From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 2 05:15:18 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:15:18 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Cafe, The full text of an Associated Press story published in the 1/31/2009 edn. of my local newspaper: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs! "LONDON -- On the streets of Birmingham, the queen's English is now the queens English. "England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned. "But some purists are downright possessive about the punctuation mark. "It seems that Birmingham officials have been taking a hammer to grammar for years, quietly dropping apostrophes from street signs since the 1950s. Through the decades, residents have frequently launched spirited campaigns to restore the missing punctuation to signs denoting such places as 'St Pauls Square' and 'Acocks Green.' "This week, the council made it official, saying it was banning the punctuation mark from signs in a bid to end the dispute once and for all. "Councilor Martin Mullaney, who heads the city's transport scrutiny committee, said he decided to act after yet another interminable debate into whether Kings Heath, a Birmingham suburb, should be rewritten with an apostrophe. "'I had to make a final decision on this,' he said yesterday. 'We keep debating apostrophes in meetings, and we have better things to do.' "Mullaney hopes to stop public campaigns to restore the apostrophe that would tell passers-by that Kings Heath was once owned by the monarchy. "'Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate and are not needed,' he said. 'More importantly, they confuse people. If I want to go to a restaurant, I don't want to have an A-level (high school diploma) in English to find it.' "But grammarians say apostrophes enrich the English language. "'They are such sweet-looking things that play a crucial role in the English language,' said Marie Clair of the Plain English Society, which campaigns for the use of simple English. 'It's always worth taking the effort to understand them, instead of ignoring them.' "Mullaney says apostrophes confuse GPS units, including those used by emergency services. But Jenny Hodge, a spokeswoman for satellite navigation equipment maker TomTom, said most users of the company's systems navigate through Britain's sometimes-confusing streets by entering a postal code rather than a street address. "She said that if someone preferred to use a street name -- with or without an apostrophe -- punctuation wouldn't be an issue. By the time the first few letters of the street were entered, a list of matching choices would pop up and the user would choose the destination." Not sure I would equate an A-level in English to a U.S. high school diploma -- it's probably more like an AP English class over here -- but I found the argument over the changing city identity intriguing. One has a tendency to forget just how much political turmoil surrounds the cool, clean lines of sans serif type -- with or without those "sweet-looking" apostrophes -- on modern signage. Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 2 05:15:18 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:15:18 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Cafe, The full text of an Associated Press story published in the 1/31/2009 edn. of my local newspaper: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs! "LONDON -- On the streets of Birmingham, the queen's English is now the queens English. "England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned. "But some purists are downright possessive about the punctuation mark. "It seems that Birmingham officials have been taking a hammer to grammar for years, quietly dropping apostrophes from street signs since the 1950s. Through the decades, residents have frequently launched spirited campaigns to restore the missing punctuation to signs denoting such places as 'St Pauls Square' and 'Acocks Green.' "This week, the council made it official, saying it was banning the punctuation mark from signs in a bid to end the dispute once and for all. "Councilor Martin Mullaney, who heads the city's transport scrutiny committee, said he decided to act after yet another interminable debate into whether Kings Heath, a Birmingham suburb, should be rewritten with an apostrophe. "'I had to make a final decision on this,' he said yesterday. 'We keep debating apostrophes in meetings, and we have better things to do.' "Mullaney hopes to stop public campaigns to restore the apostrophe that would tell passers-by that Kings Heath was once owned by the monarchy. "'Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate and are not needed,' he said. 'More importantly, they confuse people. If I want to go to a restaurant, I don't want to have an A-level (high school diploma) in English to find it.' "But grammarians say apostrophes enrich the English language. "'They are such sweet-looking things that play a crucial role in the English language,' said Marie Clair of the Plain English Society, which campaigns for the use of simple English. 'It's always worth taking the effort to understand them, instead of ignoring them.' "Mullaney says apostrophes confuse GPS units, including those used by emergency services. But Jenny Hodge, a spokeswoman for satellite navigation equipment maker TomTom, said most users of the company's systems navigate through Britain's sometimes-confusing streets by entering a postal code rather than a street address. "She said that if someone preferred to use a street name -- with or without an apostrophe -- punctuation wouldn't be an issue. By the time the first few letters of the street were entered, a list of matching choices would pop up and the user would choose the destination." Not sure I would equate an A-level in English to a U.S. high school diploma -- it's probably more like an AP English class over here -- but I found the argument over the changing city identity intriguing. One has a tendency to forget just how much political turmoil surrounds the cool, clean lines of sans serif type -- with or without those "sweet-looking" apostrophes -- on modern signage. Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From d.sless at communication.org.au Mon Feb 2 07:23:09 2009 From: d.sless at communication.org.au (David Sless) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:23:09 +1100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> We make rules, break them and make new ones in grammar and many other things. But it is sad when a useful rule gets dropped, though I'm not convinced this is one of those cases. The context is non-possessive. Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! David -- blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog web: http://www.communication.org.au Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA CEO ? Communication Research Institute ? ? helping people communicate with people ? Mobile: +61 (0)412 356 795 Phone: +61 (0)3 9489 8640 Skype: davidsless 60 Park Street ? Fitzroy North ? Melbourne ? Australia ? 3068 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: CRI-lh-logo-col.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1634 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment.jpg From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Mon Feb 2 19:46:34 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 18:46:34 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary Message-ID: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- From alan at alphabyte.co.nz Mon Feb 2 20:25:45 2009 From: alan at alphabyte.co.nz (Alan Litchfield) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:25:45 +1300 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <25D392C3-DDAD-4DA0-B088-2CBBF5EB08F4@alphabyte.co.nz> On 2/02/2009, at 7:23 PM, David Sless wrote: > Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the > following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. > > COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! > > But how do you know it wasn't Carol who is advertising it? She may have a fine collection. ;) Alan -- Alan Litchfield MBus(Hons), MNZCS AlphaByte PO Box 1941, Auckland, NZ. 1140 http://www.alphabyte.co.nz From frank at limov.com Mon Feb 2 22:06:24 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:06:24 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876050.9090208@limov.com> Conrad Taylor wrote: > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Having a little experience in working with electronics engineers, it often seems to come down to two things: + what does the circuit design that we're using for charging support easily? + what is the cheapest thing that could provide any kind of indication of behaviour? Sometimes, of course, it's just blithering UI design incompetence on the part of the designers. (I know this, because I, with some other software developers, once had to gang up on an electronics engineer to make him change his "design" for a low-battery warning LED; it came on when the battery was low. Since the battery technology was Ni-Cd, whose voltage falls off a cliff at a certain point, it would go out shortly thereafter. So, it worked if-and-only-if you were looking at it in the 20-second window when it would be on.) BTW, I do agree that something standardized would be good; I'm never sure if my Ricoh camera battery charger's LED is off because the battery is charged, or because it's not plugged in. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From iep at mail.dk Mon Feb 2 22:53:20 2009 From: iep at mail.dk (Ian Petersen) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:53:20 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876B50.2090503@mail.dk> Conrad, > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@? For the same reasons we don't have a standard visual vocabulary for computer operating systems or car dashboards or VCR-displays: A combination of lazyness, incompetence, 'not invented here' and branding consultants ... ;-) Ian From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 2 05:15:18 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:15:18 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Cafe, The full text of an Associated Press story published in the 1/31/2009 edn. of my local newspaper: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs! "LONDON -- On the streets of Birmingham, the queen's English is now the queens English. "England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned. "But some purists are downright possessive about the punctuation mark. "It seems that Birmingham officials have been taking a hammer to grammar for years, quietly dropping apostrophes from street signs since the 1950s. Through the decades, residents have frequently launched spirited campaigns to restore the missing punctuation to signs denoting such places as 'St Pauls Square' and 'Acocks Green.' "This week, the council made it official, saying it was banning the punctuation mark from signs in a bid to end the dispute once and for all. "Councilor Martin Mullaney, who heads the city's transport scrutiny committee, said he decided to act after yet another interminable debate into whether Kings Heath, a Birmingham suburb, should be rewritten with an apostrophe. "'I had to make a final decision on this,' he said yesterday. 'We keep debating apostrophes in meetings, and we have better things to do.' "Mullaney hopes to stop public campaigns to restore the apostrophe that would tell passers-by that Kings Heath was once owned by the monarchy. "'Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate and are not needed,' he said. 'More importantly, they confuse people. If I want to go to a restaurant, I don't want to have an A-level (high school diploma) in English to find it.' "But grammarians say apostrophes enrich the English language. "'They are such sweet-looking things that play a crucial role in the English language,' said Marie Clair of the Plain English Society, which campaigns for the use of simple English. 'It's always worth taking the effort to understand them, instead of ignoring them.' "Mullaney says apostrophes confuse GPS units, including those used by emergency services. But Jenny Hodge, a spokeswoman for satellite navigation equipment maker TomTom, said most users of the company's systems navigate through Britain's sometimes-confusing streets by entering a postal code rather than a street address. "She said that if someone preferred to use a street name -- with or without an apostrophe -- punctuation wouldn't be an issue. By the time the first few letters of the street were entered, a list of matching choices would pop up and the user would choose the destination." Not sure I would equate an A-level in English to a U.S. high school diploma -- it's probably more like an AP English class over here -- but I found the argument over the changing city identity intriguing. One has a tendency to forget just how much political turmoil surrounds the cool, clean lines of sans serif type -- with or without those "sweet-looking" apostrophes -- on modern signage. Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From d.sless at communication.org.au Mon Feb 2 07:23:09 2009 From: d.sless at communication.org.au (David Sless) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:23:09 +1100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> We make rules, break them and make new ones in grammar and many other things. But it is sad when a useful rule gets dropped, though I'm not convinced this is one of those cases. The context is non-possessive. Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! David -- blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog web: http://www.communication.org.au Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA CEO ? Communication Research Institute ? ? helping people communicate with people ? Mobile: +61 (0)412 356 795 Phone: +61 (0)3 9489 8640 Skype: davidsless 60 Park Street ? Fitzroy North ? Melbourne ? Australia ? 3068 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0002.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: CRI-lh-logo-col.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1634 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0002.jpg From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Mon Feb 2 19:46:34 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 18:46:34 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary Message-ID: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- From alan at alphabyte.co.nz Mon Feb 2 20:25:45 2009 From: alan at alphabyte.co.nz (Alan Litchfield) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:25:45 +1300 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <25D392C3-DDAD-4DA0-B088-2CBBF5EB08F4@alphabyte.co.nz> On 2/02/2009, at 7:23 PM, David Sless wrote: > Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the > following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. > > COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! > > But how do you know it wasn't Carol who is advertising it? She may have a fine collection. ;) Alan -- Alan Litchfield MBus(Hons), MNZCS AlphaByte PO Box 1941, Auckland, NZ. 1140 http://www.alphabyte.co.nz From frank at limov.com Mon Feb 2 22:06:24 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:06:24 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876050.9090208@limov.com> Conrad Taylor wrote: > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Having a little experience in working with electronics engineers, it often seems to come down to two things: + what does the circuit design that we're using for charging support easily? + what is the cheapest thing that could provide any kind of indication of behaviour? Sometimes, of course, it's just blithering UI design incompetence on the part of the designers. (I know this, because I, with some other software developers, once had to gang up on an electronics engineer to make him change his "design" for a low-battery warning LED; it came on when the battery was low. Since the battery technology was Ni-Cd, whose voltage falls off a cliff at a certain point, it would go out shortly thereafter. So, it worked if-and-only-if you were looking at it in the 20-second window when it would be on.) BTW, I do agree that something standardized would be good; I'm never sure if my Ricoh camera battery charger's LED is off because the battery is charged, or because it's not plugged in. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From iep at mail.dk Mon Feb 2 22:53:20 2009 From: iep at mail.dk (Ian Petersen) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:53:20 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876B50.2090503@mail.dk> Conrad, > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@? For the same reasons we don't have a standard visual vocabulary for computer operating systems or car dashboards or VCR-displays: A combination of lazyness, incompetence, 'not invented here' and branding consultants ... ;-) Ian From frascara at ualberta.ca Tue Feb 3 11:21:15 2009 From: frascara at ualberta.ca (frascara at ualberta.ca) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:21:15 -0700 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090203032115.13902pqz49tfldic@webmail.ualberta.ca> Dear Conrad, I skip many interventions, but I always read yours. Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences. Jorge Quoting "Conrad Taylor" : > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 11:39:27 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:39:27 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/0ce671d2/attachment.htm From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Tue Feb 3 12:05:47 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:05:47 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rob added to the tales of woe: >Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >- digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >correct six months of the year. I have a friend who until very recently had me come over when the clocks changed, to reprogram her central heating. However, my bedroom clock is one step cleverer. Correcting itself by a radio signal, it changes automatically; and my Macs do a similar thing over the Internet thanks to some server somewhere (gives a new meaning to the phrase "time serving"). Solution: give your oven an IP address. >- car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > >In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. >Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new >home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so >I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. I have a DAB radio, which cleverly tunes itself. Programming the buttons to bring up one's favourite stations is however something else. At least those programs are stored in non- volatile memory. I bought the same friend mentioned above a DAB radio for Christmas. Alas, if it is deprived of a power source (mains, battery) for more than ten minutes, the stored favourites evaporate. I guess she's figured out how to deal with the central heating now, but I'll get called over to reprogram the radio when the batteries I installed run out of juice. Conrad -- From ukuld at online.no Tue Feb 3 12:32:17 2009 From: ukuld at online.no (Ole E. Wattne) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:32:17 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. > Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new > home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so > I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/2736fead/attachment-0001.htm From p.stiff at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 12:25:04 2009 From: p.stiff at reading.ac.uk (Paul Stiff) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:25:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned over something that several people will either have forgotten or never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for half- fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low don't we? Paul On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to > have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of > our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to > tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/6510b69e/attachment.htm From Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com Tue Feb 3 12:54:21 2009 From: Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com (Victoria ColemanSmith) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:54:21 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> Message-ID: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the sadly now defunct Woolies. It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal for simple everyday use. ... and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of technology I have purchased in recent years... Yours aye Happy ex-Woolies customer (Victoria) ________________________________ From: infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto:infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] On Behalf Of Ole E. Wattne Sent: 03 February 2009 11:32 To: Discussions about information design Subject: Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visualvocabulary perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ...who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio - especially car radio - grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/26c24595/attachment-0001.htm From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 13:00:54 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:00:54 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: That lack of consistency used to infuriate me, as I knew what it should be and often the suppliers were wrong. Your mention of milk bottles and the snowy weather is making me think of frozen milk bottles on the doorstep when I was a child :) Matt Junior Grumpy Old Man On 3 Feb 2009, at 11:25, Paul Stiff wrote: > Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned > over something that several people will either have forgotten or > never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil > seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) > > & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper > cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently > > some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for > half-fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; > other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but > Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver > usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? > > the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, > now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk > > now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? > > Paul > > On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > >> Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >> - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >> manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >> correct six months of the year. >> - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >> abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. >> >> In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to >> have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of >> our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to >> tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. >> >> Rob, >> Grumpy Old Man Department >> >> __________________________________ >> >> Rob Waller >> >> Department of Typography & Graphic Communication >> University of Reading >> >> >> >> On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: >> >>> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >>> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >>> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >>> I am recharging them. >>> >>> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >>> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >>> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >>> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >>> >>> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >>> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >>> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >>> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >>> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >>> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >>> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >>> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >>> >>> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >>> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >>> >>> Conrad >>> >>> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >>> -- >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>> >>> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >>> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >>> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >>> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >>> >>> For all Information Design matters: >>> http://InformationDesign.org >>> >>> Problems? Write to: >>> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------ Lift: creative communication design phone: +44 (0)118 948 4862 **New number** mobile: +44 (0)7979 757983 aim/ichat: studiolift web: http://www.studiolift.com *This email is confidential and intended for the addressee only From abeesj at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 13:22:38 2009 From: abeesj at googlemail.com (Abi Searle-Jones) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:22:38 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> Message-ID: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Victoria I'm very jealous. I recently tried to find the exact same thing for my 86-year-old step-grandfather, who is increasingly alarmed by all things technological. We ended up paying over the odds for simplicity - the only radio we could find that had the simplest of buttons was from an expensive brand. Hooray for the sadly departed Woolies. Also re Rob's thoughts on digital clocks... I propose a different solution: turn off all unnecessary clocks. I remember reading somewhere that the energy needed to power the digital clock on a microwave for a year was more than the energy needed to power the microwave's cooking function over the same time. Why does a microwave need a clock anyway? The wall switch beckons. (This also prevents annnoying time differences between the myriad clocks around the house.) Another one on car radios: we recently bought a car and our helpful salesman offered to tune the radio for us. 'What's your favourite station?', he asked, and when we responded (BBC) Radio 4, he tuned the radio's station 1 to Radio 4. We managed (barely) to conceal our horror until left alone in the car, when we immediately tuned station 1 to BBC Radio 1, station 2 to Radio 2 etc etc. Despite never listening to anything other than Radio 4. Sometimes interaction sense is less important than human whim. And to bring together radios and microwaves: I grew up in Droitwich, right next to the Radio 4 transmitters, which are so powerful that (allegedly) telephones, microwaves and other electronic equipment all gently transmit the shipping forecast. So I particularly miss the departure of valve radios, which often displayed 'Droitwich' bravely on their dials. (Having said that, our old valve radio frequently scared the heck out of me by suddenly blasting out sound twenty minutes after having been switched on). (Apologies to international subscribers for a very UK-focussed post!) Abi 2009/2/3 Victoria ColemanSmith > > > I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the > sadly now defunct Woolies. > > > > It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily > recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning > dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. > > > > Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal > for simple everyday use. > > > > ? and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of > technology I have purchased in recent years? > > > > Yours aye > > > > Happy ex-Woolies customer > > > > (Victoria) > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto: > infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] *On Behalf Of *Ole E. > Wattne > *Sent:* 03 February 2009 11:32 > *To:* Discussions about information design > *Subject:* Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common > visualvocabulary > > > > perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the > latest in radio-technology? > > :-) > > > > Ole > > Funny Middleaged Man Department > > > > ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, > digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. > > > > Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > > > > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual > dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months > of the year. > > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: > PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not > able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've > just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't > make any plans for the weekend. > > > > Rob, > > Grumpy Old Man Department > > > > __________________________________ > > > > Rob Waller > > > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > > University of Reading > > > > > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > > > > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/57884979/attachment-0001.htm From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 14:12:57 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:12:57 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, preferably on long wave. For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into Test Match Special. Caroline Jarrett (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) From david.farbey at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 14:38:48 2009 From: david.farbey at googlemail.com (David Farbey) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:38:48 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM transistor radio? I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal at exactly the same moment? David -- David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK david at farbey.co.uk Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ Office: 0844 561 0742 Mobile: 07879 005 946 Web site Blog Twitter LinkedIn *********************************************** Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter Co-Manager STC Europe SIG *********************************************** / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the confidential content of this email is strictly forbidden. Legal Information: David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ *********************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/637be2d7/attachment.htm From frank at limov.com Tue Feb 3 14:59:19 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:59:19 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Paul Stiff wrote: > know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? (If you're not in the UK, hit 'delete' now.) Crisps! Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion of these colours, established around the time of the separation of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Compare and contrast: Nature's own colours of flavouring: http://www.goldenwonder.com/golden-wonder-brand.asp Walker's wrong tints of taste: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkers_(snack_foods)#Flavours_.28Packet_Colours.29 Won't anyone think of our children's taste-buds? -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 15:14:59 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:14:59 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <9B567949-AC03-48D2-909A-E378D9E78B02@reading.ac.uk> Actually my internet radio is also known as a wifi (wireless) radio, so it's full circle. __________________________________ Rob Waller On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:12, Caroline Jarrett wrote: > "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? > > It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, > preferably on > long wave. > > For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into > Test > Match Special. > > Caroline Jarrett > (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black > armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/d2f0d433/attachment.htm From teather at compuserve.com Tue Feb 3 16:48:12 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:48:12 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I?m afraid! When watching international matches at Lord?s and the Oval, I have TMS on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long-wave radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to vary. If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and > for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? > > I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB > signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM > broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all > broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my > watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at > One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal > at exactly the same moment? > > David > > -- > David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK > david at farbey.co.uk > Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant > /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ > Office: 0844 561 0742 > Mobile: 07879 005 946 > Web site Blog > Twitter > LinkedIn > *********************************************** > Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter > Co-Manager STC Europe SIG > *********************************************** > / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be > confidential. > Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the > confidential content > of this email is strictly forbidden. > Legal Information: > David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company > registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 > Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, > Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK > VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ > *********************************************** > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > From matt at reprocessed.org Tue Feb 3 17:10:49 2009 From: matt at reprocessed.org (Matt Patterson) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:10:49 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:38, David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, > and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? The signals should arrive at roughly the same time as FM (although there's a bit more equipment in between studio and transmitter with DAB, so they'll be transmitted a bit later than FM, by which I mean microseconds). The problem is because they're using a digital encoding with compression (like MP3 but a bit older and dumber). So, your radio set receives the signal, and then has to decode it. The processing required to do the decoding is quite a bit of work, so they need to buffer a tiny bit of audio in case they run into a particularly tricky bit which might take longer to decode than the audio lasts... so, it takes a second or two to start spitting uncompressed analogue audio out the other end. (The chips they use to do it are quite cheap, therefore quite puny.) The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed signal with them. HTH, Matt -- Matt Patterson | Design & Code | http://www.reprocessed.org/ From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 17:36:13 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:36:13 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 4:10, Matt Patterson wrote: > > The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios > which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital > signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) > long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed > signal with them. I used to get the same problem with my Virgin HD+ hard disc recorder. The TV signal for that used to be a few seconds behind an old analogue set we had. It was buffering a few seconds of signal so it could deal with me pausing live TV. Interestingly, BBC HD was about 10 seconds behind that. Most probably due to the huge amount of data being shuttled around! Matt From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 21:00:25 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 20:00:25 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Message-ID: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Jane wrote > > Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! > > When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS > on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old > long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that > the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on > Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- > wave > radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, > anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to > vary. > > If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching skills. For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with the jokes about busses, but that's another story). For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, and then compare with what the experts say. I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the 'relative beginners' stage :-) Best Caroline Jarrett From dtp at she-philosopher.com Tue Feb 3 22:41:12 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:41:12 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> Hi, David -- > We make rules, break them > and make new ones in grammar > and many other things. As far as I can tell, most of our received rules concerning grammar & "mechanics" for the English language date from the 18th century. It is very rare indeed to find the apostrophe used much at all during C17 (especially the early decades) to mark the possessive. E.g., I've recently been reading in C17 copy-books teaching penmanship and calligraphy -- to see if there are any strictures about left- or right-handed writing/drawing -- and ran across Martin Billingsley's explanation of the "Court" hand as "... in great use in those two famous Courts of the *Kings Bench*, and *Common Pleas*." (as was typical then, both court names are emphasized with italics). Moreover, the title of Billingsley's copy-book (1st printed edn. in 1618), as given on the engraved title page, is _The Pens Excellencie or The Secretaries Delighte_ although modern library catalogs usually add apostrophes, and if you don't search on _The pen's excellencie, or, The secretaries' delighte_ chances are good you won't find anything. Unlike most modern GPS technologies, digital library catalogs tend to be less forgiving of variations in orthography. FWIW, these C17 copy-books are quite fascinating -- filled with beautiful specimens of the 6 principal "hands" then in favor -- and I'll post more about them when I finish my research. I expect C21 typophiles will find much here of interest. ;-) Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From markb at textmatters.com Tue Feb 3 23:58:04 2009 From: markb at textmatters.com (Mark Barratt) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:58:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Message-ID: <4988CBFC.7080807@textmatters.com> Frank Wales wrote: > Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? > > To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so > I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion > of these colours, established around the time of the separation > of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Think of the greater good: Walkers is owned by Pepsi and blue is the key colour of Pepsi Cola. 'Vinegar' would be very off-brand for the Pepsi drink, while cheese... I think I have run out of logic. best -- Mark Barratt Text Matters Information design: we help explain things using language | design | systems | process improvement ____________________________________________ phone +44 (0)118 986 8313 email markb at textmatters.com web http://www.textmatters.com From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 2 05:15:18 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:15:18 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Cafe, The full text of an Associated Press story published in the 1/31/2009 edn. of my local newspaper: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs! "LONDON -- On the streets of Birmingham, the queen's English is now the queens English. "England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned. "But some purists are downright possessive about the punctuation mark. "It seems that Birmingham officials have been taking a hammer to grammar for years, quietly dropping apostrophes from street signs since the 1950s. Through the decades, residents have frequently launched spirited campaigns to restore the missing punctuation to signs denoting such places as 'St Pauls Square' and 'Acocks Green.' "This week, the council made it official, saying it was banning the punctuation mark from signs in a bid to end the dispute once and for all. "Councilor Martin Mullaney, who heads the city's transport scrutiny committee, said he decided to act after yet another interminable debate into whether Kings Heath, a Birmingham suburb, should be rewritten with an apostrophe. "'I had to make a final decision on this,' he said yesterday. 'We keep debating apostrophes in meetings, and we have better things to do.' "Mullaney hopes to stop public campaigns to restore the apostrophe that would tell passers-by that Kings Heath was once owned by the monarchy. "'Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate and are not needed,' he said. 'More importantly, they confuse people. If I want to go to a restaurant, I don't want to have an A-level (high school diploma) in English to find it.' "But grammarians say apostrophes enrich the English language. "'They are such sweet-looking things that play a crucial role in the English language,' said Marie Clair of the Plain English Society, which campaigns for the use of simple English. 'It's always worth taking the effort to understand them, instead of ignoring them.' "Mullaney says apostrophes confuse GPS units, including those used by emergency services. But Jenny Hodge, a spokeswoman for satellite navigation equipment maker TomTom, said most users of the company's systems navigate through Britain's sometimes-confusing streets by entering a postal code rather than a street address. "She said that if someone preferred to use a street name -- with or without an apostrophe -- punctuation wouldn't be an issue. By the time the first few letters of the street were entered, a list of matching choices would pop up and the user would choose the destination." Not sure I would equate an A-level in English to a U.S. high school diploma -- it's probably more like an AP English class over here -- but I found the argument over the changing city identity intriguing. One has a tendency to forget just how much political turmoil surrounds the cool, clean lines of sans serif type -- with or without those "sweet-looking" apostrophes -- on modern signage. Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From d.sless at communication.org.au Mon Feb 2 07:23:09 2009 From: d.sless at communication.org.au (David Sless) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:23:09 +1100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> We make rules, break them and make new ones in grammar and many other things. But it is sad when a useful rule gets dropped, though I'm not convinced this is one of those cases. The context is non-possessive. Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! David -- blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog web: http://www.communication.org.au Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA CEO ? Communication Research Institute ? ? helping people communicate with people ? Mobile: +61 (0)412 356 795 Phone: +61 (0)3 9489 8640 Skype: davidsless 60 Park Street ? Fitzroy North ? Melbourne ? Australia ? 3068 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0003.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: CRI-lh-logo-col.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1634 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0003.jpg From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Mon Feb 2 19:46:34 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 18:46:34 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary Message-ID: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- From alan at alphabyte.co.nz Mon Feb 2 20:25:45 2009 From: alan at alphabyte.co.nz (Alan Litchfield) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:25:45 +1300 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <25D392C3-DDAD-4DA0-B088-2CBBF5EB08F4@alphabyte.co.nz> On 2/02/2009, at 7:23 PM, David Sless wrote: > Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the > following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. > > COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! > > But how do you know it wasn't Carol who is advertising it? She may have a fine collection. ;) Alan -- Alan Litchfield MBus(Hons), MNZCS AlphaByte PO Box 1941, Auckland, NZ. 1140 http://www.alphabyte.co.nz From frank at limov.com Mon Feb 2 22:06:24 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:06:24 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876050.9090208@limov.com> Conrad Taylor wrote: > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Having a little experience in working with electronics engineers, it often seems to come down to two things: + what does the circuit design that we're using for charging support easily? + what is the cheapest thing that could provide any kind of indication of behaviour? Sometimes, of course, it's just blithering UI design incompetence on the part of the designers. (I know this, because I, with some other software developers, once had to gang up on an electronics engineer to make him change his "design" for a low-battery warning LED; it came on when the battery was low. Since the battery technology was Ni-Cd, whose voltage falls off a cliff at a certain point, it would go out shortly thereafter. So, it worked if-and-only-if you were looking at it in the 20-second window when it would be on.) BTW, I do agree that something standardized would be good; I'm never sure if my Ricoh camera battery charger's LED is off because the battery is charged, or because it's not plugged in. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From iep at mail.dk Mon Feb 2 22:53:20 2009 From: iep at mail.dk (Ian Petersen) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:53:20 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876B50.2090503@mail.dk> Conrad, > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@? For the same reasons we don't have a standard visual vocabulary for computer operating systems or car dashboards or VCR-displays: A combination of lazyness, incompetence, 'not invented here' and branding consultants ... ;-) Ian From frascara at ualberta.ca Tue Feb 3 11:21:15 2009 From: frascara at ualberta.ca (frascara at ualberta.ca) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:21:15 -0700 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090203032115.13902pqz49tfldic@webmail.ualberta.ca> Dear Conrad, I skip many interventions, but I always read yours. Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences. Jorge Quoting "Conrad Taylor" : > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 11:39:27 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:39:27 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/0ce671d2/attachment-0002.htm From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Tue Feb 3 12:05:47 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:05:47 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rob added to the tales of woe: >Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >- digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >correct six months of the year. I have a friend who until very recently had me come over when the clocks changed, to reprogram her central heating. However, my bedroom clock is one step cleverer. Correcting itself by a radio signal, it changes automatically; and my Macs do a similar thing over the Internet thanks to some server somewhere (gives a new meaning to the phrase "time serving"). Solution: give your oven an IP address. >- car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > >In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. >Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new >home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so >I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. I have a DAB radio, which cleverly tunes itself. Programming the buttons to bring up one's favourite stations is however something else. At least those programs are stored in non- volatile memory. I bought the same friend mentioned above a DAB radio for Christmas. Alas, if it is deprived of a power source (mains, battery) for more than ten minutes, the stored favourites evaporate. I guess she's figured out how to deal with the central heating now, but I'll get called over to reprogram the radio when the batteries I installed run out of juice. Conrad -- From ukuld at online.no Tue Feb 3 12:32:17 2009 From: ukuld at online.no (Ole E. Wattne) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:32:17 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. > Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new > home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so > I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/2736fead/attachment-0002.htm From p.stiff at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 12:25:04 2009 From: p.stiff at reading.ac.uk (Paul Stiff) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:25:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned over something that several people will either have forgotten or never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for half- fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low don't we? Paul On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to > have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of > our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to > tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/6510b69e/attachment-0002.htm From Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com Tue Feb 3 12:54:21 2009 From: Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com (Victoria ColemanSmith) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:54:21 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> Message-ID: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the sadly now defunct Woolies. It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal for simple everyday use. ... and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of technology I have purchased in recent years... Yours aye Happy ex-Woolies customer (Victoria) ________________________________ From: infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto:infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] On Behalf Of Ole E. Wattne Sent: 03 February 2009 11:32 To: Discussions about information design Subject: Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visualvocabulary perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ...who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio - especially car radio - grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/26c24595/attachment-0002.htm From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 13:00:54 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:00:54 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: That lack of consistency used to infuriate me, as I knew what it should be and often the suppliers were wrong. Your mention of milk bottles and the snowy weather is making me think of frozen milk bottles on the doorstep when I was a child :) Matt Junior Grumpy Old Man On 3 Feb 2009, at 11:25, Paul Stiff wrote: > Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned > over something that several people will either have forgotten or > never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil > seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) > > & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper > cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently > > some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for > half-fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; > other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but > Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver > usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? > > the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, > now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk > > now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? > > Paul > > On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > >> Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >> - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >> manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >> correct six months of the year. >> - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >> abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. >> >> In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to >> have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of >> our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to >> tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. >> >> Rob, >> Grumpy Old Man Department >> >> __________________________________ >> >> Rob Waller >> >> Department of Typography & Graphic Communication >> University of Reading >> >> >> >> On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: >> >>> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >>> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >>> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >>> I am recharging them. >>> >>> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >>> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >>> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >>> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >>> >>> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >>> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >>> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >>> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >>> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >>> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >>> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >>> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >>> >>> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >>> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >>> >>> Conrad >>> >>> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >>> -- >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>> >>> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >>> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >>> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >>> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >>> >>> For all Information Design matters: >>> http://InformationDesign.org >>> >>> Problems? Write to: >>> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------ Lift: creative communication design phone: +44 (0)118 948 4862 **New number** mobile: +44 (0)7979 757983 aim/ichat: studiolift web: http://www.studiolift.com *This email is confidential and intended for the addressee only From abeesj at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 13:22:38 2009 From: abeesj at googlemail.com (Abi Searle-Jones) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:22:38 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> Message-ID: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Victoria I'm very jealous. I recently tried to find the exact same thing for my 86-year-old step-grandfather, who is increasingly alarmed by all things technological. We ended up paying over the odds for simplicity - the only radio we could find that had the simplest of buttons was from an expensive brand. Hooray for the sadly departed Woolies. Also re Rob's thoughts on digital clocks... I propose a different solution: turn off all unnecessary clocks. I remember reading somewhere that the energy needed to power the digital clock on a microwave for a year was more than the energy needed to power the microwave's cooking function over the same time. Why does a microwave need a clock anyway? The wall switch beckons. (This also prevents annnoying time differences between the myriad clocks around the house.) Another one on car radios: we recently bought a car and our helpful salesman offered to tune the radio for us. 'What's your favourite station?', he asked, and when we responded (BBC) Radio 4, he tuned the radio's station 1 to Radio 4. We managed (barely) to conceal our horror until left alone in the car, when we immediately tuned station 1 to BBC Radio 1, station 2 to Radio 2 etc etc. Despite never listening to anything other than Radio 4. Sometimes interaction sense is less important than human whim. And to bring together radios and microwaves: I grew up in Droitwich, right next to the Radio 4 transmitters, which are so powerful that (allegedly) telephones, microwaves and other electronic equipment all gently transmit the shipping forecast. So I particularly miss the departure of valve radios, which often displayed 'Droitwich' bravely on their dials. (Having said that, our old valve radio frequently scared the heck out of me by suddenly blasting out sound twenty minutes after having been switched on). (Apologies to international subscribers for a very UK-focussed post!) Abi 2009/2/3 Victoria ColemanSmith > > > I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the > sadly now defunct Woolies. > > > > It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily > recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning > dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. > > > > Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal > for simple everyday use. > > > > ? and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of > technology I have purchased in recent years? > > > > Yours aye > > > > Happy ex-Woolies customer > > > > (Victoria) > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto: > infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] *On Behalf Of *Ole E. > Wattne > *Sent:* 03 February 2009 11:32 > *To:* Discussions about information design > *Subject:* Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common > visualvocabulary > > > > perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the > latest in radio-technology? > > :-) > > > > Ole > > Funny Middleaged Man Department > > > > ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, > digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. > > > > Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > > > > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual > dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months > of the year. > > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: > PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not > able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've > just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't > make any plans for the weekend. > > > > Rob, > > Grumpy Old Man Department > > > > __________________________________ > > > > Rob Waller > > > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > > University of Reading > > > > > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > > > > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/57884979/attachment-0002.htm From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 14:12:57 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:12:57 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, preferably on long wave. For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into Test Match Special. Caroline Jarrett (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) From david.farbey at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 14:38:48 2009 From: david.farbey at googlemail.com (David Farbey) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:38:48 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM transistor radio? I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal at exactly the same moment? David -- David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK david at farbey.co.uk Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ Office: 0844 561 0742 Mobile: 07879 005 946 Web site Blog Twitter LinkedIn *********************************************** Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter Co-Manager STC Europe SIG *********************************************** / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the confidential content of this email is strictly forbidden. Legal Information: David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ *********************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/637be2d7/attachment-0002.htm From frank at limov.com Tue Feb 3 14:59:19 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:59:19 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Paul Stiff wrote: > know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? (If you're not in the UK, hit 'delete' now.) Crisps! Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion of these colours, established around the time of the separation of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Compare and contrast: Nature's own colours of flavouring: http://www.goldenwonder.com/golden-wonder-brand.asp Walker's wrong tints of taste: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkers_(snack_foods)#Flavours_.28Packet_Colours.29 Won't anyone think of our children's taste-buds? -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 15:14:59 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:14:59 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <9B567949-AC03-48D2-909A-E378D9E78B02@reading.ac.uk> Actually my internet radio is also known as a wifi (wireless) radio, so it's full circle. __________________________________ Rob Waller On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:12, Caroline Jarrett wrote: > "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? > > It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, > preferably on > long wave. > > For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into > Test > Match Special. > > Caroline Jarrett > (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black > armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/d2f0d433/attachment-0002.htm From teather at compuserve.com Tue Feb 3 16:48:12 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:48:12 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I?m afraid! When watching international matches at Lord?s and the Oval, I have TMS on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long-wave radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to vary. If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and > for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? > > I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB > signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM > broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all > broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my > watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at > One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal > at exactly the same moment? > > David > > -- > David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK > david at farbey.co.uk > Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant > /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ > Office: 0844 561 0742 > Mobile: 07879 005 946 > Web site Blog > Twitter > LinkedIn > *********************************************** > Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter > Co-Manager STC Europe SIG > *********************************************** > / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be > confidential. > Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the > confidential content > of this email is strictly forbidden. > Legal Information: > David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company > registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 > Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, > Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK > VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ > *********************************************** > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > From matt at reprocessed.org Tue Feb 3 17:10:49 2009 From: matt at reprocessed.org (Matt Patterson) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:10:49 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:38, David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, > and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? The signals should arrive at roughly the same time as FM (although there's a bit more equipment in between studio and transmitter with DAB, so they'll be transmitted a bit later than FM, by which I mean microseconds). The problem is because they're using a digital encoding with compression (like MP3 but a bit older and dumber). So, your radio set receives the signal, and then has to decode it. The processing required to do the decoding is quite a bit of work, so they need to buffer a tiny bit of audio in case they run into a particularly tricky bit which might take longer to decode than the audio lasts... so, it takes a second or two to start spitting uncompressed analogue audio out the other end. (The chips they use to do it are quite cheap, therefore quite puny.) The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed signal with them. HTH, Matt -- Matt Patterson | Design & Code | http://www.reprocessed.org/ From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 17:36:13 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:36:13 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 4:10, Matt Patterson wrote: > > The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios > which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital > signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) > long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed > signal with them. I used to get the same problem with my Virgin HD+ hard disc recorder. The TV signal for that used to be a few seconds behind an old analogue set we had. It was buffering a few seconds of signal so it could deal with me pausing live TV. Interestingly, BBC HD was about 10 seconds behind that. Most probably due to the huge amount of data being shuttled around! Matt From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 21:00:25 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 20:00:25 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Message-ID: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Jane wrote > > Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! > > When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS > on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old > long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that > the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on > Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- > wave > radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, > anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to > vary. > > If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching skills. For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with the jokes about busses, but that's another story). For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, and then compare with what the experts say. I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the 'relative beginners' stage :-) Best Caroline Jarrett From dtp at she-philosopher.com Tue Feb 3 22:41:12 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:41:12 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> Hi, David -- > We make rules, break them > and make new ones in grammar > and many other things. As far as I can tell, most of our received rules concerning grammar & "mechanics" for the English language date from the 18th century. It is very rare indeed to find the apostrophe used much at all during C17 (especially the early decades) to mark the possessive. E.g., I've recently been reading in C17 copy-books teaching penmanship and calligraphy -- to see if there are any strictures about left- or right-handed writing/drawing -- and ran across Martin Billingsley's explanation of the "Court" hand as "... in great use in those two famous Courts of the *Kings Bench*, and *Common Pleas*." (as was typical then, both court names are emphasized with italics). Moreover, the title of Billingsley's copy-book (1st printed edn. in 1618), as given on the engraved title page, is _The Pens Excellencie or The Secretaries Delighte_ although modern library catalogs usually add apostrophes, and if you don't search on _The pen's excellencie, or, The secretaries' delighte_ chances are good you won't find anything. Unlike most modern GPS technologies, digital library catalogs tend to be less forgiving of variations in orthography. FWIW, these C17 copy-books are quite fascinating -- filled with beautiful specimens of the 6 principal "hands" then in favor -- and I'll post more about them when I finish my research. I expect C21 typophiles will find much here of interest. ;-) Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From markb at textmatters.com Tue Feb 3 23:58:04 2009 From: markb at textmatters.com (Mark Barratt) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:58:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Message-ID: <4988CBFC.7080807@textmatters.com> Frank Wales wrote: > Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? > > To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so > I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion > of these colours, established around the time of the separation > of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Think of the greater good: Walkers is owned by Pepsi and blue is the key colour of Pepsi Cola. 'Vinegar' would be very off-brand for the Pepsi drink, while cheese... I think I have run out of logic. best -- Mark Barratt Text Matters Information design: we help explain things using language | design | systems | process improvement ____________________________________________ phone +44 (0)118 986 8313 email markb at textmatters.com web http://www.textmatters.com From teather at compuserve.com Wed Feb 4 13:31:37 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:31:37 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (even more hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898AA9.40601@compuserve.com> ? or if Henry Blofeld is commentating, you compare what he says with what actually happens or has just happened, and try to spot the similarity. ;-) Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au Caroline Jarrett wrote: > > Jane wrote > >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. >> > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. > > For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long > wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, > then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with > the jokes about busses, but that's another story). > > For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives > you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, > and then compare with what the experts say. > > I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the > 'relative beginners' stage :-) > > Best > Caroline Jarrett > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From frank at limov.com Wed Feb 4 13:33:41 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:33:41 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898B25.7040408@limov.com> Caroline Jarrett wrote: > Jane wrote >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. Given the small-but-consistent difference in the arrival times of sporting information via different media, I'm thinking "The Sting" for the 21st century. There has to be an opportunity here for quants freshly available from City brokers, and looking for a way to practise their real-time betting/ analytical skilz, particularly given their track record of leveraging us all into stupendous wealth using speed, computers and PhDs. Oh, wait. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 2 05:15:18 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:15:18 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Cafe, The full text of an Associated Press story published in the 1/31/2009 edn. of my local newspaper: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs! "LONDON -- On the streets of Birmingham, the queen's English is now the queens English. "England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned. "But some purists are downright possessive about the punctuation mark. "It seems that Birmingham officials have been taking a hammer to grammar for years, quietly dropping apostrophes from street signs since the 1950s. Through the decades, residents have frequently launched spirited campaigns to restore the missing punctuation to signs denoting such places as 'St Pauls Square' and 'Acocks Green.' "This week, the council made it official, saying it was banning the punctuation mark from signs in a bid to end the dispute once and for all. "Councilor Martin Mullaney, who heads the city's transport scrutiny committee, said he decided to act after yet another interminable debate into whether Kings Heath, a Birmingham suburb, should be rewritten with an apostrophe. "'I had to make a final decision on this,' he said yesterday. 'We keep debating apostrophes in meetings, and we have better things to do.' "Mullaney hopes to stop public campaigns to restore the apostrophe that would tell passers-by that Kings Heath was once owned by the monarchy. "'Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate and are not needed,' he said. 'More importantly, they confuse people. If I want to go to a restaurant, I don't want to have an A-level (high school diploma) in English to find it.' "But grammarians say apostrophes enrich the English language. "'They are such sweet-looking things that play a crucial role in the English language,' said Marie Clair of the Plain English Society, which campaigns for the use of simple English. 'It's always worth taking the effort to understand them, instead of ignoring them.' "Mullaney says apostrophes confuse GPS units, including those used by emergency services. But Jenny Hodge, a spokeswoman for satellite navigation equipment maker TomTom, said most users of the company's systems navigate through Britain's sometimes-confusing streets by entering a postal code rather than a street address. "She said that if someone preferred to use a street name -- with or without an apostrophe -- punctuation wouldn't be an issue. By the time the first few letters of the street were entered, a list of matching choices would pop up and the user would choose the destination." Not sure I would equate an A-level in English to a U.S. high school diploma -- it's probably more like an AP English class over here -- but I found the argument over the changing city identity intriguing. One has a tendency to forget just how much political turmoil surrounds the cool, clean lines of sans serif type -- with or without those "sweet-looking" apostrophes -- on modern signage. Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From d.sless at communication.org.au Mon Feb 2 07:23:09 2009 From: d.sless at communication.org.au (David Sless) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:23:09 +1100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> We make rules, break them and make new ones in grammar and many other things. But it is sad when a useful rule gets dropped, though I'm not convinced this is one of those cases. The context is non-possessive. Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! David -- blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog web: http://www.communication.org.au Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA CEO ? Communication Research Institute ? ? helping people communicate with people ? Mobile: +61 (0)412 356 795 Phone: +61 (0)3 9489 8640 Skype: davidsless 60 Park Street ? Fitzroy North ? Melbourne ? Australia ? 3068 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0004.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: CRI-lh-logo-col.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1634 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0004.jpg From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Mon Feb 2 19:46:34 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 18:46:34 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary Message-ID: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- From alan at alphabyte.co.nz Mon Feb 2 20:25:45 2009 From: alan at alphabyte.co.nz (Alan Litchfield) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:25:45 +1300 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <25D392C3-DDAD-4DA0-B088-2CBBF5EB08F4@alphabyte.co.nz> On 2/02/2009, at 7:23 PM, David Sless wrote: > Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the > following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. > > COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! > > But how do you know it wasn't Carol who is advertising it? She may have a fine collection. ;) Alan -- Alan Litchfield MBus(Hons), MNZCS AlphaByte PO Box 1941, Auckland, NZ. 1140 http://www.alphabyte.co.nz From frank at limov.com Mon Feb 2 22:06:24 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:06:24 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876050.9090208@limov.com> Conrad Taylor wrote: > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Having a little experience in working with electronics engineers, it often seems to come down to two things: + what does the circuit design that we're using for charging support easily? + what is the cheapest thing that could provide any kind of indication of behaviour? Sometimes, of course, it's just blithering UI design incompetence on the part of the designers. (I know this, because I, with some other software developers, once had to gang up on an electronics engineer to make him change his "design" for a low-battery warning LED; it came on when the battery was low. Since the battery technology was Ni-Cd, whose voltage falls off a cliff at a certain point, it would go out shortly thereafter. So, it worked if-and-only-if you were looking at it in the 20-second window when it would be on.) BTW, I do agree that something standardized would be good; I'm never sure if my Ricoh camera battery charger's LED is off because the battery is charged, or because it's not plugged in. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From iep at mail.dk Mon Feb 2 22:53:20 2009 From: iep at mail.dk (Ian Petersen) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:53:20 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876B50.2090503@mail.dk> Conrad, > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@? For the same reasons we don't have a standard visual vocabulary for computer operating systems or car dashboards or VCR-displays: A combination of lazyness, incompetence, 'not invented here' and branding consultants ... ;-) Ian From frascara at ualberta.ca Tue Feb 3 11:21:15 2009 From: frascara at ualberta.ca (frascara at ualberta.ca) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:21:15 -0700 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090203032115.13902pqz49tfldic@webmail.ualberta.ca> Dear Conrad, I skip many interventions, but I always read yours. Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences. Jorge Quoting "Conrad Taylor" : > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 11:39:27 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:39:27 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/0ce671d2/attachment-0003.htm From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Tue Feb 3 12:05:47 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:05:47 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rob added to the tales of woe: >Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >- digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >correct six months of the year. I have a friend who until very recently had me come over when the clocks changed, to reprogram her central heating. However, my bedroom clock is one step cleverer. Correcting itself by a radio signal, it changes automatically; and my Macs do a similar thing over the Internet thanks to some server somewhere (gives a new meaning to the phrase "time serving"). Solution: give your oven an IP address. >- car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > >In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. >Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new >home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so >I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. I have a DAB radio, which cleverly tunes itself. Programming the buttons to bring up one's favourite stations is however something else. At least those programs are stored in non- volatile memory. I bought the same friend mentioned above a DAB radio for Christmas. Alas, if it is deprived of a power source (mains, battery) for more than ten minutes, the stored favourites evaporate. I guess she's figured out how to deal with the central heating now, but I'll get called over to reprogram the radio when the batteries I installed run out of juice. Conrad -- From ukuld at online.no Tue Feb 3 12:32:17 2009 From: ukuld at online.no (Ole E. Wattne) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:32:17 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. > Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new > home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so > I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/2736fead/attachment-0003.htm From p.stiff at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 12:25:04 2009 From: p.stiff at reading.ac.uk (Paul Stiff) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:25:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned over something that several people will either have forgotten or never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for half- fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low don't we? Paul On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to > have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of > our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to > tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/6510b69e/attachment-0003.htm From Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com Tue Feb 3 12:54:21 2009 From: Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com (Victoria ColemanSmith) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:54:21 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> Message-ID: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the sadly now defunct Woolies. It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal for simple everyday use. ... and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of technology I have purchased in recent years... Yours aye Happy ex-Woolies customer (Victoria) ________________________________ From: infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto:infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] On Behalf Of Ole E. Wattne Sent: 03 February 2009 11:32 To: Discussions about information design Subject: Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visualvocabulary perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ...who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio - especially car radio - grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/26c24595/attachment-0003.htm From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 13:00:54 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:00:54 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: That lack of consistency used to infuriate me, as I knew what it should be and often the suppliers were wrong. Your mention of milk bottles and the snowy weather is making me think of frozen milk bottles on the doorstep when I was a child :) Matt Junior Grumpy Old Man On 3 Feb 2009, at 11:25, Paul Stiff wrote: > Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned > over something that several people will either have forgotten or > never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil > seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) > > & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper > cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently > > some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for > half-fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; > other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but > Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver > usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? > > the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, > now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk > > now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? > > Paul > > On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > >> Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >> - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >> manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >> correct six months of the year. >> - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >> abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. >> >> In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to >> have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of >> our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to >> tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. >> >> Rob, >> Grumpy Old Man Department >> >> __________________________________ >> >> Rob Waller >> >> Department of Typography & Graphic Communication >> University of Reading >> >> >> >> On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: >> >>> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >>> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >>> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >>> I am recharging them. >>> >>> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >>> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >>> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >>> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >>> >>> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >>> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >>> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >>> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >>> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >>> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >>> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >>> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >>> >>> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >>> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >>> >>> Conrad >>> >>> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >>> -- >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>> >>> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >>> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >>> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >>> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >>> >>> For all Information Design matters: >>> http://InformationDesign.org >>> >>> Problems? Write to: >>> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------ Lift: creative communication design phone: +44 (0)118 948 4862 **New number** mobile: +44 (0)7979 757983 aim/ichat: studiolift web: http://www.studiolift.com *This email is confidential and intended for the addressee only From abeesj at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 13:22:38 2009 From: abeesj at googlemail.com (Abi Searle-Jones) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:22:38 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> Message-ID: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Victoria I'm very jealous. I recently tried to find the exact same thing for my 86-year-old step-grandfather, who is increasingly alarmed by all things technological. We ended up paying over the odds for simplicity - the only radio we could find that had the simplest of buttons was from an expensive brand. Hooray for the sadly departed Woolies. Also re Rob's thoughts on digital clocks... I propose a different solution: turn off all unnecessary clocks. I remember reading somewhere that the energy needed to power the digital clock on a microwave for a year was more than the energy needed to power the microwave's cooking function over the same time. Why does a microwave need a clock anyway? The wall switch beckons. (This also prevents annnoying time differences between the myriad clocks around the house.) Another one on car radios: we recently bought a car and our helpful salesman offered to tune the radio for us. 'What's your favourite station?', he asked, and when we responded (BBC) Radio 4, he tuned the radio's station 1 to Radio 4. We managed (barely) to conceal our horror until left alone in the car, when we immediately tuned station 1 to BBC Radio 1, station 2 to Radio 2 etc etc. Despite never listening to anything other than Radio 4. Sometimes interaction sense is less important than human whim. And to bring together radios and microwaves: I grew up in Droitwich, right next to the Radio 4 transmitters, which are so powerful that (allegedly) telephones, microwaves and other electronic equipment all gently transmit the shipping forecast. So I particularly miss the departure of valve radios, which often displayed 'Droitwich' bravely on their dials. (Having said that, our old valve radio frequently scared the heck out of me by suddenly blasting out sound twenty minutes after having been switched on). (Apologies to international subscribers for a very UK-focussed post!) Abi 2009/2/3 Victoria ColemanSmith > > > I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the > sadly now defunct Woolies. > > > > It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily > recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning > dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. > > > > Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal > for simple everyday use. > > > > ? and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of > technology I have purchased in recent years? > > > > Yours aye > > > > Happy ex-Woolies customer > > > > (Victoria) > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto: > infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] *On Behalf Of *Ole E. > Wattne > *Sent:* 03 February 2009 11:32 > *To:* Discussions about information design > *Subject:* Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common > visualvocabulary > > > > perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the > latest in radio-technology? > > :-) > > > > Ole > > Funny Middleaged Man Department > > > > ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, > digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. > > > > Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > > > > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual > dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months > of the year. > > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: > PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not > able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've > just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't > make any plans for the weekend. > > > > Rob, > > Grumpy Old Man Department > > > > __________________________________ > > > > Rob Waller > > > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > > University of Reading > > > > > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > > > > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/57884979/attachment-0003.htm From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 14:12:57 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:12:57 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, preferably on long wave. For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into Test Match Special. Caroline Jarrett (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) From david.farbey at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 14:38:48 2009 From: david.farbey at googlemail.com (David Farbey) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:38:48 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM transistor radio? I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal at exactly the same moment? David -- David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK david at farbey.co.uk Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ Office: 0844 561 0742 Mobile: 07879 005 946 Web site Blog Twitter LinkedIn *********************************************** Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter Co-Manager STC Europe SIG *********************************************** / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the confidential content of this email is strictly forbidden. Legal Information: David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ *********************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/637be2d7/attachment-0003.htm From frank at limov.com Tue Feb 3 14:59:19 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:59:19 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Paul Stiff wrote: > know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? (If you're not in the UK, hit 'delete' now.) Crisps! Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion of these colours, established around the time of the separation of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Compare and contrast: Nature's own colours of flavouring: http://www.goldenwonder.com/golden-wonder-brand.asp Walker's wrong tints of taste: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkers_(snack_foods)#Flavours_.28Packet_Colours.29 Won't anyone think of our children's taste-buds? -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 15:14:59 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:14:59 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <9B567949-AC03-48D2-909A-E378D9E78B02@reading.ac.uk> Actually my internet radio is also known as a wifi (wireless) radio, so it's full circle. __________________________________ Rob Waller On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:12, Caroline Jarrett wrote: > "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? > > It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, > preferably on > long wave. > > For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into > Test > Match Special. > > Caroline Jarrett > (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black > armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/d2f0d433/attachment-0003.htm From teather at compuserve.com Tue Feb 3 16:48:12 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:48:12 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I?m afraid! When watching international matches at Lord?s and the Oval, I have TMS on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long-wave radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to vary. If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and > for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? > > I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB > signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM > broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all > broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my > watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at > One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal > at exactly the same moment? > > David > > -- > David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK > david at farbey.co.uk > Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant > /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ > Office: 0844 561 0742 > Mobile: 07879 005 946 > Web site Blog > Twitter > LinkedIn > *********************************************** > Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter > Co-Manager STC Europe SIG > *********************************************** > / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be > confidential. > Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the > confidential content > of this email is strictly forbidden. > Legal Information: > David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company > registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 > Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, > Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK > VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ > *********************************************** > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > From matt at reprocessed.org Tue Feb 3 17:10:49 2009 From: matt at reprocessed.org (Matt Patterson) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:10:49 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:38, David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, > and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? The signals should arrive at roughly the same time as FM (although there's a bit more equipment in between studio and transmitter with DAB, so they'll be transmitted a bit later than FM, by which I mean microseconds). The problem is because they're using a digital encoding with compression (like MP3 but a bit older and dumber). So, your radio set receives the signal, and then has to decode it. The processing required to do the decoding is quite a bit of work, so they need to buffer a tiny bit of audio in case they run into a particularly tricky bit which might take longer to decode than the audio lasts... so, it takes a second or two to start spitting uncompressed analogue audio out the other end. (The chips they use to do it are quite cheap, therefore quite puny.) The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed signal with them. HTH, Matt -- Matt Patterson | Design & Code | http://www.reprocessed.org/ From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 17:36:13 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:36:13 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 4:10, Matt Patterson wrote: > > The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios > which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital > signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) > long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed > signal with them. I used to get the same problem with my Virgin HD+ hard disc recorder. The TV signal for that used to be a few seconds behind an old analogue set we had. It was buffering a few seconds of signal so it could deal with me pausing live TV. Interestingly, BBC HD was about 10 seconds behind that. Most probably due to the huge amount of data being shuttled around! Matt From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 21:00:25 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 20:00:25 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Message-ID: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Jane wrote > > Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! > > When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS > on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old > long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that > the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on > Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- > wave > radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, > anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to > vary. > > If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching skills. For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with the jokes about busses, but that's another story). For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, and then compare with what the experts say. I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the 'relative beginners' stage :-) Best Caroline Jarrett From dtp at she-philosopher.com Tue Feb 3 22:41:12 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:41:12 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> Hi, David -- > We make rules, break them > and make new ones in grammar > and many other things. As far as I can tell, most of our received rules concerning grammar & "mechanics" for the English language date from the 18th century. It is very rare indeed to find the apostrophe used much at all during C17 (especially the early decades) to mark the possessive. E.g., I've recently been reading in C17 copy-books teaching penmanship and calligraphy -- to see if there are any strictures about left- or right-handed writing/drawing -- and ran across Martin Billingsley's explanation of the "Court" hand as "... in great use in those two famous Courts of the *Kings Bench*, and *Common Pleas*." (as was typical then, both court names are emphasized with italics). Moreover, the title of Billingsley's copy-book (1st printed edn. in 1618), as given on the engraved title page, is _The Pens Excellencie or The Secretaries Delighte_ although modern library catalogs usually add apostrophes, and if you don't search on _The pen's excellencie, or, The secretaries' delighte_ chances are good you won't find anything. Unlike most modern GPS technologies, digital library catalogs tend to be less forgiving of variations in orthography. FWIW, these C17 copy-books are quite fascinating -- filled with beautiful specimens of the 6 principal "hands" then in favor -- and I'll post more about them when I finish my research. I expect C21 typophiles will find much here of interest. ;-) Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From markb at textmatters.com Tue Feb 3 23:58:04 2009 From: markb at textmatters.com (Mark Barratt) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:58:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Message-ID: <4988CBFC.7080807@textmatters.com> Frank Wales wrote: > Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? > > To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so > I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion > of these colours, established around the time of the separation > of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Think of the greater good: Walkers is owned by Pepsi and blue is the key colour of Pepsi Cola. 'Vinegar' would be very off-brand for the Pepsi drink, while cheese... I think I have run out of logic. best -- Mark Barratt Text Matters Information design: we help explain things using language | design | systems | process improvement ____________________________________________ phone +44 (0)118 986 8313 email markb at textmatters.com web http://www.textmatters.com From teather at compuserve.com Wed Feb 4 13:31:37 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:31:37 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (even more hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898AA9.40601@compuserve.com> ? or if Henry Blofeld is commentating, you compare what he says with what actually happens or has just happened, and try to spot the similarity. ;-) Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au Caroline Jarrett wrote: > > Jane wrote > >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. >> > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. > > For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long > wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, > then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with > the jokes about busses, but that's another story). > > For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives > you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, > and then compare with what the experts say. > > I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the > 'relative beginners' stage :-) > > Best > Caroline Jarrett > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From frank at limov.com Wed Feb 4 13:33:41 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:33:41 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898B25.7040408@limov.com> Caroline Jarrett wrote: > Jane wrote >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. Given the small-but-consistent difference in the arrival times of sporting information via different media, I'm thinking "The Sting" for the 21st century. There has to be an opportunity here for quants freshly available from City brokers, and looking for a way to practise their real-time betting/ analytical skilz, particularly given their track record of leveraging us all into stupendous wealth using speed, computers and PhDs. Oh, wait. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 2 05:15:18 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:15:18 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Cafe, The full text of an Associated Press story published in the 1/31/2009 edn. of my local newspaper: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs! "LONDON -- On the streets of Birmingham, the queen's English is now the queens English. "England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned. "But some purists are downright possessive about the punctuation mark. "It seems that Birmingham officials have been taking a hammer to grammar for years, quietly dropping apostrophes from street signs since the 1950s. Through the decades, residents have frequently launched spirited campaigns to restore the missing punctuation to signs denoting such places as 'St Pauls Square' and 'Acocks Green.' "This week, the council made it official, saying it was banning the punctuation mark from signs in a bid to end the dispute once and for all. "Councilor Martin Mullaney, who heads the city's transport scrutiny committee, said he decided to act after yet another interminable debate into whether Kings Heath, a Birmingham suburb, should be rewritten with an apostrophe. "'I had to make a final decision on this,' he said yesterday. 'We keep debating apostrophes in meetings, and we have better things to do.' "Mullaney hopes to stop public campaigns to restore the apostrophe that would tell passers-by that Kings Heath was once owned by the monarchy. "'Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate and are not needed,' he said. 'More importantly, they confuse people. If I want to go to a restaurant, I don't want to have an A-level (high school diploma) in English to find it.' "But grammarians say apostrophes enrich the English language. "'They are such sweet-looking things that play a crucial role in the English language,' said Marie Clair of the Plain English Society, which campaigns for the use of simple English. 'It's always worth taking the effort to understand them, instead of ignoring them.' "Mullaney says apostrophes confuse GPS units, including those used by emergency services. But Jenny Hodge, a spokeswoman for satellite navigation equipment maker TomTom, said most users of the company's systems navigate through Britain's sometimes-confusing streets by entering a postal code rather than a street address. "She said that if someone preferred to use a street name -- with or without an apostrophe -- punctuation wouldn't be an issue. By the time the first few letters of the street were entered, a list of matching choices would pop up and the user would choose the destination." Not sure I would equate an A-level in English to a U.S. high school diploma -- it's probably more like an AP English class over here -- but I found the argument over the changing city identity intriguing. One has a tendency to forget just how much political turmoil surrounds the cool, clean lines of sans serif type -- with or without those "sweet-looking" apostrophes -- on modern signage. Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From d.sless at communication.org.au Mon Feb 2 07:23:09 2009 From: d.sless at communication.org.au (David Sless) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:23:09 +1100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> We make rules, break them and make new ones in grammar and many other things. But it is sad when a useful rule gets dropped, though I'm not convinced this is one of those cases. The context is non-possessive. Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! David -- blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog web: http://www.communication.org.au Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA CEO ? Communication Research Institute ? ? helping people communicate with people ? Mobile: +61 (0)412 356 795 Phone: +61 (0)3 9489 8640 Skype: davidsless 60 Park Street ? Fitzroy North ? Melbourne ? Australia ? 3068 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0005.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: CRI-lh-logo-col.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1634 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0005.jpg From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Mon Feb 2 19:46:34 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 18:46:34 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary Message-ID: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- From alan at alphabyte.co.nz Mon Feb 2 20:25:45 2009 From: alan at alphabyte.co.nz (Alan Litchfield) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:25:45 +1300 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <25D392C3-DDAD-4DA0-B088-2CBBF5EB08F4@alphabyte.co.nz> On 2/02/2009, at 7:23 PM, David Sless wrote: > Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the > following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. > > COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! > > But how do you know it wasn't Carol who is advertising it? She may have a fine collection. ;) Alan -- Alan Litchfield MBus(Hons), MNZCS AlphaByte PO Box 1941, Auckland, NZ. 1140 http://www.alphabyte.co.nz From frank at limov.com Mon Feb 2 22:06:24 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:06:24 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876050.9090208@limov.com> Conrad Taylor wrote: > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Having a little experience in working with electronics engineers, it often seems to come down to two things: + what does the circuit design that we're using for charging support easily? + what is the cheapest thing that could provide any kind of indication of behaviour? Sometimes, of course, it's just blithering UI design incompetence on the part of the designers. (I know this, because I, with some other software developers, once had to gang up on an electronics engineer to make him change his "design" for a low-battery warning LED; it came on when the battery was low. Since the battery technology was Ni-Cd, whose voltage falls off a cliff at a certain point, it would go out shortly thereafter. So, it worked if-and-only-if you were looking at it in the 20-second window when it would be on.) BTW, I do agree that something standardized would be good; I'm never sure if my Ricoh camera battery charger's LED is off because the battery is charged, or because it's not plugged in. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From iep at mail.dk Mon Feb 2 22:53:20 2009 From: iep at mail.dk (Ian Petersen) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:53:20 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876B50.2090503@mail.dk> Conrad, > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@? For the same reasons we don't have a standard visual vocabulary for computer operating systems or car dashboards or VCR-displays: A combination of lazyness, incompetence, 'not invented here' and branding consultants ... ;-) Ian From frascara at ualberta.ca Tue Feb 3 11:21:15 2009 From: frascara at ualberta.ca (frascara at ualberta.ca) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:21:15 -0700 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090203032115.13902pqz49tfldic@webmail.ualberta.ca> Dear Conrad, I skip many interventions, but I always read yours. Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences. Jorge Quoting "Conrad Taylor" : > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 11:39:27 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:39:27 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/0ce671d2/attachment-0004.htm From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Tue Feb 3 12:05:47 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:05:47 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rob added to the tales of woe: >Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >- digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >correct six months of the year. I have a friend who until very recently had me come over when the clocks changed, to reprogram her central heating. However, my bedroom clock is one step cleverer. Correcting itself by a radio signal, it changes automatically; and my Macs do a similar thing over the Internet thanks to some server somewhere (gives a new meaning to the phrase "time serving"). Solution: give your oven an IP address. >- car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > >In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. >Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new >home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so >I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. I have a DAB radio, which cleverly tunes itself. Programming the buttons to bring up one's favourite stations is however something else. At least those programs are stored in non- volatile memory. I bought the same friend mentioned above a DAB radio for Christmas. Alas, if it is deprived of a power source (mains, battery) for more than ten minutes, the stored favourites evaporate. I guess she's figured out how to deal with the central heating now, but I'll get called over to reprogram the radio when the batteries I installed run out of juice. Conrad -- From ukuld at online.no Tue Feb 3 12:32:17 2009 From: ukuld at online.no (Ole E. Wattne) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:32:17 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. > Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new > home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so > I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/2736fead/attachment-0004.htm From p.stiff at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 12:25:04 2009 From: p.stiff at reading.ac.uk (Paul Stiff) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:25:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned over something that several people will either have forgotten or never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for half- fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low don't we? Paul On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to > have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of > our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to > tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/6510b69e/attachment-0004.htm From Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com Tue Feb 3 12:54:21 2009 From: Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com (Victoria ColemanSmith) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:54:21 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> Message-ID: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the sadly now defunct Woolies. It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal for simple everyday use. ... and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of technology I have purchased in recent years... Yours aye Happy ex-Woolies customer (Victoria) ________________________________ From: infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto:infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] On Behalf Of Ole E. Wattne Sent: 03 February 2009 11:32 To: Discussions about information design Subject: Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visualvocabulary perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ...who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio - especially car radio - grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/26c24595/attachment-0004.htm From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 13:00:54 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:00:54 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: That lack of consistency used to infuriate me, as I knew what it should be and often the suppliers were wrong. Your mention of milk bottles and the snowy weather is making me think of frozen milk bottles on the doorstep when I was a child :) Matt Junior Grumpy Old Man On 3 Feb 2009, at 11:25, Paul Stiff wrote: > Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned > over something that several people will either have forgotten or > never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil > seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) > > & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper > cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently > > some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for > half-fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; > other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but > Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver > usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? > > the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, > now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk > > now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? > > Paul > > On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > >> Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >> - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >> manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >> correct six months of the year. >> - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >> abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. >> >> In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to >> have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of >> our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to >> tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. >> >> Rob, >> Grumpy Old Man Department >> >> __________________________________ >> >> Rob Waller >> >> Department of Typography & Graphic Communication >> University of Reading >> >> >> >> On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: >> >>> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >>> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >>> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >>> I am recharging them. >>> >>> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >>> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >>> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >>> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >>> >>> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >>> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >>> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >>> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >>> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >>> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >>> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >>> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >>> >>> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >>> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >>> >>> Conrad >>> >>> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >>> -- >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>> >>> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >>> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >>> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >>> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >>> >>> For all Information Design matters: >>> http://InformationDesign.org >>> >>> Problems? Write to: >>> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------ Lift: creative communication design phone: +44 (0)118 948 4862 **New number** mobile: +44 (0)7979 757983 aim/ichat: studiolift web: http://www.studiolift.com *This email is confidential and intended for the addressee only From abeesj at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 13:22:38 2009 From: abeesj at googlemail.com (Abi Searle-Jones) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:22:38 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> Message-ID: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Victoria I'm very jealous. I recently tried to find the exact same thing for my 86-year-old step-grandfather, who is increasingly alarmed by all things technological. We ended up paying over the odds for simplicity - the only radio we could find that had the simplest of buttons was from an expensive brand. Hooray for the sadly departed Woolies. Also re Rob's thoughts on digital clocks... I propose a different solution: turn off all unnecessary clocks. I remember reading somewhere that the energy needed to power the digital clock on a microwave for a year was more than the energy needed to power the microwave's cooking function over the same time. Why does a microwave need a clock anyway? The wall switch beckons. (This also prevents annnoying time differences between the myriad clocks around the house.) Another one on car radios: we recently bought a car and our helpful salesman offered to tune the radio for us. 'What's your favourite station?', he asked, and when we responded (BBC) Radio 4, he tuned the radio's station 1 to Radio 4. We managed (barely) to conceal our horror until left alone in the car, when we immediately tuned station 1 to BBC Radio 1, station 2 to Radio 2 etc etc. Despite never listening to anything other than Radio 4. Sometimes interaction sense is less important than human whim. And to bring together radios and microwaves: I grew up in Droitwich, right next to the Radio 4 transmitters, which are so powerful that (allegedly) telephones, microwaves and other electronic equipment all gently transmit the shipping forecast. So I particularly miss the departure of valve radios, which often displayed 'Droitwich' bravely on their dials. (Having said that, our old valve radio frequently scared the heck out of me by suddenly blasting out sound twenty minutes after having been switched on). (Apologies to international subscribers for a very UK-focussed post!) Abi 2009/2/3 Victoria ColemanSmith > > > I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the > sadly now defunct Woolies. > > > > It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily > recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning > dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. > > > > Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal > for simple everyday use. > > > > ? and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of > technology I have purchased in recent years? > > > > Yours aye > > > > Happy ex-Woolies customer > > > > (Victoria) > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto: > infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] *On Behalf Of *Ole E. > Wattne > *Sent:* 03 February 2009 11:32 > *To:* Discussions about information design > *Subject:* Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common > visualvocabulary > > > > perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the > latest in radio-technology? > > :-) > > > > Ole > > Funny Middleaged Man Department > > > > ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, > digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. > > > > Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > > > > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual > dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months > of the year. > > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: > PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not > able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've > just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't > make any plans for the weekend. > > > > Rob, > > Grumpy Old Man Department > > > > __________________________________ > > > > Rob Waller > > > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > > University of Reading > > > > > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > > > > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/57884979/attachment-0004.htm From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 14:12:57 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:12:57 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, preferably on long wave. For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into Test Match Special. Caroline Jarrett (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) From david.farbey at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 14:38:48 2009 From: david.farbey at googlemail.com (David Farbey) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:38:48 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM transistor radio? I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal at exactly the same moment? David -- David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK david at farbey.co.uk Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ Office: 0844 561 0742 Mobile: 07879 005 946 Web site Blog Twitter LinkedIn *********************************************** Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter Co-Manager STC Europe SIG *********************************************** / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the confidential content of this email is strictly forbidden. Legal Information: David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ *********************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/637be2d7/attachment-0004.htm From frank at limov.com Tue Feb 3 14:59:19 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:59:19 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Paul Stiff wrote: > know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? (If you're not in the UK, hit 'delete' now.) Crisps! Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion of these colours, established around the time of the separation of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Compare and contrast: Nature's own colours of flavouring: http://www.goldenwonder.com/golden-wonder-brand.asp Walker's wrong tints of taste: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkers_(snack_foods)#Flavours_.28Packet_Colours.29 Won't anyone think of our children's taste-buds? -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 15:14:59 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:14:59 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <9B567949-AC03-48D2-909A-E378D9E78B02@reading.ac.uk> Actually my internet radio is also known as a wifi (wireless) radio, so it's full circle. __________________________________ Rob Waller On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:12, Caroline Jarrett wrote: > "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? > > It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, > preferably on > long wave. > > For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into > Test > Match Special. > > Caroline Jarrett > (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black > armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/d2f0d433/attachment-0004.htm From teather at compuserve.com Tue Feb 3 16:48:12 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:48:12 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I?m afraid! When watching international matches at Lord?s and the Oval, I have TMS on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long-wave radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to vary. If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and > for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? > > I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB > signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM > broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all > broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my > watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at > One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal > at exactly the same moment? > > David > > -- > David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK > david at farbey.co.uk > Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant > /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ > Office: 0844 561 0742 > Mobile: 07879 005 946 > Web site Blog > Twitter > LinkedIn > *********************************************** > Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter > Co-Manager STC Europe SIG > *********************************************** > / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be > confidential. > Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the > confidential content > of this email is strictly forbidden. > Legal Information: > David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company > registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 > Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, > Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK > VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ > *********************************************** > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > From matt at reprocessed.org Tue Feb 3 17:10:49 2009 From: matt at reprocessed.org (Matt Patterson) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:10:49 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:38, David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, > and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? The signals should arrive at roughly the same time as FM (although there's a bit more equipment in between studio and transmitter with DAB, so they'll be transmitted a bit later than FM, by which I mean microseconds). The problem is because they're using a digital encoding with compression (like MP3 but a bit older and dumber). So, your radio set receives the signal, and then has to decode it. The processing required to do the decoding is quite a bit of work, so they need to buffer a tiny bit of audio in case they run into a particularly tricky bit which might take longer to decode than the audio lasts... so, it takes a second or two to start spitting uncompressed analogue audio out the other end. (The chips they use to do it are quite cheap, therefore quite puny.) The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed signal with them. HTH, Matt -- Matt Patterson | Design & Code | http://www.reprocessed.org/ From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 17:36:13 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:36:13 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 4:10, Matt Patterson wrote: > > The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios > which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital > signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) > long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed > signal with them. I used to get the same problem with my Virgin HD+ hard disc recorder. The TV signal for that used to be a few seconds behind an old analogue set we had. It was buffering a few seconds of signal so it could deal with me pausing live TV. Interestingly, BBC HD was about 10 seconds behind that. Most probably due to the huge amount of data being shuttled around! Matt From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 21:00:25 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 20:00:25 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Message-ID: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Jane wrote > > Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! > > When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS > on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old > long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that > the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on > Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- > wave > radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, > anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to > vary. > > If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching skills. For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with the jokes about busses, but that's another story). For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, and then compare with what the experts say. I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the 'relative beginners' stage :-) Best Caroline Jarrett From dtp at she-philosopher.com Tue Feb 3 22:41:12 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:41:12 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> Hi, David -- > We make rules, break them > and make new ones in grammar > and many other things. As far as I can tell, most of our received rules concerning grammar & "mechanics" for the English language date from the 18th century. It is very rare indeed to find the apostrophe used much at all during C17 (especially the early decades) to mark the possessive. E.g., I've recently been reading in C17 copy-books teaching penmanship and calligraphy -- to see if there are any strictures about left- or right-handed writing/drawing -- and ran across Martin Billingsley's explanation of the "Court" hand as "... in great use in those two famous Courts of the *Kings Bench*, and *Common Pleas*." (as was typical then, both court names are emphasized with italics). Moreover, the title of Billingsley's copy-book (1st printed edn. in 1618), as given on the engraved title page, is _The Pens Excellencie or The Secretaries Delighte_ although modern library catalogs usually add apostrophes, and if you don't search on _The pen's excellencie, or, The secretaries' delighte_ chances are good you won't find anything. Unlike most modern GPS technologies, digital library catalogs tend to be less forgiving of variations in orthography. FWIW, these C17 copy-books are quite fascinating -- filled with beautiful specimens of the 6 principal "hands" then in favor -- and I'll post more about them when I finish my research. I expect C21 typophiles will find much here of interest. ;-) Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From markb at textmatters.com Tue Feb 3 23:58:04 2009 From: markb at textmatters.com (Mark Barratt) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:58:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Message-ID: <4988CBFC.7080807@textmatters.com> Frank Wales wrote: > Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? > > To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so > I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion > of these colours, established around the time of the separation > of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Think of the greater good: Walkers is owned by Pepsi and blue is the key colour of Pepsi Cola. 'Vinegar' would be very off-brand for the Pepsi drink, while cheese... I think I have run out of logic. best -- Mark Barratt Text Matters Information design: we help explain things using language | design | systems | process improvement ____________________________________________ phone +44 (0)118 986 8313 email markb at textmatters.com web http://www.textmatters.com From teather at compuserve.com Wed Feb 4 13:31:37 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:31:37 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (even more hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898AA9.40601@compuserve.com> ? or if Henry Blofeld is commentating, you compare what he says with what actually happens or has just happened, and try to spot the similarity. ;-) Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au Caroline Jarrett wrote: > > Jane wrote > >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. >> > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. > > For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long > wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, > then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with > the jokes about busses, but that's another story). > > For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives > you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, > and then compare with what the experts say. > > I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the > 'relative beginners' stage :-) > > Best > Caroline Jarrett > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From frank at limov.com Wed Feb 4 13:33:41 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:33:41 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898B25.7040408@limov.com> Caroline Jarrett wrote: > Jane wrote >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. Given the small-but-consistent difference in the arrival times of sporting information via different media, I'm thinking "The Sting" for the 21st century. There has to be an opportunity here for quants freshly available from City brokers, and looking for a way to practise their real-time betting/ analytical skilz, particularly given their track record of leveraging us all into stupendous wealth using speed, computers and PhDs. Oh, wait. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From dtp at she-philosopher.com Sat Feb 7 01:14:29 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:14:29 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Typefaces influenced by lettering on maps In-Reply-To: <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <498CD265.8080509@she-philosopher.com> Caf?, I'm still working on C17 handwriting/calligraphy copybooks (which grow more and more interesting by the day!), and in the process, have begun wondering about the style of lettering used on early maps (including "coastal views"). Then, as now, different scripts were intended for different purposes, and I'm increasingly curious about the evolution of "hands" used for early cartography and information design. C17 engravers such as Wenceslaus Hollar (who produced several maps & views) had a very distinctive hand -- now considered "austere" for the Baroque period in which he worked, as was Hollar's "visual style" in general. I've temporarily posted 5 details of Hollar's handwriting from his "A curious new plaine and exact mapp of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, with the iles thereto belonging, and cheefe citties, & maner of the streetes, never so commodiously published before, described by I. S. & others, inlarged by G. H. and engraven by W: Hollar." London: Printed for & by Ro: Walton, and are to be sold at his shop at the West end of Paules, 1654. to my website for review: http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det1.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det2.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det3.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det4.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det5.gif Based on these, and other examples from the early modern period, it would be easy to over-emphasize a supposed preference for utilitarian vs. artistic scripts on C17 maps and drawings. The truth is, though, aesthetic considerations were still very much on the mind of C17 "mechanics," and engineers, and illustrators -- from all walks of life -- and even C17 form letters and other routine types of business correspondence were extravagantly modeled. See, for example, a sample business letter given in the 1619 printing of Richard Gething's _Calligraphotechnia_ http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_busltr.gif and a sample bill of indenture (yes, a contract for indentured servitude!) from this same copybook http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_indenture.gif Unfortunately, the pages of Gething's copybook are badly stained by now (most of our extant copies were well-used by their owners) but you can still get a good feel for the style and content, even so ... and it is a far cry from business type today, such as Officina Serif and Officina Sans (and we won't even mention Arial ;-). The picture that is emerging from my research is -- as usual -- mixed, showing a variety of "hands" used for even the most perfunctory of communications. ... Which brings me back to the lettering on maps. Does anyone know if there's much of a critical literature on this? I'd like to assemble a bibliography on the subject and post it to my website ... so even though I won't personally read titles that don't have a historical focus (at least, not in the near future), I'm still interested in coming up with a well-rounded bibliography with a little something for everyone, including those involved with mapping today. At the same time, I thought I would also post a summary list of digital typefaces derived from/influenced by lettering on maps. (Among other things, this should provide some free advertising for contemporary typeface designers, as well as a chance to introduce their work to a broader scholarly community than they probably reach presently.) I know (for certain) of only 2 digital typefaces based on maps: #1 Emigre's Dalliance (based on a C19 German map maker's handwriting) "Dalliance Script is based on the elegant handwriting found on a map of a horrific battle between the Habsburg Coalition and France which took place at Ostrach, in southwest Germany, in 1799." After which "[a] roman style, and flourishes, were added to turn Dalliance into a fully functional typeface family." http://www.emigre.com/fontpage.php?PDalSc.html (Dalliance Script) & http://www.emigre.com/EF.php?fid=87 (Dalliance family) #2 Incognito and Terra Incognita (by Hungarian designer G?bor K?thay) http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/incognito & http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/incognito/about or http://www.fontshop.com/fonts/downloads/fountain/incognito_terra_incognita/ or http://www.veer.com/products/typedetail.aspx?image=FOT0000074 and can't believe this is all there is. So, if anyone can think of others, please tell us. I believe there may be a 3rd such typeface -- Plazm Media's Hadrian -- although this is sheer speculation on my part, because it somewhat resembles callouts on the 1628 parchment map titled _Description hydrographique de la France_, by Jean Gu?rard; see http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Guerard1628map_det.jpg for a detail from Gu?rard's map. Unfortunately, Precision Type (which used to sell Plazm Media's Hadrian for US$40) has gone out of business, and I can't locate the typeface at the usual online stores (FontShop.com, fonthaus.com, MyFonts.com, fonts.com, veer.com, philsfonts.com, typos.net). Nor does Plazm Media (apparently a Portland, OR design firm) appear to carry it. As far as I could tell, there's nothing on their website's fonts page http://plazm.com/fonts/ other than information and a download button for their typeface "Capitalis Pirata" (over which they were successfully sued by McDonald's for trademark violations). FYI, my information on Plazm Media's Hadrian is quite old by now. I vaguely remember it being used for heads and sub-heads in a printed issue of _Publish!_ magazine several years ago, at which point in time I scanned and printed out a sample headline on a cheap inkjet http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/PlazmMedia_Hadrian1.jpg (I was running low on ink at the time, which explains the horizontal lines running through the image). I had been thinking Hadrian might work for a logotype design, but after testing this at the Precision Type website in July 2003 http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/PlazmMedia_Hadrian2.jpg I changed my mind, and just filed the information I had on Hadrian. And now, I can't easily find out anything more. If anyone knows the story behind the mysterious Hadrian (NOT Hadriano), I would very much like to hear it. Perhaps Plazm Media has pulled the typeface for some reason? Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 2 05:15:18 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:15:18 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Cafe, The full text of an Associated Press story published in the 1/31/2009 edn. of my local newspaper: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs! "LONDON -- On the streets of Birmingham, the queen's English is now the queens English. "England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned. "But some purists are downright possessive about the punctuation mark. "It seems that Birmingham officials have been taking a hammer to grammar for years, quietly dropping apostrophes from street signs since the 1950s. Through the decades, residents have frequently launched spirited campaigns to restore the missing punctuation to signs denoting such places as 'St Pauls Square' and 'Acocks Green.' "This week, the council made it official, saying it was banning the punctuation mark from signs in a bid to end the dispute once and for all. "Councilor Martin Mullaney, who heads the city's transport scrutiny committee, said he decided to act after yet another interminable debate into whether Kings Heath, a Birmingham suburb, should be rewritten with an apostrophe. "'I had to make a final decision on this,' he said yesterday. 'We keep debating apostrophes in meetings, and we have better things to do.' "Mullaney hopes to stop public campaigns to restore the apostrophe that would tell passers-by that Kings Heath was once owned by the monarchy. "'Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate and are not needed,' he said. 'More importantly, they confuse people. If I want to go to a restaurant, I don't want to have an A-level (high school diploma) in English to find it.' "But grammarians say apostrophes enrich the English language. "'They are such sweet-looking things that play a crucial role in the English language,' said Marie Clair of the Plain English Society, which campaigns for the use of simple English. 'It's always worth taking the effort to understand them, instead of ignoring them.' "Mullaney says apostrophes confuse GPS units, including those used by emergency services. But Jenny Hodge, a spokeswoman for satellite navigation equipment maker TomTom, said most users of the company's systems navigate through Britain's sometimes-confusing streets by entering a postal code rather than a street address. "She said that if someone preferred to use a street name -- with or without an apostrophe -- punctuation wouldn't be an issue. By the time the first few letters of the street were entered, a list of matching choices would pop up and the user would choose the destination." Not sure I would equate an A-level in English to a U.S. high school diploma -- it's probably more like an AP English class over here -- but I found the argument over the changing city identity intriguing. One has a tendency to forget just how much political turmoil surrounds the cool, clean lines of sans serif type -- with or without those "sweet-looking" apostrophes -- on modern signage. Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From d.sless at communication.org.au Mon Feb 2 07:23:09 2009 From: d.sless at communication.org.au (David Sless) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:23:09 +1100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> We make rules, break them and make new ones in grammar and many other things. But it is sad when a useful rule gets dropped, though I'm not convinced this is one of those cases. The context is non-possessive. Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! David -- blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog web: http://www.communication.org.au Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA CEO ? Communication Research Institute ? ? helping people communicate with people ? Mobile: +61 (0)412 356 795 Phone: +61 (0)3 9489 8640 Skype: davidsless 60 Park Street ? Fitzroy North ? Melbourne ? Australia ? 3068 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0006.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: CRI-lh-logo-col.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1634 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0006.jpg From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Mon Feb 2 19:46:34 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 18:46:34 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary Message-ID: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- From alan at alphabyte.co.nz Mon Feb 2 20:25:45 2009 From: alan at alphabyte.co.nz (Alan Litchfield) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:25:45 +1300 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <25D392C3-DDAD-4DA0-B088-2CBBF5EB08F4@alphabyte.co.nz> On 2/02/2009, at 7:23 PM, David Sless wrote: > Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the > following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. > > COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! > > But how do you know it wasn't Carol who is advertising it? She may have a fine collection. ;) Alan -- Alan Litchfield MBus(Hons), MNZCS AlphaByte PO Box 1941, Auckland, NZ. 1140 http://www.alphabyte.co.nz From frank at limov.com Mon Feb 2 22:06:24 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:06:24 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876050.9090208@limov.com> Conrad Taylor wrote: > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Having a little experience in working with electronics engineers, it often seems to come down to two things: + what does the circuit design that we're using for charging support easily? + what is the cheapest thing that could provide any kind of indication of behaviour? Sometimes, of course, it's just blithering UI design incompetence on the part of the designers. (I know this, because I, with some other software developers, once had to gang up on an electronics engineer to make him change his "design" for a low-battery warning LED; it came on when the battery was low. Since the battery technology was Ni-Cd, whose voltage falls off a cliff at a certain point, it would go out shortly thereafter. So, it worked if-and-only-if you were looking at it in the 20-second window when it would be on.) BTW, I do agree that something standardized would be good; I'm never sure if my Ricoh camera battery charger's LED is off because the battery is charged, or because it's not plugged in. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From iep at mail.dk Mon Feb 2 22:53:20 2009 From: iep at mail.dk (Ian Petersen) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:53:20 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876B50.2090503@mail.dk> Conrad, > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@? For the same reasons we don't have a standard visual vocabulary for computer operating systems or car dashboards or VCR-displays: A combination of lazyness, incompetence, 'not invented here' and branding consultants ... ;-) Ian From frascara at ualberta.ca Tue Feb 3 11:21:15 2009 From: frascara at ualberta.ca (frascara at ualberta.ca) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:21:15 -0700 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090203032115.13902pqz49tfldic@webmail.ualberta.ca> Dear Conrad, I skip many interventions, but I always read yours. Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences. Jorge Quoting "Conrad Taylor" : > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 11:39:27 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:39:27 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/0ce671d2/attachment-0005.htm From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Tue Feb 3 12:05:47 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:05:47 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rob added to the tales of woe: >Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >- digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >correct six months of the year. I have a friend who until very recently had me come over when the clocks changed, to reprogram her central heating. However, my bedroom clock is one step cleverer. Correcting itself by a radio signal, it changes automatically; and my Macs do a similar thing over the Internet thanks to some server somewhere (gives a new meaning to the phrase "time serving"). Solution: give your oven an IP address. >- car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > >In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. >Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new >home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so >I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. I have a DAB radio, which cleverly tunes itself. Programming the buttons to bring up one's favourite stations is however something else. At least those programs are stored in non- volatile memory. I bought the same friend mentioned above a DAB radio for Christmas. Alas, if it is deprived of a power source (mains, battery) for more than ten minutes, the stored favourites evaporate. I guess she's figured out how to deal with the central heating now, but I'll get called over to reprogram the radio when the batteries I installed run out of juice. Conrad -- From ukuld at online.no Tue Feb 3 12:32:17 2009 From: ukuld at online.no (Ole E. Wattne) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:32:17 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. > Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new > home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so > I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/2736fead/attachment-0005.htm From p.stiff at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 12:25:04 2009 From: p.stiff at reading.ac.uk (Paul Stiff) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:25:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned over something that several people will either have forgotten or never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for half- fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low don't we? Paul On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to > have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of > our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to > tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/6510b69e/attachment-0005.htm From Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com Tue Feb 3 12:54:21 2009 From: Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com (Victoria ColemanSmith) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:54:21 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> Message-ID: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the sadly now defunct Woolies. It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal for simple everyday use. ... and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of technology I have purchased in recent years... Yours aye Happy ex-Woolies customer (Victoria) ________________________________ From: infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto:infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] On Behalf Of Ole E. Wattne Sent: 03 February 2009 11:32 To: Discussions about information design Subject: Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visualvocabulary perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ...who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio - especially car radio - grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/26c24595/attachment-0005.htm From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 13:00:54 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:00:54 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: That lack of consistency used to infuriate me, as I knew what it should be and often the suppliers were wrong. Your mention of milk bottles and the snowy weather is making me think of frozen milk bottles on the doorstep when I was a child :) Matt Junior Grumpy Old Man On 3 Feb 2009, at 11:25, Paul Stiff wrote: > Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned > over something that several people will either have forgotten or > never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil > seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) > > & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper > cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently > > some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for > half-fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; > other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but > Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver > usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? > > the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, > now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk > > now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? > > Paul > > On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > >> Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >> - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >> manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >> correct six months of the year. >> - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >> abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. >> >> In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to >> have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of >> our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to >> tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. >> >> Rob, >> Grumpy Old Man Department >> >> __________________________________ >> >> Rob Waller >> >> Department of Typography & Graphic Communication >> University of Reading >> >> >> >> On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: >> >>> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >>> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >>> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >>> I am recharging them. >>> >>> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >>> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >>> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >>> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >>> >>> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >>> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >>> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >>> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >>> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >>> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >>> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >>> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >>> >>> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >>> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >>> >>> Conrad >>> >>> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >>> -- >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>> >>> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >>> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >>> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >>> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >>> >>> For all Information Design matters: >>> http://InformationDesign.org >>> >>> Problems? Write to: >>> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------ Lift: creative communication design phone: +44 (0)118 948 4862 **New number** mobile: +44 (0)7979 757983 aim/ichat: studiolift web: http://www.studiolift.com *This email is confidential and intended for the addressee only From abeesj at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 13:22:38 2009 From: abeesj at googlemail.com (Abi Searle-Jones) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:22:38 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> Message-ID: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Victoria I'm very jealous. I recently tried to find the exact same thing for my 86-year-old step-grandfather, who is increasingly alarmed by all things technological. We ended up paying over the odds for simplicity - the only radio we could find that had the simplest of buttons was from an expensive brand. Hooray for the sadly departed Woolies. Also re Rob's thoughts on digital clocks... I propose a different solution: turn off all unnecessary clocks. I remember reading somewhere that the energy needed to power the digital clock on a microwave for a year was more than the energy needed to power the microwave's cooking function over the same time. Why does a microwave need a clock anyway? The wall switch beckons. (This also prevents annnoying time differences between the myriad clocks around the house.) Another one on car radios: we recently bought a car and our helpful salesman offered to tune the radio for us. 'What's your favourite station?', he asked, and when we responded (BBC) Radio 4, he tuned the radio's station 1 to Radio 4. We managed (barely) to conceal our horror until left alone in the car, when we immediately tuned station 1 to BBC Radio 1, station 2 to Radio 2 etc etc. Despite never listening to anything other than Radio 4. Sometimes interaction sense is less important than human whim. And to bring together radios and microwaves: I grew up in Droitwich, right next to the Radio 4 transmitters, which are so powerful that (allegedly) telephones, microwaves and other electronic equipment all gently transmit the shipping forecast. So I particularly miss the departure of valve radios, which often displayed 'Droitwich' bravely on their dials. (Having said that, our old valve radio frequently scared the heck out of me by suddenly blasting out sound twenty minutes after having been switched on). (Apologies to international subscribers for a very UK-focussed post!) Abi 2009/2/3 Victoria ColemanSmith > > > I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the > sadly now defunct Woolies. > > > > It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily > recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning > dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. > > > > Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal > for simple everyday use. > > > > ? and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of > technology I have purchased in recent years? > > > > Yours aye > > > > Happy ex-Woolies customer > > > > (Victoria) > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto: > infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] *On Behalf Of *Ole E. > Wattne > *Sent:* 03 February 2009 11:32 > *To:* Discussions about information design > *Subject:* Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common > visualvocabulary > > > > perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the > latest in radio-technology? > > :-) > > > > Ole > > Funny Middleaged Man Department > > > > ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, > digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. > > > > Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > > > > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual > dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months > of the year. > > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: > PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not > able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've > just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't > make any plans for the weekend. > > > > Rob, > > Grumpy Old Man Department > > > > __________________________________ > > > > Rob Waller > > > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > > University of Reading > > > > > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > > > > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/57884979/attachment-0005.htm From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 14:12:57 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:12:57 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, preferably on long wave. For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into Test Match Special. Caroline Jarrett (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) From david.farbey at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 14:38:48 2009 From: david.farbey at googlemail.com (David Farbey) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:38:48 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM transistor radio? I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal at exactly the same moment? David -- David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK david at farbey.co.uk Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ Office: 0844 561 0742 Mobile: 07879 005 946 Web site Blog Twitter LinkedIn *********************************************** Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter Co-Manager STC Europe SIG *********************************************** / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the confidential content of this email is strictly forbidden. Legal Information: David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ *********************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/637be2d7/attachment-0005.htm From frank at limov.com Tue Feb 3 14:59:19 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:59:19 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Paul Stiff wrote: > know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? (If you're not in the UK, hit 'delete' now.) Crisps! Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion of these colours, established around the time of the separation of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Compare and contrast: Nature's own colours of flavouring: http://www.goldenwonder.com/golden-wonder-brand.asp Walker's wrong tints of taste: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkers_(snack_foods)#Flavours_.28Packet_Colours.29 Won't anyone think of our children's taste-buds? -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 15:14:59 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:14:59 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <9B567949-AC03-48D2-909A-E378D9E78B02@reading.ac.uk> Actually my internet radio is also known as a wifi (wireless) radio, so it's full circle. __________________________________ Rob Waller On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:12, Caroline Jarrett wrote: > "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? > > It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, > preferably on > long wave. > > For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into > Test > Match Special. > > Caroline Jarrett > (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black > armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/d2f0d433/attachment-0005.htm From teather at compuserve.com Tue Feb 3 16:48:12 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:48:12 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I?m afraid! When watching international matches at Lord?s and the Oval, I have TMS on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long-wave radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to vary. If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and > for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? > > I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB > signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM > broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all > broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my > watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at > One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal > at exactly the same moment? > > David > > -- > David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK > david at farbey.co.uk > Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant > /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ > Office: 0844 561 0742 > Mobile: 07879 005 946 > Web site Blog > Twitter > LinkedIn > *********************************************** > Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter > Co-Manager STC Europe SIG > *********************************************** > / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be > confidential. > Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the > confidential content > of this email is strictly forbidden. > Legal Information: > David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company > registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 > Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, > Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK > VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ > *********************************************** > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > From matt at reprocessed.org Tue Feb 3 17:10:49 2009 From: matt at reprocessed.org (Matt Patterson) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:10:49 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:38, David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, > and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? The signals should arrive at roughly the same time as FM (although there's a bit more equipment in between studio and transmitter with DAB, so they'll be transmitted a bit later than FM, by which I mean microseconds). The problem is because they're using a digital encoding with compression (like MP3 but a bit older and dumber). So, your radio set receives the signal, and then has to decode it. The processing required to do the decoding is quite a bit of work, so they need to buffer a tiny bit of audio in case they run into a particularly tricky bit which might take longer to decode than the audio lasts... so, it takes a second or two to start spitting uncompressed analogue audio out the other end. (The chips they use to do it are quite cheap, therefore quite puny.) The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed signal with them. HTH, Matt -- Matt Patterson | Design & Code | http://www.reprocessed.org/ From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 17:36:13 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:36:13 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 4:10, Matt Patterson wrote: > > The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios > which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital > signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) > long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed > signal with them. I used to get the same problem with my Virgin HD+ hard disc recorder. The TV signal for that used to be a few seconds behind an old analogue set we had. It was buffering a few seconds of signal so it could deal with me pausing live TV. Interestingly, BBC HD was about 10 seconds behind that. Most probably due to the huge amount of data being shuttled around! Matt From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 21:00:25 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 20:00:25 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Message-ID: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Jane wrote > > Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! > > When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS > on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old > long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that > the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on > Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- > wave > radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, > anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to > vary. > > If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching skills. For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with the jokes about busses, but that's another story). For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, and then compare with what the experts say. I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the 'relative beginners' stage :-) Best Caroline Jarrett From dtp at she-philosopher.com Tue Feb 3 22:41:12 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:41:12 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> Hi, David -- > We make rules, break them > and make new ones in grammar > and many other things. As far as I can tell, most of our received rules concerning grammar & "mechanics" for the English language date from the 18th century. It is very rare indeed to find the apostrophe used much at all during C17 (especially the early decades) to mark the possessive. E.g., I've recently been reading in C17 copy-books teaching penmanship and calligraphy -- to see if there are any strictures about left- or right-handed writing/drawing -- and ran across Martin Billingsley's explanation of the "Court" hand as "... in great use in those two famous Courts of the *Kings Bench*, and *Common Pleas*." (as was typical then, both court names are emphasized with italics). Moreover, the title of Billingsley's copy-book (1st printed edn. in 1618), as given on the engraved title page, is _The Pens Excellencie or The Secretaries Delighte_ although modern library catalogs usually add apostrophes, and if you don't search on _The pen's excellencie, or, The secretaries' delighte_ chances are good you won't find anything. Unlike most modern GPS technologies, digital library catalogs tend to be less forgiving of variations in orthography. FWIW, these C17 copy-books are quite fascinating -- filled with beautiful specimens of the 6 principal "hands" then in favor -- and I'll post more about them when I finish my research. I expect C21 typophiles will find much here of interest. ;-) Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From markb at textmatters.com Tue Feb 3 23:58:04 2009 From: markb at textmatters.com (Mark Barratt) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:58:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Message-ID: <4988CBFC.7080807@textmatters.com> Frank Wales wrote: > Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? > > To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so > I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion > of these colours, established around the time of the separation > of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Think of the greater good: Walkers is owned by Pepsi and blue is the key colour of Pepsi Cola. 'Vinegar' would be very off-brand for the Pepsi drink, while cheese... I think I have run out of logic. best -- Mark Barratt Text Matters Information design: we help explain things using language | design | systems | process improvement ____________________________________________ phone +44 (0)118 986 8313 email markb at textmatters.com web http://www.textmatters.com From teather at compuserve.com Wed Feb 4 13:31:37 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:31:37 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (even more hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898AA9.40601@compuserve.com> ? or if Henry Blofeld is commentating, you compare what he says with what actually happens or has just happened, and try to spot the similarity. ;-) Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au Caroline Jarrett wrote: > > Jane wrote > >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. >> > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. > > For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long > wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, > then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with > the jokes about busses, but that's another story). > > For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives > you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, > and then compare with what the experts say. > > I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the > 'relative beginners' stage :-) > > Best > Caroline Jarrett > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From frank at limov.com Wed Feb 4 13:33:41 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:33:41 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898B25.7040408@limov.com> Caroline Jarrett wrote: > Jane wrote >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. Given the small-but-consistent difference in the arrival times of sporting information via different media, I'm thinking "The Sting" for the 21st century. There has to be an opportunity here for quants freshly available from City brokers, and looking for a way to practise their real-time betting/ analytical skilz, particularly given their track record of leveraging us all into stupendous wealth using speed, computers and PhDs. Oh, wait. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From dtp at she-philosopher.com Sat Feb 7 01:14:29 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:14:29 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Typefaces influenced by lettering on maps In-Reply-To: <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <498CD265.8080509@she-philosopher.com> Caf?, I'm still working on C17 handwriting/calligraphy copybooks (which grow more and more interesting by the day!), and in the process, have begun wondering about the style of lettering used on early maps (including "coastal views"). Then, as now, different scripts were intended for different purposes, and I'm increasingly curious about the evolution of "hands" used for early cartography and information design. C17 engravers such as Wenceslaus Hollar (who produced several maps & views) had a very distinctive hand -- now considered "austere" for the Baroque period in which he worked, as was Hollar's "visual style" in general. I've temporarily posted 5 details of Hollar's handwriting from his "A curious new plaine and exact mapp of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, with the iles thereto belonging, and cheefe citties, & maner of the streetes, never so commodiously published before, described by I. S. & others, inlarged by G. H. and engraven by W: Hollar." London: Printed for & by Ro: Walton, and are to be sold at his shop at the West end of Paules, 1654. to my website for review: http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det1.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det2.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det3.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det4.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det5.gif Based on these, and other examples from the early modern period, it would be easy to over-emphasize a supposed preference for utilitarian vs. artistic scripts on C17 maps and drawings. The truth is, though, aesthetic considerations were still very much on the mind of C17 "mechanics," and engineers, and illustrators -- from all walks of life -- and even C17 form letters and other routine types of business correspondence were extravagantly modeled. See, for example, a sample business letter given in the 1619 printing of Richard Gething's _Calligraphotechnia_ http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_busltr.gif and a sample bill of indenture (yes, a contract for indentured servitude!) from this same copybook http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_indenture.gif Unfortunately, the pages of Gething's copybook are badly stained by now (most of our extant copies were well-used by their owners) but you can still get a good feel for the style and content, even so ... and it is a far cry from business type today, such as Officina Serif and Officina Sans (and we won't even mention Arial ;-). The picture that is emerging from my research is -- as usual -- mixed, showing a variety of "hands" used for even the most perfunctory of communications. ... Which brings me back to the lettering on maps. Does anyone know if there's much of a critical literature on this? I'd like to assemble a bibliography on the subject and post it to my website ... so even though I won't personally read titles that don't have a historical focus (at least, not in the near future), I'm still interested in coming up with a well-rounded bibliography with a little something for everyone, including those involved with mapping today. At the same time, I thought I would also post a summary list of digital typefaces derived from/influenced by lettering on maps. (Among other things, this should provide some free advertising for contemporary typeface designers, as well as a chance to introduce their work to a broader scholarly community than they probably reach presently.) I know (for certain) of only 2 digital typefaces based on maps: #1 Emigre's Dalliance (based on a C19 German map maker's handwriting) "Dalliance Script is based on the elegant handwriting found on a map of a horrific battle between the Habsburg Coalition and France which took place at Ostrach, in southwest Germany, in 1799." After which "[a] roman style, and flourishes, were added to turn Dalliance into a fully functional typeface family." http://www.emigre.com/fontpage.php?PDalSc.html (Dalliance Script) & http://www.emigre.com/EF.php?fid=87 (Dalliance family) #2 Incognito and Terra Incognita (by Hungarian designer G?bor K?thay) http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/incognito & http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/incognito/about or http://www.fontshop.com/fonts/downloads/fountain/incognito_terra_incognita/ or http://www.veer.com/products/typedetail.aspx?image=FOT0000074 and can't believe this is all there is. So, if anyone can think of others, please tell us. I believe there may be a 3rd such typeface -- Plazm Media's Hadrian -- although this is sheer speculation on my part, because it somewhat resembles callouts on the 1628 parchment map titled _Description hydrographique de la France_, by Jean Gu?rard; see http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Guerard1628map_det.jpg for a detail from Gu?rard's map. Unfortunately, Precision Type (which used to sell Plazm Media's Hadrian for US$40) has gone out of business, and I can't locate the typeface at the usual online stores (FontShop.com, fonthaus.com, MyFonts.com, fonts.com, veer.com, philsfonts.com, typos.net). Nor does Plazm Media (apparently a Portland, OR design firm) appear to carry it. As far as I could tell, there's nothing on their website's fonts page http://plazm.com/fonts/ other than information and a download button for their typeface "Capitalis Pirata" (over which they were successfully sued by McDonald's for trademark violations). FYI, my information on Plazm Media's Hadrian is quite old by now. I vaguely remember it being used for heads and sub-heads in a printed issue of _Publish!_ magazine several years ago, at which point in time I scanned and printed out a sample headline on a cheap inkjet http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/PlazmMedia_Hadrian1.jpg (I was running low on ink at the time, which explains the horizontal lines running through the image). I had been thinking Hadrian might work for a logotype design, but after testing this at the Precision Type website in July 2003 http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/PlazmMedia_Hadrian2.jpg I changed my mind, and just filed the information I had on Hadrian. And now, I can't easily find out anything more. If anyone knows the story behind the mysterious Hadrian (NOT Hadriano), I would very much like to hear it. Perhaps Plazm Media has pulled the typeface for some reason? Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Sat Feb 7 08:17:47 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 07:17:47 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Typefaces influenced by lettering on maps In-Reply-To: <498CD265.8080509@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> <498CD265.8080509@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: Deborah, I can't contribute much to your enquiry, and I certainly can't suggest anything for your bibliography, but perhaps I can make an obvious point. And if it is so obvious as to appear almost insulting, I apologise. We tend to associate "the invention of printing" with Gutenberg and moveable type. However, printing from engraved plates started very soon after, and texts had previously been printed from wood blocks: I rather like the fact that papal indulgences were one of the genres mass-reproduced this way, and playing-cards another. Engraving was much the favoured option for reproduction of maps, because larger sheets could be printed thereby, on the star capstan press, and the process was ideal for reproducing fine details. One could not, however, use type with engraving. Therefore the use of lettering on engraved plates involved cutting each letter by hand (and in mirror image). In the Hollar examples you give, such as the map legend in your second example, the variations in the shape of the same letter in different positions is evident; though not too obvious -- such uniformity as there was, and there is quite a high degree of it, was achieved by uniform practice by the "sculptor". One can therefore say that the skill involved was a branch of calligraphy, and its practitioners must have been calligraphers. Just as Gutenberg in his type-making copied the black letter form, and Griffo for Aldus copied the modified Carolingian hand that was becoming fashionable in Italy (and also, the chancery cursive which in England was callled "italic" by virtue of its origin), so also did these C17 engravers mimic with their burins the shape of letters made with the pen. However, when I look at the bill of indenture that you offered us for inspection, I would say that the flourishes are an engraver's fancy, and I cannot conceive of a pen which could produce lettering like that. The bodies of the letters carry the kind of diagonal emphasis which requires a chisel-cut nib, but the flourishes require a flexible pointed nib, probably one made of steel. And here, etymology provides a clue. The kind of hand to which my father was educated, using a flexible steel nib and ideally as much cursive linking as possible (going back to "dot the i's and cross the t's"), was even then called "copperplate". So handwriting informed the practice of the C17 engraver, but later it was the engraver's style which influenced handwriting. Conrad >Caf?, > >I'm still working on C17 handwriting/calligraphy copybooks (which grow >more and more interesting by the day!), and in the process, have begun >wondering about the style of lettering used on early maps (including >"coastal views"). > >Then, as now, different scripts were intended for different purposes, >and I'm increasingly curious about the evolution of "hands" used for >early cartography and information design. > >C17 engravers such as Wenceslaus Hollar (who produced several maps & >views) had a very distinctive hand -- now considered "austere" for the >Baroque period in which he worked, as was Hollar's "visual style" in >general. > >I've temporarily posted 5 details of Hollar's handwriting from his > > "A curious new plaine and exact mapp of England, Ireland, > Scotland, and Wales, with the iles thereto belonging, and > cheefe citties, & maner of the streetes, never so commodiously > published before, described by I. S. & others, inlarged by G. > H. and engraven by W: Hollar." London: Printed for & by Ro: > Walton, and are to be sold at his shop at the West end of > Paules, 1654. > >to my website for review: > >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det1.gif >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det2.gif >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det3.gif >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det4.gif >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det5.gif > >Based on these, and other examples from the early modern period, it >would be easy to over-emphasize a supposed preference for utilitarian >vs. artistic scripts on C17 maps and drawings. > >The truth is, though, aesthetic considerations were still very much on >the mind of C17 "mechanics," and engineers, and illustrators -- from >all walks of life -- and even C17 form letters and other routine types >of business correspondence were extravagantly modeled. See, for >example, a sample business letter given in the 1619 printing of >Richard Gething's _Calligraphotechnia_ > >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_busltr.gif > >and a sample bill of indenture (yes, a contract for indentured >servitude!) from this same copybook > >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_indenture.gif > >Unfortunately, the pages of Gething's copybook are badly stained by >now (most of our extant copies were well-used by their owners) but you >can still get a good feel for the style and content, even so ... and >it is a far cry from business type today, such as Officina Serif and >Officina Sans (and we won't even mention Arial ;-). > >The picture that is emerging from my research is -- as usual -- mixed, >showing a variety of "hands" used for even the most perfunctory of >communications. > -- From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 2 05:15:18 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:15:18 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Cafe, The full text of an Associated Press story published in the 1/31/2009 edn. of my local newspaper: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs! "LONDON -- On the streets of Birmingham, the queen's English is now the queens English. "England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned. "But some purists are downright possessive about the punctuation mark. "It seems that Birmingham officials have been taking a hammer to grammar for years, quietly dropping apostrophes from street signs since the 1950s. Through the decades, residents have frequently launched spirited campaigns to restore the missing punctuation to signs denoting such places as 'St Pauls Square' and 'Acocks Green.' "This week, the council made it official, saying it was banning the punctuation mark from signs in a bid to end the dispute once and for all. "Councilor Martin Mullaney, who heads the city's transport scrutiny committee, said he decided to act after yet another interminable debate into whether Kings Heath, a Birmingham suburb, should be rewritten with an apostrophe. "'I had to make a final decision on this,' he said yesterday. 'We keep debating apostrophes in meetings, and we have better things to do.' "Mullaney hopes to stop public campaigns to restore the apostrophe that would tell passers-by that Kings Heath was once owned by the monarchy. "'Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate and are not needed,' he said. 'More importantly, they confuse people. If I want to go to a restaurant, I don't want to have an A-level (high school diploma) in English to find it.' "But grammarians say apostrophes enrich the English language. "'They are such sweet-looking things that play a crucial role in the English language,' said Marie Clair of the Plain English Society, which campaigns for the use of simple English. 'It's always worth taking the effort to understand them, instead of ignoring them.' "Mullaney says apostrophes confuse GPS units, including those used by emergency services. But Jenny Hodge, a spokeswoman for satellite navigation equipment maker TomTom, said most users of the company's systems navigate through Britain's sometimes-confusing streets by entering a postal code rather than a street address. "She said that if someone preferred to use a street name -- with or without an apostrophe -- punctuation wouldn't be an issue. By the time the first few letters of the street were entered, a list of matching choices would pop up and the user would choose the destination." Not sure I would equate an A-level in English to a U.S. high school diploma -- it's probably more like an AP English class over here -- but I found the argument over the changing city identity intriguing. One has a tendency to forget just how much political turmoil surrounds the cool, clean lines of sans serif type -- with or without those "sweet-looking" apostrophes -- on modern signage. Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From d.sless at communication.org.au Mon Feb 2 07:23:09 2009 From: d.sless at communication.org.au (David Sless) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:23:09 +1100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> We make rules, break them and make new ones in grammar and many other things. But it is sad when a useful rule gets dropped, though I'm not convinced this is one of those cases. The context is non-possessive. Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! David -- blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog web: http://www.communication.org.au Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA CEO ? Communication Research Institute ? ? helping people communicate with people ? Mobile: +61 (0)412 356 795 Phone: +61 (0)3 9489 8640 Skype: davidsless 60 Park Street ? Fitzroy North ? Melbourne ? Australia ? 3068 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0007.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: CRI-lh-logo-col.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1634 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0007.jpg From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Mon Feb 2 19:46:34 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 18:46:34 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary Message-ID: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- From alan at alphabyte.co.nz Mon Feb 2 20:25:45 2009 From: alan at alphabyte.co.nz (Alan Litchfield) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:25:45 +1300 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <25D392C3-DDAD-4DA0-B088-2CBBF5EB08F4@alphabyte.co.nz> On 2/02/2009, at 7:23 PM, David Sless wrote: > Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the > following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. > > COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! > > But how do you know it wasn't Carol who is advertising it? She may have a fine collection. ;) Alan -- Alan Litchfield MBus(Hons), MNZCS AlphaByte PO Box 1941, Auckland, NZ. 1140 http://www.alphabyte.co.nz From frank at limov.com Mon Feb 2 22:06:24 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:06:24 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876050.9090208@limov.com> Conrad Taylor wrote: > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Having a little experience in working with electronics engineers, it often seems to come down to two things: + what does the circuit design that we're using for charging support easily? + what is the cheapest thing that could provide any kind of indication of behaviour? Sometimes, of course, it's just blithering UI design incompetence on the part of the designers. (I know this, because I, with some other software developers, once had to gang up on an electronics engineer to make him change his "design" for a low-battery warning LED; it came on when the battery was low. Since the battery technology was Ni-Cd, whose voltage falls off a cliff at a certain point, it would go out shortly thereafter. So, it worked if-and-only-if you were looking at it in the 20-second window when it would be on.) BTW, I do agree that something standardized would be good; I'm never sure if my Ricoh camera battery charger's LED is off because the battery is charged, or because it's not plugged in. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From iep at mail.dk Mon Feb 2 22:53:20 2009 From: iep at mail.dk (Ian Petersen) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:53:20 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876B50.2090503@mail.dk> Conrad, > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@? For the same reasons we don't have a standard visual vocabulary for computer operating systems or car dashboards or VCR-displays: A combination of lazyness, incompetence, 'not invented here' and branding consultants ... ;-) Ian From frascara at ualberta.ca Tue Feb 3 11:21:15 2009 From: frascara at ualberta.ca (frascara at ualberta.ca) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:21:15 -0700 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090203032115.13902pqz49tfldic@webmail.ualberta.ca> Dear Conrad, I skip many interventions, but I always read yours. Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences. Jorge Quoting "Conrad Taylor" : > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 11:39:27 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:39:27 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/0ce671d2/attachment-0006.htm From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Tue Feb 3 12:05:47 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:05:47 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rob added to the tales of woe: >Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >- digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >correct six months of the year. I have a friend who until very recently had me come over when the clocks changed, to reprogram her central heating. However, my bedroom clock is one step cleverer. Correcting itself by a radio signal, it changes automatically; and my Macs do a similar thing over the Internet thanks to some server somewhere (gives a new meaning to the phrase "time serving"). Solution: give your oven an IP address. >- car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > >In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. >Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new >home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so >I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. I have a DAB radio, which cleverly tunes itself. Programming the buttons to bring up one's favourite stations is however something else. At least those programs are stored in non- volatile memory. I bought the same friend mentioned above a DAB radio for Christmas. Alas, if it is deprived of a power source (mains, battery) for more than ten minutes, the stored favourites evaporate. I guess she's figured out how to deal with the central heating now, but I'll get called over to reprogram the radio when the batteries I installed run out of juice. Conrad -- From ukuld at online.no Tue Feb 3 12:32:17 2009 From: ukuld at online.no (Ole E. Wattne) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:32:17 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. > Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new > home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so > I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/2736fead/attachment-0006.htm From p.stiff at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 12:25:04 2009 From: p.stiff at reading.ac.uk (Paul Stiff) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:25:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned over something that several people will either have forgotten or never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for half- fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low don't we? Paul On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to > have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of > our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to > tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/6510b69e/attachment-0006.htm From Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com Tue Feb 3 12:54:21 2009 From: Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com (Victoria ColemanSmith) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:54:21 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> Message-ID: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the sadly now defunct Woolies. It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal for simple everyday use. ... and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of technology I have purchased in recent years... Yours aye Happy ex-Woolies customer (Victoria) ________________________________ From: infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto:infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] On Behalf Of Ole E. Wattne Sent: 03 February 2009 11:32 To: Discussions about information design Subject: Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visualvocabulary perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ...who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio - especially car radio - grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/26c24595/attachment-0006.htm From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 13:00:54 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:00:54 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: That lack of consistency used to infuriate me, as I knew what it should be and often the suppliers were wrong. Your mention of milk bottles and the snowy weather is making me think of frozen milk bottles on the doorstep when I was a child :) Matt Junior Grumpy Old Man On 3 Feb 2009, at 11:25, Paul Stiff wrote: > Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned > over something that several people will either have forgotten or > never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil > seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) > > & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper > cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently > > some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for > half-fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; > other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but > Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver > usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? > > the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, > now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk > > now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? > > Paul > > On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > >> Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >> - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >> manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >> correct six months of the year. >> - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >> abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. >> >> In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to >> have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of >> our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to >> tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. >> >> Rob, >> Grumpy Old Man Department >> >> __________________________________ >> >> Rob Waller >> >> Department of Typography & Graphic Communication >> University of Reading >> >> >> >> On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: >> >>> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >>> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >>> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >>> I am recharging them. >>> >>> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >>> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >>> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >>> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >>> >>> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >>> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >>> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >>> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >>> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >>> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >>> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >>> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >>> >>> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >>> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >>> >>> Conrad >>> >>> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >>> -- >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>> >>> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >>> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >>> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >>> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >>> >>> For all Information Design matters: >>> http://InformationDesign.org >>> >>> Problems? Write to: >>> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------ Lift: creative communication design phone: +44 (0)118 948 4862 **New number** mobile: +44 (0)7979 757983 aim/ichat: studiolift web: http://www.studiolift.com *This email is confidential and intended for the addressee only From abeesj at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 13:22:38 2009 From: abeesj at googlemail.com (Abi Searle-Jones) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:22:38 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> Message-ID: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Victoria I'm very jealous. I recently tried to find the exact same thing for my 86-year-old step-grandfather, who is increasingly alarmed by all things technological. We ended up paying over the odds for simplicity - the only radio we could find that had the simplest of buttons was from an expensive brand. Hooray for the sadly departed Woolies. Also re Rob's thoughts on digital clocks... I propose a different solution: turn off all unnecessary clocks. I remember reading somewhere that the energy needed to power the digital clock on a microwave for a year was more than the energy needed to power the microwave's cooking function over the same time. Why does a microwave need a clock anyway? The wall switch beckons. (This also prevents annnoying time differences between the myriad clocks around the house.) Another one on car radios: we recently bought a car and our helpful salesman offered to tune the radio for us. 'What's your favourite station?', he asked, and when we responded (BBC) Radio 4, he tuned the radio's station 1 to Radio 4. We managed (barely) to conceal our horror until left alone in the car, when we immediately tuned station 1 to BBC Radio 1, station 2 to Radio 2 etc etc. Despite never listening to anything other than Radio 4. Sometimes interaction sense is less important than human whim. And to bring together radios and microwaves: I grew up in Droitwich, right next to the Radio 4 transmitters, which are so powerful that (allegedly) telephones, microwaves and other electronic equipment all gently transmit the shipping forecast. So I particularly miss the departure of valve radios, which often displayed 'Droitwich' bravely on their dials. (Having said that, our old valve radio frequently scared the heck out of me by suddenly blasting out sound twenty minutes after having been switched on). (Apologies to international subscribers for a very UK-focussed post!) Abi 2009/2/3 Victoria ColemanSmith > > > I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the > sadly now defunct Woolies. > > > > It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily > recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning > dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. > > > > Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal > for simple everyday use. > > > > ? and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of > technology I have purchased in recent years? > > > > Yours aye > > > > Happy ex-Woolies customer > > > > (Victoria) > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto: > infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] *On Behalf Of *Ole E. > Wattne > *Sent:* 03 February 2009 11:32 > *To:* Discussions about information design > *Subject:* Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common > visualvocabulary > > > > perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the > latest in radio-technology? > > :-) > > > > Ole > > Funny Middleaged Man Department > > > > ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, > digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. > > > > Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > > > > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual > dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months > of the year. > > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: > PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not > able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've > just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't > make any plans for the weekend. > > > > Rob, > > Grumpy Old Man Department > > > > __________________________________ > > > > Rob Waller > > > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > > University of Reading > > > > > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > > > > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/57884979/attachment-0006.htm From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 14:12:57 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:12:57 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, preferably on long wave. For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into Test Match Special. Caroline Jarrett (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) From david.farbey at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 14:38:48 2009 From: david.farbey at googlemail.com (David Farbey) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:38:48 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM transistor radio? I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal at exactly the same moment? David -- David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK david at farbey.co.uk Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ Office: 0844 561 0742 Mobile: 07879 005 946 Web site Blog Twitter LinkedIn *********************************************** Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter Co-Manager STC Europe SIG *********************************************** / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the confidential content of this email is strictly forbidden. Legal Information: David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ *********************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/637be2d7/attachment-0006.htm From frank at limov.com Tue Feb 3 14:59:19 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:59:19 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Paul Stiff wrote: > know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? (If you're not in the UK, hit 'delete' now.) Crisps! Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion of these colours, established around the time of the separation of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Compare and contrast: Nature's own colours of flavouring: http://www.goldenwonder.com/golden-wonder-brand.asp Walker's wrong tints of taste: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkers_(snack_foods)#Flavours_.28Packet_Colours.29 Won't anyone think of our children's taste-buds? -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 15:14:59 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:14:59 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <9B567949-AC03-48D2-909A-E378D9E78B02@reading.ac.uk> Actually my internet radio is also known as a wifi (wireless) radio, so it's full circle. __________________________________ Rob Waller On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:12, Caroline Jarrett wrote: > "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? > > It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, > preferably on > long wave. > > For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into > Test > Match Special. > > Caroline Jarrett > (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black > armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/d2f0d433/attachment-0006.htm From teather at compuserve.com Tue Feb 3 16:48:12 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:48:12 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I?m afraid! When watching international matches at Lord?s and the Oval, I have TMS on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long-wave radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to vary. If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and > for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? > > I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB > signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM > broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all > broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my > watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at > One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal > at exactly the same moment? > > David > > -- > David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK > david at farbey.co.uk > Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant > /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ > Office: 0844 561 0742 > Mobile: 07879 005 946 > Web site Blog > Twitter > LinkedIn > *********************************************** > Treasurer and Past President STC UK Chapter > Co-Manager STC Europe SIG > *********************************************** > / This email is for the attention of the addressee(s) only and may be > confidential. > Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the > confidential content > of this email is strictly forbidden. > Legal Information: > David Farbey trades as Dannywell Ltd., a company > registered in England, Registration No. 05167878 > Registered Office: Suite 2, Fountain House, 1A Elm Park, > Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AU, UK > VAT Registration No. GB 843 2005 64/ > *********************************************** > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > From matt at reprocessed.org Tue Feb 3 17:10:49 2009 From: matt at reprocessed.org (Matt Patterson) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:10:49 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 13:38, David Farbey wrote: > What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, > and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I > receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of > seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM > transistor radio? The signals should arrive at roughly the same time as FM (although there's a bit more equipment in between studio and transmitter with DAB, so they'll be transmitted a bit later than FM, by which I mean microseconds). The problem is because they're using a digital encoding with compression (like MP3 but a bit older and dumber). So, your radio set receives the signal, and then has to decode it. The processing required to do the decoding is quite a bit of work, so they need to buffer a tiny bit of audio in case they run into a particularly tricky bit which might take longer to decode than the audio lasts... so, it takes a second or two to start spitting uncompressed analogue audio out the other end. (The chips they use to do it are quite cheap, therefore quite puny.) The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed signal with them. HTH, Matt -- Matt Patterson | Design & Code | http://www.reprocessed.org/ From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 17:36:13 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:36:13 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> Message-ID: On 3 Feb 2009, at 4:10, Matt Patterson wrote: > > The problem is more pronounced with 'Pause Plus' and similar radios > which let you 'pause' live radio. What they do is store the digital > signal in RAM, and they typically have a 15 second (or thereabouts) > long buffer which they have to fill first, so you get a really delayed > signal with them. I used to get the same problem with my Virgin HD+ hard disc recorder. The TV signal for that used to be a few seconds behind an old analogue set we had. It was buffering a few seconds of signal so it could deal with me pausing live TV. Interestingly, BBC HD was about 10 seconds behind that. Most probably due to the huge amount of data being shuttled around! Matt From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 21:00:25 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 20:00:25 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> Message-ID: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Jane wrote > > Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! > > When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS > on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old > long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that > the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on > Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- > wave > radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, > anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to > vary. > > If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching skills. For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with the jokes about busses, but that's another story). For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, and then compare with what the experts say. I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the 'relative beginners' stage :-) Best Caroline Jarrett From dtp at she-philosopher.com Tue Feb 3 22:41:12 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:41:12 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> Hi, David -- > We make rules, break them > and make new ones in grammar > and many other things. As far as I can tell, most of our received rules concerning grammar & "mechanics" for the English language date from the 18th century. It is very rare indeed to find the apostrophe used much at all during C17 (especially the early decades) to mark the possessive. E.g., I've recently been reading in C17 copy-books teaching penmanship and calligraphy -- to see if there are any strictures about left- or right-handed writing/drawing -- and ran across Martin Billingsley's explanation of the "Court" hand as "... in great use in those two famous Courts of the *Kings Bench*, and *Common Pleas*." (as was typical then, both court names are emphasized with italics). Moreover, the title of Billingsley's copy-book (1st printed edn. in 1618), as given on the engraved title page, is _The Pens Excellencie or The Secretaries Delighte_ although modern library catalogs usually add apostrophes, and if you don't search on _The pen's excellencie, or, The secretaries' delighte_ chances are good you won't find anything. Unlike most modern GPS technologies, digital library catalogs tend to be less forgiving of variations in orthography. FWIW, these C17 copy-books are quite fascinating -- filled with beautiful specimens of the 6 principal "hands" then in favor -- and I'll post more about them when I finish my research. I expect C21 typophiles will find much here of interest. ;-) Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From markb at textmatters.com Tue Feb 3 23:58:04 2009 From: markb at textmatters.com (Mark Barratt) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:58:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> <49884DB7.6070409@limov.com> Message-ID: <4988CBFC.7080807@textmatters.com> Frank Wales wrote: > Quick, what colours are "Cheese & Onion" and "Salt & Vinegar"? > > To me, they're "green" and "pale blue" respectively, and so > I'm always hideously confused by Walker's blatant inversion > of these colours, established around the time of the separation > of the major continents, some alleged scientists claim. Think of the greater good: Walkers is owned by Pepsi and blue is the key colour of Pepsi Cola. 'Vinegar' would be very off-brand for the Pepsi drink, while cheese... I think I have run out of logic. best -- Mark Barratt Text Matters Information design: we help explain things using language | design | systems | process improvement ____________________________________________ phone +44 (0)118 986 8313 email markb at textmatters.com web http://www.textmatters.com From teather at compuserve.com Wed Feb 4 13:31:37 2009 From: teather at compuserve.com (Jane Teather) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:31:37 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (even more hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898AA9.40601@compuserve.com> ? or if Henry Blofeld is commentating, you compare what he says with what actually happens or has just happened, and try to spot the similarity. ;-) Regards Jane _______________________________ Jane Teather JET Documentation Services 54A Ferme Park Road London N4 4ED tel: +44 (0) 20 8348 9213 mobile: +44 7967 366 252 teather at compuserve.com Fellow of the Communication Research Institute http://www.communication.org.au Caroline Jarrett wrote: > > Jane wrote > >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. >> > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. > > For relative beginners: you watch Sky with the sound off and TMS on long > wave. This gives you the commentary to listen to just ahead of the action, > then you watch to see if you what they were talking about. (Won't help with > the jokes about busses, but that's another story). > > For relative experts: you watch the live action with TMS on DAB. This gives > you a chance to decide how you would describe the ball that's just happened, > and then compare with what the experts say. > > I've only been listening to TMS for about 25 years so I'm still at the > 'relative beginners' stage :-) > > Best > Caroline Jarrett > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From frank at limov.com Wed Feb 4 13:33:41 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:33:41 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: cricket commentary (hopelessly off topic) In-Reply-To: <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> <4988673C.9050704@compuserve.com> <025e01c9863a$0e527580$2af76080$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <49898B25.7040408@limov.com> Caroline Jarrett wrote: > Jane wrote >> Another UK-centric, cricket-focused posting, I'm afraid! >> >> When watching international matches at Lord's and the Oval, I have TMS >> on my radio. My DAB radio gives me much better reception than my old >> long-wave one (and uninterrupted transmision), but it is annoying that >> the commentary is so far behind the action. At home, I have cricket on >> Sky with the sound turned down, and TMS on the radio. If I use long- >> wave >> radio, the commentary is sometimes about 5 seconds (as I count it, >> anyway) in advance of the picture on TV; the time difference seems to >> vary. >> >> If this is progress, it all seems a bit wrong to me. > > No, no, it's all a cunning plan to help you tune up your cricket-watching > skills. Given the small-but-consistent difference in the arrival times of sporting information via different media, I'm thinking "The Sting" for the 21st century. There has to be an opportunity here for quants freshly available from City brokers, and looking for a way to practise their real-time betting/ analytical skilz, particularly given their track record of leveraging us all into stupendous wealth using speed, computers and PhDs. Oh, wait. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From dtp at she-philosopher.com Sat Feb 7 01:14:29 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:14:29 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Typefaces influenced by lettering on maps In-Reply-To: <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <498CD265.8080509@she-philosopher.com> Caf?, I'm still working on C17 handwriting/calligraphy copybooks (which grow more and more interesting by the day!), and in the process, have begun wondering about the style of lettering used on early maps (including "coastal views"). Then, as now, different scripts were intended for different purposes, and I'm increasingly curious about the evolution of "hands" used for early cartography and information design. C17 engravers such as Wenceslaus Hollar (who produced several maps & views) had a very distinctive hand -- now considered "austere" for the Baroque period in which he worked, as was Hollar's "visual style" in general. I've temporarily posted 5 details of Hollar's handwriting from his "A curious new plaine and exact mapp of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, with the iles thereto belonging, and cheefe citties, & maner of the streetes, never so commodiously published before, described by I. S. & others, inlarged by G. H. and engraven by W: Hollar." London: Printed for & by Ro: Walton, and are to be sold at his shop at the West end of Paules, 1654. to my website for review: http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det1.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det2.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det3.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det4.gif http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det5.gif Based on these, and other examples from the early modern period, it would be easy to over-emphasize a supposed preference for utilitarian vs. artistic scripts on C17 maps and drawings. The truth is, though, aesthetic considerations were still very much on the mind of C17 "mechanics," and engineers, and illustrators -- from all walks of life -- and even C17 form letters and other routine types of business correspondence were extravagantly modeled. See, for example, a sample business letter given in the 1619 printing of Richard Gething's _Calligraphotechnia_ http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_busltr.gif and a sample bill of indenture (yes, a contract for indentured servitude!) from this same copybook http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_indenture.gif Unfortunately, the pages of Gething's copybook are badly stained by now (most of our extant copies were well-used by their owners) but you can still get a good feel for the style and content, even so ... and it is a far cry from business type today, such as Officina Serif and Officina Sans (and we won't even mention Arial ;-). The picture that is emerging from my research is -- as usual -- mixed, showing a variety of "hands" used for even the most perfunctory of communications. ... Which brings me back to the lettering on maps. Does anyone know if there's much of a critical literature on this? I'd like to assemble a bibliography on the subject and post it to my website ... so even though I won't personally read titles that don't have a historical focus (at least, not in the near future), I'm still interested in coming up with a well-rounded bibliography with a little something for everyone, including those involved with mapping today. At the same time, I thought I would also post a summary list of digital typefaces derived from/influenced by lettering on maps. (Among other things, this should provide some free advertising for contemporary typeface designers, as well as a chance to introduce their work to a broader scholarly community than they probably reach presently.) I know (for certain) of only 2 digital typefaces based on maps: #1 Emigre's Dalliance (based on a C19 German map maker's handwriting) "Dalliance Script is based on the elegant handwriting found on a map of a horrific battle between the Habsburg Coalition and France which took place at Ostrach, in southwest Germany, in 1799." After which "[a] roman style, and flourishes, were added to turn Dalliance into a fully functional typeface family." http://www.emigre.com/fontpage.php?PDalSc.html (Dalliance Script) & http://www.emigre.com/EF.php?fid=87 (Dalliance family) #2 Incognito and Terra Incognita (by Hungarian designer G?bor K?thay) http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/incognito & http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/incognito/about or http://www.fontshop.com/fonts/downloads/fountain/incognito_terra_incognita/ or http://www.veer.com/products/typedetail.aspx?image=FOT0000074 and can't believe this is all there is. So, if anyone can think of others, please tell us. I believe there may be a 3rd such typeface -- Plazm Media's Hadrian -- although this is sheer speculation on my part, because it somewhat resembles callouts on the 1628 parchment map titled _Description hydrographique de la France_, by Jean Gu?rard; see http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Guerard1628map_det.jpg for a detail from Gu?rard's map. Unfortunately, Precision Type (which used to sell Plazm Media's Hadrian for US$40) has gone out of business, and I can't locate the typeface at the usual online stores (FontShop.com, fonthaus.com, MyFonts.com, fonts.com, veer.com, philsfonts.com, typos.net). Nor does Plazm Media (apparently a Portland, OR design firm) appear to carry it. As far as I could tell, there's nothing on their website's fonts page http://plazm.com/fonts/ other than information and a download button for their typeface "Capitalis Pirata" (over which they were successfully sued by McDonald's for trademark violations). FYI, my information on Plazm Media's Hadrian is quite old by now. I vaguely remember it being used for heads and sub-heads in a printed issue of _Publish!_ magazine several years ago, at which point in time I scanned and printed out a sample headline on a cheap inkjet http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/PlazmMedia_Hadrian1.jpg (I was running low on ink at the time, which explains the horizontal lines running through the image). I had been thinking Hadrian might work for a logotype design, but after testing this at the Precision Type website in July 2003 http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/PlazmMedia_Hadrian2.jpg I changed my mind, and just filed the information I had on Hadrian. And now, I can't easily find out anything more. If anyone knows the story behind the mysterious Hadrian (NOT Hadriano), I would very much like to hear it. Perhaps Plazm Media has pulled the typeface for some reason? Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Sat Feb 7 08:17:47 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 07:17:47 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Typefaces influenced by lettering on maps In-Reply-To: <498CD265.8080509@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> <498CD265.8080509@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: Deborah, I can't contribute much to your enquiry, and I certainly can't suggest anything for your bibliography, but perhaps I can make an obvious point. And if it is so obvious as to appear almost insulting, I apologise. We tend to associate "the invention of printing" with Gutenberg and moveable type. However, printing from engraved plates started very soon after, and texts had previously been printed from wood blocks: I rather like the fact that papal indulgences were one of the genres mass-reproduced this way, and playing-cards another. Engraving was much the favoured option for reproduction of maps, because larger sheets could be printed thereby, on the star capstan press, and the process was ideal for reproducing fine details. One could not, however, use type with engraving. Therefore the use of lettering on engraved plates involved cutting each letter by hand (and in mirror image). In the Hollar examples you give, such as the map legend in your second example, the variations in the shape of the same letter in different positions is evident; though not too obvious -- such uniformity as there was, and there is quite a high degree of it, was achieved by uniform practice by the "sculptor". One can therefore say that the skill involved was a branch of calligraphy, and its practitioners must have been calligraphers. Just as Gutenberg in his type-making copied the black letter form, and Griffo for Aldus copied the modified Carolingian hand that was becoming fashionable in Italy (and also, the chancery cursive which in England was callled "italic" by virtue of its origin), so also did these C17 engravers mimic with their burins the shape of letters made with the pen. However, when I look at the bill of indenture that you offered us for inspection, I would say that the flourishes are an engraver's fancy, and I cannot conceive of a pen which could produce lettering like that. The bodies of the letters carry the kind of diagonal emphasis which requires a chisel-cut nib, but the flourishes require a flexible pointed nib, probably one made of steel. And here, etymology provides a clue. The kind of hand to which my father was educated, using a flexible steel nib and ideally as much cursive linking as possible (going back to "dot the i's and cross the t's"), was even then called "copperplate". So handwriting informed the practice of the C17 engraver, but later it was the engraver's style which influenced handwriting. Conrad >Caf?, > >I'm still working on C17 handwriting/calligraphy copybooks (which grow >more and more interesting by the day!), and in the process, have begun >wondering about the style of lettering used on early maps (including >"coastal views"). > >Then, as now, different scripts were intended for different purposes, >and I'm increasingly curious about the evolution of "hands" used for >early cartography and information design. > >C17 engravers such as Wenceslaus Hollar (who produced several maps & >views) had a very distinctive hand -- now considered "austere" for the >Baroque period in which he worked, as was Hollar's "visual style" in >general. > >I've temporarily posted 5 details of Hollar's handwriting from his > > "A curious new plaine and exact mapp of England, Ireland, > Scotland, and Wales, with the iles thereto belonging, and > cheefe citties, & maner of the streetes, never so commodiously > published before, described by I. S. & others, inlarged by G. > H. and engraven by W: Hollar." London: Printed for & by Ro: > Walton, and are to be sold at his shop at the West end of > Paules, 1654. > >to my website for review: > >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det1.gif >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det2.gif >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det3.gif >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det4.gif >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Hollar1654map_det5.gif > >Based on these, and other examples from the early modern period, it >would be easy to over-emphasize a supposed preference for utilitarian >vs. artistic scripts on C17 maps and drawings. > >The truth is, though, aesthetic considerations were still very much on >the mind of C17 "mechanics," and engineers, and illustrators -- from >all walks of life -- and even C17 form letters and other routine types >of business correspondence were extravagantly modeled. See, for >example, a sample business letter given in the 1619 printing of >Richard Gething's _Calligraphotechnia_ > >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_busltr.gif > >and a sample bill of indenture (yes, a contract for indentured >servitude!) from this same copybook > >http://www.she-philosopher.com/home/temp/Gething1619_indenture.gif > >Unfortunately, the pages of Gething's copybook are badly stained by >now (most of our extant copies were well-used by their owners) but you >can still get a good feel for the style and content, even so ... and >it is a far cry from business type today, such as Officina Serif and >Officina Sans (and we won't even mention Arial ;-). > >The picture that is emerging from my research is -- as usual -- mixed, >showing a variety of "hands" used for even the most perfunctory of >communications. > -- From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 9 03:53:07 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:53:07 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Typefaces influenced by lettering on maps In-Reply-To: References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> <4988B9F8.6000602@she-philosopher.com> <498CD265.8080509@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <498F9A93.5070702@she-philosopher.com> Conrad, > And if it is so obvious as > to appear almost insulting, > I apologise. No, no, this is good. As far as I'm concerned, it's important to revisit "the obvious" on a regular basis! ;-) > However, when I look at > the bill of indenture that > you offered us for > inspection, I would say > that the flourishes are > an engraver's fancy, and I > cannot conceive of a pen > which could produce > lettering like that. The > bodies of the letters carry > the kind of diagonal > emphasis which requires a > chisel-cut nib, but the > flourishes require a > flexible pointed nib, > probably one made of steel. You raise all sorts of interesting issues here, most of which I can't yet answer. I, too, have wondered just how much the engraver altered the original specimens of the writing-master.... E.g., I'm especially curious if the writing-master John Davies of Hereford -- who wrote the verses for Smith's portrait which were added to John Smith's map of New England -- himself penned the original script engraved on the map, or if the hand given there originates with the map's engraver, Simon van de Passe. (I have a small digital reproduction of Davies' verses at the bottom of my page giving an In Brief biography of Smith: http://www.she-philosopher.com/ib/bios/smith.html if any of you want to see for yourself. I shall eventually move this pic into its own gallery exhibit, juxtaposed with writing samples from Davies' copy-book, _The Writing Schoolmaster, or, The Anatomy of Fair Writing_ (earliest surviving edition, 1631), but it will be at this location for a while yet.) John Davies of Hereford was described by Thomas Fuller in his 1662 _Worthies of England_ as "the greatest master of the pen that England in her age beheld", so one would think that he would have drawn up the verses himself ... but I really don't know yet whose hand -- or combination of hands/technologies -- we're looking at here! Also, there's another wrinkle to your question given that some writing-masters, such as Edward Cocker, engraved their own specimens. How/if that affected the original script is more than my untutored eyes can see. I do know, though, that in keeping with the (some would say inflated ;-) esteem in which he (and the culture in general, for that matter) held his calligraphic art, Cocker worked in other media besides copper. Cocker's _England's Penman_ (1668) "was printed from plates of brass engraved by the ingenious author. In 1672 he surpassed himself by engraving a book of twenty-six plates on silver." (I'll try to post some facsimiles of specimens from Davies' and Cocker's copy-books in the next couple of days.) Also of special interest to me, are the specimen-books of Mercator and Hondius, which I've not yet seen: "There was, indeed, a reaction against the over-elaboration of scripts elsewhere than in France. The Dutch school, important from the very first under the leadership of the great Mercator,[*] wrote roman and italic with sobriety, keeping the flourishes for text and secretary. Hondius, who succeeded to Mercator's business, also occupied himself as much with cartography as with calligraphy,[**] and practised both with mastery. His ten years' residence in England (1583-93) made him an important link between the schools of London and Antwerp, Rotterdam, etc., and his _Theatrum Artis Scribendi_ (Antwerp, 1594) contains pieces by Bales and Martin from England and by Velde from Holland." NOTE *: "Cf. Denuc? and Morison, _The Writing Book of Gerard Mercator_ (Paris, 1930), for facsimiles." NOTE **: "His splendid map of the world has been reproduced by Edward Heawood of the Royal Geographical Society (Amsterd., 1608; London, 1927)." (Note to Karel, if you're out there reading this: have you seen, or do you have access to, Hondius' _Theatrum Artis Scribendi_?) The above quote is from a quite wonderful essay by Stanley Morison, "The Development of Handwriting: An Outline" (1931), which I just finished reading and only half-understood, largely because of Morison's detailed discussion of calligraphic "flourishes" and "sprig'd letters" and "striking" and "after touches" etc. I expect Morison explains (certainly better than I can!) issues related to shifting diagonals which others more schooled in this sort of thing than am I would better understand. Here's Morison's summary statement on the early-modern evolution of European scripts: "The difference between the late Italian sixteenth and the early seventeenth century French and Dutch hands was mainly a matter of width of letter. The Italians condensed their letter and preserved, to some extent, their habit of angularising it (Arrighi's own letter, it will be remembered, was consistently 'angled'), while the Dutch widened and rounded it. What French masters like Materot, Dutchmen like Perlingh, and English writers like Clark called the Italic or 'Italian' hand is a free flowing and obviously inclined hand in which the ascenders are looped and the majuscules entirely cursive -- wholly different from the chancery of Arrighi and more flexible than the genuine Italian hand which it claimed to represent. This greater currency was due in part to the supposed preference of 'the ladies' for a more elegant script than the original chancery, and partly to the fact that a script whose purpose is 'polite' inevitably absorbs decorative features inconsistent with diplomatic, legal, or commercial ends. "When in his last year, Oliver Cromwell essayed to break the Dutch commercial power and, by his Mercantile Act, secured that every cargo shipped to England was carried in English bottoms, there resulted a vast increase in the nation's shipping. As our commerce expanded, English writing gained in currency and gradually sloughed off those decorative accretions, and the *testegiatta* kind of hand was left to the ladies. "But as commercial clerkships became desirable positions a fine opportunity presented itself to such professors as John Ayres (1680), Charles Snell (1708), Charles Shelley (1708), John Clark (1708), and others. These all learned from the Dutch masters a knack of creating a hand which was tidy as well as speedy. "The English masters gradually drew away from these originals, and by means of changes which were slight but important, they expressed those characteristics which the next generation regarded as thoroughly English and admirable for the purposes of salesmanship. As is pointed out in ? 9, the commercial success of England drew hearty foreign respect for the script in which our bills of lading and notes of exchange were executed. "By the middle of the eighteenth century a complete change had taken place in English writing. The gradual laying aside of decorative superfluities had brought about a situation which would have struck the writing-masters of the previous century as lacking in interest because deficient in variety. Masters had scarcely any calligraphical curriculum to compare with the rich collections of scripts to be found in Beauchesne or Materot or Van den Velde. The English seventeenth-century men taught besides gothic and court hands, certain 'Cursorie hands not heretofore extant, newlie com in use amongst the gentrie'; they would have considered the teaching of 'arithmetick and accompts' as a condescension. Martin Billingsley taught delicate italic hands for ladies, stronger italic hands fit for cavaliers, and several set and running gothics for secretaries, lawyers, and ordinary people. "The words which George Bickham, Sen., prefixed to his _British Youth's Instructor_ (1754) will bear quotation. He writes on conditions fourscore years before: "'Our forefathers practised a small running secretary hand, and it was as great a rarity to meet with a person who had not been so taught as it is now to meet with one that is. To talk then of round hand, and persuade the practice of it, was the same thing, as it would be now to introduce a new character unknown to the generality of mankind. But at length the excellency and usefulness of the round hand prevailing with many eminent penmen, to shew the delicacy of it and its natural tendency to facilitate and despatch business, being considered it is universally received and practised by all degrees of men, in all employments, the law only excepted'. "This same round hand is to-day [i.e., 1931] not merely English but European. Even in the eighteenth century the precedence of nations was changing. 'Les Fran?ois', says Dubois [i.e., Jacques Dubois, _Histoire abr?g?e de l'Ecriture_ (Paris, 1772)], 'semblent ?tre maintenant les seuls Ma?tres d'Ecriture de l'Europe. Les ltaliens l'ont totalement n?glig?e, les Allemands n'ont pas chang? la leur, les Hollandois suivent la B?tarde unie de l'Angleterre; en un mot la France et l'Angleterre fournissent aux autres des mod?les d'Ecriture'." ... Returning to Conrad's initial questions: several of the C17 copy-books included detailed instructions (some in verse, as was then customary, in order to render them more memorable for students) on how to make and hold a pen. (Speaking of etymology, I'd forgotten what the historical origins of the "Pen-knife" actually were. Hard to imagine today's teacher giving 400+ little boys in a schoolroom their very own knives to cut quills with.... ;-) At least one set of these C17 "Observations or rules for the making of the Pen" were illustrated, and I'll post the pix for all to see in the next couple of days. Thus far, I've not found any strictures at all regarding which hand one was supposed to write with, although all C17 illustrations I've seen of this depict a right hand holding the pen. Curiously, the writing-masters made much of what kind of body posture one needed to adopt in order to write a good hand, but nothing about which hand one used for this.... FWIW, I plan to eventually provide HTML transcriptions of Billingsley's (and others') printed observations on their art. One especially fascinating aspect of C17 instruction in penmanship was the explicit gendering of "hands". Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From dtp at she-philosopher.com Mon Feb 2 05:15:18 2009 From: dtp at she-philosopher.com (Deborah Taylor-Pearce) Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:15:18 -0800 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Cafe, The full text of an Associated Press story published in the 1/31/2009 edn. of my local newspaper: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs! "LONDON -- On the streets of Birmingham, the queen's English is now the queens English. "England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned. "But some purists are downright possessive about the punctuation mark. "It seems that Birmingham officials have been taking a hammer to grammar for years, quietly dropping apostrophes from street signs since the 1950s. Through the decades, residents have frequently launched spirited campaigns to restore the missing punctuation to signs denoting such places as 'St Pauls Square' and 'Acocks Green.' "This week, the council made it official, saying it was banning the punctuation mark from signs in a bid to end the dispute once and for all. "Councilor Martin Mullaney, who heads the city's transport scrutiny committee, said he decided to act after yet another interminable debate into whether Kings Heath, a Birmingham suburb, should be rewritten with an apostrophe. "'I had to make a final decision on this,' he said yesterday. 'We keep debating apostrophes in meetings, and we have better things to do.' "Mullaney hopes to stop public campaigns to restore the apostrophe that would tell passers-by that Kings Heath was once owned by the monarchy. "'Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate and are not needed,' he said. 'More importantly, they confuse people. If I want to go to a restaurant, I don't want to have an A-level (high school diploma) in English to find it.' "But grammarians say apostrophes enrich the English language. "'They are such sweet-looking things that play a crucial role in the English language,' said Marie Clair of the Plain English Society, which campaigns for the use of simple English. 'It's always worth taking the effort to understand them, instead of ignoring them.' "Mullaney says apostrophes confuse GPS units, including those used by emergency services. But Jenny Hodge, a spokeswoman for satellite navigation equipment maker TomTom, said most users of the company's systems navigate through Britain's sometimes-confusing streets by entering a postal code rather than a street address. "She said that if someone preferred to use a street name -- with or without an apostrophe -- punctuation wouldn't be an issue. By the time the first few letters of the street were entered, a list of matching choices would pop up and the user would choose the destination." Not sure I would equate an A-level in English to a U.S. high school diploma -- it's probably more like an AP English class over here -- but I found the argument over the changing city identity intriguing. One has a tendency to forget just how much political turmoil surrounds the cool, clean lines of sans serif type -- with or without those "sweet-looking" apostrophes -- on modern signage. Deborah _____ Deborah Taylor-Pearce dtp at she-philosopher.com From d.sless at communication.org.au Mon Feb 2 07:23:09 2009 From: d.sless at communication.org.au (David Sless) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:23:09 +1100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> Message-ID: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> We make rules, break them and make new ones in grammar and many other things. But it is sad when a useful rule gets dropped, though I'm not convinced this is one of those cases. The context is non-possessive. Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! David -- blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog web: http://www.communication.org.au Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA CEO ? Communication Research Institute ? ? helping people communicate with people ? Mobile: +61 (0)412 356 795 Phone: +61 (0)3 9489 8640 Skype: davidsless 60 Park Street ? Fitzroy North ? Melbourne ? Australia ? 3068 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0008.htm -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: CRI-lh-logo-col.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1634 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090202/08c5fb32/attachment-0008.jpg From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Mon Feb 2 19:46:34 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 18:46:34 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary Message-ID: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- From alan at alphabyte.co.nz Mon Feb 2 20:25:45 2009 From: alan at alphabyte.co.nz (Alan Litchfield) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:25:45 +1300 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: "What's this? British city stops punctuating street signs!" In-Reply-To: <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> References: <3CCF736C-7EB8-4622-86FB-D2431F5CCDA3@reading.ac.uk> <4959B87F.2020808@she-philosopher.com> <2285a9d20901151245x55a46482s2258ba13872dc825@mail.gmail.com> <497FDFA7.9070703@she-philosopher.com> <49867356.2080109@she-philosopher.com> <7735317C-E091-4228-BF08-4926B7B8BE1B@communication.org.au> Message-ID: <25D392C3-DDAD-4DA0-B088-2CBBF5EB08F4@alphabyte.co.nz> On 2/02/2009, at 7:23 PM, David Sless wrote: > Much worse is the misuse of apostrophes for emphasis as in the > following on a poster outside a church at Christmas. > > COME AND SEE CAROL'S BY CANDLE LlGHT! > > But how do you know it wasn't Carol who is advertising it? She may have a fine collection. ;) Alan -- Alan Litchfield MBus(Hons), MNZCS AlphaByte PO Box 1941, Auckland, NZ. 1140 http://www.alphabyte.co.nz From frank at limov.com Mon Feb 2 22:06:24 2009 From: frank at limov.com (Frank Wales) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:06:24 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876050.9090208@limov.com> Conrad Taylor wrote: > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Having a little experience in working with electronics engineers, it often seems to come down to two things: + what does the circuit design that we're using for charging support easily? + what is the cheapest thing that could provide any kind of indication of behaviour? Sometimes, of course, it's just blithering UI design incompetence on the part of the designers. (I know this, because I, with some other software developers, once had to gang up on an electronics engineer to make him change his "design" for a low-battery warning LED; it came on when the battery was low. Since the battery technology was Ni-Cd, whose voltage falls off a cliff at a certain point, it would go out shortly thereafter. So, it worked if-and-only-if you were looking at it in the 20-second window when it would be on.) BTW, I do agree that something standardized would be good; I'm never sure if my Ricoh camera battery charger's LED is off because the battery is charged, or because it's not plugged in. -- Frank Wales [frank at limov.com] From iep at mail.dk Mon Feb 2 22:53:20 2009 From: iep at mail.dk (Ian Petersen) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:53:20 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49876B50.2090503@mail.dk> Conrad, > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@? For the same reasons we don't have a standard visual vocabulary for computer operating systems or car dashboards or VCR-displays: A combination of lazyness, incompetence, 'not invented here' and branding consultants ... ;-) Ian From frascara at ualberta.ca Tue Feb 3 11:21:15 2009 From: frascara at ualberta.ca (frascara at ualberta.ca) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:21:15 -0700 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20090203032115.13902pqz49tfldic@webmail.ualberta.ca> Dear Conrad, I skip many interventions, but I always read yours. Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences. Jorge Quoting "Conrad Taylor" : > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > From r.waller at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 11:39:27 2009 From: r.waller at reading.ac.uk (Rob Waller) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:39:27 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/0ce671d2/attachment-0007.htm From conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk Tue Feb 3 12:05:47 2009 From: conrad at ideograf.demon.co.uk (Conrad Taylor) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:05:47 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rob added to the tales of woe: >Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >- digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >correct six months of the year. I have a friend who until very recently had me come over when the clocks changed, to reprogram her central heating. However, my bedroom clock is one step cleverer. Correcting itself by a radio signal, it changes automatically; and my Macs do a similar thing over the Internet thanks to some server somewhere (gives a new meaning to the phrase "time serving"). Solution: give your oven an IP address. >- car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > >In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. >Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new >home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so >I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. I have a DAB radio, which cleverly tunes itself. Programming the buttons to bring up one's favourite stations is however something else. At least those programs are stored in non- volatile memory. I bought the same friend mentioned above a DAB radio for Christmas. Alas, if it is deprived of a power source (mains, battery) for more than ten minutes, the stored favourites evaporate. I guess she's figured out how to deal with the central heating now, but I'll get called over to reprogram the radio when the batteries I installed run out of juice. Conrad -- From ukuld at online.no Tue Feb 3 12:32:17 2009 From: ukuld at online.no (Ole E. Wattne) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:32:17 +0100 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. > Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new > home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so > I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/2736fead/attachment-0007.htm From p.stiff at reading.ac.uk Tue Feb 3 12:25:04 2009 From: p.stiff at reading.ac.uk (Paul Stiff) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:25:04 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned over something that several people will either have forgotten or never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for half- fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low don't we? Paul On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, > manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only > correct six months of the year. > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of > abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to > have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of > our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to > tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. > > Rob, > Grumpy Old Man Department > > __________________________________ > > Rob Waller > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > University of Reading > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > >> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >> I am recharging them. >> >> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >> >> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >> >> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >> >> Conrad >> >> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >> -- >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/6510b69e/attachment-0007.htm From Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com Tue Feb 3 12:54:21 2009 From: Victoria.ColemanSmith at thebrandunion.com (Victoria ColemanSmith) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:54:21 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> Message-ID: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the sadly now defunct Woolies. It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal for simple everyday use. ... and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of technology I have purchased in recent years... Yours aye Happy ex-Woolies customer (Victoria) ________________________________ From: infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto:infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] On Behalf Of Ole E. Wattne Sent: 03 February 2009 11:32 To: Discussions about information design Subject: Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common visualvocabulary perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the latest in radio-technology? :-) Ole Funny Middleaged Man Department ...who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, digital clock and radio - especially car radio - grammar. Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months of the year. - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. Rob, Grumpy Old Man Department __________________________________ Rob Waller Department of Typography & Graphic Communication University of Reading On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, I am recharging them. The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) Conrad (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) -- ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org ___________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/26c24595/attachment-0007.htm From matt at studiolift.com Tue Feb 3 13:00:54 2009 From: matt at studiolift.com (Matt Carey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:00:54 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: lack of a common visual vocabulary In-Reply-To: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> References: <381C3DA1-0CC1-4B8A-AB3D-409A88A04BD8@reading.ac.uk> Message-ID: That lack of consistency used to infuriate me, as I knew what it should be and often the suppliers were wrong. Your mention of milk bottles and the snowy weather is making me think of frozen milk bottles on the doorstep when I was a child :) Matt Junior Grumpy Old Man On 3 Feb 2009, at 11:25, Paul Stiff wrote: > Grumpy old men can remember the time when confusion also reigned > over something that several people will either have forgotten or > never seen, even in this caf?: milk bottle tops (metallic foil > seals, colour-coded for the milk?s fat content) > > & even when milk migrated from glass bottles to plastic or paper > cartons, there was no standard colour code until fairly recently > > some suppliers (e.g. the Tesco supermarket chain) used green for > half-fat (halbfett) and competitors (e.g. Sainsburys) used red; > other suppliers used green for skimmed and red for maigre; but > Boots? full milk container had a red top; blue or sometimes silver > usually meant fett, or ?full?, or ?whole? > > the one reliable marker was gold top, for Jersey milk, extra-creamy, > now sometimes marketed as breakfast milk or even ?weekend? milk > > now we all know that blue = full, green = half-ish, red = low > > don't we? > > Paul > > On 3 Feb 2009, at 10:39, Rob Waller wrote: > >> Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: >> - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, >> manual dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only >> correct six months of the year. >> - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of >> abbreviations: PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. >> >> In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to >> have. Not able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of >> our new home, I've just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to >> tune it, so I think I won't make any plans for the weekend. >> >> Rob, >> Grumpy Old Man Department >> >> __________________________________ >> >> Rob Waller >> >> Department of Typography & Graphic Communication >> University of Reading >> >> >> >> On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: >> >>> This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not >>> a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable >>> batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, >>> I am recharging them. >>> >>> The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the >>> Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH >>> cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and >>> LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). >>> >>> One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the >>> batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange >>> LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it >>> stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all >>> the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, >>> and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged >>> or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, >>> and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. >>> >>> "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of >>> visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) >>> >>> Conrad >>> >>> (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) >>> -- >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >>> >>> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >>> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >>> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >>> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >>> >>> For all Information Design matters: >>> http://InformationDesign.org >>> >>> Problems? Write to: >>> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >>> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> >> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: >> infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: >> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >> >> For all Information Design matters: >> http://InformationDesign.org >> >> Problems? Write to: >> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org >> ___________________________________________________________________ > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------ Lift: creative communication design phone: +44 (0)118 948 4862 **New number** mobile: +44 (0)7979 757983 aim/ichat: studiolift web: http://www.studiolift.com *This email is confidential and intended for the addressee only From abeesj at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 13:22:38 2009 From: abeesj at googlemail.com (Abi Searle-Jones) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:22:38 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> Message-ID: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Victoria I'm very jealous. I recently tried to find the exact same thing for my 86-year-old step-grandfather, who is increasingly alarmed by all things technological. We ended up paying over the odds for simplicity - the only radio we could find that had the simplest of buttons was from an expensive brand. Hooray for the sadly departed Woolies. Also re Rob's thoughts on digital clocks... I propose a different solution: turn off all unnecessary clocks. I remember reading somewhere that the energy needed to power the digital clock on a microwave for a year was more than the energy needed to power the microwave's cooking function over the same time. Why does a microwave need a clock anyway? The wall switch beckons. (This also prevents annnoying time differences between the myriad clocks around the house.) Another one on car radios: we recently bought a car and our helpful salesman offered to tune the radio for us. 'What's your favourite station?', he asked, and when we responded (BBC) Radio 4, he tuned the radio's station 1 to Radio 4. We managed (barely) to conceal our horror until left alone in the car, when we immediately tuned station 1 to BBC Radio 1, station 2 to Radio 2 etc etc. Despite never listening to anything other than Radio 4. Sometimes interaction sense is less important than human whim. And to bring together radios and microwaves: I grew up in Droitwich, right next to the Radio 4 transmitters, which are so powerful that (allegedly) telephones, microwaves and other electronic equipment all gently transmit the shipping forecast. So I particularly miss the departure of valve radios, which often displayed 'Droitwich' bravely on their dials. (Having said that, our old valve radio frequently scared the heck out of me by suddenly blasting out sound twenty minutes after having been switched on). (Apologies to international subscribers for a very UK-focussed post!) Abi 2009/2/3 Victoria ColemanSmith > > > I recently bought a radio for my father from the Worth it range of the > sadly now defunct Woolies. > > > > It has an on off button that doubles as the volume control (with an easily > recognisable icon of the hill gradient variety for louder, softer), a tuning > dial and a 3 point sliding switch for am fm and long wave. > > > > Given that most people only use about 2 or 3 radio stations, it is ideal > for simple everyday use. > > > > ? and at only ?6.95 not only the cheapest but one of the best pieces of > technology I have purchased in recent years? > > > > Yours aye > > > > Happy ex-Woolies customer > > > > (Victoria) > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org [mailto: > infodesign-cafe-bounces at list.informationdesign.org] *On Behalf Of *Ole E. > Wattne > *Sent:* 03 February 2009 11:32 > *To:* Discussions about information design > *Subject:* Re: InfoD-Cafe: Recharging batteries: lack of a common > visualvocabulary > > > > perhaps the concept of ?steam radio? could be elaborated upon? Is this the > latest in radio-technology? > > :-) > > > > Ole > > Funny Middleaged Man Department > > > > ?who, by the way, completely agree on the idea of a common batterycharger, > digital clock and radio ? especially car radio ? grammar. > > > > Den 3. feb.. 2009 kl. 11.39 skrev Rob Waller: > > > > Other areas of everyday life where a grammar is required: > > - digital clocks. Moving to summer time is great feat of memory, manual > dexterity, deduction and luck, and my oven clock is only correct six months > of the year. > > - car radios: every car seems to have a different set of abbreviations: > PTY, AST, TP, TA, etc. But only rarely On and Off. > > > > In fact any radio is more complicated than the ones we used to have. Not > able to receive steam radio in the basement kitchen of our new home, I've > just ordered an internet radio. I'll need to tune it, so I think I won't > make any plans for the weekend. > > > > Rob, > > Grumpy Old Man Department > > > > __________________________________ > > > > Rob Waller > > > > Department of Typography & Graphic Communication > > University of Reading > > > > > > > > On 2 Feb 2009, at 18:46, Conrad Taylor wrote: > > > > This evening, I am recharging my batteries. No, that is not > a metaphor. I have a bunch of Li-ion and NiMH rechargeable > batteries. In anticipation of an expedition into Wessex, > I am recharging them. > > The dedicated Li-ion batteries for the Nikon D-200 SLR and the > Panasonic NV-GS320 DV-cam. And the AA and AAA "Hybrio" NiMH > cells that I use for my digital audio recorders, flashgun and > LED torch (I have two chargers for such batteries). > > One of the chargers has a green LED that stays on until the > batteries are charged, then it goes out. One has an orange > LED that flashes until the batteries are charges, then it > stops flashing. One has a light that simply stays on all > the time to show the batteries are connected to the circuit, > and you have to guess whether the batteries have been charged > or not. One charger has a light that starts out one colour, > and then changes to another colour when the battery is charged. > > "Why oh why oh why oh why..." can't we have some kind of > visual vocabulary standardisation in this area? (!*@?) > > Conrad > > (Who, mounted on a charger, fears a charge of hungry Li-ions) > -- > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: > infodesign-cafe at list.informationdesign.org > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe > > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org > > Problems? Write to: > InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin at list.InformationDesign.org > ___________________________________________________________________ > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.webtic.nl/pipermail/infodesign-cafe/attachments/20090203/57884979/attachment-0007.htm From caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk Tue Feb 3 14:12:57 2009 From: caroline.jarrett at effortmark.co.uk (Caroline Jarrett) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:12:57 -0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> "Steam radio" - perhaps better described as 'steam wireless'? It's radio delivered on the simplest of receiving devices, preferably on long wave. For that reason, it would be Radio 4 apart from when it turns into Test Match Special. Caroline Jarrett (For the UK TMS die-hards: in this household, we are wearing our black armbands in honour of the sadly departed Bill Frindall) From david.farbey at googlemail.com Tue Feb 3 14:38:48 2009 From: david.farbey at googlemail.com (David Farbey) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:38:48 +0000 Subject: InfoD-Cafe: In praise of 'steam radio' In-Reply-To: <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> References: <485A70BB-1427-4603-99CB-E7DE1BA0F9E1@online.no> <2AB4B0B103A03A4D9B410E8C2360306307F9ACD4@LON1EXCH01.ewns.net> <53a2d8ab0902030422g762963f1w4f2f28018b8ac126@mail.gmail.com> <017a01c98601$23495eb0$69dc1c10$@jarrett@effortmark.co.uk> Message-ID: <498848E8.5060605@googlemail.com> What I'd like to know (and I apologise for still being UK-centric, and for perhaps drifting a little off-topic) is why the broadcast I receive on my super-duper ultra-sleek new DAB radio is a couple of seconds behind the broadcast I receive on my clapped-out old FM transistor radio? I once read a very complicated technical explanation about how DAB signals work and why, therefore, they aren't in sync with analogue FM broadcasts, but if we are all going completely digital shouldn't all broadcasts be equally accurate? If I want to set my watch/clock/microwave/whatever by the time signal before "The World at One" on BBC Radio 4, shouldn't I get the DAB signal and the FM signal at exactly the same moment? David -- David Farbey MA FISTC MBCS - London UK david at farbey.co.uk Technical Communication and Information Design Consultant /Authorised Reseller for DITA Exchange/ Office: 0844 561 0742 Mobile: 07879 005 946 Web site Blog Twitter LinkedIn ****************************************