This blog has moved. The new blog can be found here:
http://www.whatsnext.fi/blog/
Robots are something that I, as an engineer, am very interested in. I do have one robot at my home: a vacuum cleaner, but to be honest, it does not work well (bloody cheap copied models!). But I am very fashinated about the idea of vacuum cleaner that is really doing the job for you. That is something that they should be. Well, maybe I will wait for some yars to by my robot vacuumcleaner 2.0 that would really work.
I have an understanding that Asian people are fashinated with robots too. When following a couble of Asian and robotic blogs I have found interesting applications in the field of robotics. There are a robot for carrying luggage in the airports, a violin playing robot, skateboarding robot, child robot and even robot goats, Specially I am fashinated about androids: how real they do look (at least in photos). Kokoro-Dreams have manufactured their Actroid Der 2 robot that looks like young Japanese woman. Still there is moch to do until we have possibility to confurs robots to human beings, but the first stes have been taken to that direction (see the video)
Professor Sirkka Heinonen from Finland Futures Research Centre is very interested in creative foresight spaces-- as I am as well. We are currently writing an article about that topic. Creative foresight spaces are spaces that enhance creativity as well as foresight practises. When Prof Heinonen was working at VTT, we piloted the Futures Window as tool for creativity and foresight practises.
A couple of days ago I happened to visit Joensuu Science park. They had a new creative working spaces there for rent for freelance workers like me. They charged on hourly bases for the use of the spaces. The spaces are called netWork Oasis. In those office spaces there existed various rooms for warious types of working process. They had small silence rooms, rooms with beds, cafeteria type of networking space, innovation rooms and my favourite: a panic room. An of course, when being in Finland there also existed sauna. I took a couple of pictures form those spaces and share them here with you.
Entry of netWork Oasis. The users use their electronic key that start counting the time.
Overview of the spaces
Brainstorming room: (see to "tools": lego blocks and moulding wax)
My favourite: the panic room with drums, relaxing chair and soft walls
Maybe this is the future of working?
