The Tension Between Art and Commerce

A topic that's fascinated me for a long time...

Check out this very interesting working paper via Harvard Business School's Working Knowledge by Robert D. Austin and Lee Devin:

It Is Okay for Artists to Make Money…No, Really, It's Okay

June 3, 2009 | Link

"In this paper, we examine the apparent conflict between artistic and commercial objectives within creative companies..."

In this paper, the authors discuss the notion of design and aesthetics providing unique value to customers (a key differentiator, for example, of Target in the retail wars against Walmart).

The killer quote from this paper comes from designer Karim Rashid about the inclusion of Vipp products (think $200 toilet brushes) in fine art venues:

"Certain forms, lines, colours, textures, functions, all touch and communicate to our senses and our daily experiences. I believe that objects and spaces need to touch our sensual side, touch our emotions, they need to elevate a certain experience, and they need to be human. Love and desire are part of my interests in 'sensualizing' our physical material world."

The paper continues with an engrossing philosophical discussion on the merits of great design -- its benefit to society, its costs and trade-offs, and, as the authors argue, its fallacies:

Fallacy #1: Art is a luxury, an indulgence

Fallacy #2: Yeah, but that’s not art; it’s not any good

Fallacy #3: Commerce Dominates and Corrupts Art, and Subverts its Purpose

Well worth the read.

Human/Computer Interface, 1 of 3

This is a first in a set of three posts that takes a peek into the future of computer/gaming interfaces.

The two that follow are current visions, just demoed over the past few days at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). But the one I really admire -- even now, 22 years later -- is this video from Apple Computer, circa 1987:

For a full overview of the Knowledge Navigator concept, visit this Wikipedia entry.

This idea emerged while John Sculley was head of Apple Computer. Unfortunately, those were dark days for the technology product and usabilty innovator, until Steve Jobs returned to the company in 1997. But Sculley can be credited with this bold vision of what a computer can should be.

In this video, we see the Knowledge Navigator as a true Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). It has a touch and voice interface, can intelligently intercept calls, anticipate needs, make intellectual connections, and more. On top of all that, I love that the avatar (or "software agent") looks a bit like Bill Nye, the Science Guy.

Also check out this video from the same period: Future Shock.

Why, over twenty years later, have we made such little progress?

In the next two entries, I look at two recent innovations/visions. Still far from Apple's original vision, but progress nevertheless.

Human/Computer Interface, 2 of 3

The second peek into the future of computing -- and gaming -- comes from the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) going on right now in Los Angeles.

Sony unveiled a prototype of their response to the Nintendo Wii:

E3: Sony Confirms PSP Go, Final Fantasy XIV, Motion-Control Wand

PC World, June 2, 2009 | Link

(Scroll down to header: "The Second Shoe Drops: PlayStation Motion Control")

Cool. My one concern with this interface is the lack of resistance one gets when wielding a sword, etc.

I can envision a future version with gyroscopes that not only provide the real-time movement, but also the feel of the tool, weapon, or item you're "holding".

Human/Computer Interface, 3 of 3

The final venture into the future of computing -- and, of course, gaming -- is a direct interface. Rather than a controller, the human body is the interface.

Another demo from the E3 show was Microsoft's Xbox 360 "Project Natal."

E3: Microsoft's No-Controller "Natal" Steals the Show

PC World, June 1, 2009 | Link

It will be fascinating to see when this is ready for release. (Note the disclaimer at the bottom of the YouTube video above: "Product vision: actual features and functionality may vary". That's a bit of a legal notice downer, eh?)

"Emotionally Intelligent Signage" from Dan Pink

Trash cans at the California Academy of Sciences;

Photo by Jennifer Caleshu via the Dan Pink blog

On his blog, Daniel Pink has been running an excellent series of entries on "Emotionally Intelligent Signage." Category Link

These are signs that take into account the perspective of the reader rather than, in many cases, the enforcers. Signage with empathy, if you will.

This example above shows a set of trash cans, from the California Academy of Sciences, that presents people not just with choices, but the result of their choices. Brilliant!

What are examples of signs/messages which annoy or inspire?

A common one in my neighborhood is the "No Soliciting" sign found on front doors of homes and businesses. I'd prefer something like:

Friends & Neighbors are Welcome.

Solicitors are not.

Other ideas?

Two Quotations for the New Economy

Two relevant quotations for today's economy...

The first is one I clipped about four years ago from an in-flight magazine -- this comes from Whole Foods founder, John Mackey:

"Business is simple. Management's job is to take care of employees. The employees' job is to take care of the customers. Happy customers take care of the shareholders. It's a virtuous circle."

The second (via Dan Pink) is from Matthew B. Crawford in a recent New York Times Magazine article, The Case for Working With Your Hands:

“An economy that is more entrepreneurial, less managerial, would be less subject to the kind of distortions that occur when corporate managers’ compensation is tied to the short-term profit of distant shareholders. For most entrepreneurs, profit is at once a more capacious and a more concrete thing than this. It is a calculation in which the intrinsic satisfactions of work count.”

Nothing more need be said.

Quick Reminder: 37 Data-ish Blogs You Should Know About

Just a quick revisit to an earlier blog post about a posting on the Flowing Data blog by Nathan Yau: 37 Data-ish Blogs You Should Know About. Link

Since my post, the initial 37 has morphed into many, many more through reader contributions.

Check out the Comment section for the updated collection.

Image: Ring Roads of the World from Rice School of Architecture via Strange Maps