Sunday, September 06, 2009

Aalto University Design Factory Review

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Aalto University Design Factory from Oriol Pascual on Vimeo.

During my visit to Finland, I had the chance to visit the Design Factory from Aalto University; a passion-based co-creation platform. There, students, researchers, and entrepreneurs work together to create design solutions taking a user-centered approach.

The place is just great. A mix of energetic and curious people on a context that provides all required tools for making things happen. I'd recommend you to check this post from Niti Bhan on her impressions on working at Design Factory .

I spent an afternoon with two of the people powering the Design Factory machinery; Jussi Hannula (project manager) and Esa Santamäki (Spatial Designer). In this video they tell us what is Design Factory, about their roles, the people working there, and were is Design Factory going.

In a previous post, we spoke with one of the startups at Design Factory; PowerKiss.



Friday, August 28, 2009

Aalto's Design Factory Startups: PowerKiss (wireless charging solutions)

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Aalto's Design Factory Startups: PowerKiss (wireless charging solutions)

During my visit to Finland, I had the chance to visit the Design Factory from Aalto University ; a passion-based co-creation platform. There, students, researchers, and entrepreneurs work together to create design solutions taking a user-centered approach.

One of the startups hosted at the Design Factory is PowerKiss, a company that uses induction technology integrated into forniture to charge mobile devices like cellphones and laptops. As Maija Itkonen (founder) explains in this video, PowerKiss is already taking orders for their products and commercialization is expected to start in two months time.

I personally love the concept; imagine being at home or at a cafe and by simply positioning your cellphone or laptop on the desk, it gets charged. Great! Moreover, with the adoption of micro-usb as standard charging plug in cellphones, the possibilites expand beyond charging, including transmission of data. In this case, hyper-local data; a single table can transmit different data depending in which part of the surface you are positioning your device.

It's time to get rid of the spaghetti cable!

PowerKiss
PowerKiss on Threehugger
Aalto University Design Factory

Monday, June 22, 2009

Test - audio post from cellphone

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Text message sent from Note Everything app (Android, free) to Utterli via

the email option. Would it publish the subject line, this text body, & audio

file properly?

Mobile post sent by Oriol using Utterlireply-count Replies.

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Interview on the Future of Energy (Lift09)

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During this past Lift Conference, the people of WattWatt (The IEC's Electro Community Website) made a short interview on the future of energy & sustainability. Here, I give my view on what we can expect from energy production and consumption. Descentralized energy production, as proposed by Qurrent seems to be the way to go.


Sunday, April 26, 2009

Adding Audio Messages to your Blog

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I'd like to explore audio as a format to distribute content, specially short thoughts. How did I set this? From Utterli desktop app, to Twitter, Oriol.tv, & OriolPascual.com (StoryTlr)

Mobile post sent by oriolpascual using Utterlireply-count Replies.  mp3

Friday, February 13, 2009

Enviu Update; February 09

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A review of the projects and activities that keep busy the people at Enviu; the Dutch network organization developing business solutions for the major sustainability issues.

In this episode
Get the Enviu.tv experience


Saturday, November 01, 2008

Enviu TV is Up & Running (beta)

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I'm happy about this one; I've been videoblogging for almost two years now and had lots of fun with it. It's about the joy of creating content, and the excitement of exploring new distribution systems. The potential of new media is huge, so I proposed to my colleagues at Enviu to start Enviu TV; an internet video channel on innovation, sustainability & entrepreneurship.

Today, Enviu TV is possible thanks to people like Just Boon, our creative director (high-energy dude) and a group of cool interns from Dutch media schools. This is our first production, an official video for the Sustainable Dace Club & Club Watt. Currently, we're working towards a regular program. I'll keep you informed.

Featuring: Jules Deelder, Ted Langenbach, Andrea Moreira Santos, Denis van Leeuwen, Daan Roosegaarde, Stef van Dongen, Michel Smit, Aryan & Willem Tieleman, and many more.


Meeting Loic Le Meur at Picnic 08

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This year I had for second time the opportunity to attend PICNIC, the cross-media conference held in Amsterdam's Westergasfabriek. The people of ON i ON Comunicación & Infonomia TV made possible for me to enjoy good presentations and meet interesting people (thanks Doris, Victor, & Silvia!) So, I had a chat with Loic Le Meur from Seesmic, and it was great!

I've got to know about Loic when he was starting Seesmic and decided to videoblog the entrepreneurial process of starting up a new media company on a series called Seesmic du Jour. Found inspiring the personal approach to the videoseries and how the brand connects with its users and general audience. I'm an ocasional user of Seesmic video service, however, due to Seesmic de Jour I feel great sympathy for a start-up that I saw grow during its firsts months of development.

Loic, thanks for the conversation, and the t-shirts (are fantastic!). It was great meeting you.

- Featured gadgets: Philips Power2Go portable battery, Nokia N96 with Seesmic client.


Friday, September 05, 2008

Club Watt, World's First Sustainable Dance Club - Live opening

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A milestone towards a more sustainable future was accomplished yesterday evening in Rotterdam when Club Watt opened its doors to the public.

From idea...
It took three years to turn an innovative concept to reality. In 2005, Enviu -Innovators in Sustainability and architect studio Döll Lab partnered to answer the question; how would a sustainable dance club look like? Back then, this was merely an exercice to explore the potential to green the clubbing scene, in which I was invited to be part of.


Check the video interview to Stef van Dongen (Enviu), Michel Smit (SDC), & Ted Langenbach (Watt) over the history behind the Sustainable Dance Club

By October 2006, the concept was mature enough to be publicly presented at Rotterdam club Off_Corso under the title The Critical Mass (video). Reaction from media, club owners, and the general public was extraordinary and brought it to next stage when it appeared very clear to everyone that a market for a dance club that turns environmental efficiency into part of the clubbig experience existed. The final concept is a comprehensive one combining technical solutions and managerial practices that when applied could largely improve the environmental performance of a club while adding value to the overall experience.
As result, the concept turned into a company named Sustainable Dance Club (SDC) which offers solutions to club owners that lead to a reduction in relation to comparable clubs of:
  • 30% energy consumption
  • 50% water
  • 50% refuse generated
  • 30% CO2 emissions
...to realisation
Yesterday, Club Watt was the first one to take on board the collection of solutions and managerial approach and show to everyone that sustainability in Rotterdam means planet, people, & party.

In a world premiere ;-) I broadcasted live the unveiling of this new venue. You can follow the tour given to the press, and have a first-hand experience of the well-known Sustainable Dance Floor (video) by Studio Roosegaarde at the following videos (love my N95 running Qik!). Next week will upload a video covering the opening.


Unveiling of the Sustainable Dance Floor by Michel Smit & Daan Roosegaarde


Watt's Creative Director Ted Langenbach on the club's program

More about the Sustainable Dance Club
Thanks to Jeanette & Lotte from Club Watt, and Vera from SDC for the support provided during the opening.

Disclaimer: since January 2008 I am a part-time business developer for Enviu - Innovators in Sustainability

Friday, August 01, 2008

How to Prepare Rom Cremat

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Watch the video

On July 16th, the Spanish coastal towns celebrate Virgin Carme festivity. In This video is shown the celebration at Port d'Aiguadolç, Sitges (Barcelona)

This virgin is in charge of protecting fishermen and sailors from the harshness of the sea. Traditionally, a fishermen boat will be selected to carry the figure of Virgin Carme on a parade followed by other fishermen boats. The celebration continues at the harbor where "rom cremat" is served and "habaneres" (sailor songs) are performed.

How to prepare a Rom Cremat

This is a form of drinking rom typical for any mediterranean fishermen related celebration. To a large heat-resistant bowl (CAUTION; it gets hot) add the rom, orange peel, sugar, cinnamon stick, and some roasted coffee beans. Fire it up and let (some) of the alcohol consume by steering and pouring. Stop the fire by momentarily covering the bowl (i.e. with a plate)

Cood it down, serve, enjoy it!

Presenting Rotterdam Innovation Lab @ iFest08

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On July 10-12 I attended iFest, the yearly event organized by Infonomia that celebrates business growth through innovation. It was three days of getting inspired with the presentations of people like IDEO team, Hiroshi Tasaka, Peter Watson , Nick Leon, Herbe Lebret or Matt Kingdon amongst others.

Moreover, I got actively involved by presenting some of the things that excite me and that keep me busy these days. As result, I gave a short introduction to the XO Laptop (100$ laptop), participated at the first Pecha Kucha Barcelona, and introduced the Rotterdam Innovation Lab by Enviu, where I currently work as business developer.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Wubbo Ockels on Enviu's Hybrid Tuk Tuk Battle

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Enviu is busy these days with the so-called Hybrid Tuk Tuk Battle. This is a project aiming to find a technical solution to the in-efficient tuk-tuks (also known as auto rickshaws). This would allow a reduction of CO2 emissions and improve the quality of live of tuk tuk drivers. Last evening we had the kickoff party where, amongst others, the Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels expressed his support to this project.

More Hybrid Tuk Tuk Battle at Hybridtuktuk.com
More innovation & sustainability at Enviu.org

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Enviu visits RDM Campus (Innovation Lab)

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Enviu Innovation Lab aims to become a reference in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship & innovation. For this, Enviu is partnering with the Port of Rotterdam, Hogeschool Rotterdam, Rabobank, and Rotterdam Climate Initiative to open on 8-8-08 at RDM Campus.

In this video, some Enviu members and partners visit the space that will become the future Innovation Lab, which is currently under development.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Exploring Issue-driven Entrepreneurship

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Enviu; innovators in sustainability, visited DOB Foundation Headquarters for a session about issue-driven entrepreneurship (solving environmental and social issues applying entrepreneurial principles. Fon van der Velden, facilitated the session.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Enviu Day: Hybrid Auto-Rickshaw

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A session around the Hybrid Auto-Rickshaw (or tuk tuk) project was held today at Enviu's HQ, Rotterdam. I took it as an opportunity to test production of live video, where interaction with the audience was possible. The enabling tools include N95, Mogulus, & Qik.