London Fashion Week Showcases Designs in 3d

During the official launch of London fashion week various well known designers and stylist took their creativity to a notch higher level by using the new concept of 3D technology in fashion. The fashion show was astonishing with the world’s top ranking designers showcasing their designs. Many of them revealed that they are working on their projects that are totally dependent upon the software interface, in which a designer can draw a 2d sketch of a design, which then extrudes 3d data from 3d model with full manipulation can be created. In such virtual projects they can apply different fabric presets as well as environmental effects. This reduces the need to make many real prototypes that require a lot of time and expenditure.

With such cutting edge technology, the fashion industry appears to be increasingly leaning on 3D to aid the creativity and designing. In the fashion show for the 2012 spring and summer collection, the famous designer Tri Nouio created a collection of garments with 3D printing technology. Basically, he combined the art, technology and fashion in the fabric. In an interview he said that and I quote, “…image is easier to convey the message. So, I opt 3d technology to develop my new collection” unquote.

Another interesting project worthy of mention is “Valentino Garavani’s Virtual Museum”, which is said to be the first digital exhibition of its kind in the world. The two year project will collect around 5000 images of dresses and about 180 fashion shows in virtual world; which would have required 10,000 square meters of prime estate; if it were to be established in the real world.

Another new concept is “3d printing” that is set to play a huge role in the upcoming fashion and apparel world. Soon we will be able to see online virtual stores where designers can add their new collections and the guests can walk around the store in the virtual world. Such is the growing impact of this 3D technology that many designers want to work with auto stereoscopic screens to share designing experiences with their audience. Definitely a shape of things to come…

Contract Based Mobiles in India: A road untraveled or a failed enterprise

Despite my critical ascertainment with Apple’s persuasive legal course as a hindrance to innovation in the Smartphone arena, there’s no denying the fact that the latest avatar of the iPhone has been a runaway success. With Apple alongside its various carriers receiving close to 2 million pre-orders within the opening 24 hours and analysts expecting the sales to reach the 10 million mark within the week, the hype and curiosity surrounding the iPhone 5 is greater than ever.

And the way Smartphone markets work in US is what makes for an interesting reading for an average Indian mobile user. All the major mobile carriers namely AT&T, Verizon and Sprint have collaborated with Apple to sell their newest offering on no-commitment as well as 2-year contract plans. A no-commitment plan is similar to purchasing a new iPhone without any network services for 649$ (34,663 INR) while a 2-year contract means that the customer ends up paying just close to 200$ (10,682 INR) with a monthly data and call usage plans of between 85$-100$ (4540-5340 INR). Yes, the first part of a contract agreement is enticing enough to get your budget restraints wagging but it’s the premium monthly charge which translates to the analyzed fact that every iPhone 5 user will be able to actually take full benefit of his device after a good 9 months after purchase without burning a hole in his pocket.

From a consumer’s perspective, it is a good enough deal as they are getting the latest gadget for a knockdown price and willing to part with a substantial monthly amount for it. And you can’t blame them considering the phenomena an iPhone is considered in US. Some experts have even quoted iPhone 5 as the “new cash milking cow for the mobile carriers”. The contract system is a camouflaged and nifty business practice which allows mobile carriers to give products like the iPhone at subsidized prices and recover the costs and make handsome profits via the contracts. And with most of the phones in these contracts not being unlocked, change of carriers becomes increasingly hassle some once the contract period expires. But hey, Apple might just launch a new iPhone till then to keep the cycle running!

What I have always wondered is why mobile carriers have not been able to tap in on and successfully replicate this business model in India. And the latest advancements in the local Smartphone arena showed me exactly why. One, we are spoilt for choices both expensive and cheap when it comes to selecting a handset so this ideally leaves the companies at risk when it comes to subsidizing the handset costs due to numerous handset launches and upgrades. Secondly, Indians are not the splurging kind and are very particular about their cell phone plans; be it Prepaid or Postpaid. “Call per second” is a good example of that. And most importantly, the shelf life of a Smartphone being used by an average mobile user is 12 months at maximum which leaves the contracts proposition less profitable. Reliance and Tata Indicom have already tried this with low-end CDMA offerings which ultimately failed to excite. And even though Nokia is providing a few handsets with such contracts, it is not preferable for majority of the mobile users.

Flexible Displays: The next big breakthrough?

I have already spoken about my admiration of Touchscreen Glass technology which is capable of taking the human lifestyle to the very next level. However, it will take a significant time period for the technology to be scaled down for consumer use. But the flexible displays that major manufacturers like Samsung and LG are speaking positively about may just see the light of the day pretty sooner.

Flexible Displays have turned quite a few heads with Samsung’s unveiling of OLED flexible displays and LG’s prototypes of an E-Reader. The technology is not new to hear of but has certainly gained momentum during the past twelve months. Mainly because of the possibility of throwing conventional displays like the ones used in Smartphones, tablets, PC’s and even TV’s into a mire. The most basic essentials one needs to know about this technology is that the flexible (or bendable) nature of this technology means that glass displays give way to polyamide sheet which is sturdy, endurable and can be bent up to 40° in angle. Couple that with the Touchscreen technology and you have a hell of a display at your disposal. The super advanced technology holds the potential to turn the industry of displays upside down with its unique attributes. And the probable ubiquity it holds just paints a vivid yet convenient picture of how Flexible Displays may give major products a facelift.

I have been very impressed with LG’s flexible E-Reader and how it might change the way we read news and books. No need to stash bundles of papers as the news will be updated every day. Even reading books would give you a much more realistic experience with the Display’s bending capabilities. Samsung, who has pioneered flexible OLED displays seems to be attracting the interest of potential buyers already.

But what can be a convenience for a consumer may also be a headache for its developer. Considering the key components that will be put in the thin bendable sheet and the amount of bending and wear and tear it will undergo, it remains to be seen what the exact shelf life of a bendable display might be like. And how the major manufacturers are able to replicate the technology on devices like Smartphones and TV’s in the future makes it an intriguing technology to look forward to in the coming years.