Clean IT

Photocopiers were first patented over seventy years ago. The man who patented this idea was Chester Carlton, when he put through his patent for electro- photography however Carlton probably did not realise that he had created a dynasty of photocopiers and colour copiers. The term electro-photography was soon changed however to Xerography; the machine used to carry out the process later became one of the most famous inventions of the twentieth century and earned Chester millions of dollars.

Xerography though was not immediately popular; the Haloid Company in New York started producing office photocopiers in 1955 under the changed company name to Haloid Xerox, a business that has become synonymous with photocopying and printing technology. Additionally however the Xerox Company were one of the first to utilise Ethernet in order to enhance communication across their considerable computer network. From humble beginnings the photocopier has gone from a clunky piece of machinery to streamlined colour copiers that are equally important as Google and the internet in the modern workplace.

Last week data reached the news desks of agencies that UK companies are now spending more on online advertising than on television advertising. According to the Advertising Bureau’s report, a record £1.75 billion was spent on online advertising in comparison to £1.64 billion spent on TV. This is understandable when it is considered that searchers on the internet can find anything from dog clothes to tiaras. Essentially, by utilising online advertising, particularly when this advertising is related to search, companies can target their marketing to people that want to use their products; fundamentally this is far more cost effective than using television adverts.

Cleary the power of search engines such as Google as well as the growth in the search marketing has led to aggressive sales strategies utilising all the online medium has to offer. Companies that do use online advertising strategies not only have a more targeted form of visibility, but also have a means of direct measurement of success for the advert; in these days of penny pinching and recession it is perfectly understandable that companies would prefer this more cost effective option. This latest news is in my opinion only the tip of the iceberg; online expenditure will continue to grow as more and more people choose to shop online. An increasing number of companies will realise the benefits of online advertising and particularly marketing in the search medium.

Now there’s product design and there’s product design.

The first is the initial process that follows the ‘I’ve got a good idea’ thought. You come up with something that you think nobody else has successfully invented yet, you get your ideas down on paper, patent it (if you’re sensible) and then initiate product design whereby you employ someone who knows how to put your idea into practice and give you the resulting product itself.

Then, we have product design. Now this type is completely different. These are the products that people actually spend their time giving thought to and then, probably through some mental disability that makes them think it’s a good idea, they employ the same experts to bring their product deign to fruition.

For example, we have the bra that turns into two gas masks – just in case you should ever get caught out and need a swift removal of underwear to save your life.

Product Design - The Silent Screamer

A couple from California thought it would be a good idea to invent a ‘scream silencer’. A tube like muffler fits around the screamers mouth and away you go! Scream your heart out into the tube which is coated with sound absorbing foam, and no-one will be any the wiser. The only draw back they could see was losing the satisfaction of hearing your own scream so they considerately hooked it up to a microphone that creates a light display from the sound for visual feedback without disturbing others.

Useless product design from Edwardian times included things such as the moustache guard. This consisted of an antiseptic paper disc that folded over the edge of any cup of glass. The purpose of this was to prevent the moustache getting wet and potentially growing bacteria. All very well until it’s wet and turns to papier mache!

So, product design or product design, it make all the difference!