leveleight.net

Today's ubiquitos font, Helvetica

For all you interested even mildly in FONTS (TYPEFACES) this is an interesting article that describes NYC Subway’s transition into the Helvetica Font, and gives us insight on the crazyness of NYC’s typographic history.

” “It was an incredibly courageous thing to do at a time when Helvetica was riding high,” Mr. Shaw said.

The differences between Standard and Helvetica, both sans-serif fonts that lack edges (or “serifs”) at the tip of their letters, are subtle. Are the ends of the C, 2, 3, S straight or diagonal? They are diagonal in Standard, which is why the J was a problem — because in certain subway maps, the J wasn’t hooky enough, Mr. Shaw says. The Helevetica J, on the other hand, had quite a firm curve, which made it the J of choice for an updated subway maps.

And thus, between 1980 and 1989, Helvetica “crept into the system.”

Before the sans-serif rivalry of recent decades, there was the golden age of the serif typeface in the subway systems. The earliest station signs were often in ornate terra cotta forms, colored in part because early subway designers wanted people to be able to identify their stops while they were in a fast-moving train.” ”

READ MORE HERE

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What do sheep count before going to sleep?

So someone should have told me this years ago… we might have known all along though…. just chose not to listen……………. but:

Sleep

“In addition to the many health benefits of sleep, there are other factors that make sleep absolutely necessary to life. Sleep is important for concentration, memory formation and the repair of damage to your body’s cells during the day. Chronic lack of sleep increases the risk for developing obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and infections.

Lack of Sleep Can Kill

Researchers do not know exactly why people need sleep, but we do know that lack of sleep can kill. In research studies, rats normally live two to three years, but if rats are totally deprived of sleep, they only live about five weeks. They also develop sores, their immune systems do not work well and their body temperature drops. Humans deprived of sleep for long periods begin hallucinating and develop other mental problems.

Sleep and Concentration

When people do not have enough sleep, they cannot concentrate well the next day and have problems forming memories. Researchers believe that during sleep, neurons can shut down and repair any damage done during the day. Without these repairs, the neurons may not function correctly due to a buildup of waste products. Sleep also seems important for the formation of memories.

Growth and Beauty Sleep

Important hormone production is regulated during sleep; in children, human growth hormone (HGH) is released during deep sleep. Insufficient sleep can affect hormonal balance in adults as well. Tissue repair also occurs during sleep, including repair to the daily skin damage done by UV light. Getting enough deep sleep will help your skin repair itself.”

full article from http://longevity.about.com/od/sleep/a/sleep_benefits.htm

PIXELS ARE LIKE CUPCAKES

An interesting article that simplifies the current disasters of the digital’s “improvements” in camera megapixel technology was recently published by the new york times. you can find the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/technology/personaltech/13basics.html

AN EXERPT FROM THE ARTICLE:

“Though some experts say they believe that improvement has slowed in digital imaging, it’s always wise to remember that with technology, today’s rules are tomorrow’s anachronisms.

But no matter when the next advance in digital imaging comes, the old saying that the photographer is the most important part of a good photo will still hold true.

Just consider Alex Majoli, an award-winning Magnum photographer, who is known for shooting images of war and other dramatic scenes for publications like National Geographic and Newsweek — with compact point-and-shoot digital cameras.

Or consider the more critical words of Ansel Adams.

“The sheer ease with which we can produce a superficial image,” Mr. Adams once wrote, “often leads to creative disaster.””

A new page has been added with really random things that are interesting to watch and or read about and or discover. It is in process of having more things added to it, but enjoy the content in it now.

RANDOM

Midterm Review for REPRESENTATION is over.
Take a look at the updated representation page to see the exceptional student work.

Arianna Lebed - Pratt Technics, Fall 2008

The Cantilever Review is complete and has produced a variety of interesting projects. Various critics from crossing disciplines have joined us with incredible feedback including Dieter Feurich from ARUP and Benjamin Howes from SMiT as well as Pratt’s own Brent Porter. You can find an update in the Technics 2008 page including pictures of the review.

Welcome to leveleight.net

leveleight is Otto Ruano’s web based domain. It is currently in the process of being updated, uploaded, revised, etc. Please feel free to look around in the meantime.

Cheers!

Otto