ThinkCentre A70z with chrome wire form stand

It’s been a while since we got to design and introduce an all-in-one computer targeted at the business user. Lately we have been designing primarily towers and pancakes of various sizes. My team pioneered this category way back in the year 1999 with the watershed design of the NetVista X40.  The head turning design was done in close collaboration with our design guru Richard Sapper. It was a great experience for all involved. The trim flat panel based X40 was a serious counter punch to the overtly pudgy and candy colored CRT based offering introduced by a “fruit” company. Amazing how they have changed their design approach since then.  One reviewer humorously mentioned that the design we created looked as though it could beat up the “pudgy one”  after school and steal their lunch money. In 2001 we significantly updated the design of the X40. You can watch a short video we shot that highlights the design of the X41 on YouTube. The hair styles may look a bit dated but the computer doesn’t. It was a dramatic improvement not only in terms of overall appearance, but also ergonomic flexibility, serviceability, configurability, and system performance. Domus magazine ran a major story on the X41 design which included the world’s first, and I think only, centerfold showcasing the design. Sadly, the category was abandoned by IBM due to a maniacal focus on belt tightening rather than product innovation. We already had a totally modular design in the works that would have shocked the industry. We still have the design model stored away for posterity, or possible future use.

Striking profile of the award winning NetVista X41 circa 200o

Years later, Lenovo picked up where IBM stumbled with the introduction of the first ThinkCentre all-in-one. The ThinkCentre A70z is a solid entry into the market with a starting price just below 500 dollars. I remember when a 19″ flat panel display cost far more than that. The design is rather simple in concept, we wanted it to look like a computer monitor. I don’t think people want to stare at a overly styled object tht competes all day with the information it displays. The design uses a now familar chamfer technique to make the product look slimmer. This is pretty easy to accomplish since the entire thing in reality is only 2.4″ thick at the thinnest point. We first started chamfering the sides of flat panel monitors and then the X40 series all-in-ones back in my old IBM days. Even the Shakers used chamfers on some of their furniture designs to emphasize thinness or precision. One of my favorites that uses a chamfer is the top of the New Lebanon Candle Stand from the mid 1800’s. Did the Shakers realize they were such masters of modern design? The clean, well-proportioned forms of Shaker furniture and artifacts were opposed to the material values of the superfluous ornamentation that prevailed in 19th-century industrialized culture. Sounds a lot like modernism to me.

I love the way it floats above the desk and keyboard on the optional articulated arm

Perhaps more important than form characteristics, the new all-in-one can be used in several different ways. For a computer targeted at simplicty of install and space savings this is highly important. The base offering uses a somewhat magical spring loaded chrome leg that effortlessly adjusts the display to different angles, it does not however provide any height adjustment. If you require height adjustment we offer a more traditional stand similar to the one many of the ThinkVision monitors already ship with. Within the design department, we often call it the pogo stick stand. For ultimate adjustability the entire unit can be arm mounted like the X41 using the VESA mounting holes. The same holes can also be used for a simple wall mount similar to that of a flat panel television. I really like the idea of a wall mounted computer for kiosk use. It’s hard to beat wall mounting for ultimate space savings.

We added a simple lifting handle for your convenience

The computer effortlessly tilts into position thanks to a magical spring

I like the reserved all business quality of the design we created and the innovative installation options it enables. It’s great so have a nice all-in-one back in the lineup. Business never looked better.

David Hill

Check out the Yamato Thinking blog for details on what Lenovo is doing with regard to the Fn/Ctrl debate. Thanks for all the feedback that has led us to take this action.

David Hill

One of the designers on my team shot this entertaining video out the 5th floor window of a “giant spider” attacking Lenovo. I thought this was a fitting Halloween blog. Thank goodness the people in the crosswalk were able to escape unharmed. Happy Halloween.

David Hill

ThinkVision L2251x Wide Monitor

Today Lenovo unveiled five new ThinkVision monitors that take “green” design and user critical ergonomics to a new level. The new line-up includes Lenovo’s flagship ThinkVision L2251x wide monitor, the company’s most environmentally-responsible monitor.  The innovative L2251x is the world’s first PC monitor to be TCO Certified Edge. In case you have not heard of it, TCO Certified Edge is a supplemental award open to those products that already meet the stringent worldwide TCO Certified criteria for environment and usability in IT design. The supplemental award was created by the TCO to recognize those special products and technologies that go well beyond the call of duty within their existing eco-labeling programs. All the monitors are TCO Certified, EPEAT Gold Rated, and are more than 50% more energy efficient than previous models.

ThinkVision reusable packing bag

Here are some of the highlights related to our reduce, reuse, recycle strategy:

Reduce. The ThinkVision L2251x Wide features a webcam,microphone, ambient light and  proximity sensor to further lower power consumption. The ambient light sensor adjusts screen brightness automatically based on room lighting conditions thus saving energy. The proximity sensors on the L2251x Wide cleverly turns the screen off when you step away, helping to save up to an additional 10 percent of power consumption a year. The integrated webcam and microphone makes it easier to reduce travel time and expense for critical meetings. 

Reuse. The L2251x Wide chassis parts are made of 65 percent post consumer recycled plastics with no virgin plastics. With this achievement, it contains the highest amount of post consumer recycled plastics for monitors listed in the EPEAT registry. The new monitor is shipped in more than 90 percent recycled packaging, and for the first time, Lenovo is including a reusable protective bag as part of the packaging to further reduce plastics use. My team designed the graphics for the bag to celebrate this environmental achievement. Using a typical throw away plastic bag just didn’t make sense for these offerings.

Recycle. Lenovo provides a number of PC recycling options worldwide. Consumers in the U.S. can receive rewards for recycling if their old PC has residual value. Lenovo also offers Asset Recovery Services for business customers that provides computer take-back, data destruction, refurbishment and recycling. Additional Asset Recovery services include inventory, value assessment, on-site de-installation and data encryption. We really care about the planet.

We didn’t just focus on the green aspect of the design. The new monitors present vivid images fast by offering up to 1680×1050 screen resolution, a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a five millisecond response time. DisplayPort compatibility on select models also lets people easily work on their laptop or desktop via the monitor. The ThinkVision 2551x Wide features an ergonomic height adjustable stand that provides 110mm of lift and supports rotation from landscape to portrait. Four high-speed USB ports are also included for added flexibility and expansion. The appearance of the monitor family is right in line with other Think branded offerings, all business.

We spent a lot of time and energy designing these new monitors. I think you will like them for both their design and environmental leadership.

David Hill

The monitor uses just 21 watts of power when running and comes with other features that will help you save energy. The ambient light and proximity sensors and the low-voltage white LED display will help you save an additional 10% of power a year. As you can see the LCD is smart enough to know you left the room and shuts itself down until you return.

The chassis of the monitor is made of 65% consumer recycled plastics and there’s no mercury used in the panel. As for packaging materials they come from 90% recycled packaging. Lenovo is also willing to assist U.S. customers with the whole recycle process when it comes to their old PC equipment so you should definitely check talk to a Lenovo representative in your area for more PC-recycling details. 

Read more: http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/10/20/lenovo-delivers-new-thinkvision-lcd-monitors-thinkvision-l2251x-wide-l1711p-l1951p-wide-l2240p-wide-l22510-wide-energy-efficient-lenovo-monitors-get-laucnhed/#ixzz0UUjVHyTf

The ongoing saga of the ThinkPad external keyboard design has been very entertaining to follow. Blog statistics and media reaction would suggest that I am far from being the only one interested in this hot topic. SInce I last blogged about our newly introduced keyboard, and the “crowd sourced” methodology we used to design it, I’ve seen over 250 comments posted with thousands of visits by readers like you. It’s very rewarding as a designer to see this kind of a reaction to what we tried to do. I think Lenovo is pioneering the use of blogs to guide design directions. Having the views of the people who buy and use the things we design is a gift. 

In reading the many blog comments it’s obvious to me that there continues to be interest in a wireless version. The data from our original study didn’t indicate enormous interest in this feature, but maybe things have changed. Is the time is right for us reconsider a wireless version? I asked my team to put together a new survey specifically on this topic so that we can learn more. Where do you want to use it? Why is wireless important to you? What wireless technology is preferable? How much extra would you pay for wireless? Cutting the cord does have a price tag. These are just some of the questions we have.

If you are truly interested in Lenovo bringing  such a innovative wireless keyboard to market, help us build the business case and refine the design requirements. Thanks again for your ongoing interest and valued input, we’re listening. You can take the wireless keyboard survey here.

David Hill

 Barbour International Jacket

A recent trip to participate in a vintage off road motorcycle race prompted me to write another of my design classic blog postings. Riding vintage race bikes through the woods in the cool of the morning brings out the best in riders and their riding gear.  Many of the participants elect to wear period gear to further enhance the experience of the event. I personally draw the line at critical protective equipment like helmets or boots, but vintage jackets are certainly fair game. One of my favorites is the Barbour International Jacket. First introduced into production in 1936 this British masterpiece of design is both stylish and utilitarian. Thankfully, the jacket is still available in it’s original form some 73 years later. 

Steve McQueen at the 1964 ISDT astride his Triumph

The Barbour International was worn by every British National Motorcycle Team from 1936-1977. At the T.T. Isle of Man Race in 1965 over 95% of all competitors wore a Barbour International, no matter what country they represented. This jacket is clearly part of motorcycle history and can be seen on many of the all time greats. Steve McQueen even wore one in the 1964 ISDT competition where he was part of  team USA. The event was held in East Germany that year. Steve was much more than just a movie star. He usually raced motorcycles under the pseudonym Harvey Mushman to avoid contractual issues with movie studios. During WW II the Barbour Jacket became the official Submarine Commanders coat and on the battle fields of Europe many a soldier prepared to defend Queen and country proudly wearing their Barbour.

Glove friendly zipper pull

Crafted from traditional waxed cotton, the jacket is durable,weatherproof, and stylish. It’s not just the cut of the jacket or the construction materials that make this jacket a classic, the attention to design details are also very important. The zippers are massive brass units that employ a glove friendly pull ring. Have you ever tried to adjust the zipper on your jacket while riding a dirt bike? The left breast pocket is cleverly angled to fascilitate reaching for your scorecard with your right hand while the left can still operate the clutch. That’s the kind of design thinking I enjoy. The snaps are military grade brass that fasten with a  loud but reassuring sound, two are used to secure the pocket flaps. One would never do for such a jacket. A traditional belt keeps the wind from finding it’s way into where it shouldn’t be. The thornproof waxed cotton exterior and Barbour Tartan liner works wonderfully to keep you protected and warm, but for those especially cold outings there is a optional liner available.

You may never be quite as cool as Steve McQueen, but you can at least own the same jacket. I love riding with mine.

David Hill

For those of you who don’t already know, I decided to join the world of  Twitter. This new tool will give me a chance to share my brief thoughts on design to a even broader audience. So far I’ve written 4 design related tweets. If you are so inclined you can follow me here. 

David Hill

I recently saw a presentation by designer, brand strategist, and author Marc Gobe of Emotional Branding notoriety where he claimed the true test of a powerful brand is whether or not it has a brand promise that is “twitterable”. It ’s an interesting point of view that certainly caught my interest. Twitter, the free social networking and micro-blog service, continues to grow in popularity. Their website now ranks within the top 50 most popular in the world. Twitter limits your thoughts, or tweets as they are called, to a total of 140 characters including spaces. The self imposed 140 character limit on message length was initially set for compatibility with SMS messaging. Now it has brought to the web the kind of shorthand notation and slang historically associated with text messaging. Using so few characters to capture a brand promise can be easy for some, and much more challenging for others. Here are a couple of brand promise statements I like that fit within the 140 character Twitter constraint.  

 Expect more. Pay less.

 You’ve tasted the most popular German beer in America. Now taste the German beer that’s the most popular in Germany.

The Target example at 22 characters is incredible in terms of how succinct and powerful it is. Their entire brand identity is one I admire. Dramatic use of color, simple and clear typography, beautiful logo, and a consistant contemporary theme. I’ve often been asked why Lenovo doesn’t have a logo as clear or as dramatic. My standard answer is if you want to change the name of the company to a recognizable object, it would be easy. What does a Lenovo look like? I know what a banana looks like. The Becks beer example at 116 characters is obviously longer, but it has to convey a much more complex positioning and promise of value. I think it does a pretty good job. It makes me want to try one.

I think this is an interesting exercise for those involved with brand managment and design. So here is the challenge. If you were going to write a 140 character twitter that described the brand promise for the entire portfolio of  Think branded offerings what would it say?  What Tweet would  neatly sew together ThinkPad, ThinkCentre, ThinkVision, ThinkServer, ThinkStation, and ThinkVantage technologies brand positioning? Does “Ultimate Business Tools” at 23 characters cut the mustard?

I’ve always been told that a brand promise must be unique, compelling, and believeable. Now it must be “twitterable”. I would love to know the views of my readers. Are you up for the challenge?

David Hill

When I meet someone new, I often wonder what they think when I tell them I am a human factors engineer.  Some seemingly wonder what exactly it is that I factor about humans.  Others just say “that sounds cool.”  Most get the basic gist when I reference usability or ergonomics.  My stock answer as a member of the User Experience and Design team at Lenovo is that I help make our products easy and comfortable to use.  That is really just the surface of what we do, but it works in quick conversation.

At its core, human factors work is about scrutinizing the interaction between people and whatever is around them (e.g. machines, signage,  furniture).  Classically speaking, the focus is on ensuring a person efficiently and safely accomplishes a task.  Is the order of operations clear?  How long does the task take?  What are the mental and physical risks?  It is rationale, analytical stuff.  You might be asking who invited Spock to the party. Well, human factors engineers often do.  In fact, the term “nerd out” is now just part of our occupational lingo.

Rejected SimpleTap launch gesture

ThinkPad strikes a chord with many as it seems purpose-built.  After all, a notebook computer is inherently a tool that we use for a variety of tasks.  And where there are products built for tasks, there are human factors to resolve.  We analyze…ok, we obsess over the impacts that aspects like control location and software interface design have on productivity and comfort.  In some respects, the more the ThinkPad is unobtrusive in accomplishing those tasks, the more our team has done our job.  In the process of serving as means to an end, however, a tool just might create an enjoyable experience.  In fact, I’ll argue it should.  Whether it is noticing the familiar feel of your trusty keyboard or using a touchscreen gesture to pan through a map, you just might catch yourself feeling some emotion toward your ThinkPad.  It’s OK, we won’t tell anyone.

David recently blogged about a new software application for ThinkPad called SimpleTap.  Optimized for touch input, it offers quick access to a customizable control center for your ThinkPad (link to previous post).  Sounds task-oriented and useful, right?  Spock was certainly consulted during initial brainstorming.  SimpleTap needed to effectively serve a need, but we had other intentions with the design.  In using SimpleTap, you’ll notice some elements of playfulness.  The tiles within SimpleTap can be flicked around the screen after which they may bounce off of one another or the edge of the display.  Why?  Building healthy tension with an analytical view, sometimes the better question is why not?  Your scatted tiles can be quickly realigned with a handy alignment control.  When clean up is easy, making a mess can be a good time.  Tapping the tile for controlling display brightness opens a preview through SimpleTap to your display contents.  You need to see the true effects of your adjustments, right?  The manner in which the preview opens may playfully remind of you of something.  One hint: think Saturday morning, that’s all folks.  Finally, the tiles on-screen are customizable in number, function, position and color.  We want you to be able to create your control center.

Animation showing the SimpleTap fun side

Designing good product interaction requires a perspective that is equal parts rationale and emotional.  SimpleTap is an example of employing that approach.  The User Experience and Design team vows to help deliver thoughtful and useful function.  In using it, we hope you allow time to have some fun.

Aaron Stewart

SimpleTap application shown on the new X200 tablet

Following up on my last blog about touch, today we introduced unique versions of the ThinkPad X200 tablet and the T400s notebook that include optional multitouch technology. People can now interact with their ThinkPad in a more personal way using this technology. It’s hard to get more personal than touch.

The highly mobile ThinkPad x200 tablet caters to people in sales, health care and education. Already supporting one finger touch, tablet users can now use two finger touch to perform a variety of gestures, inlcuding pinching, zooming, and tapping. You can also flick through documents, photos, and webpages  with the touch of a finger. Adding these advanced and intuitive touch features seems so right to me.

SimpleTap in use on a new T400s

The high performance ThinkPad T400s model serves professionals in engineering and design. These demanding users can now manipulate four fingers on the T400s screen not only to replace tradional cursor movements but to change the way they work. Four finger touch can be used to manipulate objects, move images with two hands, and even have another person touch the screen to collaborate simultaneously.

SimpleTap default tiles

Volume tile expaned to show sliding  drag control

In order to exploit this new touch capability my team invented a unique application that we think will make your world both simpler and more entertaining.  We call the application SimpleTap, I think the name says it all. This unique innovation gives people a quick and easy-to-use touch interface for controlling everyday product functions. Using a simple two finger double tap anywhere on the screen lauches SimpleTap. It appears as a smoky transulcent layer over your currently diplayed environment. Sitting within this new layer is an array of square icons, or tiles as we call them, for controlling things like; mute speakers, adjust volume level, mute microphone, invoke camera privacy, show camera preview, lock my desktop, suspend  my system, select wireless radios, adjust brightness, and turn on or off my ThinkLight. Sounds like a lot, but it really quite simple. Tapping a tile either toggles the status directly, as in mute/un-mute, or it transforms into a new control such as a touch enabled slider for volume.

Classic 15 puzzle circa 1880 served as inspiration

One of the sources of inspiration for the SimpleTap interface was the classic fifteen puzzle . Originally introduced in 1880, the fifteen puzzle is often described as the ultimate brain teaser, or the numerical nightmare. Don’t worry, we left out the brain teaser and numerical nightmare parts. What we capitalized on was how the tiles nest in a gridded array and can be positioned or slid with the touch of a finger to your prefered location. It’s kind of like the puzzle without the constraints.

We also wanted people to be able to customize SimpleTap content to more closely suit their individual needs.  A handy feature we included allows the user to create custom tiles  for launching web pages, or quickly getting to a special file or presentation. The tiles can also be ordered or grouped by dragging them to your desired location. If you’re bored, the tiles can entertainingly be flicked around the screen. Work just became fun.

Once you are finished adjusting your machine settings just tap anywhere on the screen and the SimpleTap layer instantly disappears. This allows the user to get in and get out quickly without having to deal with elaborate menu structures. Using these controls as an alternative to traditional buttons seems like a natural when you are already within a touch application. Why continuously switch back and forth between touch and mechanical buttons?

Video demonstration of  SimpleTap  application

For me touch is a natural. Children seem to get it, they learn to communicate with gestures before they can even speak. Pointing, and waving are some of the first to be used. I still remember my oldest son intently pointing to the ceiling as he spoke his first real word ” light”.  Why not make using a computer this simple or emotionally engaging?

David Hill