Ylliks

In november of 2005 Jason Kottke talked about his Asian travels (bit scrolling down) and the positive experiences he had with the Octopus card. Like any other debit card you put a certain amount of money on it, but in stead of swiping the card through some reader and put in a 4 number digit, you just hold the card in front of a sensor and it automaticly debets your account.

The card has a flaw. It’s the card itself. Not that it breaks easily or something like that, but it’s just the simple fact that it’s another thing to carry along. So you have to wonder if there’s not something you always carry around with you anyway which you can use as replacement. The answer is simple: a mobile phone.

Credit card companies have seen the posibilities of this as well. Master Card together with Cingular and the NYC subway have started the NYC Mobile Trial, an experiment where people can use their mobile phone to pay for their rides. They will also be able to download content near smart posters which will be located in the subway stations.

There are still things to work out on the system (with security being the biggest issue) but it’s a beginning for an easier payment system.

Original link by Gothamist

Maybe not like the balls to lay on which are mentioned before on this blog, but Smarin have released a line of cushions which resemble pebbles and stones you can find on beaches or near lakes.

These will look cool in some abandoned corner of your living room, just thrown in there and ready for you to relax and wind down after a busy day.

Original link by Designverb

Commercials for the Sony Bravia line have been mentioned before on this blog. With their simplicity and creative use of color, they are an example of how good ads can be (as they proved by winning numerous awards).

Their newest one, simply called “Paint”, has the same approach and is just as stellar (Quicktime required).

Original link by Crunchgear

While most of us work in dull looking offices with standard desks or cubicles, there are some people who have a little more fun going to work because their employers made an effort by going into a little different direction with the design of their offices (see examples here and here).

The Chief Happiness Officer has now created a list of what he considders to be 10 seriously cool workplaces.

Original link by Digg