by PS | Aug 14, 2013 | Musings
Daniel Kish (born 1966 in Montebello, California) is an American expert in human echolocation and President of World Access for the Blind, a non-profit he founded in 2000. Kish and his organization have taught echolocation to at least 500 blind children around the world. Kish, who has been blind since he was 13 months old, is the first totally blind person to be a legally Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) and to hold a National Blindness Professional Certification (NOMC). He also holds masters degrees in developmental psychology and special education.
Kish’s work has inspired a number of scientific studies related to human echolocation. In a 2009 study at the University of Alcalá in Madrid, ten sighted subjects were taught basic navigation skills within a few days. The study aimed to analyze various sounds which can be used to echo-locate and evaluate which were most effective. In another study, MRI brain scans were taken of Kish and another echolocation expert to identify the parts of the brain involved in echolocation, with readings suggesting “that brain structures that process visual information in sighted people process echo information in blind echolocation experts.”
Unbelievable. A reminder of how limitless the human mind and capabilities are. Read more about Daniel at Echolocaters.com.
by PS | Jul 25, 2013 | Musings
Management is all about making difficult tradeoffs. Exceptional companies approach these tradeoffs with two simple rules in mind:
- Better before cheaper: Companies re moire likely to succeed in long run it they complete on quality or performance than on price
- Revenue before cost: Companies have more to gain in the long run from driving up revenue (for e.g. by charging higher prices or appealing to more customers) than by driving down costs
[From Economist, July 13th 2013 Edition]
by PS | Jul 21, 2013 | Art
Photographer and visual artist Dan Cretu recreates everyday objects out of fruits and vegetables. With his sculptures, Dan transforms common everyday eatables into recognizable objects. You can follow his work here.
by PS | Jul 21, 2013 | Art
Mosaiculture is a refined horticultural art that involves creating and mounting living artworks made primarily from plants with colorful foliage (generally annuals, and occasionally perennials). The colorful two- and three-dimensional drawings, designs, sculptures and reliefs thus created employ a wide variety of flora. This multifaceted and complex discipline, an ornamental art, draws on numerous practices: on sculpture for its structure and volume, on painting for its palette, and on horticulture in its use of plants in a living, constantly changing environment. Mosaiculture should be distinguished from topiary, which features mostly shrubs pruned to create different shapes.
Considered the world’s most prestigious competition of horticultural art, the 2013 edition of Mosaiculture is currently on display at Montreal Botanical Garden in Quebec, Canada. Mosaiculture originated in Montreal in 2000. It is now a prestigious international competition, staged every three years in a different city, with funding from governments and the private sector. Last time, it was held in Shanghai, before coming back to Montreal again.
by PS | Jul 21, 2013 | Art
Japanese latte artist Kazuki Yamamoto has taken coffee art to an impressive new level. I’ve posted about latte art before, but this 26-year-old takes it to a whole new level. He specializes in building actual 3D latte foam sculptures, some of which even climb out of their cups and reach out for others. Some of the latest temporary masterpieces swirled out of Yamamoto’s cup include a detailed giraffe, a three-eyed alien and a Hello Kitty character peeking out of a mug.
Currently, Kazuki Yamamoto is working as a barista in Cafe10g in Osaka. To keep up with Yamamoto’s creations, check out his Twitter stream.
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