Internet Memes

Wikipedia explains that, "The word ‘meme’ is a neologism coined in 1976 by Richard Dawkins occurring in The Selfish Gene to describe how one might extend Darwinian principles to explain the spread of and cultural phenomena.” Memes are pictures, videos, images, or even ideas that are spread exponentially among various different groups of people. There tends to never be a clear reason as to why memes spread so rapidly or vastly, however these memes usually share one common element; they are entertaining. Some examples of famous memes are: Leeroy Jenkins and Lolcats.

If memes have been around since 1976, why are we talking about them now? Well- it is true; actually memes have been around since ancient times, when ideas were spread through word-of-mouth or some type of imagery. However, the Internet changed the significance of the word entirely. The instantaneousness of the Internet helps memes easily get posted for public display, as well as facilitating the manner in which people can share these memes. This gives certain populations a chance to experiences memes they may never have been able to without the Internet’s connection.

Memes require a few essential elements before being able to be completely understood. A large part of why memes are immeasurably spread throughout a population is because they are usually taken out of their initial medium and used in another video or image. Consequently, most memes require a certain amount of context to be understood. Memes are frequently compared to inside jokes because they tend to only appeal to specific types of groups. Being able to understand both what the meme is referencing and the original humor attached to it is in a sense mastering the joke. Really, the overall intent of Internet memes is just making people laugh.

Who cares about memes? Advertisers do! With the advent of search engines like Youtube, which produces hundreds of new videos by the hour, visual exposure of the world is spreading just as fast as memes are. Realizing this, advertisers are smartly attaching their brand names to certain Internet memes. When people view a meme and find it entertaining, they may be obliged to see that a certain brand is helping to support that particular production. The best part about all this is that memes themselves do not have to make sense; in turn, advertisers can keep with the spirit of the meme and tag their name to any type of meme they want, whether it relates to their product or not. Memes can also be used to gain exposure for small, individual businesses. If one wants to self-promote and get their name out there, a meme can be strategically used to do so. Sometimes, a meme may also inadvertently make a celebrity out of someone (ex: Star Wars Kid).

Internet memes have found their way into popular culture and will continue to infect computer screens for years to come, whether you’re in on the joke or not.

Paper

Apple Design : Jonathan Ive

Jonathan Ive’s creative mind first began developing in Chingford, Essex where he grew up. Ive spent the beginning stages of his career at Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University) where he began studying Industrial Design. However, he only worked at London company Tangerine for a brief period until he realized that his creative potential was not being fully utilized. In 1992, Ive made both a brave and smart move to travel across seas to the United States to join one of Tangerine’s clients: Apple Inc. Little did he know at the time that this decision was monumental to his development and growth in his field of work.

Although it took Jonathan awhile to realize this because when he first joined Apple, they were experiencing a very unprofitable period. Executive leader Steve Jobs was released from the company. In addition, Microsoft was the leader in computer operating systems at the time and Apple was not putting up a good fight due to the rift in the Apple team.

It was not until 1997, when Steve Jobs returned to the Apple team did things start to really pick up for both the company and Jonathan. He was given a promotion to Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, which enabled his creative juices to finally break past the surface. His very first innovative design was the iMac G3 that “is regarded as the birth of the ‘new-Apple’ and brought Jonathan Ive to the attention of the world.” (1)


Soon after the iMac G3 came the iBook, PowerBook, and other Apple products that began to take over the technology field. Jonathan’s brilliant design ideas continue to influence every Apple product there is.

Not only is Jonathan Ive extremely talented and an expert at industrial design, but Ive is known for his great people skills and praises all his Apple team members. He makes a point to recognize the necessity of collaborative work as a group of minds is always more beneficial than just one.

Ive’s team works together in a large open studio in San Francisco where personal space is far from private. However, the environment helps to stimulate group interaction and a constant flow of ideas. The more ideas you have going on at a time, the greater the chances are you are to stumble upon the world’s masterwork. "One of the hallmarks of the team I think is this sense of looking to be wrong," said Jonathan Ive. "It's the inquisitiveness, the sense of exploration. It's about being excited to be wrong because then you've discovered something new." (2) One of the things that makes the Apple team so strong is that they are not just a bunch of stylists looking to have other people create their work for them. “They're leading innovators in the use of new materials and production processes.” (3)

1. http://www.jonathanive.com/

2. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_39/b4002414.htm

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Ive

Robotic taxi runs without driver

Robot taxi may just be the public transportation of the future. Kubik Petr feels that, with technology these days, it is time to eliminate the need for taxi drivers. How the Robot Taxi would work is, a person would call an operator when a ride is needed. The operator would then scan the system to locate the closest available taxi for you. Once your inside, you can just plug in your destination and it will take you where you need to go. These taxis will hopefully be able to run on at least 20 hours of battery before needing to be charged up.


Taxi

CCC Car, when required, becomes a personal chopper

ZEEP Design designed a concept car, CCC Car, that turns into a helicopter. The entire vehicle is composed of two huge wheels with the controls/seating area in the center. The blades of the helicopter are folded to the side and out of the way when the car is operating. Once the helicopter is engaged, the tail comes out from being tucked away in the back as the blades go up ontop of the car.


CCC Car

Sea Raider adds sustainability to your ecstatic sail

Boating is definitely one of the funnest leisure activities. However, stopping to fill up gas can be inconvenient and time consuming. Designer Imran Othman plans to eliminate this need by creating a boat that generates power from roof-mounted solar cells. The boat runs on solar energy during the day, and at night time, it switches over to battery operated withzero-emission. If by chance you were to run out of solar power, the boat can temporarily run on diesel until morning.



Sea Raider

Albatros: Sand yacht for a sustainable sail in the desert

Just as the name sugggests, Julien Misrachi designed the Albatros based on observing the way that birds move. This sand yaht allows you to control the direction it is traveling by using a giant sail on the sand. This vehicle would be great to get around in desert conditions or even from one end of the beach to the other.



Albatros

Asthma inhaler connects patient and doctor wirelessly

As technology helps facilitate daily tasks, designers are constantly trying to find ways to use technology to ensure a person's good health. Cambridge Consultants are aiming to strengthen their "connected patient" concept by introducing this highly advanced asthma inhaler. By using means of wireless technology, the inhaler is able to send up-to-date patient readings to a central monitor.


Inhaler

Agua H2O converts pee into fresh water

As the price of bottled water continues to rise, the recognition that water is a limited resource seems to becoming more clear. As we try and figure out a way to tackle this issue, designer Leonardo Manavella seemed to have come across a temporary solution--that is if desperate times called for desperate measures. This device turns pee into drinking water by having the user urinate on the "activated carbon" which removes all color and flavor making it fresh and clean water to drink.


Agua H2O

Harvest Green Project adds new dimension to vertical farming

The city of Vancouver organized "The 2030 Challenge," to tackle the issue of global warming and developing a greener environment. Winner of this challenge, Romses Architects, created the Harvest Green Project. This structure would grow fruits, vegetables, fish, eggs, etc. On the renewable energy side, these project included photovoltaic glazing and large wind turbines.



Harvest

Furniture that relives the classic game of Tetris

Everyone loves the games of Tetris, so why not bring the game to life? Artist Diego Silvério worked with Helder Filipov to create furniture that you can manipulate and arrange to fit best in a living area, paralleling the idea of the game. This furniture is very playful and is available in a variety of shapes and colors. This set-up would be perfect for a game or children's room.


Tetris Furniture

iPod Sport: Digital music player doubles as wristwatch

As if listening to our iPod's did not take up enough of our time, now industrial designer Stephanie Kaptein found a way to incorporate music with physical activity. By means of a wrist watch, the iPod Sport can be played and sent to your wireless headphones via Bluetooth. This seems to be perfect for any highly active situation where your moving all around, such as playing sports.



iPod Sport

Slimo, a cubicle on wheels

Designer Sung uk Kim’s Slimo brings forth the concept of a portable room by introducing Slimo. This tall box-like structure has very small wheels but enables a person to get around easily in an urban environemnt. The spacious interior gives the passenger plenty of room with a high-tech information screen as well.




Slimo

Beach Bellow beach chair is easy to carry, store and use

Going to the beach is always a good time; but carrying all your clunky, metal beach chairs is usually a fuss. However, the Beach Bellow removes this stress as it is very easy to fold up and carry around. It is supported by spring steel members that give you the option to lay or sit on either of its two sides. The bright colors of the chair also contribute to the fun beach environment!

Beach Bellow

Vehicle for physically disabled — Wheelchair doubles as car’s seat

Those unfortunate people who are subject to wheelchairs are constantly being held back from experiences in life. Although we have made tremendous strides to make up for this inconvenience, this concept gives handicap the most individual freedom than anything ever before. This vehicle allows the person to enter the car from the back and use their wheelchair as their car seat. This car is complete with a tubular chassis, hand commands, low height trunk and specific ergonomics for the disabled.



Handicap-Accesible Vehicle

3D Chess Board: A step beyond the game of antiquity

As if the game of chess wasn't difficult enough! Designer Ji Lee has decided to throw a new spin on things by adding another dimension to the traditional flat checkerboard. This will surely test gamers ability to play as well as simply spicing it up.




3D Chess Board

Biowashball: Eco-friendly way to do the laundry!

Everyone dreads the hassle of using detergents, whether or not there is any left, etc. Using Biowashball will eliminate the need to use detergent, while keeping the environment cleaner. The ceramic balls inside Biowashball use ionization to weaken dirt and loosen it from your clothes. Because no chemicals are emitted into the water, your clothes maintain their color.



Biowashball

Cadillac Life Phone is a universal remote for all modern gadgets

Robert John Borrmann is about 10 years ahead of today's most advanced smart phone design. The Cadillac Life Phone is a concept that would simlplify many of the gadgets we use in our lives into one. This phone is enclosed in a curved shell that is complete with projectors that convert the phone into a laptop displaying the screen and keyboard. The phone will also serve as a universal remote for all home appliances. And to top it all, it is complete with a solar panel that transmits solar energy into power for the phone to operate.



Life Phone

Infuego is a green alternative to outdoor entertainment

Are you tired of coming across the same old camp fire setting at every outdoor event? Well Mitch Crawford has finally broken the barrier behind the traditional circle of stones. Infuego is designed to stimulate exciting conversation by lending itself to a visual appeal. Materials used include: bamboo, expanded rubber foam, toughened low-iron glass, composite reinforced ceramic and repurposed biodegradable wood for the bench. So all in all, Infuego is as good for the environment as it is for the social atmosophere.

Infuego

Shai Bench: Is it a lounge or a sculpture?

This piece of furniture is sure to make you do a double if you were to ever come across it. The Shai Bench was designed by the company H. Studio who chose to uniquely combine art with a mundane piece of furniture. The curvy design compliments the human body making it appeal comfortable to not only the eye but to its actual use as well. Those who are interested in buying the Shai Bench have the ability to choose from a variety of fabrics, as well as options for the chair legs as well.


Shai Bench

Wall Stairs: Staircase that sinks into the wall

Staircases are an essential component to any multiple floored set-up. Whether it be outside, inside, in the home, at the office, there seems to always be a set of stairs somewhere. Designer Aaron Tang has though up an interesting way to minimize the inconvenience a bulky staircase can create. By using mechanical hinges and pistons, these stairs fold back into the wall just as a door would close back into a doorway after opening it.


















Wall Stairs

Eie Defibrillator aids rescuers where other equipment fails

Being a lifeguard myself, I am aware of the importance of having an AED readily available. Designer Aung Khin Soe Win had this in mind when inventing the "Eie," as it is specifically geared towards those rescuers who travel frequently. Most AED's are big and bulky, but the Eie is comfortable to wear as a backpack. Now, Red Cross medics will be able to save someone's life more easily and faster with this convenient AED.


Eie Defibrillator

Zava's new solar-powered street lighting is high on aesthetics

Although many things are trying to find a way to run on solar energy, I think street lamps should definitely be one of the first devices converted over. Street lamps are always in the sun, feature almost everywhere, and seem to be constantly wasting non-renewable energy. Zava and VP Solar teamed up together to create three variations of the lamps which not only provide light during
the nighttime, but also give off an aesthetically pleasing feel to the surrounding environment.



Street Lights

TSS to attract commuters toward public transportation

Naresh Chauhan finds that there is a need for more luxury when it comes to public transportation. This new innovative "Traffic Shelter System" will hopefully attract commuters to the option of taking public transportation. It is complete with air conditioning, sliding doors, and is also wheelchair accessible! 

Traffic Shelter System

Universal Remote Control(s) human emotions

The Universal Remote is just one more step closer to bringing humans and technology together as one. Zeynep Altmisoglu designed a glass LCD remote that can recognize the human user as well as controlling gadgets. By being aware of the health conditions of the user, the remote is able to detect things such as blood pressure and other emotions. This not only makes staying healthier a more feasible task, but can also be a gateway invention that causes more designs to focus on ensuring the user's good health, along with other things.

Universal Remote

Protective Coloring Chair is transformed from a box

Chairs, especially when you need a lot at one time, seem to take up an unnecessary amount of space and a pain to deal with stowing them away. However, Hyuh Jin Lee thought of a way to compact a chair into a box, which can also serve as a end table and/or storage.



Protective Coloring Chair

TED Conference

This video is glimpse into a conference held in Monterrey, CA known as the TED conference. The people here are part of a division of Microsoft gathering together to share ideas and concepts. The focus of this particular segment of the conference is C Dragon; a new way of organizing data on your computer. It enables you to view a large amount of documents and pictures at one time. You can zoom out to view all of your data at one time, or you can zoom in as close as to read each individual page of a novel.

C Dragon

Trik E, changing the ecology on three wheels

Speed Studio Design was targeting a specific audience when they came up with the idea of the Trik-E. This three-wheeled vehicle is designed specifically for getting around in a busy city; small enough to get around easily but also a big enough to fit a whole bunch of groceries in it. The exterior of this vehicle provides weather protection and tops at a speed of 32 kph.



Trek-E

Library Bath doubles as bookshelf and triples as an armchair

Swedish designer Malin Lundmark makes multi-tasking easier then ever combining two closely related activities into one interesting creation. The Library Bath has an armchair-like backrest that enables you to rest your arms upright if you were to take out a book to read.


Library Bath

Portable Ecoball Sound System runs on solar energy

Following the ongoing "green" trend, Pedro Gomes found a way to use solar energy to power sound speakers. Gomes used a spherical design to make the speakers out of recycled colored rubber. The batteries gain their energy through a photovoltaic panel inserted in the handle of the speakers.


Ecoball Sound System

BarTule combines multiple bar tools into one stylish device

Being a bartender myself, I find the BarTule to be an AWESOME tool that makes the hassle of bar tending much less stressful. Combining eight different tools into one, this stylish/sleek design includes an ice bucket, bottle opener, measuring cup, fruit squeezer, and more!



BarTule

Stander: Med-gadget for patients, safety comes first!

The Stander was created by Argentinian student, Marcos Madia, to make moving those suffering with paralysis an easier task for the hospial staff and friends. This device features a pneumatic piston which facilitates putting the patient on the machine.


Stander

Toot-A-Loop: Retro transistor radio turns into a bracelet

The Toot-A-Loop, designed by Panasonic, never made the transistor radio more stylish. The R-72 works as a radio, as well as strapping together to make a bracelet that can be worn on the hands, handlebars of a bike, etc. When twisted open it is in the form of an "S".



Toot-A-Loop

LCD Card lets you go green digitally

Yellow Owl Workshop, a San Francisco paper-goods company, felt that greeting cards needed to be revved up a bit. This new card concept has two rows of eight grooved squares. By carefully using a marker on the raised part of the card, users can personalize their LCD greeting card.




LCD Card

Shelves Comic gives expression to contemporary apartments

Designer Oscar Nuñez strays away from the norm by ways of taking such a simple thing as the comic book bubble, and making it into modern art. The design brand, Fusca, enables storage space to look very futuristic, yet retro at the same time.



Shelves

Tati flatscreen lamp isn't a TV of course!

Ferruccio Laviani plays with people's perception of typical household furniture. Although this may appear to be a TV, once turned on this lamp becomes completely white. This lamp is available in four different colors to chose from, making the optical illusion all the more fun.







Lamp

Floating in the clouds with the magnetically levitating sofa

The saying "I feel like I'm floating on a cloud" never became more of a reality until designer D.K. Wei created the Cloud Sofa. Operating very similarly to the Magnetic Floating Bed, the Cloud Sofa uses magnetic force from the base provides just as much comfort as it does fun.



Cloud Sofa

Urban Nomads' Instant Housing shelters for the homeless

When disaster strikes, it is very hard for the homeless to find a good place for shelter. This emergency assistance home designed by Winfried Baumann is complete with a padded bed, first aid kit, flashlight, and many other ammentities. This instant housing is also very easy to transport, making it very convenient during a natural disaster.

Instant Housing

Staircase/Slide combo: Not every parent will appreciate this!

We've all dreamed of the idea, but Alex Michaelis actually created it. When he just recently created his dream home, he wanted to please the whole family. The slide placed next to the limestone staircases provides fun for the kids by atypically going from one floor to the next.


Staircase/slide combo

Nomadic Device Integration System turns your car into an aircraft

Designer Joshua Saling is taking us way into the future with his car design. What Joshua has called the Nomadic Device Integration System combines a navigation system with the varied assortment of accessories attached to your everyday life.

Designer Joshua Saling is taking us way into the future with his car design. What Joshua has called the Nomadic Device Integration System combines a navigation system with the varied assortment of accessories attached to your everyday life.



NDI