MirrorWorlds - Another Inspiration of Apple

David Gelernter's Linda Spaces Concepts have been acknowledged as the inspiration for Java by James Gosling. His MirrorWorlds Streams and Streams based Desktop is the inspiration for many web2.0 pioneers. MirrorWorlds has however not got its due yet and it is now suing Apple for infringing on its patents.

Checkout my blog post on time/calendar based file system which is also in a way based on the mirror worlds concept.

Secret of Apple's Designs

Apple's products have been heralded as the best of designs. Someone has identified the secret of the source of apple's inspiration - Braun. The designer behind the Braun's products of the 1960s
is Dieter Rams. One can clearly see the similarities in their philosophies way beyond the sparse use of color, the selection of materials and how the products are shaped around the function with no artificial design, keeping the design "honest."

This passion for "simplicity" and "honest design" that is always declared by Apple Designer Jonathan Ive whenever he's interviewed or appears in a promo video, is at the core of Dieter Rams' 10 principles for good design:

• Good design is innovative.
• Good design makes a product useful.
• Good design is aesthetic.
• Good design helps us to understand a product.
• Good design is unobtrusive.
• Good design is honest.
• Good design is durable.
• Good design is consequent to the last detail.
• Good design is concerned with the environment.
• Good design is as little design as possible.

This post would be rated as one of the best posts I've found in the blogosphere.