf
Top New Books: “The Idea Of The Brain” By Matthew Cobb – “A Supercomputer”
Although it might seem to be a story of ever-increasing knowledge of biology, Cobb shows how our ideas about the brain have been shaped by each era’s most significant technologies. Today we might think the brain is like a supercomputer. In the past, it has been compared to a telegraph, a telephone exchange, or some kind of hydraulic system. What will we think the brain is like tomorrow, when new technology arises?
For thousands of years, thinkers and scientists have tried to understand what the brain does. Yet, despite the astonishing discoveries of science, we still have only the vaguest idea of how the brain works. In The Idea of the Brain, scientist and historian Matthew Cobb traces how our conception of the brain has evolved over the centuries.
READ EXCERPT OF FIRST 30 PAGES
The result is an essential read for anyone interested in the complex processes that drive science and the forces that have shaped our marvelous brains.
Matthew Cobb is Professor of Zoology at the University of Manchester. His previous books include Life’s Greatest Secret:The Race to Discover the Genetic Code, which was shortlisted for the the Royal Society Winton Book Prize, and the acclaimed histories The Resistance and Eleven Days in August. He is also the award-winning translator of books on the history of molecular biology, on Darwin’s ideas and on the nature of life.
Virtual Tours: “Sir John Soane’s Museum – London” – “Spectacular Imagery”
TAKE A 3D “DIGITAL TOUR” OF “THE SOANE”
The story of the restoration of Sir John Soane’s Museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Filmed over a period of 6 years, it traces the research, the discoveries and the skills that made transforming this magical place possible. This third episode reveals the painstaking work that went into restoring artworks within the Museum, and the legacy of the project.
Future Of Pet Care: “My Virtual Veterinarian” – Smartphone Video And Chat Appointments App
My Virtual Veterinarian connects pet parents with veterinarians for video and chat appointments. Through our platform, pet parents can access their primary veterinarian, or find a different veterinarian who is available for virtual veterinary appointments.
Boomers Daily 