Updates from July, 2014 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Glenn Zucman 1:14 pm on July 10, 2014 Permalink
    Tags: Guerrilla Wayfinding   

    Guerrilla Wayfinding 

    Last night, a friend from out of town commented on his disorientation when exiting subway stations in New York City. Which way is North? It always takes a minute or two (or more) to find a street sign, landmark, or other orienting information. In some cases it means walking a whole city block to find out you’re heading in the wrong direction. I’ve lived here for 15 years and I’m still disoriented at far-flung exits where the streets all have names and no numbers.

    — John / Backspace.com

     
  • Glenn Zucman 12:14 pm on July 10, 2014 Permalink
    Tags: 15 minutes, , Attention, danah boyd, Facebook, Google Glass, Snapchat, , Sophie Fontanel, Specialness   

    Ephemeral Wayfinding 

    In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.

    Andy Warhol, 1968


    The true luxury today is 15 minutes of anonymity.

    Sophie Fontanel, 2010
    (More …)

     
  • Glenn Zucman 7:38 am on July 1, 2014 Permalink
    Tags: Bluetooth Low Energy, Fitbit, GPS, Phone   

    Wearable + Phone GPS? 

    screen shot from fitbit website showing new route tracking feature

    Fitbit adds route tracking via phone GPS

    I’ve just received an email from Fitbit. As we discussed for Compass H2O, they’re now offering Route Tracking, not by modifying the Fitbit device at all, but by using your phone GPS. What I don’t quite understand in Fitbit’s case is: if I’m going to track with my phone, why do I still need their device at all?

     
  • Sharon Gong 12:01 pm on June 29, 2014 Permalink  

    Compass H2O, always points to hope 

    compass logo

    As far as the human physiology is concerned, water is the most vital element for the overall well being. It plays crucial role in all bodily processes by providing a universal medium. Dehydration is a condition, in which water in a living body reduces unusually, and it is likely to encounter in daily life. Dehydration impairs both physical and mental performance in a human being.

    Our wearable band—Compass H2O monitors your hydration level and guides you to the direction of water source to prevent dehydration.

    Compass H2O, always points to hope and will save your life under extreme situation.

     
    • Sharon Gong 3:29 pm on June 30, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply

      Thanks for Susan designing our logo. It’s hard but finally we choose a satisfying one !

  • Glenn Zucman 3:56 am on June 29, 2014 Permalink
    Tags: , Narrative,   

    Compass H2O Story 

    (just a start Sharon – let’s add / mod / brainstorm on this post!)

    Water Needs

    It is a testament to the seriousness of our water needs, both here in California and across the globe, that almost immediately upon forming, 1399869558_da0557e4fb_hike-thirstythe members of Team Compass H2O unanimously agreed that our work must in some way consider our very serious water issues here in 2014.

    Personal Hydration

    From our overall passion for water issues we quickly focused on the individual need for hydration. From a California product developer on a weekend hike to someone in the developing world making a trek for medical treatment, hydration is essential to all who travel.

    In the comfort of a 1st world office hydration is often just a refrigerator away. But beyond that artificial oasis, on journeys both short and long, life-giving clean water can be a lot more elusive.

    Compass H2O

    1. A wrist worn compass that senses your hydration level and leads you to water.

    Housed in an attractive, durable, waterproof, simulated leather wristband, Compass H2O is a hands-free GPS unit, a hydration sensor, and a water locator. Under the band are miniaturized arrays of impedance measuring electrodes that determine hydration levels. Huang, et al, 2012

    2. A crowdsourced database of potable water sources.

    Ironically, we anticipate that crowdsourcing will provide the best data for the areas least seriously in need. We’re confident that every water fountain in New York City will be quickly mapped, but far less confident about larger areas in the developing world. Compass H2.O will partner with geologists, water scientists, and local universities in an effort to create a truly global map of current sources of potable water.

    3. A propopulated device for areas with no cell or wifi signals.

    It is amazing what can be achieved with a cell phone in today’s world. Yet so many of the places we walk are void of cellular and wifi signals. By prepopulating Compass H2O with the latest water database for the area of travel, this device needs nothing more than GPS satellites to lead the wearer to the nearest water source. (or, if hydration needs are light, then to the best water source)

    4. A low power device with multiple recharging options

    Using a low power chipset and efficient LEDs, Compass H2O is a high efficiency device that can be recharged with a solar button worn on the walker’s shirt.

    5. An open source platform for myriad personal and social compass apps in the future.

    The initial focus of Compass H2O is indeed navigation and access to water. In the future anyone can use this open source platform to create a variety of Walking Tours, Social Compass Experiences, and many other applications.


    Images

    Photo by e-magic

     
  • Glenn Zucman 7:28 pm on June 28, 2014 Permalink
    Tags: , , wristband   

    Band Ideas 

    We’re working on a tube band that will have a perforated fabric cover.

     
  • Sharon Gong 6:45 pm on June 28, 2014 Permalink  

    Unveil our upcoming 3D model band 

    wpid-imag8478.jpg

     
    • Glenn Zucman 6:56 pm on June 28, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply

      They did such a nice job on this! But the 3D printed material isn’t flexible enough to get our chips in. And printing a mold for casting isn’t going to work. So this design will have to be a future piece.

      ATM the design team’s working on a flexible tube band to go in a perforated fiber sleeve Natalia sewed.

    • Sharon Gong 7:37 pm on June 28, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply

      Glad to know that works well. But we’re still trying more possibilities~~

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