Katelyn M. Thompson’s Blog

Very Small Array has created a map of the United States which includes one of the suggested autocomplete phrases that comes up after typing in that state. It’s not clear if they were the first ones or specifically selected ones. The comments on the post indicate that a lot of people had different suggestions, but the idea is still really cool!

via FlowingData

“If you live to be one hundred, you’ve got it made. Very few people die past that age.”

– George Burns

Ever had to wait in line at the store? I did a lot of that this holiday season – between shopping at the mall to going to the grocery store 800 times for things my mom needed. I always try to get in the shortest/fastest line. Even when I’m shopping with my mom we will each get in two lines to ensure that we get out faster.

The engineerguy has taken a scientific look at lines to determine the best way to effectively manage the lines. He explains that a single queue for multiple registers is the most effective.

Just remember that the line you’re in is probably not the fastest…

via Gizmodo via SwissMiss

In honor of my new coursework that I’ll be starting in less than a month, I’ve created a sub-category of “Graphic Design” under Design. I hope to have a lot of cool resources and examples as I move through my pursuit of a Certificate in Graphic Design!

Tutorial Lounge has provided a tutorial of “tips and tricks” to poster design.

Posters are designed to communicate a message and to cause great impact on the onlooker, however, this too is a fact that neither a passersby nor a driver will stop to read them and consume the message being conveyed. So in order to make the posters more communicating, they should be precise regarding the message, colors and the elements being used to convey it.

Their first tip is to consider the message, as it’s the most important part of the poster (really the only reason for it’s creation).

The next tip is to be creative and unique to make sure the viewer remembers your poster, and specifically the message.

Thirdly, there must be an appropriate aesthetic for the message conveyed. “For instance, if the product or revolves around a serious and decent message, you cannot put funky images or highly colorful layout for the poster.” They continue to talk of color choices, information hierarchy, composition and the emotional element.

They also suggest that you take into account where your poster will be placed in order to fit with that area’s aesthetic and be noticed.

Here are some of the examples of the poster designs shown in the article:

via @DesignModo

Someone has gone around the hallways here and posted signs on the exteriors of the cubes.

Help me answer the prompt: “On January 3rd, it will be revealed…”

I have decided to incorporate this prompt into my QotD board (photo) in order to allow people to surmise about what will be revealed.

Today’s board reads: “…that Elvis is actually alive.”

Now, I’m not the most clever person in the world, so I need some help to keep this going at least until January 3rd. Please leave a comment about what you think will be revealed on January 3rd.

[Note: the fine print reads “Part 1 in a five-part series of stark PowerPoint slides designed to be highly intriguing”. Don’t limit your answers to this footnote!]

I consider myself to be a sports fan. Basketball, however, isn’t one of my top sports to watch. BUT, I came across this really cool visualization done by NBAStuffer.com of the home and away games and the streak of them that the teams face. I wonder how this is determined and how it will effect the teams’ win/loss.

via ChartPorn

Over on YouFail they’ve illustrated some of the many hand signals in our culture.

In college we were required to take macro and micro economics. I really enjoyed the classes and the professor that I had for both of them. Came across this great S/D graph for Santas featured in Sketchy Santa: A Lighter Look at the Darker Side of St. Nick. However, instead of supply, they refer to the “sketch-i-ness” factor. As demand for Santas increase, the sketchiness of the Santas also increase.

…the number of Santas available and a parent’s desire to have their children see St. Nick in a timely manner, loosely determines the potential sketchiness of Santas in your area. As demand (D) increases, you can expect a corresponding increase in quantity (Q) or available Santas and the sketchiness (S) of any given Santa.

P.S. If you need a refresher on Supply & Demand curves, visit Mike On Ads

via SwissMiss

I tend to get cold at work. I’m not sure what it is, but in the winter you can usually find me wearing my jacket around the office. I did the same thing in high school. I just get cold. Even with my jacket, my right hand has been getting very cold. Since it has to be controlling the mouse I can’t put it in my jacket pocket or sit on it as I sometimes can do with my left hand. I was thinking about gloves, and thought it would be really cool if there were gloves that could be heated by plugging them into a USB port.

A quick Google search revealed the USB-Heated Fingerless Gloves from perpetual kid.

However, these are wool, as are most gloves, and I am allergic to wool. So that won’t do. I got to thinking, why couldn’t the mouse itself be heated? So another Google search, and voilà an entire blog dedicated to mouse hand warmer products. It features the Heated Mouse which is sold for only $24.99.