Tech it up a notch: Q&A with futurist designer Yves Bhar

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The Swiss-born/San Francisco-based product guru Yves Bhar may very well be the hardest working man in design.

The founder of Bay Area-based creative lab Fuseproject has devised some of the most useful and innovative objects in the marketplace.

Whether intended for mobile techies (like Bhars now-iconic Jawbone) or aimed at lifting the poor out of poverty like his ingenious One Laptop Per Child concept Bhar stands at the meeting point between impact and inspiration.

SodaStream Power in black.Photo: Moti Fishbain

But that doesnt mean Bhars creations arent also fun. How else to describe his latest designs for SodaStream, the DIY carbonated water-maker now in the midst of a global revival?

Bhar signed on with SodaStream back in 2012 to help develop its updated aesthetic. Now, for spring, Bhars newest SodaStream model the futuristic Power will include nifty touches such as three different fizz levels and a stainless-steel and aluminum shell. Bhar also helped update the design for SodaStreams collection of new flavors, which includes English Garden and Green Apple and Cucumber.

When not working with major global brands like Swarovski, Samsung and Herman Miller, Bhar can be found surfing with his three children or enjoying San Franciscos celebrated culinary scene.

We caught up with him this week at his Potrero Hill studio to talk travel, food and design festivals.

Japan and Europes Basque region are both destinations that inspire my sense of design. For me, they are each a place rooted in great food and a way of living that really spawns creativity.

There is not one specific product that I still wish I could design. I dont think in terms of something becoming my dream project. Because when I start a project even the most humble one my job is to turn it into a dream project.

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Tech it up a notch: Q&A with futurist designer Yves Bhar

Freedom-Woodbridges Kyree Campbell makes up for lost time

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By Joey LoMonaco February 19 at 12:13 PM

Kyree Campbell recalls the particulars of the Week 4 play that left him shelved for the better part of this past football season. It was a run call to the side of the formation where he blocked as a tight end. Patriot blitzed a linebacker and blew up the play around him. The tackle devolved into a pile, and then, all I heard was a snap, Campbell said.

That sound was the audible catalyst to a sprained medial collateral ligament in Campbells knee.

The rest of Campbells 2014 campaign was an exercise in frustration. After missing four games, the standout defensive lineman returned for the Eagles 33-0 loss to Hylton on Oct. 24. He lasted until the second quarter before aggravating the injury.

It affected my game, he said. Physically, I wasnt able to come off the line, tried to gut it out another five six plays I just couldnt put pressure on it.

At which point, Kimberly Campbell stepped in.

After that, my mom didnt want me playing anymore until I got a brace, Campbell said.

And he did, securing a device just in time for Freedoms playoff game against Stone Bridge. But the brace slid all over the place, said Campbell, leading him to take it off. His season ended as a spectator to the Eagles 41-22 loss.

So, the areas hottest defensive line recruit in the 2016 class suffered through a quitejunior season. There were no all-Conference 15, 5A North region or 5A all-state honors. Campbells goal last fall was to shatter DaShawn Hands Prince William County record of 21 sacks in a season. That, too, went unrealized.

But, interest didnt exactly cool along with with the injury. In fact, as a prospect, Campbell became more sought after.

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Freedom-Woodbridges Kyree Campbell makes up for lost time

Freedom Magazine Publishes "Religion, Why You Should Care"

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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 19, 2015

Freedom Magazine, the voice of the Church of Scientology, has published its February 2015 issue, "Religion, Why You Should Care."

In this months issue, Freedom Magazine examines the role and relevance of religion in society.

The January 7 terrorist massacre in Paris stunned the world. In the days that followed, it seemed that religion itself was put on trial in the court of public opinion. But from the seeds of mass murder has sprouted a bold new focus on religious tolerance and freedom, and the ways that faith impacts us all.

Healthy religions and a belief in the Supreme Being, as Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, enhance and energize society. As religious leaders express in this issue of Freedom, faith is alive and well, regardless of what the media say. The issue examines what life in America would be like without religion; the sweeping effects of such a spiritual vacuum convey how important churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious institutions are to our quality of life.

The magazine also profiles Chris Seiple of the Institute for Global Engagement, who believes religious freedom is one of the best weapons to defeat terrorism.

This issue also includes a detailed look inside one of our Ideal Churches: Nashvilles Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre, serving its parishioners as well as the Music City with an array of events and activities.

Freedom Magazine is committed to accurate and accountable reporting. Freedom is the voice of the Church of Scientology and reflects its stance that responsible journalism and the free flow of information are the lifeblood of all great societies.

Published since 1968, Freedom addresses issues, not politics. It seeks out and illuminates solutions to societys problems. Freedom proudly serves as a media watchdog, protecting the exchange of free ideas on which democracy relies. Freedom further spotlights the Church of Scientology-sponsored human rights, social betterment and volunteer works, thereby advancing its purpose of safeguarding and promoting the rights of all.

Full Freedom Mission Statement

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Freedom Magazine Publishes "Religion, Why You Should Care"

Marketing: Building A Customer-Centric Marketing Ecosystem …

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Throughout last year, Ive talked a lot about one-to-one marketing and how with the rising tide of customer power marketers need to focus more on this personalized and empathetic approach. While its true that marketings main efforts have always been focused on gaining customers, in the past few years weve seen a shift where marketing has become more about bragging and less about value creation. However, with the Internet, social media, and mobile access there is more power than ever in the hands of todays consumers. Influence no longer lies with the suave, silver-tongued marketer and glossy marketing brochures. Consumers need to be marketed to in the way they want to be marketed to. I believe that the brags have lost their effectiveness and we are coming to the end of push-based marketing.

Customer-centricity: Not Everyone is Getting it Right

As more and more brands are vying for a slice of the consumers attention, businesses need to restructure themselves, and become more customer-centric to stay ahead in the race. While most companies today claim to put their customers first, a surprisingly small number are actually doing it right. So, where are they going wrong? The fact is: some businesses are treating customer-centricity as a set of strategies meant solely for the customer-facing units of a business. They often forget that a customized or one-on-one approach is more than just a marketing goal for customer service reps and sales people.

In truth, it is actually part of an evolved marketing department that builds around a customer-centered approach. It is making customer-centricity the responsibility of the entire organization and not just a few departments. Customer-centricity cant be captured in a solo marketing environment, and a company should concentrate on building a marketing ecosystem to emerge as a fully functioning customer-centric entity.

How to Build a Customer-centric Marketing Ecosystem

For any organization in the world, the target customers need to be at the heart of that organizations marketing efforts and strategies. Brands, slogans, products, and media arent at the center; rather they are spokes that help to bridge the gap between the customer and the business. During many of our marketing classes, we learned about the 4Ps (product, place, price, and promotion). While they may still be relevant, todays marketing has evolved from focusing on the 4Ps to a more complex system where the 4Ps are intricately linked with creating a memorable customer experience along every point of the buyers journey.

Looking to create a marketing ecosystem within your organization? Below you will find three points to keep in mind as you get started:

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Marketing: Building A Customer-Centric Marketing Ecosystem ...

Disaster Relief Fom An Unlikely Source: Cyborg Cockroaches | Nerdwatch | NBC News – Video

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Disaster Relief Fom An Unlikely Source: Cyborg Cockroaches | Nerdwatch | NBC News
Researchers have outfitted cockroaches with remote controls and audio sensors, and plan to use the bugs to explore disaster sites and find survivors. Subsc...

By: NBC News

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Disaster Relief Fom An Unlikely Source: Cyborg Cockroaches | Nerdwatch | NBC News - Video