Public Transports and Mobile Comms

Since I moved to Algés, I've been using the Public Transportations Network to travel through Lisbon and it improved my quality of life quite a bit. That allied to an android smartphone allow me to blog from anywhere at anytime without having to be tied to a computer in a room and allows me to be outdoors and have more free time to work on new projects.

Today, travelling by tram while blogging brought me back high school memories and it actually made me remember why I love my birth town: Lisbon!

Smartphones and Mobility

More and more we're all connected via web. Carrying a laptop around doesn't help much so the industry turned to smartphones and tablets. But does it makes you more connected to other human beings or less?
On New Year's Eve we were all in the same room texting our thumbs off and for a moment we all doze off from reality and it made me wonder.
I just got my first smartphone and it actually freed me from so many hours at the computer and it does allow me to check work mails, to Blog while I'm having coffee at some place nice or to comment at twitter or facebook while watching a soccer game.
I guess it's just a matter of setting a few sensible rules on it's use and it's actually a good thing.

Namasté

Banks, Social Services and Citizen's Card

Been to banks all morning today and the amount of time you spend on a line to take care of simple things you could easily do at home if the Portuguese new Citizen's Card would work at 100% is amazing.

My question is… Why the heck did they even bothered to remodel the old ID card to the new Citizen's Card if not even Social Security or Finances Services benefit fully from it?

Was that just another Mr. Sócrates' stunt to look good in the picture saying how much we'd benefit from this new service instead of working towards a more unified system between all official services?

Well, good thing he's gone with the wind to Paris to study philosophy, but in the meanwhile I hope the current PM will make something useful out of the Citizen's Card, once we already were bonded to it by default and we're not actually benefiting from it as it didn't simplify anything gin our lives.

Apple Laptops, Starbuck's and Coffee

Did you ever noticed how Lisbon's Starbuck's are populated with people using Mac laptops? It's not like they are just quickly checking their messages or an important work mail… They spend hours there, don't look at anything else but the screen and seem totally oblivious that they are at a public place.

Does the use an Apple laptop at an american coffee shop chain gives them the idea they are living in one of those american teen shows they like so much? An idea of success?

Why not keep those activities home? It's not like there aren't smart phones or even regular cells where you can simply check or send an important e-mail or check your Facebook or Twitter messages. Take advantage of being outdoors and, please, socialize! There are other people around, you know? Don't look for answers in Social Networks, please use them as a tool to keep in touch with people that are NOT next door.

And why Starbuck's? Anyone knows that Brasileira or Nicola have the best coffee, are traditional Lisbon coffee shops and located just 100 m away of any of the Starbuck's in that particular Lisbon's area.

My suggestion is very simple. Please DO use Apple Laptops and Gadgets if you must. They are the most reliable and user friendly ones known to men, but please do it at a local area Coffee Shop. Portuguese coffee blends are so much better than theirs, most national coffee shops have those Frappuccinos or similar that you like so much… And you'd be also helping improve the local economy which actually needs a revamp, don't you think?

deviantArtist and Proud!

When I started out networking on the internet there weren't many Social Networks available. I stil remember when HI5 debuted and it was a huge hype, but it wasn't more than a "friend collector" exhibiting how many connections you had but the interaction was very limited and the UI was very dull and not very intuitive. I deleted my account not so long ago btw as it became obsolete (laughs).

As a Graphic Designer I became aware of deviantArt, a site that allowed you to show your artwork, had dedicated chat rooms, community forums… All related to the OnLine artistic Community and had regular UI and Code updates, was in fact one of the first Social Networks working properly on the Web.

Let me add that I made a few good friends in there, I still use that account and it's constantly being updated and adjusting to the newer wave of Social Networks such as Facebook and Twitter. It's an specific audience targeting Social Network, but still very pleasant to be part of it and interact with other Graphic Designers, Photographers and Illustrators around the Globe.