Touring with Tourist Trophy

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The bivouac logged some laps with Polyphony Digital's Tourist Trophy Playstation 2 motorcycle simulator. Polyphony is the same company that brought us the excellent Gran Turismo racing series, and this title is equally impressive.

Beyond convincing riding dynamics, an extensive range of motorcycles and riding gear to explore, and near photorealistic racing venues, perhaps one of the most pleasant features of the simulator is the photo mode. It allows riders to replay a race and capture memorable moments. Extensive image manipulation capabilities are available so riders can pan to a perfect angle at a critical moment in the competition and stylize their photos to their choosing. As for the level of detail achieved, the images below are photos output from the simulator.

It was straightforward to plug an iShuffle USB drive into the PS2 and save the photo content. Add a Yamaha Motor Sport Game Controller for added control and immersion. Ride safe, smart, and strong.

It was remarkably easy to plug an iShuffle USB drive into the PS2 and save the photo content. You may want to add a Yamaha Motor Sport Game Controller to the mix for added control and immersion. Ride safe, smart, and strong.

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Catch You on the Flipside

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So, what can designers do to make watches more usable? First, keep things simple overall. Then, why not put the manual on the back? Sound impossible? That is close to what Philippe Stark did when creating his "Sand" digital watch.

The rear base plate contains a legend showing the four main function button icons. Each icon includes one to four dots, and the corresponding function for each icon is listed. This reference is close to the hand (or wrist) and keeps the exterior surfaces of the watch clean.

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Watching the Details

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It is nice to see fashion-oriented companies getting the technological aspects of their offerings right. Nixon takes the time to custom craft alpha and numeric characters for their "Connect" watch, resulting in characters of character. The delicate line intersection areas in the numbers add distinction and an element of precision to the timepiece.

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Apple iSight

This entry makes it into the Interface Hall of Fame on the merits of its physical interface. The front ring of the camera can be rotated to close a white shutter. This clearly indicates to users the status of the camera, assuring them of privacy at a glance.

Sony P990

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Sony looks set to impress with the P990, which rolls out in Europe in Q1 of 2006. An extensive feature list includes WiFi capabilities, the Symbian OS 9.1, Bluetooth, a 2-megapixel camera with “photo light,” video calling, FM radio, MP3 and MPEG-4 player, and keyboard (QWERTY) underneath the flip-down keypad and the new Opera 8 web browser. It is understood that units will ship with 80MB of free memory.

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For more details, take a look at this review from mobile-review.com: www.mobile-review.com

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iPod + iTunes

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Apple is often cited for simplicity and for getting the balance right regarding device vs. service interaction through iTunes. The combination of the iPod and iTunes keeps device use simple, and service encounters through iTunes are rich and powerful. The exceptionally well-executed controller of the iPod version shown below offers all critical points of control within the arch of a user's thumb and allows for ease of use even while the interface is not viewed directly.

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24 Hours of Adrenaline

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This should be fun...24 hours of fun, to be exact. For more details, visit the 24 hours of Adrenaline website.

We'll see how one of these does during the event this year at Laguna Seca Raceway: 2002 Cannondale Jekyll 3000

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Schuberth Concept 2 Helmet Masterpiece

Schuberth appears to have improved on the already strong Concept helmet with the release of the Concept 2 (C2) helmet. The advanced flip-up helmet features a redesigned release and lift mechanism and improved aerodynamics—another great offering from Schuberth.