Month: April 2003

#22

I reckon, first and foremost, take good care to yourself and your family. Health is the most important ingredient of your life, so treasure it.

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  • It’s quite an eye-opening trip to Tokyo as it is my first DIY trip to Japan and the last trip to Japan is ages ago. From the trip, I found that 99% of the Japanese are using Clam-shell style mobile phones (J-Phone, FOMA, DoCoMo) and most of them have a camera on it. They use the phone to browse web pages (yes, SMS is too low tech to Japanese) and to take photos. After that 7 days, I am pretty convinced that my next phone will not be a Nokia.
  • The other things you will be amazed is how they can improve everything they produced. Just a short visit to Tokyo Hands (Department Store) and I found numerous products that are simply an old idea but with a little enhancement – it then make the “new” products a lot useful. It is a proof that they make everything one step further, even before the consumer think about it. It reminds me the great quote by Henry Ford – “If I had asked customers what they wanted they would have said a faster horse.“.
  • And lastly, I was deeply impressed by their service attitude. An attitude to provide good and quality service, but not because for the tips and compliments. We have a long long way to go.

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  • 50 years ago, Menga (animation) master Tezuka Osamu created the character Astro Boy and predicted that he will born on 7th April 2003. If you are a fan of Astro Boy, surf around the net around that week.
  • 10 years ago, Wired magazine was published. Are you a fan of the magazine ? Yes I am and I still think it is a must read for most of us. Get the anniversary edition if you can.

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You see things and say, “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say “Why not?” – George Bernard Shaw

Yes, why not ?

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I finished one book during the Tokyo trip and it was a very good read. If you like coffee and dreaming of setting up one coffee shop, check it out. It’s the best book about coffee business since “Pour your heart out“.

The book I am currently reading is The elements of user experience – and I suggest all designer shall read it.